On Soul Winning

[Editor’s note: The following is a lightly edited version of a two-part article by Tony originally published in the February and March 1999 Restoration Herald]

Many years ago, at the Delmarva Family Camp, I heard one of the best sermons I have ever heard on soul winning. Brother Mel Harell preached that message. His outline was brief and to the point, yet it spoke volumes to those who were there. It is with his permission that I reproduce his outline for you, with a few thoughts of my own.

When it comes to soul-winning:

Now is the Time

Jesus said, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest” (John 4:35 NASB). This statement is true today. We cannot afford to put off this important task one more day.

Churches across this nation are busy with everything but soul-winning. Preachers spend hours doing everything but sharing the gospel with those who are lost. We find time to do everything under the sun, but many times, evangelism is put off to another day. If we don't do it now, it won't be done. While we are busy doing “church work,” the work of the church is neglected, and souls are being lost.

This is the Place

Look around you. Where are you located? Wherever you are on the map right now is your mission field. All of us are God’s missionaries wherever we may be.

I knew of a young man who wanted to go to Bible college. He wanted to preach the gospel and win souls. However, he wasn’t winning souls where he was living. The point is this: if you are not winning souls right where you are, most likely you will not win souls any other place you go. Going to Bible college, preaching for a congregation, and going on the mission field will not make you a soul winner. Soul winning must start right where you are now.

We are the People

If we, the church of Christ, do not win souls, who will? There is no one else to do this work. Liberal congregations aren’t going to win souls, the entertainment industry is not going to win souls, and the lukewarm church members are not going to win souls. The church today must begin to teach all members that evangelism is everyone’s job.

When it comes to soul winning, are you your own worst enemy? Over the years, as I have traveled, I have met several people who wanted to win the lost. However, they were not successful. It was not due to what they taught; it was the way they approached people.

It is certainly true that we must present the truth in all its fullness and power. However, we must do it in a way that will not drive away those we are trying to win. What have we accomplished if, through our own rudeness, people are turned away from Christ?

Sinners were drawn to Jesus. They loved to be with Him. People are not drawn to those who speak to them in condescending tones, make them feel inferior, or treat them with disrespect.

I am not suggesting that the truth be compromised or soft-pedaled. Jesus did not do that, and neither can we. However, it would not hurt from time to time to ask someone else how we come across when we are trying to share the truth of Scripture. Do not try to pass off rudeness as boldness.

I have known others who hurt their efforts by always being in a negative case. They cannot say a kind word about the preacher, elders, deacons, or any other member of the church. They have nothing but criticism of their local congregation. They are very vocal in sharing negative opinions with anyone and everyone. It doesn’t matter to them that the person they are speaking to at the time is not a Christian. Then they are astonished when those they invite do not attend church with them.

In Georgia, where I was raised, we might tell you something less than flattering about a person and follow up our description by saying, “That’s just the way he is; he doesn’t mean any harm.” But in truth, no matter what he means, he is doing far more harm than good.

Think about the person to whom you are talking. Think about how you are talking to them. Think about what you are saying. Pepper your speech with compassion and love. Don’t become your own worst enemy in your efforts to reach the lost.

Tony Sullivan is the Evangelist with the Lester Road Christian Church in Fairburn, GA. He is also an Associate Evangelist with the CRA. He can be reached by email: Tonycra@att.net.