Below are my sermon notes on the message I shared to the CG about soul-winning. This has been ringing in my mind since I took a closer look into the book of Acts in my daily Bible reading. Jesus, our Great Shepherd, has a heart for people and He wants us to care for what He cares about… and there are effective ways to win them for Him.
The ABCDE Soul Winner
March 24 Combined CG, by GJ Gonzales
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 NKJV
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.””
Luke 19:10 NIV
CHC Paradigm #6: The primary purpose of Christ is SOUL-WINNING.
To become effective at soul-winning, we got to be: ABCDE
#1 Appealing (the way we are and how we live our lives)
#Daniel, in the midst of unbelievers, was selected by the Babylonians
“Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus.”
Daniel 1:3-4, 17, 20-21 NKJV
#Quick sharing / encouragement:
– ask your seatmates, “May appeal ba ako?” Then tell them what about them or what things in their life are appealing (encourage them). “What’s appealing about me? What’s appealing about my life?”
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16 NKJV
A true soul winner is a winsome person.
– winning people to yourself, and in that process, winning them to Christ
– connecting with people
#example, get someone to walk with me
#2 Bighearted (love and compassion for people)
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
We love Him because He first loved us.”
I John 4:7-8, 11, 19 NKJV
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””
John 13:34-35 NKJV
#3 Creative
#apostle Paul
– Jew, tribe of Benjamin
– was a Pharisee, expert in the Mosaic Law, persecutor trying to stop the growth of Christianity
– speaks Hebrew and Greek
– top debater, tentmaker
– encountered Christ though he didn’t meet Him with his physical eyes
– one with the prisoners, imprisoned many times for preaching the gospel
– stands before kings and people of authority
– wrote the epistles
…Paul was so high up as a person but how did he become so effective in connecting people to Christ?
#common ground
““Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.” When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater.”
Acts of the Apostles 22:1-2 NLT
“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. 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. 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. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.”
1 Corinthians 9:20-23 NLT
#creative pursuit
“Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a WIDE RANGE of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!”
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 MSG
#4 Daring
– boldness, confidence
– ambassadors for Christ
– carrying God’s delegate authority, we are representing Him
“Then said I: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the LORD. Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.”
Jeremiah 1:6-9 NKJV
*break for a short skit c/o Victor and others
#5 Enthusiastic (Gk. en-theos, which means God in us…)
– fired up
– zealous
– highly motivated
– passionate
– devoted
– fervent
– energetic
“But you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””
Acts 1:8 NKJV
Can God count on you to be enthusiastic about winning souls?
“You may have lost people in your church, but you have added people into the Kingdom of God.” ~Ps Phil Pringle to Ps Kong
ALTAR CALL:
1. Pray for anyone struggling to be:
Appealing
Bighearted
Creative
Daring
Enthusiastic
2. Decision: “Here I am, Lord, send me.”
Prayer Items:
LEADERS:
1. Pray for Ps Kong, Sun & Dayan, and their families.
2. Pray for grace and mercy for the rest of the accused (Ps Tan, John Lam, Sharon Tan, Serina Wee and Eng Han) and their families.
3. Pray for our leaders (zone pastors, CGLs, ministry leaders), for greater wisdom as they rebuild and lead the church to a new level.
EASTER WEEKEND
1. Strong and tangible presence of God in all the 3 services. Easter drama to be so effective in drawing people to God.
2. Powerful preaching of Ps Kong and that hearts will be moved.
3. Salvation and rededication of backsliders. More and more people making decisions to surrender their life to God.
4. Our members to be bold and loving in reaching out to the lost. Pledged friends to come.
5. New friends to be added and integrated into the cell group and be discipled together with us. Fruits that will remain.
6. CG growth and unity. Greater anointing.
PERSONAL
1. Pray for each other’s needs.
