Learn To Win Souls - The Bible Is Food for a Saved Soul

A study on sharing the gospel — in twenty-eight short parts, read as one.

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Learn To Win Souls 1

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

I believe these are two of the most important commands God gave to all of us who are saved. So that you don’t have to read everything I have written about the topic in one sitting I shall put it into page long numbered segments. There will be some repetition because I wrote some of them decades apart. I considered sorting that out but then I realized that I have had to learn many things twice and God Himself repeats many of His truths.

You are welcome to share all or parts of it with others freely. Most of what God gives each of us is meant to be passed to others as needed and without any limitations. I would appreciate any suggestions you have for me about this. I never want to stop learning and sharing the gospel. Sometimes when I feel that I have shared the gospel perfectly people still reject Christ. When I know that I have made mistakes in what I have said people get saved anyway. That is because God has done His perfect work, not because I have.

God is able to change us and has a plan for our lives and He can change others and their lives as well.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

He always has a better plan than we do. We must also know that He can use us. If He can use a donkey He can use us.

Numbers 22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. 30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.

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Ask God to lead you to open-hearted unsaved people AND lead them to you. If He doesn’t work on both ends of it, it won’t happen. It is only God’s plan, preparation and power that can win souls. We mortal men are just one of the tools He uses in His salvation process. I cannot repeat too often that we cannot trust in ourselves but we must believe that God can use us.

Jonah 2:9b Salvation is of the LORD.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

All the world includes where-ever you are and where-ever you shall ever be.

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

There is never a time when God’s Word is inappropriate. God’s work precedes, causes and follows our salvation.

Exodus 36:2 And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:

Nehemiah 2:12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.

Proverbs 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, (Jews) Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

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Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Only the God who created our hearts is able to purify them. I try to ask questions rather than making arbitrary statements that can start arguments unless the arbitrary statements are in the Bible. There are many ways of winning souls.

I often ask people if they know for certain that they will go to Heaven when they die. Some know, some do not and some will say that we cannot know that. If they say that they know I ask them if they have invited Jesus into their hearts and He has saved them. I ask the others if I may quote a verse from the Bible to them. If they refuse that I pray for them inwardly and sometimes can convince them to hear the verse. If they are willing I share this verse with them.

1 John 5:13a These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.

I ask people if they can share with me from the Bible how one can know he is going to Heaven. If they cannot or won’t I ask them if I may share those verses with them so they can know that they will go to Heaven. I tell them it only takes a few minutes. If they are willing I say that it starts with bad news but ends with good news.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

I tell them that I know that I am a sinner and ask them if they know that they are. Very few will claim they are not sinners. Now the good news.

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

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

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I tell them that many believe that if they do a lot of good things they will go to Heaven. I tell them that if they could go to heaven for that reason, heaven would be something they earned and a gift must be free or it is not a gift. I ask them if that makes sense to them and it usually does. I then tell them that Jesus is the Son of God, God the Son and He came to earth and became a man. He lived on earth for over 32 years. Because He was 100% God and 100% man He never committed a sin. Because he never committed a sin, when He died and the cross he was paid the wages for our sin our so we might be forgiven. God’s justice has been done so He can forgive our sins and still remain just and Holy.

I sometimes ask if they have been born again. If they tell me that they have been, I ask them how and when that happened. If they have any answer other than that they were born again when they received Jesus, they may not have been truly born again. They might have different words for receiving Jesus, but receiving Jesus is what they must have done. If they have a wrong answer I quote John 1:12 and tell them that becoming a child of God and becoming born again are two descriptions of the same work of God.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

It takes God’s power to make us Sons of God. I tell them that the way to receive Jesus is into their hearts and when the Bible speaks of our hearts, that is not the muscle in our chests pumping blood around our bodies. When the Bible speaks of our hearts it is speaking about the spiritual non-material part of us that will exist forever either in Heaven with God or Hell separated from Him after this body dies. The apostle Paul’s recorded his prayer for us.

Ephesians 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 THAT CHRIST MAY DWELL IN YOUR HEARTS by faith that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

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Some Bible truths about our hearts are helpful.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

The Bible says about Heaven:

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

We must have pure hearts if we are to get into Heaven.

Psalms 51:10 CREATE A CLEAN HEART IN ME, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

This was King David’s wise prayer. He knew that he could not create a clean heart in himself.

Acts 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, PURIFYING THEIR HEARTS by faith.

The only being who can purify our hearts is the God who created them in the first place. Keep in mind that more people might reject Christ than those who will receive him. That may or may not be true of your ministry.

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Notice that receiving His word preceded their baptism. Water baptism does not save. It is intended to be a physical illustration of a spiritual event that that preceded it. It illustrates that they were dead in their sins with Christ but now risen with Christ and have become alive unto new life in Christ. To be continued.

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Acts 4:4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

These people were Jews and many of them believed that they would be the only ones to obtain God’s salvation. They criticized Paul for sharing the gospel with a Gentile named Cornelius and some of his friends. (The Jews and the Gentiles were usually enemies.) Paul said:

Acts 11:17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

We may share with them the Roman Road or the Four Spiritual Laws. Other scriptures may be fruitful for you. I try to make three main points: 1. Salvation is a free gift, not something that can be earned. 2. It is a gift that will change us. Three. We must receive it. God will not force it on us until we want Him to and ask Him to.

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

I tell them that death means separation from God, the source of life.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

I cannot over-emphasize that like Paul we need to pray before, while and after we share the gospel. And whenever possible ask others to pray. We ought to ask the Lord to give us the right words for them and that He will open the hearts of unsaved individuals.

I repeat that you and I cannot win a soul. Only God can do that. What we can do is make ourselves available to Him to be used in the process. Our part in the process is loving them and giving them the Word of God, the Bible.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

It does not come by my words and it does not come by your words. The less of our words we share with them and the more of God’s words, the better. To be continued.

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1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

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.

Do not wait until you are perfect to share the gospel. You won’t be perfect until the Lord comes and takes you to Heaven and then it will be too late to win souls. Jesus was perfect and still many rejected the gospel He gave them. If you believe that the ones who share the gospel with you was perfect, you are wrong. God will make you more fruitful if you ask Him to forgive your sins and guide you and use you. It is helpful to remember often that He can use you and times that He has used you..

Memorize the scriptures that you want to use. If you can’t memorize them, type them out and carry them with you. Put them in the form of a list. Put them in the form of an outline. Use them for a bookmark in your Bible. Include only the references or include the entire passages. Whatever works for you. When the Lord gives you more scriptures that might help you share the gospel, add them. Sharing the gospel with one individual will seldom be exactly like it will be for other individuals. The Holy Spirit will lead you. Trust the Holy Spirit to give you the right passages and the right words.

No one gets saved without the Holy Spirit doing His work. If you are saved, when you heard the gospel God was using some human was speaking to your ears and to your mind. While the Holy Spirit was speaking to your heart. He has to do a lot of things that you don’t even think about as you share the gospel. He has to deal with you AND the one you are sharing the gospel with.

Practice sharing the gospel. Learn from experience. Learn from your mistakes. You will not remember everything that you want to remember as you share the gospel. You will not remember everything that I share with you about sharing the gospel. I myself do not ever remember it all at one time. The Holy Spirit will help you remember what you need. Even if you botch it up, you will have planted or watered. Making mistakes is not failure. Our only failure is not trying to share the gospel.

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

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Notice that Paul planted (The Word of God) Apollos watered it but God gave the increase.

When you share the gospel, you have shown someone love. Sharing the gospel with someone and praying for them are the most loving things you can do for them. Expect some people to receive Jesus and expect some to reject Him. Don’t get hurt feelings if they reject Him. Continue to be gracious if they do. It is not very important that they have not rejected you. What is important is that they have rejected Christ. Rejecting you does them no harm. Rejecting Jesus is what harms them. Here is what the Lord said to Samuel:

1 Samuel 8:7b For they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Receiving Him includes receiving His authority us.

When someone receives Christ, be prepared to do all the follow-up you possibly can. Don’t let the possibility that you won’t be able to do follow-up prevent you from sharing the gospel. Most of us probably receive most of our spiritual food after we are saved from spiritual leaders and teachers other than the one that led us to Christ.

Before you share the gospel pray for Divine appointments. Pray for open doors. Pray for boldness. Pray for guidance. Pray for forgiveness for your own sins. After they have received Christ pray for them. If possible pray for them in their presence. Teaching them to pray is an important element of discipleship. Pray that they will learn to understand the Bible and love it. Pray that they will find Gods will for their life. Pray that they will learn that Gods will is best. Pray that the Lord will give them great assurance. You will be teaching them a little about how to talk to the Lord and to depend upon Him.

When sharing the gospel with individuals, don’t do all the talking. Try to get to know them. Ask questions. Their answers will tell you if they are already saved or need to be. Their answers will tell you what they believe. Their answers will tell you if they are open to the gospel. Their answers will tell you if they have been exposed to the Bible. Their answers will reveal their attitude toward the Bible. Early in the conversation let the unbeliever do some of the talking. Once you begin sharing the gospel they will often be willing to listen. Often they will have some knowledge of the Bible. You might be able to build on that. The biggest problems are when they firmly believe things that are unbiblical. To be continued.

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You can give them the scriptures that can correct their wrong beliefs but you cannot force them to believe. Some of the wrong beliefs might evaporate as you share scripture truth with them. If they cling firmly to their unbiblical beliefs they are clinging to an idol, and the best things you can do for them are to graciously continue to love them and pray for them.

When people ask questions that are irrelevant to the gospel, try to answer them quickly and then return to the passages you planned to share with them. When they ask questions or try to change the subject you can probably get them back on subject by saying something like this: That is an interesting subject, perhaps we can speak about that later. When you encounter someone who insists on doing all the talking you probably won’t be able to share the gospel with him. But you can pray for him silently while he is talking. If there are two of you sharing the gospel, the one not speaking should be praying.

The more of the Bible they have heard and will believe, the better the chances that they will respond to the gospel. The more they respect the Bible the greater the chance they will respond to the gospel. The more they wrestle with the Bible, the smaller the chance that they will respond to the gospel.

A verbal wrestling match or argument must not be between you and them, it must be between them and God and the Bible. If they respect the Bible or wrestle with the Bible it is not your doing. We do not know if they will respond to the Bible and the Holy Spirit or resist them.

We do not know when they have resisted the Holy Spirit so long and so strongly that He will stop speaking to them. Our job is to give them as much of the Bible as we can.

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

I often ask folks who were part of an unbiblical church: So you have heard lots of verses from the Bible, may I quote one to you? The Bible will either bring them to faith or they will wrestle with it.

When I have their permission to quote one verse from the Bible, sometimes quote 2 Corinthians 13:5a: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; It can be helpful for them to know that I am not qualified to judge them. There are other verses that might be more appropriate, depending upon what they have revealed to me about themselves. To be continued.

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The verse can at first appeal to their pride. But God can humble them and often does that through the Bible. I explain that I cannot look upon their heart but they are accountable to the Lord.

I then tell them that the Bible gives many verses that can help them examine themselves. I ask permission to quote some of those verses. I usually get their permission to quote a few verses. Above all else, they need to know that they must receive Jesus into their hearts.

Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

The difference between the good man and the evil man is that the good man has Christ living and working in his heart.

Bill Fay was an executive working for an auto manufacturer. I believe it was Chrysler Corporation. He also owned a house of prostitution. Then he got saved and became a soul-winner. He once came upon an auto accident with a dying young man trapped in a car. I believe it was a Volkswagen. He shared the gospel with the young man who got saved and a few minutes later died. Some years later he was teaching a class on how to win souls and shared that story. After the class a woman came to him and asked him what color the Volkswagen was. When he told her she said “That was my grandson.” What joy she had to know that her grandson was saved before he died.

Our goal is to get people into the Bible. The Bible will cause faith in Christ which will result in their receiving Him as Saviour. Since the Bible will bring people to faith in Christ, any verse from anywhere in the Bible can help do that.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Asking questions will very seldom offend anyone therefore asking questions is the method I prefer. I will suggest a few opening questions. Then I will suggest a few specific scriptures that give people the facts of the gospel and usually convince them to receive Jesus. Then I will suggest some closing questions.

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The opening questions are to determine if people are open and willing to hear or read what the Bible says. The questions are non-offensive probes to see if I will have an opportunity get them into the Bible. If they are not willing do not press them or argue with them. Graciously back off. The Lord has not prepared them for salvation yet. Pray for them and continue to love them and live a pure life before them. You may even be able to tell them what God has done for you.

This study is a modification of what I learned from Pastor Bill Fay in his book and audio tape entitled: How to Share Your Faith Without an Argument. This method has been very fruitful for me. Our goal is to get people into the Bible. The Bible will cause faith in Christ which will result in their receiving Him as Saviour. Since the Bible will bring people to faith in Christ, any verse from anywhere in the Bible can help do that.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

My favorite opening questions are: Do you go to church anyplace? Do you have any kind of spiritual beliefs? If they tell me they attend a type of church where I believe they have already heard the facts of the gospel it may not be necessary for me to give them those facts. If they tell me they attend a type of church where I am sure they have not heard the facts of the gospel it may be my privilege to share those facts with them. If they tell me they do not attend church it may be my privilege to share the Gospel facts with them.

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My favorite second question is: Do you know for sure that you will go to heaven when you die?

If they say no skip six paragraphs to the bold paragraph. If they say yes but I remain doubtful my third question is something like this: If you were standing at the gate of heaven and the Lord asked you Why should I let you in here what would you answer?

If they say they have received Jesus as Saviour they are probably your brother/sister in Christ. Fellowship with them ought to begin instantly if they have truly trusted Christ. Sometimes that will be their first statement and sometimes they will beat around the bush a bit before saying that. Do not give them answers. I have made that mistake. If you give them words to say that may not be true they might say them just to get rid of you. They would then probably be rejecting you or your method of sharing the gospel. They would not necessarily have rejected Christ. If at any time during these preliminary questions they break off the discussion, they may have simply rejected you or your method. Do not let your hurt feelings make you ungracious. They will not go to Hell because they have rejected you, only if they reject Christ and His gospel. Your job is to give them the facts of the gospel and leave the outcome to God.

If they have answered the question with a yes they know they are going to heaven, but I am doubtful I ask them this: If what you believe were not true would you want to know it?

If they say no you will probably not have the opportunity to get them into the Word of God. If they say yes I make the following statement and ask the question that might open the door for me to present the facts of the gospel:

There are only eight or nine passages in the Bible that you need to know and believe in order to get into heaven. May I share them with you? (This is an honest question because some people might need a couple more verses than others.)

If they say no, they may have rejected you or your method of sharing the gospel. Let me repeat: do not let your hurt feelings make you ungracious. They will not go to Hell because they have rejected you, only if they reject Christ. Keep in mind this may not be their final opportunity to trust Christ.

If they say yes, praise the Lord!! Begin giving them the Gospel facts. Notice that to this point, the only absolute and dogmatic statement I have made is that there are eight or nine passages they need to know and believe to get to heaven. I have not told them anything else. I have only asked questions. I have not given them anything to argue about. To be continued.

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The Gospel Facts: Now that they are ready to hear the Gospel facts, they need to hear them from God, not me or you. For each scripture passage I share there is gospel truth I want them to understand. We will first read the verse. I prefer to have them read the verses out loud but if they prefer I will read the verses out loud. Then I will ask them What does that mean to you? If they understand the correct truth from that passage we move along.

If not I will ask them Does it mean (insert Gospel fact)? Then we will read the verse again. If, after reading or hearing a verse 3 or 4 times they still dont have the right meaning, you might need to share another scripture that proves the same Gospel fact to convince them. I will do my level best not to tell them specifically what any verse means. If they are going to argue with anyone it should not be me, it should be the Lord.

Sometimes they will go down some rabbit trail that has nothing to do with the verse or the Gospel facts. When that happens you want to graciously get them back to the verse at hand. Usually all that is needed is to say something like: Perhaps we can discuss that later but for now lets just come back to the simplicity of this one verse.

The first verse: Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Gospel fact: They are among the all who have sinned.

It is sometimes helpful for me to say I know that includes me, does it include you? It is very rare in my experience for anyone to deny that they are a sinner. The only ones I have been aware of doing that have come from religions that do not use the Bible. If they have not heard very much of the Bible it may be necessary to share more passages to establish the Gospel facts. For instance it may be helpful to convince them they are sinners to go to:

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

If that verse does not do it you may need to take them to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and go through them one at a time until they acknowledge they are sinners. Bear in mind that the Biblical purpose for the Ten Commandments specifically and the Bible in general is to bring men to Christ.

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

If they insist they are not sinners, which is rare, you may not be able to lead them to the Lord in one session.

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

We want to establish four Gospel facts from this verse.

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Gospel fact: The word wages means what we have earned or deserve. Gospel fact: Death means Hell. If they doubt this you might take them to Revelation 21:8: But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

I have occasionally taken them to Genesis 2:17: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

I might comment that Adam lived over 930 years after that and so the instant death he suffered was separation from God.

Gospel fact: A gift is free. I might ask them if a gift is something they might buy or earn. Sometimes they might waffle on this but most will quickly understand that if they bought it or earned it, it would no longer be a gift.

Gospel fact: Eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord is heaven.

Next verse: Romans 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Gospel fact: God loves them.

Gospel fact: Christ died for them and for their sin. Next verse: Romans 10:9: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Gospel fact: The resurrection of Christ. Next verse:

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Gospel fact: Calling upon the name of the Lord is a prayer. Next verses: John 1:11-12: He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Gospel fact: He is Jesus. We could prove that by going to verse 14.

Gospel fact: The ones who receive Christ are the ones who get to heaven.

Gospel fact: The ones who become the sons of God are the ones who get to heaven.

Gospel fact: The ones who receive him not are excluded from heaven.

Next verse: John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Gospel fact: Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. Next verse: Ephesians 3:17a: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;

Gospel fact: Christ wants to come into their heart. Gospel fact: Salvation is a free gift but having the gift will change them.

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2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Closing Questions: Are you now willing to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior? May I help you to pray a prayer in which you receive Him?

I will then tell them that I will say a prayer just one phrase at a time and I would like them to repeat those phrases after me, speaking to the Lord. I tell them that if I say anything that they dont want to say to the Lord, stop me and well discuss that issue more. I tell them I would like to eavesdrop on what they say to the Lord so please speak out loud. If they are shy you might share with them that God knows our thoughts and they can pray to Him silently.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

I then bow my head and pray a prayer something like this giving them time to repeat the phrases after me: Dear God . . . Thank you that you love me . . . Thank you that Jesus died for me . . . for my sins . . . I am a sinner . . . Forgive my sin . . . Lord Jesus, I receive you as my Saviour . . . Come into my heart . . . Come into my life . . . Change me according to your will . . . Thank You . . . Amen.

Occasionally when I ask the question Are you willing to receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour? some will surprise me and say that they have done that already. When it takes that long in the discussion I sometimes doubt that they have genuinely received Him. One way to find out if their receiving Jesus was genuine is to ask: Have you been born again? I then take them to John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Then they have been willing to receive Christ. Two people have received Christ after this type of exchange. Some people dont understand that receiving Christ results in the new birth.

I have gone into far greater detail here than you will need. The Holy Spirit will guide you to use different scriptures, fewer scriptures, more scriptures, etc. I like to carry a bookmark in my Bibles that reminds me of the scriptures and gospel facts. I suggest you do that too. I never tell people they are saved because I cannot see their hearts.

We owe them as much discipleship as possible, after they have trusted Christ: I try to ask questions like these: Did the Lord do something to you just now? I want them to confess Christ as soon as possible and as often as possible.

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Matthew 10:32: Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. I want them to begin reading the Bible and recommend that they begin with the books of John, Romans, Proverbs and then wherever the Lord leads them. I want them to begin attending a good fundamental church.

I might suggest a particular church or I might explain how they can find a good Biblical church. I would like to keep in contact with them and provide them with appropriate Bible studies.

John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

We cannot know where the Holy Spirit comes from to do His saving work or where He goes. I shall make a clumsy effort to explain it.

Many individuals who were filled with the Holy Spirit gave me many passages from the Bible. Some planted the seed (the Word of God) and some watered it. And then one day in 1985 there was a radio preacher that gave me one more verse from the Bible. The Holy Spirit reaped my soul through the Word of God which had been planted and watered and finally through that man.

Remarkably, now that the Holy Spirit lives in me, He uses even me to plant, water and reap. When I was new at witnessing and sharing the gospel, people were getting saved. I naively thought it was because of me. It was in spite of me. It was because of the Holy Spirit who lives in me reproving them of sin, righteousness and judgment and because of the Word of God that I and others gave them.

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

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Salvation is like losing an argument with the Lord. When we lose the argument with the Lord, it is not just Him that wins. We win too. It is saying Lord, you are right and I have been wrong. It is saying Lord make me what you want me to be rather than what I want to be. It is saying Lord I need your will for my life instead of my own. I thought folks were getting saved because I had won an argument with them but it was because God had won an argument with them. In fact, we should not argue with them.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

The truth is that I have never won a single soul. But the Holy Spirit and the Bible have won many souls through me and numerous other sowers of the Word as well as those that have watered it. Those folks were saved because the Holy Spirit reasoned with them and they agreed with Him.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

They believed that they were lost sinners in need of Christ and His forgiveness so they received Him. We need to let the Word of God and the Holy Spirit do their work of reasoning or arguing with lost men. They have all gone astray in different ways. We don’t know but the Holy Spirit knows.

Isaiah 53:6a All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;

If they are anything like me they probably committed tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of sins. What we need to tell them is the right way, which is receiving Christ and surrendering to Him. I don’t recall a single one of the individuals who have received Christ in my hearing getting specific about their sins. The only sin that will condemn them is rejecting Jesus and wrestling with the Bible. Unless they bring up some certain sin, the sin of rejecting Jesus and the righteousness of receiving Him are usually the only things that we should deal with when sharing the gospel.

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There are some Christians who have a burden for people involved in the same sins that they were involved in. They try to become expert at sharing the gospel with them. I did that too and failed miserably. The Apostle Paul had a great burden for his fellow Jews but shared the gospel successfully with far more Gentiles than Jews. The Lord did sprinkle in a few Jews for Him to share the gospel with successfully.

I was saved from the hypocrisy of a particular denomination that did not preach the whole counsel of God. So I had a special burden for other individuals involved in that hypocrisy. When the Bible commands us to go into all the world, I believe it means to individuals that are guilty of all manner of sins, not just the sins I was guilty of. He has permitted me to share the gospel successfully with far more individuals who were involved in different sins than I was. And He has given me the opportunity to share the gospel successfully with a few of those who were involved in the same hypocrisy that I was. If I had focused all my attention on the idolatry of that people group I would not have been very useful to the Lord.

I was not saved because a radio preacher knew anything specific about my hypocrisy because he did not. He did not even know who he was preaching to. He simply shared with me that I needed Christ. None of those involved in my particular hypocrisy were saved because I had shared something specific about their sins either because I had not. I simply shared with them their need of Christ. The reasons we need Christ are many and complex but knowing that we need Him is simple. I heard of a little lad that was having trouble memorizing the 23rd Psalm. After trying to memorize it for a long time when the time came to recite it, he said simply, The Lord is my shepherd and that’s all I need to know. Knowing that they need Christ is what all lost sinners need to know. That is what they all have in common. What we ought to share with them is Who met our need and Who wants to meet their need. With the gospel of Christ, intellectuals can lead people with limited intellect to Christ and people with limited intellect can lead intellectuals to Him.

1 John 5:11 -12: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

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Many of the individuals we might share the Word of God with might have heard some of it before and the Holy Spirit may have spoken to them before and shown them His life-changing work in the lives of many others.

I ask the Lord to lead me to individuals who need the Word of God to be planted, watered or reaped in their hearts and lives. He answers. If you are saved, He will answer that prayer for you as well. When I received Christ, He made me a new creature that wants to be used by Him.

Essentially what I do is present my body to Him and He uses it. My body includes my mind and my voice.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Some Christians seem to doubt John 7:38 but soul winners believe it and prove that they believe it.

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

This method has been very fruitful for me. Our goal is to get people into the Bible. The Bible will cause faith in Christ which will result in their receiving Him as Saviour. Since the Bible will bring people to faith in Christ, any verse from anywhere in the Bible can help do that.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

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My favorite second question is: Do you know for sure that you will go to heaven when you die?

If they have answered the question with a yes they know they are going to heaven, but I am doubtful I ask them this: If what you believe were not true would you want to know it?

There are only eight or nine passages in the Bible that you need to know and believe in order to get into heaven. May I share them with you? (This is an honest question because some people might need a couple more verses than others.)

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Then we will read the verse again. If, after reading or hearing a verse 3 or 4 times they still dont have the right meaning, you might need to share another scripture that proves the same Gospel fact to convince them. I will do my level best not to tell them specifically what any verse means. If they are going to argue with anyone it should not be me, it should be the Lord.

The first verse: Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Gospel fact: They are among the all who have sinned.

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If the above verse does not do it you may need to take them to the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and go through them one at a time until they acknowledge they are sinners. Bear in mind that the Biblical purpose for the Ten Commandments specifically and the Bible in general is to bring men to Christ.

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

If they insist they are not sinners, which is rare, you may not be able to lead them to the Lord in one session.

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

We want to establish four Gospel facts from this verse.

I have occasionally have taken them to Genesis 2:17: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. To be continued.

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I might comment that Adam lived over 930 years after that and so the instant death he suffered was separation from God.

Gospel fact: Eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord is heaven.

Next verse: Romans 5:8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Gospel fact: God loves them.

Gospel fact: The resurrection of Christ. Next verse: Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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Gospel fact: He is Jesus. We could prove that by going to verse 14.

Gospel fact: The ones who receive Christ are the ones who get to heaven.

Gospel fact: The ones who become the sons of God are the ones who get to heaven.

Gospel fact: The ones who receive him not are excluded from heaven.

Next verse: John 14:6: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Gospel fact: Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. Next verse: Ephesians 3:17a: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;

Gospel fact: Christ wants to come into their heart. Next verse: 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Gospel fact: Salvation is a free gift but having the gift will change them.

Closing Questions: Are you now willing to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior? May I help you to pray a prayer in which you receive Him?

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

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John 3:3: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Then they have been willing to receive Christ. Two people have received Christ after this type of exchange. Some people dont understand that receiving Christ results in the new birth.

I have gone into far greater detail here than you will ever need. The Holy Spirit will guide you to use different scriptures, fewer scriptures, more scriptures, etc. I like to carry a bookmark in my Bibles that reminds me of the scriptures and gospel facts. I suggest you do that as well. I never tell people they are saved because I cannot see their hearts.

We owe them as much discipleship as possible, after they have trusted Christ: I try to ask questions like these: Did the Lord do something to you just now? What did He do? I want them to confess Christ as soon as possible and as often as possible.

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

I want them to begin reading the Bible and recommend that they begin with the books of John, Romans, Proverbs and then wherever the Lord leads them. I want them to begin attending a good fundamental church. I might suggest a particular church or I might explain how they can find a good Biblical church. I would like to keep in contact with them and provide them with appropriate Bible studies.

John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

We cannot know where the Holy Spirit comes from to do His saving work or where He goes. I shall make a clumsy effort to explain it.

Learn To Win Souls 26

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

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2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 53:6a All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;

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There are some Christians who have a burden for people involved in the same sins that they were involved in. They try to become expert at sharing the gospel with them. The Apostle Paul had a great burden for his fellow Jews but shared the gospel successfully with far more Gentiles than Jews. The Lord did sprinkle in a few Jews for Him to share the gospel with successfully.

Knowing that they need Christ is what all lost sinners need to know. That is what they all have in common. What we ought to share with them is that Jesus met our need and He wants to meet their need. With the gospel of Christ, intellectuals can lead people with limited intellect to Christ and people with limited intellect can lead intellectuals to Him.

1 John 5:11 -12: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Some Christians seem to doubt John 7:38 but soul winners believe it and prove that they believe it.

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How To Win A Soul Quickly

This method should only be used if you believe that the person is willing to hear the gospel but doesn’t have much time. I will assume that you have already chatted a moment or two with the person and something spiritual was discussed that revealed to you his openness. The Lord knew eons ago that you would have a short time with this person. If this is the time He has chosen to save that person He will not fail. The only person who can fail is you. The only failure is not trying. The Lord may have already given an abundance of spiritual truth to this person. These few moments could be the climax of God’s dealing with him. I have often learned after hearing someone pray to receive Christ that someone else had been planting seeds for a long time. In fact the person’s salvation wouldn’t happen either quickly or slowly without the prayers and witnessing of others.

I would quote several verses and ask simple direct questions expecting yes answers to each question. A no answer can slow the process down. Reading these scriptures, the questions and the person’s answers very slowly took me less than two minutes. Another minute to lead them in a prayer to receive Christ would make the total less than three minutes. It can happen that fast. Questions and scriptures that might work. You may some that will work better.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Are you a sinner? Yes.

Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death; . . .

Does that mean that because of our sin we earn Hell? Yes.

Romans 6:23b . . . but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Does that mean heaven is a free gift? Yes.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Do you believe that Christ died for you? Yes.

Romans 10:9a That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, . . .

Do you believe Jesus is the Lord?Yes.

Romans 10:9b . . . and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Do you believe that God raised Christ from the dead? Yes. To be continued.

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Ephesians 3:17a That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;

Do you believe that Christ would like to come into your heart? Yes.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Are you willing to invite Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord and Savior right now: Yes.

Help him to pray and receive Christ into his heart.

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