Great Discipleship tool from Striving Together!

This is a link to the 'Daily in the Word' discipleship website.  A great tool for helping new converts grow!

Daily in the Word - Discipleship program

Program: Communicate Your Faith

Great program called "Communicate Your Faith" produced by R.B.Ouellette.  Visit his site at www.2fbc.com.  On the home page you will find a link to his churches soul-winning program with downloadable forms and audio sermons. Great information available here.

Meeting people where they are

Compassionate Witnessing: Meeting People Where They Are

• Outreach

Jerry Ferrso

Do you remember what it was like to be lost? Do you remember the emptiness in your soul that you tried to fill with everything except salvation? It is easy to forget these things, but I want you to take a moment to remember them. Remember losing a loved one when you had no hope of Heaven. Remember the weight of sin on your conscience. As you remember these things, think about lost people who are going through these experiences right now.

THE FEAR OF BEING LOST

Lost is a frightening word. Have you ever been lost? Have you ever lost a child? Even if your child only strayed for ten minutes, you know that it is nerve-wracking! Your mind races and you have these terrible thoughts that you’ll never see your child again. Now imagine being lost for all of eternity. This is the cry of desperation from Isaiah 59:9, “Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.” This is a reality for those who do not know Christ as their personal Saviour. This is the reason Christ came to this earth. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

THE FRUSTRATION OF LABOR

There are multitudes of people trying to work their way into Heaven. No matter what they do, no matter how hard they do it, and no matter how long they do it, they will never reach Heaven. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Without Christ, their works will only condemn them. “…and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 20:12). Salvation is a gift through Jesus Christ, not an effort of our labor.

THE FRAILTY OF LIFE

There are no guarantees in life. We do not have the assurance that we will be here tomorrow. James 4:14 says, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Lost people have trouble finding meaning in their lives which leads to a growing despondency. Many will live a fast-paced, sometimes reckless lifestyle to mask questions about their own life and death.

The lost go through the same kinds of pains and trials that a saved person endures—but without Christ. Imagine any of the worst circumstances you have faced in the last twelve months. Now imagine those same circumstances without the Holy Spirit to give comfort. First Thessalonians 4:13 tells us, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

Each of these emotions fill the hearts of those who don’t know Christ as their Saviour. Take a few moments today to walk in their shoes. Feel their pain, imagine their fears, and allow the Holy Spirit to soften your heart and deepen your compassion for the lost. Then, go out and share the Good News of Jesus with someone today.

A great resource to give to the unsaved

This book from Striving Together Publications is a very thorough resource to give to the lost soul that is truly interested and yearning for the truth.  This mini-book ( just under 100 pages ) is an easy read but will take considerably more time to read than a tract.  It answers questions that are so often asked.  This book sells for $2.95 but there is a bulk rate.  

New media as great tools

Technology has opened the door to so many new opportunities for witnessing.  Giving a DVD tract like "Somewhere Forever" ( shown on page 2 of this site ) will not get thrown in the trash or dismissed as quickly as a paper tract.  It costs a little more, but will be taken more seriously.

I have recently been going to a local bargain outlet store that specializes in overruns.  They sell many good Christian books from major distributors for 3 or 4 dollars.  Many are great evangelistic tools.

Facebook, blogs, sermon CD's and other media opportunities are many of the open doors for witnessing today.

The Anatomy of a Follow-up visit

Some of the most important work in soulwinning is done after a visitor comes for the first time. Just the fact that they came indicates that their heart is open. The follow-up visit is one of the best opportunities to lead them to Christ. Here are the parts that make an effective follow-up visit.

The best follow-up visit begins when you meet the visitor at church.

Be visitor conscious at church. After spending a few minutes getting to know each other in church, having that home visit is much more comfortable. Always be on the lookout for new faces in your services to meet.

Upon arrival at the home, discern whether they are saved.

This is the most important matter to talk about. You do want them to come back to your church, but more important is that they know without a doubt that Jesus Christ is their Saviour.

Express gratitude for their visit, and share some of the background of the church.

Talk about some of the history of the church and the pastor. Share when you came to the church and how God has worked in your life through the church.

Explain some of the philosophy of the church.

Talk about how the pastor preaches from the Bible and how you sing many traditional hymns. If they come from a denominational church, explain some of what it means to be an independent Baptist church. I will often talk about how we directly support missionaries instead of going through a denomination. You may even want to go through the Baptist Distinctives.

Listen to their questions.

Ask them if they have any questions. They may want to know more about separation, children’s classes, or the Sunday service. Try to anticipate their questions and have clear answers ready.

Invite them to fellowship in your home.

During the visit, ask them to come to next Sunday’s service and then out to lunch with you afterwards. The meal doesn’t need to be extravagant, even popcorn after the evening service is fine. People appreciate the personal touch.

Introduce them to other people in the church family.

Try to find other people with similar interests. When a visitor comes, they may not even realize that Christians are real people with jobs, hobbies, and families. Help them to connect with other people like them.

Seek a commitment.

Ask them, “Can I save you a seat in class on Sunday?” Help them take that mental step from interest to commitment.

Nurture the relationship.

This takes some initiative. A follow-up visit isn’t a task we can check off our list and forget about. Consistently write notes to people who recently started coming to the church. Call them. They need someone who cares about them and their spiritual life.

Disciples are made by other disciples. When God leads someone to your church, it is a sacred stewardship of a soul, or the souls of an entire family. Commit yourself to pursuing that new person.

Dr. Paul Chappell

Behind every door

Unmet expectations can be discouraging. Whether it is a raise at work that never came through, or a disappointment in a personal relationship, these unexpected results can rob us of our passion. This is especially true when it comes to soulwinning. One of the primary hindrances of soulwinning is discouragement because of a lack of apparent results. We must be faith-filled, believing God will use us every time we go out.


* From 'The Baptist Voice' - a ministry of Lancaster Baptist Church

Steps to being an effective soul-winner!

Here are six ideas to help you be a better soulwinner.

1. Keep a prospect list.
This has the names of those you are praying for to be saved. It includes basic contact information and a record of your contacts with that person.

2. Pray every day for those on your prospect list.
This is the most important step, but often the most neglected.

3. Look for witnessing opportunities.
At work, at the barber, and anywhere you frequent, you already know many people in these settings—introduce them to your Saviour.


4. Know your church’s schedule.
Your Easter musical is not just something on the calendar—it is an event to invite your neighbors to. Ask someone to be your guest.

5. Use your church’s printed materials.
Gospel tracts, business cards for your adult Bible class, and musical tickets are great reminders for those you meet.


6. Open your home to unsaved and unchurched people.
Most people are simply looking for someone who will care. Show kindness by sharing a meal.

From Jerry Ferrso, Lancaster Baptist Church. Copied from Ministry127.com

Helpful Soulwinning tool - contact list from Paul Chappell

The following link will direct you to a great soul winner's tool - a contact and follow up sheet designed by Pastor Paul Chappell from Lancaster Baptist Church.  You can open and print from their site


http://thebaptistvoice.com/categories/outreach/soulwinning-tool-prospect-list

Expect a Harvest

Jerry Ferrso

What do you expect when you give a Gospel tract? Rejection? Indifference? How would our soulwinning approach change if we actually expected someone to get saved that day? Paul said, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved” (Romans 10:1). His heart’s desire was not just to leave an open invitation; Paul’s desire was to see Christ save them. Believing God will use you to lead someone to Christ is not the power of positive thinking. It is faith.

We work to sow a lot of seed. We print tracts, send mailers, and broadcast radio programs and internet podcasts. But all of these efforts are means to cultivate the ground so that we might tell the Gospel to receptive hearts. Someone out there is ready to receive Christ. Will you pray that you will be the one to lead him to Christ?

From the "Baptist Voice" - Striving Together Publications

Overcoming Fear ( of witnessing to others )

Too often we forget that when we are witnessing for the Lord - we are not alone:  The Holy Spirit is with us.  The Word of God tells us that he convicts the sinner of their sin ( John 16:8 ), He confirms the truth of the Word of God in their hearts ( John 6:63 and 15:26 ), and He controls the believer ( John 7:38 ).   The Holy Spirit does the work through a willing servant!


Pastor Wes

Why do people go to church?

Here is something you may find interesting. The institute for American church growth asked over 10,000 people this question: "What was responsible for your coming to this church?" This is how they replied.




I visited there..................1%

I liked the Sunday School........1%

I had a special need.............2%

I just walked in.................3%

I liked the programs.............3%

Other............................5%

I liked the Pastor...............6%

A friend or relative invited me..79%
 
 
* From www.evangelismtools.org

Using 'Good' Tracts

The following is from an article by Dr. David Teis on being an Evangelist. This quote was taken from the Ministry127.com website:

I believe the heart of an evangelist should be to get out the Gospel message and to challenge other people to get out the Gospel message. If you are an evangelist, you should never be without a Gospel tract. By the way, a Gospel tract is a tract that has the Gospel in it. Let me encourage you to read the Gospel tracts that you give out. Do your Gospel tracts explain to people that Jesus Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose from the dead having paid for their sin and was seen by hundreds of people. If it does not include these things, it is not a Gospel tract.

SOMEWHERE FOREVER - Heaven or Hell

Welcome

Welcome to 'Evangelsim Zeal'. My hope and prayer is that that site brings together resources to help you in your own personal evangelism of the lost. I will continually update this site with resources, quotes, videos, and new tools to help each of us with fulfilling the Great Commission.

Penn Gillette gets a gift of a Bible