Lead Me to Some Soul Today

Introduction:

Each Christian has been given a great task to make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19) The early disciples were very concerned about spreading the gospel wherever they were. (I Thessalonians 1:6-8) They understood the importance of this work. Do we in the church realize this importance? “Are you sowing the seed of the kingdom, brother?” (Psalms 126:5-6)

Body:

I. Ways to Evangelize

  1. Discussing Christianity or studying God’s word with a friend
  2. Giving someone a tract on a particular subject
  3. Telling and showing your neighbor the happiness of being a

Christian

  1. Inviting someone to services with you
  2. Canvassing for a gospel meeting
  3. Teaching a Bible class in someone’s home
  4. Visiting the home of a visitor to worship services
  5. Gathering your neighbors into your home for a Bible class
  6. Bringing a friend to the church’s Bible classes

10. Telling a fellow-worker (student) about Jesus, the way to heaven

11.Planting the word in someone’s heart

12.Writing a letter to a loved one expressing your interest about

his/her soul

13.Having someone with whom you are studying or with whom you

would like to have a study into your home for a meal

14.Encouraging a new member

15.Exhorting one another to assemble in the scheduled services of

the church

16.Teaching, reproving and rebuking the worldly, the indifferent and

the wayward among those who claim to be Christians

17.Encouraging and strengthening the faint-hearted and comforting

the bereaved among the family of God

18.Visiting and admonishing those who forsake the assemblies

These are just a few ways of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

II. Different Types of Lost People

  1. Religious but confused: Nicodemus, The Ethiopian eunuch (Romans 10:1-4)
  2. Good moral people Moral goodness can not save anyone! (Isaiah 64:6) Also (Romans 3:10, 23) Christ’s blood is necessary. (Ephesians 1:7)
  3. Unconcerned Most people in the United States are in this category. Their thoughts are of the “here and now.” They are concerned with money, fame, recreation; but not about Christ or eternity. (I John 2:15-17, Luke 12:20)
  4. Unbeliever or Skeptic They don’t believe in God or Christ or the Bible. (Romans 1:19-20)
  5. Fallen Away They knew Christ and followed Him in the past; but no longer are faithful. (James 5:19-20)

III. How to Get Started

  1. Do you believe in God?
  2. Do you go to church somewhere?
  3. There has been something that I’ve been wanting to talk to you about for some time and that is your relationship with God.
  4. If you were to die tonight, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven?

IV. Answering Questions

Remember I Peter 3:15 and Colossians 4:6.

Many members of the church have failed to do personal work because they are afraid someone will ask them a question they cannot answer. Usually the same questions are asked by everyone, and if you learn how to answer these few questions, you should be able to handle anything thrown at you. Some examples of these questions are:

“Do you believe that only members of the church of Christ are going to Heaven and everyone else is going to Hell?” Response: “It doesn’t matter what I believe, or what you believe or what anyone else believes. What really matters is that we do what God says in the Bible/New Testament.”

“Do you think my mother and father are in hell?” Response: “Knowing you, I am sure you had wonderful parents, but we are not their judge; God is. You are not going to give an account for your parents; but for yourself.”

“What will happen to someone who has never heard of Christ or the “Bible?” Response: The important question right now is what is going to happen to you who has an opportunity to know what God’s will is?”

“Are you doubting my sincerity?” Response: “No, I believe you are sincere, but sincerity alone will not get us to Heaven.”

“How do you know there is a God?” Response: “Look at creation, life is too complex to just have happened by chance.”

“What about the thief on the cross?” Response: “The thief lived and died under the Old Testament and was forgiven by Jesus Himself, something which He had the authority to do.”

“There are too many hypocrites in the church.” Response: “Hypocrites get married, play gold, drive cars, rent houses, and run businesses. Would you not do these things just because hypocrites do them? The hypocrite will be lost; but do you want to be lost along with the hypocrite? It is better to be in church with a hypocrite than in hell with one. When you lie dying, you will find little comfort in counting the hypocrites who kept you out of the church!”

Conclusion:

There is much work to be done. We need workers to sow the seed of the kingdom. Remember the words of the apostle Paul, “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” (II Corinthians 5:11)

Bobby Stafford

February 20, 2012