Even If People Never Read the Bible, They Will Read You

Sermon outline

Souls are won first by character and then by words, so every believer must grow the character and qualities of a soul winner, because people who never read the Bible will read us.

1. Situational soul winning

   Inviting people to church is part of soul winning, but souls can be won without a word, simply by how we conduct ourselves. Fulfilling the great commission means learning the art of situational soul winning, because we never know who is watching. Paul made himself a servant to all to win more, entering people's worlds without taking on their way of life. There is a difference between the act of soul winning and the character of a soul winner, and the character comes first.

   Illustration: He reads 1 Corinthians 9 in the Message: everyone runs in the stadium but one wins, and athletes train hard for a gold medal that tarnishes, while we run for one that is gold eternally.

   “Even if people do not read the Bible, they will be reading us.”

   • Proverbs 11:30
   • Matthew 28:19
   • 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

2. Characteristic one: a servant's heart

   A genuine servant of God seeks to meet the real needs of others. Jesus is the perfect example, who came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. Put God first, people second and yourself last, and people will be drawn to the image of Christ they see in you.

   • Mark 10:45

3. Characteristic two: discipline

   Do not use God's grace as an excuse not to discipline yourself. Paul was temperate in all things and disciplined his body like an athlete so he would not be disqualified after preaching to others. People deciding whether to be born again are watching those who witness to them. No discipline is enjoyable at the time, and taking instruction, whether you like it or not, is part of the process.

   “Just because something is painful doesn't mean it's not God.”

   • 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
   • Hebrews 12:11

4. Characteristic three: a selfless attitude and Christlikeness

   Stop giving yourself credit for what God did. Soul winning is about taking an interest in another person's wellbeing, which often starts with listening: be quiet, hear everything, then lean on the Holy Spirit for the answer. Look out for others' interests and not only your own, and let your character be something others want to imitate.

   “The best way to win a lost soul to Christ is to let them see Christ in us.”

   • Philippians 2:3-4

5. Qualities one and two: humble and loving

   A proud person credits his success to his own abilities; a humble soul winner puts God at the centre and apex of everything, because without Him we can do nothing. And you cannot win souls without genuinely loving God and people. Love will take you out of your comfort zone, to a squatter camp, a far place, or simply the shopping mall, and makes culture, race and background stop mattering. Love can also be disciplined and confrontational, as with our children.

   “The true mark of a soul winner is not the size of his Bible, but is the size of his heart for God and the size of his heart for God's people.”

   • John 15:5

6. Friendly, generous and slow to anger

   A sinner must first become your friend before he can become a friend of God; Jesus was called the friend of sinners. People who have never seen Jesus will judge Him by us, so if you are friendly they will assume God is friendly. Be generous, because sometimes meeting a physical need is the Jesus a person needs to see and opens the door to the gospel. Do not be hot tempered: bitter people may provoke you, and love instead of a reaction disarms them.

   Illustration: He has been sworn at while witnessing, and says that when you give love instead of the reaction someone is looking for, it disarms them immediately.

   “It won't cost you anything to be cheerful.”

   • Matthew 11:19

7. A keeper of secrets, devoted to God

   People will tell you their deepest hurts, even abuse they have carried for years, and if you make it public their trust is broken. Keep their dignity intact. A soul winner is also committed to God, to the local church, the home and the workplace, respectful of God's laws and the laws of the land. Soul winning is spiritual work, and without devotion you leave room for the devil.

   Illustration: How would you feel if you told your pastor a secret and he used it as the opening example in his sermon? The seven sons of Sceva show what happens when you preach Jesus without being devoted to Him.

   “If you can't keep a secret, then you can't be a soul winner.”

   • Acts 19:13-16

8. Dressed appropriately, always learning, not wasteful

   Dress for the people you are trying to reach: a suit may put young people off, while jeans and a T-shirt would be wrong for a conservative audience. Be a continuous learner and reader, because anointing is no substitute for good communication. And manage resources well, knowing when to spend and when to hold back, which is different from being stingy.

   Illustration: A man he knows who is about forty dresses like the students when he ministers at universities, and they respect him and know him as a pastor because he is approachable and carries the wisdom of God.

   “Anointing cannot substitute for the wrong use of English.”

9. A prayer warrior

   Not five minutes in the morning and five in the evening, but a life of prayer. Soul winning is spiritual work that needs a prayer altar. When prayer dies, evangelism shrinks and dies with it. It takes prayer to take cities and nations and to break the strongman over situations.

   Illustration: Prayer is to evangelism what petrol is to a car. Evangelism without prayer is a gun without bullets: you are shooting blanks.

   “A soul winner who doesn't have time for prayer is a toy in the hands of the devil.”

10. Heavenly conscious and earthly useful, and holy

    Live every day with an eternal view, building treasure in heaven; that view should govern your choices, holidays, church involvement, prayer life and how you share the gospel. And live a holy life. Paul was righteous by the law but became truly righteous only through Christ, and the people he had persecuted had to see him new. Never let your past define your present or future. Every believer is a soul winner, because every believer has a testimony.

    Illustration: If you want a R50,000 fridge and have R10,000, you adjust your spending until you can buy it. An eternal view adjusts your whole lifestyle the same way.

    “Never consider what has happened in the past to be your present or your future.”

    • Matthew 6:20
    • Acts 9
    • Ephesians 2:6

In this message