Soul-Winning Training
Pastor
Craig Ledbetter
29 Mar,
2009 PM
I.
Introduction (Proverbs 11:30)
A.
We all know how to fight, but we rarely pick up our spiritual weaponry, given to
us by God, and fight the GOOD fight – the fight for souls!
B.
THE WINNING of individuals by individuals in personal conversation is the main
way to win souls.
C.
He that WINNETH souls is wise! (Prov 11:30) Reconciling sinful man to an all
holy God (2Cor 5:18-20)
II.
Last
week:
We learned several steps to winning a soul:
A.
First,
Pray and ask God to fill you with Himself
B.
Then,
Go into All the World
1.
Go wherever a person is (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19)
2.
Three Ways to Go:
a.
Go naturally – this is a natural act for a Christian, like being in love,
like talking about sports, or your job! Christianity spreads only by talking
about Jesus!!!
b.
Go particularly – target people who the Lord directs you to
c.
Go regularly – the devil will fill up your schedule if you do not fill it
up first!
3.
Right Approach:
C.
Teach
on the Cross.
Use the Cross (1Cor 1:17,18). These are all truths you must know inside and out!
1.
Teach Them Their Direction – we are all going our own way. We are
sinners. Use the ten Commandments
2.
Teach Them That Jesus Christ is headed a different Way – cuts across our
path. Doesn’t feel right, or make sense because He goes against our “grain”
3.
Teach Them the Only Remedy is to Change their Direction – not a
Resolution, but Repentance!
4.
Now would be a good time to use your Testimony
D.
Prod
Those Who Are Unconcerned
(Jude 1:22,23) – care about their
souls FOR them!
1.
Talk
with authority – don’t let anyone think they have the upper hand; you have God’s
word on eternity. In one whole area, everyone who was commanded to get saved,
did! (Acts 14:38)
2.
Warn
them (
3.
Plead
with them – beg them to look at what the Bible says
4.
Tell
them you will be praying for their conversion!
III.
Part
Three – So What Do We Do to Win Souls? Final Thoughts
A.
Be
Ready to Deal with Sceptics (2Timothy 2:24-26):
1.
Sharing the Gospel with Roman Catholics.
a.
Do not ridicule or attack the Roman Catholic Church. That’s all they know!
b.
Highlight common beliefs. We believe in God, Jesus, Trinity, heaven, hell,
Virgin birth
c.
The difference is, we hold to the authority of the Scriptures, saying: "The
Bible says..."
d.
Emphasize the joy of a personal relationship with the author of that Book! Not a
religious act.
e.
Study the Bible together with them using their Catholic Bible. It has the truth
in it, and if read with believing eyes and heart, it can lead a person to faith
in Jesus Christ!
f.
Make sure you understand the teaching of the Catholic Church.
g.
Give your personal testimony of how you were born again.
h.
Tell them religion cannot save, and that Mary is not a valid mediator, but that
Jesus alone came to save us, and waits to give to anyone the gift of eternal
life by repentance and faith in Him only.
2.
Some Tips On Witnessing to Muslims:
a.
Be courteous and loving.
b.
Be already acquainted with their basic beliefs, but reflect interest in their
beliefs. Allow them time to articulate their views.
c.
Be willing to examine passages of the Qur'an concerning their beliefs.
d.
Stick to explaining the central doctrines of the Christian faith but also take
time to respond to all sincere questions that they may have.
e.
Point out the centrality of the person and work of Jesus Christ for salvation.
Just lift up Jesus
f.
Stress that because of Jesus, His cross, and resurrection, one may have the full
assurance of salvation, both now and for eternity (see 1 John 5:13). Share the
plan of salvation with the Muslim. Point out that it is a gift from God, and not
to be earned by any good works.
g.
Pray for the fullness of the Holy Spirit in your witnessing. Trust Him to
provide wisdom and grace.
h.
Be willing to become a friend to that Muslim and stay working on him/her until
they get saved.
3.
In Witnessing to Secular Humanists, Agnostics, Atheists
a.
Remember 1 Corinthians 1:18-29. Don’t try to debate them on an intellectual
basis, even though the Bible is both scientifically, and historically accurate,
but rather on a SIN-basis.
b.
Everybody can admit to our sinful nature. The problem is getting them to admit
they don’t have the answer for its destructive results. Get them LOST! use the
Ten Commandments
c.
Use Prophecy as the proof people need that the Bible is true
d.
Give your testimony of how God got your attention, and convinced you of sin, and
saved your soul – it cannot be refuted.
e.
Finally, Get their attention off of “religion’s” failures, and onto the
perfection of the life of Jesus.
f.
Then, start talking to them like they are in trouble with God, and that there is
a way to get forgiven
4.
When Witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses
a.
Salvation for them is obtained by doing constant good works.
b.
Jesus is believed to be a created god, who came, lived the good Jehovah’s
Witness life, and then died for his faith.
c.
To the JW, Jehovah is the only Saviour, not Jesus.
d.
They do not believe the Holy Ghost is a real Person of the godhead, but only a
“force” emanating from God.
e.
They have made dozens and dozens of false prophecies since 1874, predicting
specifically the visible return of Jesus, and the end of the world.
f.
The soul-winner will have a hard time working with a Jehovah’s Witness simply
because they are usually very well trained to only think within a small box of
doctrine.
g.
The key is to show them from even their own translation of the Bible (the
h.
From there, show them that God came and as a perfect Man died in their place as
their only Saviour (
i.
Ask them to join in a Bible Study – ask them to have the same openness that they
are asking of you
B.
Bringing a Decision
– don’t just leave them hanging
1.
Ask
Those Who are Interested:
a.
“What would keep you from repenting from your sins, and asking Jesus
Christ to save you right now?”
b.
“Will you take my hand, and pray, as best as you know how, asking God to
forgive you of your sins, and make you His child?”
2.
If they
don’t want to get saved…
a.
Then tell them you will be praying for them, and urge them to come out to church
anyway and hear the Gospel every week, and learn the Bible like it was written.
b.
Also ask them to pray and ask God to speak to them – to prove to them that He is
there, and wants to save them!
c.
Then, leave them a Gospel leaflet
d.
Write down their name and pray for them to be humbled and brought low enough to
want to be saved!
3.
But, If
they DO want to get saved…
a.
Ask them to pray first – as best as they know how. Don’t pray for them.
Believe that GOD can save them just
fine!
1)
Ask them to tell you what they will ask God.
2)
If they are hesitant or unsure, then slow down, and ask them more questions –
don’t rush.
b.
Then tell them it’s time (2Cor 6:2). Ask them to pray aloud.
c.
While they are praying, listen carefully, and check for a spiritual heartbeat
(for a sign of a new life) – like a doctor checking for life-signs in a new
baby!
d.
If they were desperate to get saved, and prayed like they really understood what
they were doing, then rejoice in prayer to God after they pray
e.
When you say “In Jesus name, Amen!”, then ask them to pray again and THANK
GOD for saving them! If they just got forgiven from all their sins, it would
be important to be thankful!
f.
Then, for assurance show them:
1)
Romans 10:13 “What did you ask God to do?” “What does the Bible say He did?”
2)
Romans 10:11 “Are you ashamed of changing directions?” That’s conversion!
3)
Hebrews 13:5 “Jesus has come into your life and will never leave you!”
4)
Hebrews 10:25 “Please come together with other Christians on Sunday at my church
and get started learning this Bible!”
4.
Remember, there is a whole load of rejoicing in heaven going on!
II.
Conclusion
A.
He that WINNETH souls is wise! (Prov 11:30) Reconciling sinful man to an all
holy God (2Cor 5:18-20)
B.
So What Do We Do to Win Souls?
1.
Pray and ask God to fill you with Himself
2.
Then, Go into All the World
3.
Teach on the Cross
a.
Teach Them Their Direction
b.
Teach Them That Jesus Christ is headed a different Way
c.
Teach Them the Only Remedy is
to Change their Direction – not a Resolution, but Repentance!
d.
Now would be a good time to use your Testimony
4.
Prod Those Who Are Unconcerned (Jude 1:22,23)
5.
Be Ready to Deal with Sceptics
6.
Bring Them to a Decision
C.
This Week, try and win someone to Christ!
Handy Scriptures to Show Religious People
How to be Saved from the Wrath to Come!
Scriptures to answer the questions of Roman Catholicism.
1.
Final authority being only the Bible (Matt 4:4; Rom
3:4; John 17:17; John 8:32,36)
2.
Mary was a sinner - not sinless (Luke 2:21-24; Rom
3:10,23)
3.
Mary needed a Saviour (Luke 1:47)
4.
Jesus had brothers and sisters (Matt 12:46-50;
13:55,56; Mark 6:3; Gal 1:19)
5.
There is no need to pray through Mary, or any saint (1
Tim 2:5)!
6.
Religion ends up substituting the tradition of men in the place of the
commandments of God (Mark 7:7,10)
7.
Salvation is not by works at all (Eph 2:8,9; Tit
2:5; Isa 64:5) no matter how good they are
8.
Watch out for anyone who forbids people to
marry or to eat
meats (1Tim
4:1-3)
9.
All pastors are to be married as a general rule (1Tim
3:2). Peter was married (Mt 8:14)
10.
Baptism is NOT important to our salvation (1Cor 1:17)
- it is only for after salvation.
11.
Jesus hates the Rosary (Matt 6:7), and any
other repetitious prayer!
12.
There is no purgatory (2 Cor 5:8; Heb 1:3; 9:27; Rom
8:1) - either heaven or hell!
13.
A person is justified only by faith alone in Christ Jesus (Rom
1:17; Gal 2:16)
14.
Jesus finished paying for ALL of my sins on the cross (John
19:30)
Scriptures relating to Protestantism
(Many of the issues are the same as with Catholicism)
1.
Self righteousness is the worst sin (1 John 1:8,10;
Rom 10:3)
2.
Thinking that “My church is better than
others” is not what matters with God (John 3:3)
3.
“I keep the 10 commandments” is
impossible (James 2:10; Tit 3:5). Everyone
must repent and be born again.
4.
Thinking “I am part of the elect” is
only true if you are a Jew (Isa 55:6,7; 1 John 2:2)
Scriptures to Deal with a Jehovah’s Witness.
These people have been really confused.
1.
There is only one Saviour, and both Jehovah AND Jesus are that same Saviour
(Isa 43:11; 45:21; Acts 4:12)
2.
Jesus is God in the flesh (1Ti 3:16; Mt 1:23; Isa
7:14; Rom 9:5; 1John 5:20; Heb 1:8)
3.
Jesus is the Jehovah of the Old Testament (Isa 40:3
& Matt 3:3; Dt 10:17 & Rev 19:16; Ps 68:18 & Eph 4:8-10; Ex 3:14 & John 8:56-58)
4.
Jesus is equal with God (Philp 2:6-9; Isa 43:10,11;
44:6,8)
5.
Jesus is eternal (Micah 5:2)
6.
The trinity concept is Scriptural (2 Cor 13:14; Gal
4:4-6; Gen 1:26)
7.
There is a heaven full of mansions (John 14:1-3)
awaiting Christians
8.
The 144,000 witnesses of Revelation 12 are real Jewish male virgins (Rev
14:1-5)
9.
If a prophet ever makes a false prediction, that person is to be stoned with
stones, and disregarded (Dt 18:20-22)
10.
When Jesus does come back, every eye shall see Him (Rev
1:7)
11.
The Holy Spirit really is a real person (John 16:13)
12.
Hell is literal and eternal (Matt 23:33; Rev 14:11;
20:10; Luke 16:23-31)
Scriptures to Deal with a Mormon about salvation.
1. Exclusivity of Jesus Christ
to salvation (John 14:6; Hos 13:4)
2. You can know that you have
eternal life right now based upon the sole authority of the written word of God
(1 John 5:11-13)
3. Baptism is not important (1
Cor 1:17)
4. Decide the final authority
issue (Rom 3:4; John 17:17; John 8:32,36; Matt 4:4)
5. God has no body, but rather
is a spirit (John 4:24)
6. Jesus is God come in the
flesh (1 Tim 3:16)
7. God has always been, and
always will be - never created (Ps 90:1,2)
8. Only Satan teaches that man
can become like God (Gen 3:5; Isa 14:13,14)
9. The blood of Jesus Christ
cleanses the sinner from SIN (1 John 1:7)
10. The Gospel is the death, burial and
resurrection of Jesus for our sins (1 Cor 15:1-4)
11. The true
12. Disregard genealogies and fables (1
Tim 1:4)