OceanSide church of Christ

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PERSONAL EVANGELISM (10)

 

The Motivation

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     What would happen if we developed the following program?

1.       $50 for each person you bring to the worship services

2.       $200 for every Bible study you established

3.       $1000 for every person you baptized into Christ

 

B.      Such a program will never be seen at the OceanSide church of Christ.

 

C.     This, however, does not mean that there are not some good motivators for bringing others to Christ.

 

D.     Let’s look at “The Motivation” for Soul-Winning in this lesson.

 

I.                    YOU SAVE A SOUL FROM DEATH

 

A.     The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).  Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death (James 1:14-15).

 

B.      The gospel is intended to bring salvation (Rom. 1:16-17).

 

C.     Each soul that is converted to Christ is saved from wrath to come (John 5:24).

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 

II.                 YOU OBEY GOD

 

A.     The Lord said:  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

 

B.      When we put this command in action, we are obedient (See James 1:22).

 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

III.              YOU MANIFEST DEEP LOVE

 

A.     First, you manifest love for God (John 14:15).

 

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

 

B.      You manifest love for those who are lost.

 

IV.              YOU BRING GLORY TO GOD (John 15:8)

 

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit…

 

 

V.                 YOU BRING JOY TO THE FATHER IN HEAVEN

 

A.     When sinners are converted, the Father in heaven rejoices.

 

B.      Two passages:

1.       When the prodigal returned, the Father said:  “And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry” (Luke 15:23).

2.       Luke 15:10

 

Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

 

a.       NOTE:  The verse does not say the angels rejoice.  The joy is in the presence of the angels.

b.      The angels get to see the heavenly Father rejoice when one sinner repents.

 

VI.              YOU BECOME LIKE JESUS CHRIST

 

A.     Jesus is our example to follow (I Pet. 2:21).

 

B.      Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).

 

C.     When we seek the lost, we become just like our Lord.

 

VII.           YOU PROVE YOU ARE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST

 

A.     Jesus mentions three badges of discipleship in the gospel of John.

 

B.      One of them involves being one who bears much fruit (John 15:8).

 

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

 

VIII.        YOU BRING GROWTH TO THE CHURCH

 

A.     Each soul that is saved is added by the Lord to the church (Acts 2:47).  Thus, the church grows.

 

B.      The church is one of three divine institutions:  the home, government, and the church.  The church, however, is the only one purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28).

 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

IX.               YOU DEFEAT THE EVIL ONE

 

A.     Satan is seeking whom he may devour (I Pet. 5:8).

 

B.      Obedience to the gospel removes the lost soul from the clutches of Satan (II Tim. 2:25-26).

 

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

X.                  YOU ARE INCLUDED IN THE NUMBER CALLED:  EVANGELISTS

 

A.     Ephesians 4:11

 

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.

 

B.      Romans 10:15

 

And how shall they preach, except they be sent?  As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

 

XI.               YOU PAY A DEBT

 

A.     Paul’s words (Rom. 1:14)

 

I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

 

B.      Paul did not owe a debt to these individual because of what they had done for Paul.  His debt came because of the grace that he had received in his life.

 

C.     The fact that he had received grace meant that he was obligated to tell others of the saving grace he had received.

 

XII.            YOU INCREASE YOUR FAITH IN GOD’S WORD

 

A.     The Bible is a powerful instrument.

1.       Hebrews 4:12

2.       Isaiah 55:11

 

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:  is shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it.

 

B.      We know this mentally because we have read the passages and heard them preached. 

 

C.     When we study with others, we see the power of the Word working in the life of a sinner.  It strengthens our faith in the Word.

 

XIII.         YOU SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS

 

A.     Paul exhorts us to be examples to others (I Tim. 4:12).

 

B.      When we win souls, others see us in action and are encouraged to do the same.

 

XIV.         YOU WILL HAVE JOY IN THE LAST DAY

 

A.     One day all men will stand in the judgment.  We will see those we have converted be pronounced innocent and rewarded with entrance into their heavenly abode.  This will bring us great joy.

 

 

 

B.      I Thessalonians 2:19-20

 

For what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing?  Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?  For ye are our glory and joy.

 

XV.            QUESTION:  If not you, who?

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Do any of the things listed above motivate you to be more active in soul-winning?  Which one motivates you the most?

 

B.      Isn’t it interesting that we would go out of our way to reach out to people for money, but other things do not motivate us nearly as much?