THE EFFECTIVE SOUL WINNER

LOF5: Effective Evangelism

SOUL WINNING SHOULD BE PART OF A DISCIPLE’S LIFESTYLE.
It should not be ‘foreign’ ministry, or an isolated department, nor a particular stereotype of
Christians.
It’s NOT a calling / gift for the few….
▪ but FOR ALL WHO HAVE BEEN SAVED, WE ARE CALLED.
▪ Sharing our faith is NOT just a suggestion, it’s a command.
▪ And God is with us when we obey Him.

Jesus commanded us to MARK 16:15 (NLT)

And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

Many Christians express a deep concern for lost souls…… but they never share the Gospel
with lost people!

Jesus told His disciples, "Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for
people " (Matthew 4:19).
The implication is that IF WE ARE REALLY FOLLOWING JESUS, WE'LL BE FISHING --- SOUL
WINNING.

Jesus' last words were, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28:19).
And it has been said, “His last command should be our first priority.”

ANYONE WHO IS SAVED, IS CALLED TO SAVE SOULS!

HOW CAN WE BE AN EFFECTIVE WITNESS/ SOUL WINNER

FOR HIM?

1) HAVE A BURDEN FOR OTHERS

Ask God to help you see the world as He sees it, and to lay into your heart a handful of people
whom you can earnestly pray for.
• Keep them into your prayer list, pray over those names every day,
• Pray for opportunities of reaching & sharing about Jesus to them.
As disciples, we must understand the Power of Prayer & Fasting that lays the foundation for
God to move, even before we move.
FASTING & INTERCESSORY PRAYER INCREASES OUR ABILITY TO BELIEVE GOD.
People don’t just come to God, they must be prayed into the Kingdom.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
3
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
4 Thegod of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of
the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

• Pray that God would open their blinded mind,

• pray that they will see the glory of God…..that they shall see light in the midst of a dark
world.
FAST FOR THIS SPECIFIC REASON……
Isaiah 58:6-8
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

ISAIAH says…..Proper fasting is not mere refraining from food, but a commitment to justice
and the poor……
• to loose the bonds of oppression, to set people free, and clothe the naked….. this is
where God's people will find life and liberation.

Paul had a clear BURDEN for people.

In Acts 17 as Paul went to Athens, (presumably for a few days of respite while waiting for his
helpers to join him), that his burden for souls was so real, he could not get away from it.
Paul didn’t see Athens as a tourist would; he saw it as A SOUL WINNER—as a man with a
burden for the eternal souls of others.
“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was
full of idols.” --- Acts 17:16
We can try to work up a burden in others, but only God can really stir our hearts to the level
of sharing His burden.
A BURDEN IS DEVELOPED BY SEEING THE ETERNAL NEEDS OF PEOPLE.
 • If you’re convicted of your lack of a burden for others, pray for a burden. Let God stir it
within you.
And meanwhile, share the gospel. Sometimes our lack of burden is because we simply
aren’t out in the community seeing the needs of people.
• Start talking to them, as we figure their struggles, their challenges, their mindsets are
that so blinded of God…..we shall definitely be compelled as we see the “need”.

Remember. THEY ALL NEED GOD….. THEY JUST DON’T KNOW IT YET.
“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a
knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
See people with the eyes of Jesus, and His burden will be your burden.

2) MOVED WITH COMPASSION

Yet the heart of a soulwinner must carry more than conviction to be effective.
The heart of Christ, the greatest soulwinner ever, overflowed with COMPASSION for the lost.

Compassion is what God feels and he allows us to feel the same thing, this is supernatural.

Matthew 9:36 records,

“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because
they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

Over and over in the Gospels we read about the compassion of Jesus toward the lost.
We are the church representing God in the earth to a lost world.

• SYMPATHY says “I feel sorry for you” then leaves you in the condition.
• COMPASSION is deep yearning that responds to the needs.

Psalm 78:38
But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity,
And did not destroy them.
Yes, many a time He turned His anger away,
And did not stir up all His wrath;

Matthew 15:32-38
32
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have
already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away
hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”

Matthew 20:29-34 - Two Blind Men Receive Sight

34 Jesushad compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their
sight and followed him.
SOUL WINNERS MUST FEEL WHAT JESUS FELT.
If you feel no compassion, no sympathy or pity for a lost person, there is little chance
that you will win him.

To be a soul winner, WE MUST DO WHAT JESUS DID.

Jesus didn’t just feel compassion for the lost - HE DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!

The Disciples left Jesus by Jacob’s well in Samaria while they went to buy food.
• When they got back Jesus was surrounded by Samaritans who were being
converted.
• The Disciples tried to get Jesus to stop and eat. He said He had food already,

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’?
I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. (John 4:34-35).

It was Jesus’ compassion that moved him to stop and heal people, the provide food, to
teach, to forgive, to love people.

Simply put, COMPASSION MOVES US TO PASSIONATE ACTION.

Genuine compassion will be tangibly expressed.

Many times, Christians that have well intentions fail to be active soulwinners, because simply
they do not intentionally plan their time.
• Soul winning is NOT an activity to fit in as it works, or an opportunity to take advantage
of, only when it comes.
• It’s a divine commission from Jesus,
• Hence it is a PRIORITY to purposefully, intentionally schedule into our regular lifestyle /
routine.

The older we get, the more I realise the importance of investing our time wisely.
• Time is limited, and there are so many ways to spend and waste it
• Let’s be intentional about INVESTING our time…… rather than simply spending it.

Investing our time into compassionate soulwinning is a time invested with guaranteed
returns.

PSALM 126:5-6
Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest.

At the end of life, our greatest joy will be the rewards of our eternal investments of time.
Paul often expressed that those he had led to Christ and spiritually nurtured in discipleship
were his “joy and crown”—his trophy.
 3) BUILD BRIDGES WITH OTHERS
When the Lord shows you those needing Christ, seek to BUILD A RELATIONSHIP with
them. Remember how Jesus went to the home of Zacchaeus where many sinners had
gathered?

While we must be careful NOT to place ourselves in an environment where we'll be pulled
down…….
• We must be equally careful to cultivate friendships with those needing Christ.
• Perhaps Christ has placed you in your particular school or workplace to reach those
whom no one else can reach.

WHO NEEDS A BRIDGE?

• THE LOST
• THE DISCONNECTED (BELIEVER)
• THE HURTING

2,000 years ago, Jesus came all the way down to earth humbly as a man….for this whole
purpose!
but He had saved us so that WE BECOME HIS BRIDGE UNTO THIS WORLD…. TO SEEK AND
SAVE THE LOST.

We are called to CONNECT those who had been drifting away.

• There are many reasons why a believer might be disconnected from church.
• Perhaps they had made a geographical move, slow about finding new church,
• Perhaps they've been saved but never been taught the importance of local
church in lives (not having a deep root yet)
• Regardless, they are disconnected and need a bridge to cross over.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NLT)

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.
And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s
sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for
Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

We are called to lead them to their "next step", bringing reconciliation in their relationship
with God….to get planted back in again, to experience a true power of community, the
warmth and the love again.
THE HURTING AND THE BROKEN-HEARTED
• Maybe they were on fire before, they were full-hearted before……but a curveball
happened in their life, they lost something or someone in their life.
• There were bridges that were burnt before in their life and ministry, their
experience with God.
• That hurt keeps them from moving forward.

They need a bridge to help them get over it and get on with their life of service to Christ.
We are called to mend the broken bridges, and lead them to the other side.

WE ARE CALLED TO BE BRIDGE-BUILDERS!

HOW DO WE BECOME BRIDGE BUILDERS?

1 CORINTHIANS 9: 16-23

19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to
bring many to Christ.
20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was
with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not
subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.
21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from
that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the
law of Christ.
22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the
weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I
can to save some.
23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

HOW DO WE BECOME BRIDGE-BUILDERS?

• WE MUST DEVELOP A SERVANT SPIRIT

• WE MUST PUT ASIDE OUR PERSONAL PREFERENCES (SO THAT WE MIGHT
REACH PEOPLE)
• WE MUST BE WILLING TO MAKE A SACRIFICE TO BUILD A BRIDGE.
• WE MUST INTENTIONALLY DO THE REACHING

SERVANT SPIRIT
• I'm here to serve you.
• What do you need?
Prayer? A listening ear? A warm meal?
• The Message is not watered down to please you
• The Methods may change….. but the Message must never change!
PUT ASIDE OUR PERSONAL PREFERENCES
• Paul said he was willing to be all things to all men…why?
• That he might be used by God to see some saved.
• He was willing make whatever changes necessary.
• I might not prefer the food….i might not prefer the time…..i might not prefer the
song choice….but I'll do what works for them.
• Cycling, Volleyball, Futsal, Karaoke, Dress-ups, Hightea, Kids & Family Picnic,
Boodle Fight, Shopping.

WILLING TO MAKE A SACRIFICE

• Time, effort, finance, energy.
• Its not convenient, its troublesome…… sometimes you have to go out of the way
to make an effort.
• You might see the result straightaway…..but that seed is not wasted.

INTENTIONALLY REACHING
• We must go to them, instead of them coming over to us.
• We must go to them first in order to bring them to the other side of the bridge.
• They're not gonna come to you by prayer alone.
• Reaching out requires active, intentional action.
• A call, a text, an invite.

This season…..
Many requires a bridge.
The lost, the disconnected, the broken / hurting.

SOUL WINNING BY RELATIONSHIP IS MOST EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM.

▪ 1% SAVED BY CRUSADES, RALLY, CHRISTIAN TV
▪ 2% SAVED BY DOOR-TO-DOOR / STREET EVANGELISM
▪ 4% CHURCH PROGRAMS
▪ 4% BECAUSE OF SUNDAY SCHOOL AND CHILDREN TO CHURCH
▪ 8% CAME TO CHURCH BECAUSE OF DYNAMIC AND CARING PASTOR
▪ 76% COME BECAUSE OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

• NO MATTER HOW GOOD THE PASTORS, SERMON, WORSHIP……

• PEOPLE COME BECAUSE OF RELATIONSHIP.
EVANGELISM IS MOST EFFECTIVE ALSO EASIER THROUGH RELATIONSHIP AND
FRIENDSHIP.

MORE PEOPLE ARE BEING SAVED THROUGH BOODLE FIGHT, PS RED’S SISIG & LOHMIE,
INDONESIAN STUDENTS RUNNING MAN, GAMES NIGHT, YOUTH MOVIE DAYS, YOUNG ADULTS
HANG, THAN ANY OF OUR SERMONS.

SO AS A CHURCH, IF WE JUST FOCUS ON SOUL WINNING THROUGH BUILDING TRUE AND

GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS (IN OUR INCUBATION OF REACHING NEW PEOPLE)……
WE WILL WIN CLOSE TO 76% OF THE BATTLE.
LET’S BE INTENTIONAL AND ACTIVE IN BUILDING BRIDGES!!

4) WATCH FOR OPENINGS TO SHARE ABOUT GOD

1 Peter 3:15
15 Instead,you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope
as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

Peter shows here that Christians are to be PUBLIC Christians --- in other words, we need to be
Close enough to Unbelievers for them to see Our HOPE.
We’re not to lie low / group off with only other Christians.
We are to be fully engaged, yet so distinct that we are to FLAVOUR EVERY CONVERSATION &
SHINE GOD’s LIGHT in the darkest place of our universities, our work.

1 Peter 2:12
12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you
of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when
he judges the world.

If you live properly, if you live honorably and reflecting God…..

▪ Don’t be surprised IF and WHEN the questions or comments start coming.

▪ If Christians are to be people of hope and people of hope will be asked “WHY?” …..
▪ The bible says, always be prepared, be ready to explain and give an answer to it.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the
hope that you have.

The word translated “give an answer” – is apologia, which is nothing to do with apologising,
but instead means: “to make a defence like a lawyer.”

So when someone asks you something more personal like:

▪ “Why doesn’t exam stress you out like the rest of us?”
▪ “Why don’t you sleep with your girlfriend?”
▪ “How do you stay so calm & positive after all these things that had happened to you?”

–--- You will want to have thought in advance about what you’re going to say.

Don’t just say WHAT you believe, say WHY you believe it.
You see, God is calling us not only to PRESENT to people the truth about Jesus, he’s urging us
to PERSUADE people with the truth about Jesus.

▪ Engage them with your story / experience, not just doctrine.

▪ This is the perfect chance to share your TESTIMONY in relation to this matter!.

We are supposed to be always praying for opportunities, always listening for openings, always
convinced that the gospel is just one conversation away from a serious conversation.

Always be ready and prepared to bring hope, sharing Jesus in any of your conversations.

5) LEAVE THE RESULTS WITH GOD.

We're responsible for sharing the Gospel, but only God can convert the soul.
Having done your best, let Him do the rest.

1 Corinthians 3:6-8
6
I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who
made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the
watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who
plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both
will be rewarded for their own hard work

It doesn’t matter whether we see growth in our hand or not.

Growth comes from GOD alone!
▪ We are all called to be responsible in doing our part.
▪ Whether we plant the seed….or whether we water the plant…..
▪ In the end, God gets all the glory for His accomplished purpose.
▪ And we shall be rewarded accordingly.

GOD WILL ONLY MAKE FRUITFUL THAT WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL TO.

God only requires us to be faithful steward.

▪ When you are FAITHFUL till the end….
▪ In the end, you will be FRUITFUL.
DISCUSSION GUIDELINE

HERE ARE FEW THINGS REQUIRED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE SOUL WINNER FOR JESUS:
1) HAVE A BURDEN FOR OTHERS
2) MOVED WITH COMPASSION
3) BUILD BRIDGES WITH OTHERS
4) WATCH FOR OPENINGS TO SHARE ABOUT GOD
5) LEAVE THE RESULTS WITH GOD

▪ WHICH ASPECT / TRAITS ABOVE REQUIRED TO BE A MORE EFFECTIVE SOUL WINNER

THAT YOU NEED TO DEVELOP WITHIN YOU?

▪ SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES OF EITHER WHEN YOU SUCCESFULLY WON / BROUGHT

SOMEONE TO JESUS, OR HOW YOU WERE BROUGHT TO GOD --- SHARE PRACTICAL &
FRUITFUL TIPS TO ONE ANOTHER.