Four Tips on Soul-Winning From Paul

I do not know about you, but I want to be a soul-winner. The question arises, how do I become a soul winner? A lot of individuals have the idea that soul-winning is just about bringing others into the church building doors. Although this is a good tactic to use in order to find prospects for Bible study, I believe Paul shows a four step process in how we can be effective soul winners. 

First, when Paul was searching for souls, “…he went to them…” (Acts 17:2 NASB).  Paul sought out these prospective souls. If you are like me, unfortunately, you want the souls to come to you. Although it is great to include in our prayers, “send me some soul today,” we cannot think that God will do all the work for us. He wants us to seek out the lost. 

Second, when Paul was searching for souls, he, “…reasoned with them from the Scriptures…” (Acts 17:2). We need to remember that the power is in the Word, not in anything we say or do. When we are reasoning with others from the scriptures, we are in actuality, “drawing arguments from the scriptures” (Thayer, 139). It is not our ideas, or plan that saves the soul, it is the “arguments” of the scriptures that leads the soul to Christ. 

Third, when Paul was searching for souls, he was, “…explaining…” to them about Jesus Christ (Acts 17:3). We need to remember that many of us have been in the church for a long time. Some of us have grown up within the church, and we cannot expect others to immediately realize and understand everything we have come to know. We need to take time and patience to explain away pre-conceived ideas, and answer questions individuals have about the Scriptures.

Fourth, when Paul was searching for souls, he was, “…giving evidence…” to them about Jesus Christ (Acts 17:3).  It is interesting that Christian evidences were even needed back then. People have always questioned the gospel of Christ. That’s why we need to always be prepared to defend it (e.g. 1 Peter 3:15). Whether they are people who are confused about scriptures, or are atheists- not having even a fraction of belief in the scriptures, we must be ready to give evidence to them.

Paul is a great example to us in so many ways. We learn through him that if we want to be soul-winners, it depends on our attitude. Do we really want to save souls? If so, we will get out of our comfort zone and find them. If so, we will rely upon the scriptures for our arguments to convert them. If so, we will be patient and explain away confusion they might have. If so, we will defend Jesus Christ and His gospel with sound and true Christian evidences. Souls cannot be won if we do not depend on God’s word, and souls will never be won by us, unless we get out of our comfort zone.

Go be a soul winner! 

Sources:

Thayer, Joseph H. 1997. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.