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Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Feb. 18, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including a zipped file of all of my 1999 and 2000 sermon outlines, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:

CORRECTIONS ABOUT SOUL-WINNING

By Michael D. O'Neal                Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                Albany, Georgia

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Scripture Reading: Acts 5:41-6:1

Text: Acts 5:42

Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Introduction: I am not against inviting people to church. I am not against membership campaigns that churches may carry out. However, I do want you to notice that Bible does not say that the early church endeavored to multiply the number of the disciples. What it does say that every day, publicly and privately, they told people about Jesus Christ. The result, as we find from the next verse, was that "the number of the disciples was multiplied."

One of the mistakes of church building is that church growth should not be the primary goal. We should not wait until we get enough good workers to start a soul-winning program. We should be winning souls no matter how many people we have in our churches.

There are a number of other wrong ideas people have when the subject of soul-winning comes to mind. Let me give some truths about soul-winning this morning that will correct some of those misconceptions.

I. SOUL-WINNING IS A COMMAND, NOT A SPIRITUAL GIFT

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

A. We should carry out the command

• It is not a suggestion to consider; it's a command!
• You don't need to pray about whether or not you should do it. You just DO it!

B. We should coach our converts

• Look at Matt. 28:20 -- teaching THEM to observe ALL things whatsoever I have commanded YOU -- that includes Matt. 28:19-20!
• A pastor in North Carolina told me in an email this morning that his people had NEVER had any training in soul-winning. Thank God, they are implementing our soul-winning training program at his church THIS AFTERNOON.
• Another pastor in Georgia told me that HE had never been trained to win souls. He has plans to start up a training program with our materials soon.

 

II. SOUL-WINNING IS CHIEF, NOT SECONDARY

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

A. It was the motivation of Christ

• He came into this world to save sinners.
• He lived without sin so He could die as a sacrifice for sinners.
• He died on the cross for sinners.
• He rose again for sinners.

B. It is the mission of the church

• Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
• 2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

C. It is the main emphasis of the church

• Every ministry of the church is either to win souls or to strengthen Christians so that they are able to win souls.

III. SOUL-WINNING IS CHARITY, NOT SOLICITATION

Some businesses today try to forbid soul-winning on their promises with a posted notice against solicitation. However, soul-winning is NOT solicitation. To solicit is to ask for or plead for, especially in reference to receiving payment or money.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

A. We offer a FANTASTIC gift

• Eternal life!

B. We offer a FREE gift

• It is free, but it's not cheap!
• It was paid for by the most precious substance in the universe -- the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• You can't buy it. You can't earn it. You can't work in order to get it.
• You can only get it by receiving it as a free gift from God by faith in Christ Jesus.

IV. SOUL-WINNING IS COOPERATION, NOT SINGLE EFFORT

1 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

A. We cooperate with our Savior

• 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

B. We cooperate with other soul-winners

• 1 Cor. 3:6 (above)
• Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
• Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

 

V. SOUL-WINNING IS CONTINUOUS, NOT SPORADIC

Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

A. It should be daily

• I'm for churches having a night for organized soul-winning visitation, but we should be winning souls every day!
• Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

B. It should be deliberate

• Jesus told His disciples to follow Him, and He would make them fishers of men. 
• People don't catch fish by accident; they catch them on purpose.
• The reason Christians don't win souls is that they do not make a deliberate choice and plan to do it.

Let's do it! Let's go after sinners!

Dr. Jack Hyles went to be with the Lord almost two weeks ago. Years ago he wrote the following little poem: