SEVEN STEPS TO FRUITFUL SOULWINNING
BY BERT WHITEHEAD
Scripture: He that winneth souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30).
Here are seven ingredients to witnessing, sharing Christ, and winning souls.
1. Good Seed
A. Apostolic Truth! We’ve got it!
B. There is nothing wrong with the seed.
C. If we fail to proclaim Apostolic Truth, we will be as those who “sow wickedness and iniquity and reap the same.”
2. Good Soil
A. Four types of soil: stony, wayside, thorny, and good soil. Realize that not all soil will receive the seed and grow.
B. Two types of good soil for us:
1. Those who are active in other churches, but not in truth–usually baptized in the titles–harder to till.
Requires much wisdom, patience, knowledge, skill with the Word, and patience.
2. The unchurched/unbaptized (neither in titles nor Name)- This is the easiest soil to till!
C. Let’s go after the good soil that is easiest to till!
3. Thorough Preparation of the Soil.
A. “Break up your fallow ground” (Hosea 10:12). This step is absolutely essential! How? By becoming a TRUE FRIEND!
B. Jesus was called “a friend of sinners and publicans” (Luke 7:34). Before we can expect to win their souls, we must expect to win their friendship.
C. Between 80 and 95% of first-time visitors to church come as a result of a relationship with a Friend, Relative, Associate, or Neighbor, “FRAN!”– relationships built upon trust.
D. Before you speak one word of doctrine, you should endeavor to show them your doctrine.
1. Become a true friend who cares about their needs, hurts, joys.
2. Show them the love of Jesus without expecting anything from them.
E. If you are not willing to invest the time, energy and personal resources to become a true friend (that sticketh closer than a brother), don’t bother with your doctrine. You may do more harm than good, telling them about your “Truth” when all they see is a false friendship or false motives.
4. Plant carefully!
A. You can’t just throw a bucket of seed into one spot, one time, and expect growth.
B. Seed must be planted carefully, stategically, spaced just right, and covered with just the right amount of soil.
1. Find common ground.
a. Paul became a Jew to the Jews, a Greek to the Greeks.
b. With the woman at the well, Jesus began by talking about “living water.”
c. Why to we start with our differences and not our common ground?
2. Meet them right where they are.
a. Philip met the man on the chariot and began to tell him about Jesus from the exact spot where the man was reading.
b. If they haven’t yet believed in Jesus, start there; not at baptism or tongues.
3. Do not offend or cause unnecessary contention! “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; and their contentions are like the bars of a castle” (Proverbs 18:19).
4. Don’t tell them all the ways they are sinning.
5. In all things, truth must be balanced by mercy.
a. “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalm 85:10).
b. Our witnessing will be much more effective when we add mercy and tenderness.
C. Keep the Gospel message simple:
1. God, Us, Christ, You
a. God – created us, loved us, and wanted us to be with Him forever.
b. Us – We blew it! Man’s sin separates us from God–death is the penalty!
c. Christ – paid the penalty�the death penalty–with His own life!
d. You – must believe it and accept it!
2. Belief is to ‘believe on Jesus as your Lord and Savior.”
3. Receiving it is to repent and be baptized in His name.
4. He will then give the gift of eternal life through the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
5. Plant Abundantly
A. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” (11 Corinthians 9:6).
B. Make lots of friends and cultivate close relationships–sow seed whenever you have the opportunity! Make opportunities! Your efforts will pay off!
6. Share the Watering with Others
A. “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (I Corinthians 3:6).
B. “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established ” (11 Corinthians 13:1).
C. Soulwinning is TEAM WORK! Introduce your friend to others in the church. Let them build other friendships in the church.
D. Give others the opportunity to water your seed a little–great things will happen!
7. Weep for Your Crops
A. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6).
B. Much prayer and fasting will bring God onto your team. You MUST pray for your crops, for this is what brings God’s sunlight and growth.
The RESULT! God gives the increase and gets the glory! “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase ” (I Corinthians 3:6-7).
THE ABOVE MATERIAL WAS TAKEN FROM THE APOSTOLIC WRITERS� DIGEST, AND PUBLISHED BY THE APOSTOLIC ACCENT, PAGE 11, SEPTEMBER 99.
THIS MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY BE USED FOR STUDY & RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY.
