6 Types Of Soul Winning For Christ By Charles Spurgeon
Types Of Soul Winning:
In one of his sermons, Spurgeon listed at least six methods for bringing a soul before the Lord.
#1 Preacher To Preach Soul-saving Truth
Believes In Instant Conversions
The preacher himself wins souls best when he believes in the reality of his work,—when he believes in instantaneous conversions. How can he expect God to do what he does not believe God will do? He succeeds best, who expects conversion every time he preaches. According to his faith, so shall it be done unto him. To be content without conversions is the surest way never to have them; to drive with a single aim entirely at the saving of souls is the surest method of usefulness. If we sigh and cry till men are saved, saved they will be.
Soul Saving Truth
He will succeed best, who keeps closest to soul-saving truth. Now, all truth is not soul-saving, though all truth may be edifying. He that keeps to the simple story of the cross, tells men repeatedly that whosoever believes in Christ is not condemned, that to be saved, nothing is wanted but simple trust in the crucified Redeemer. He whose ministry is much made up of the glorious story of the cross, the sufferings of the dying Lamb, the mercy of God, the willingness of the great Father to receive returning prodigals. He who cries, in fact, from day to day, “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world,” he is likely to be a soul winner, especially if he adds to this much prayer for souls, much anxious desire that men may be brought to Jesus and then in his private life seeks as much as in his public ministry to be telling out to others of the love of the dear Saviour of men.
But I’m not talking to ministers. I’m talking to you in the pew, so let me be more direct. You have unique gifts, brothers. Use them all, please. Even if you are a member of the church, you may believe you have none; yet every believer has a gift and a part to play. How can you win souls?
#2 Bring People To Hear The Word
Bring people to hear the Word. This is a neglected duty. I can’t expect you to bring anyone here, but I’m sure many of you go to other places that aren’t even half-full. Fill them. Do not grumble at the small congregation, but make it larger.
Take somebody with you to the very next sermon, and at once the congregation will be increased.
Go up praying for your minister’s sermon, and if you can’t preach, bring others under the sound of the Word. This is a fairly common and basic observation, but let me stress it since it is quite useful.
Many vacant churches and chapels could quickly fill up if individuals who benefit from the Word would tell others about their blessings and encourage them to attend the same ministry. Persuade your neighbors to come to church; look after them, make them understand it is wrong to stay home on Sunday from morning to night.
I do not say chastise them, that does little good; but I say, entice them, persuade them. Let them have your Tabernacle tickets, or stand in the aisles and let them have your seat. If you get them under the Word, who knows? That your pastor, by the power of the Holy Spirit, persuaded one to come within gunshot of the gospel, would be a blessing to you!
#3 Talk To Strangers After The Sermon
Also, after the sermon, try talking to strangers. The preacher may have missed the mark, but you don’t have to, or the preacher may have hit the mark, and a kind word can assist to deepen the effect.
I recall several newcomers to the church who said they were converted to the ministry at the Surrey Music Hall, but that it wasn’t just that; another agency was involved as well. He met them at the gate, spoke to them, asked if they were coming in the evening, asked if they would drop by his house for tea; they did, and he spoke to them about the Master. The following Sunday, the same thing happened, and many who had been unimpressed by the sermons were finally brought to hear with new ears until they were eventually converted to God by the good old man’s persuasive words and the good Lord’s gracious work.
For those of you who truly want to do good, there is a wonderful hunting ground here, as well as in every major assembly. How many come into this house every morning and evening with no thought about receiving Christ! OH, how much more could be achieved if all of you who adore the Master helped me by speaking to your neighbors who sit nearby! Never remark, “I came to the Tabernacle three months, and nobody spoke to me; ” but attempt with all your might to impress upon your friends the truth which I can only put into the ear, but which God may aid you to bring into the heart.
#4 Talk To Acquaintances And Family
Let me also recommend the art of button-holing acquaintances and family. Preach to one if you can’t preach to 100. Get alone with him and talk to him in love, calmly and prayerfully.
“One!” you say. Isn’t one enough? I know your desire, young man; preach to these thousands, but start with one. Your Master was not ashamed to sit on the well, and preach to one; and when He had finished His sermon, He had really done good to the entire city of Sychar, for that one woman became a missionary to her friends.
We must not allow our timidity to keep us from being effective in this area; we must not allow Christ to go unnoticed because of our silence, and sinners to go unwarned because of our indifference.
Our personal contact with the unconverted must be educated. We must not excuse ourselves but must persevere until the task becomes easy. This is one of the most honorable ways of winning souls, and if it demands more than ordinary zeal and courage, all the more reason for us to resolve to master it.
We cannot survive and see mankind doomed; we must bring them to Jesus. Don’t let anyone around you die unaware, unwarned, or unwept. A tract is a useful thing, but a living word is better. Your eye, and face, and voice will all help. Do not be so cowardly as to give a piece of paper where your own speech would be so much better. Attend to this for Jesus’ sake.
#5 Write Letters For Your Lord And Master
Some of you could write letters for your Lord and Master. A few warm words can have a big impact on distant friends. Be like Issachar’s penmen. Soul-winning is the best use of paper and ink. This strategy has helped a lot. Couldn’t you? Won’t you try?
#6 Live Out The Gospel
At least some of you could live if you couldn’t speak or write much. That is a beautiful manner of preaching—preaching through your life, conduct, and conversation.
That loving wife, who weeps in secret over an infidel husband, but is always so kind to him; that dear child, whose heart is broken by his father’s blasphemy, but is so much more obedient than he used to be before conversion; that servant, at whom the master swears, but whom he could trust with his purse, and the gold uncounted in it; that man in trade, who is sneered at as a Presbyterian, but who is straight as a line, and would not be compelled to do a dirty action. No, not for all the mint; these are the men and women who preach the best sermons; these are your practical preachers.
Give us your pure living, and we shall influence the world. With God’s blessing, we shall find tongues, but we need our people’s lives to illustrate what our tongues say. The gospel is like a picture book. Outsiders may not come to hear the preacher, but they always consider, observe, and criticize the lifestyles of the members. If you want to win souls, dear brethren and sisters, live the gospel. There is no greater thrill for me than to see my children live in truth.
Master The Art Of Prayer
Also, the soul-winner must be a master of the art of prayer. You can’t lead souls to God unless you go to God. Your battle-ax and weapons of war must come from the sacred connection with Christ. If you spend much time alone with Jesus, you will catch His spirit; you will be enflamed by the fire that engulfed His life. The power that stirred men’s hearts and consciences in Him will be in your words, even if you cannot speak as eloquently as He did.
My dear hearers, especially you church members, I am always concerned lest any of you relax in concerns of God’s kingdom. Others, I fear, have slack hands, who are content to sit in these pews and pray the cause goes well, but that is all they do. Oh, let me see you all in earnest! What ought we not to do as a large group of about 5,000 members if we are all alive and well? But without enthusiasm, such a crowd becomes a swarm, a horde that causes havoc and does no good. You could set the country on fire if you were all firebrands for Christ. How many thirsty souls could you quench if you were all living wells?
Are Your Own Souls Won?
Beloved, I shall and have asked one question: Are your own souls won? You can’t win if you don’t win yourself. Are you saved? My hearers, every one of you, under that gallery there, and you behind here, are you yourselves saved? What if you had to answer that question to someone greater than me tonight? What if the last great orator’s skeletal finger was raised instead of mine? What if his unconquerable eloquence turned your bones to stone, glazed your eyes, and made your blood chill? Could you hope to be saved in your last moments? How will you ever be saved? If not now, when? Is there a better time?
Saved by faith in what the Son of Man did when He became man and suffered for those who trust Him. Christ was our Substitute. His followers are trustworthy. Believe in Him. He was punished for your sins, and you can’t be too, since God cannot punish sin twice. If you trust Jesus, who now sits at God’s right hand, you are forgiven and forever saved. Oh, to trust Him now! Maybe it’s now or never for you. May it be that now, even now, and then, my friends, trusting in Jesus, you do not need to hesitate when questioned, “Are you saved?,” because you will respond, “‘Ay, that I am, for it is written, ‘He that believes in Him is not condemned.’” Trust Him today, and God will help you win souls, and you will be wise, and God will be glorified!
This article is an edited version of the article “Soul-Winning Explained” from Charles Spurgeon’s book “The Soul Winner”. Check out our related posts for more information on this topic, or get a copy of the book from Amazon.
