Soul-winning is a ministry

“As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1Pe 4:10 AV)

No mystery here!  As we have received so freely the gift of salvation by the grace of God, we need to minister the same to others.  We have made soul-winning a program and project to the point that we have forgotten what winning souls is all about.  It is not a goal to be reached.  It is not a number to tally.  It is not a map to fill in or a race to be finished.  Soul-winning is first and foremost a ministry.  If we were to understand this, we might have better results when we do go soul-winning.

Years ago, the church of which I was a member, used this program knocked on doors with the pretext of conducting a survey.  The survey would probe into a person’s religious beliefs and would end up with an invitation to hear the gospel.  It was misleading because we really didn’t care about their responses until the very last question.  And those who took the survey could figure this out really quick.  There is nothing wrong with a systematic method of reaching one’s Jerusalem.  Paul went from house to house.  He had a plan.  He went to Mars Hill.  He went to the Synagogue upon entering a new city.  There is nothing wrong with maps, promotions, or programs.  These offer discipline and structure.  But they should not be an end in themselves.  We can get so structured that we forget soul-winning is first and foremost, ministry.

Our problem is overcoming our knowledge the lost need this ministry against their own blindness towards it.  They do not know they need this ministry.  We need to open their eyes to a need which they may not even understand they need.  This takes grace and love.  This takes patience and endurance.  This takes the deep conviction that soul-winning is a ministry and not a goal!