Each person has 60 seconds in each minute, 60 minutes in each hour and 24 hours each day. We are all equal in this respect. But how we use those seconds, minutes, hours, and days is up to us. We can waste them away or we can choose from thousands of activities to be engaged in. We can only be in one place at a time and doing only one thing at a time. Therefore the choices we make are extremely important.

I affirm that soul winning is an activity in which each Christian should resolve to be engaged. One said long ago, "he that winneth souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30).

December 3-10 we had an enjoyable eight days, hearing ten different speakers point to specifics on Winning Souls For Christ! An excellent opportunity was afforded the members of the Roan Ridge congregation in Kansas City, Missouri and visitors to reflect upon the many marvelous opportunities - time, materials, and people to work with - to engage effectively in this activity of soul winning!

The following men spoke on these specific ways of winning souls for Christ:

Sunday A.M.: Recognizing the Power of the Word - Randy Sexton

Sunday P.M.: Recognizing the Value of the Soul - Ray Harris

Monday PM: Using The Printed Page - Norman Fultz

Tuesday PM: Using The Telecomputer - Tom Kinzel

Wednesday PM: Utilizing Special Studies - Jim Bailey

Thursday P.M.: Using Bible Examples of Personal Study - David McClister

Friday PM: Using Personal Contacts - Michael Divis

Saturday PM: Overcoming Obstacles - Bob Watson

Sunday AM: Mobilizing The Young - Tim Young

Sunday PM: Dealing With Present Issues - Bill Sexton

Four of the speakers are members at Roan Ridge, including this writer, the first two and the last two. The meeting was well attended by the members of Roan Ridge, even though it was late in the year. We've had more good feedback from this meeting than any in the five years I've been with the group.

I would recommend that this type of series be preached in every congregation. I've said for twenty years and more, "I believe that the greatest need in any congregation that I've been acquainted with, is personal evangelism." In these ten lessons we heard how to reach people. The following statement was typical, "I have always been told that I needed to do it, but I have never heard so many ways of going it and the fact that I can do it!"

Of course there was competition: a thousand other things vying for our attention and seeking our commitment. Thank God we have the ability to choose, therefore, we are accountable for our choices.

1. My soul is to be won for Christ (Matt. 16:24-26). What it isn't?

2. My family members are to be won for Christ (1 Pet. 3:Iff; Matt. 10:34ff; Lk. 14:25f). Can I help?

3. My neighbors are to be won for Christ (Rom. 13:9-10).

4. My fellow workers, associates, etc. . . . all need to be won for Christ. What do they see in me? How do I effect them? What about my influence.

Each person, according to the Bible, has a soul. That soul shall exist eternally either in heaven or torment (Matt. 25:31-46). Beloved, life is short, death is sure, and eternity is long!

The only instrument that is able to win one to Christ is the word of God (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12-13; Jas. 1:21-25). It has to be "taught" (Jn. 6:44) and "learned" (Jn. 6:45) in order for one to come to the Father by Christ (Jn. 14:6).

How valuable do you judge your soul to be? What do you consider to be the most valuable possession your relatives and friends have? How much time and effort do we spend to protect our material valuables and those of our friends, relatives, and neighbors? How much of our resources do we use protecting our spiritual possessions? Do our choices and labor reflect wisdom or the lack of it?

Every minute souls are dying

Souls in bondage, sin ensnared.

Every moment, souls are departed,

Hopeless, helpless, unprepared;

Souls who never knew the Savior

Nor the Spirit's quickening breath

Mercy ended, judgment coming,

Wrath of God, eternal death.

Every moment souls are dying.

Are you pointing them to God?

Are you showing them the Christ

Shedding his atoning blood;

Paying, on the cross, their sin debt;

Doing what they cannot do?

Are you leading souls to Jesus?

Are you true to Him? Are you?

Beloved, let us avail ourselves of the opportunities that are before us. Let us get the seed out of the barn and into the soils - minds and hearts of people (cf. Hag. 2:19; Matt. 13:18-23). "Is the seed yet in the barn?" Such a series, I believe, will result in more seed being sown, and thus souls being saved!

Don't give up that Saturday night. Brother Bob Watson spoke on Saturday, and he had a marvelous lesson. I believe it should be heard by every member of the Lord's church. He knew where he had been and was going, and he had so much enthusiasm that he caused all of us to walk away much taller, wanting to put into practice what he was talking about, winning souls for Christ. The others did a very good job. Bob had a wonderful way in approaching a person for a Bible Study, and the way to get some important things established before he actually begins the study. I believe that each can profit from considering these. (See * at the end.) But, the point: don't give away Saturday nights to the devil.

*Questions designed to discover the needs of an individual:

Q. "John, how much do you really know about the Bible?"

*Explain that the Bible is a book of books, divided into a testament or will.

Q. "John, you know that a new will makes void an old will, don't you?"

Q. "John I believe we have a lot of common beliefs."

Q. Do you believe in God?

Q. Do you believe the Bible is God's Word?

Q. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?

Q. "John do you want to go to heaven?"

Q. "John do you believe that only Christians will go to heaven?"

Q. "Are you a Christian?" Caution: Don't argue the point.

Q. "Do you remember if you were baptized?" Immersion? Sprinkling? Pouring?

Q. "How long were you a Christian before you were baptized?"

Q. "How long do you think it would take to read the Bible? " This is to lead into the five lessons on the Bible! (Film strips) How would you like to see a Bible survey that deals with it in just five one-hour study periods.

Before each study, review what you have learned that the person believes; then you can deal with these as you go through the study. You won't come to the end and have the person decide that he/she has done what one has to do to become a Christian.

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 5, pp. 138-139
March 7, 1991