SF125 - THE STEPS OF A SOUL WINNER (John 1 40-46)

@PAGE NUMBER = SF125

@TITLE = THE STEPS OF A SOUL WINNER

@LEVEL ONE = JOH 1:40‑46

@LEVEL ONE = INTRODUCTION

@ILL TITLE = HOWARD RAMSEY<R>DO WE REALLY LOVE THE LOST?

@ILL TEXT = When I was a boy, my hair was bright red.  During those years, there were only three people in our town of 2,000 who had red hair; me and my two sisters.  The result was that I was teased and ridiculed frequently.  My dad responded by saying "tell them, 'just because you say it's so, doesn't make it so.'"

@ILL TEXT = Hearing a recent discussion, I was reminded of that, when a leader stated, "The greatest thing about Southern Baptists is that we love lost souls."  One in the group responded immediately by saying, "That's easy to say, but is it really true?"  Another asked, "What do you mean by that?"  Tension intensified when the first person asked the others how often, and how recently, each actually had shared the gospel with a lost person.  If a lost person had heard the answers and the discussion, he or she might have said, "Just because you say it's so, doesn't make it so."

@ILL TEXT = Do we as Southern Baptists truly love the lost?  Most would say yes.  But if we do, why is it that less than 4 percent of resident church members personally lead a person to the Lord and to follow in baptism in any given year.  In fact, if four of every hundred resident members led a person to the Lord and to follow in baptism, we would baptize a minimum of 432,000 people each year.  If we added to that number the members' children we baptize who respond as a result of being in Sunday School and worship, those who are already Christians but are members of other denominations, and others who respond to salvation and believer's baptism during revival or worship we would baptize more than 500,000 each year.  Yet, we continue to baptize well under 400,000 each year.

@PAGE NUMBER = Page 2

@LEVEL ONE = 1A.  THE STEP OF COMMITMENT (vv. 37,43)

@SCRIPTURE = v.37 Followed 1AAI3P

@SCRIPTURE = v.43 Follow PAIMV3S

@SCRIPTURE = akoloutheo, from a (as a particle of union) and keleuthos (a road); prop. to be in the same way with, i.e. to accompany (spec. as a disciple):‑follow, reach.

@SCRIPTURE = Used 77 times in the gospels to refer to following Christ, and only once otherwise. (MAR 14:13)

@LEVEL TWO = 1B.  Commitment Of Your Way

@LEVEL THREE = 1C.  Man's way brings

@LEVEL FOUR = Darkness

@SCRIPTURE = PRO 4:19<R>The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

@LEVEL FOUR = Destruction

@SCRIPTURE = PRO 10:29<R>The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

@LEVEL FOUR = Defeat

@SCRIPTURE = PRO 13:15<R>Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

@LEVEL FOUR = Death

@SCRIPTURE = PRO 14:12<R>There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

@PAGE NUMBER = Page 3

@LEVEL THREE = 2C.  God's way brings

@LEVEL FOUR = Light

@SCRIPTURE = 1JO 1:5<R>This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

@LEVEL FOUR = Reward

@SCRIPTURE = REV 22:12<R>And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

@LEVEL FOUR = Victory

@SCRIPTURE = 1JO 5:4<R>For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

@LEVEL FOUR = Life

@SCRIPTURE = JOH 14:6<R>Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

@LEVEL TWO = 2B. Commitment Of Your Walk

@LEVEL THREE = 1C.  New walk

@SCRIPTURE = ROM 6:4<R>Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

@LEVEL THREE = 2C.  Faith walk

@SCRIPTURE = 2CO 5:7<R>(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

@LEVEL THREE = 3C.  Obedient walk

@SCRIPTURE = EPH 2:10<R>For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

@PAGE NUMBER = Page 4

@LEVEL THREE = 4C.  Worthy walk

@SCRIPTURE = 1TH 2:12<R>That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

@LEVEL TWO = 3B.  Commitment Of Your Wealth

@SCRIPTURE = (Bkg vv.23‑26)

@SCRIPTURE = MAT 19:27<R>Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

@LEVEL ONE = 2A.  THE STEP OF CONCERN (vv.41,43,45)

@SCRIPTURE = Findeth PAI3S

@SCRIPTURE = heurisko, to find (lit. or fig.):‑find, get, obtain, perceive, see.<R>To find after search

@LEVEL TWO = 1B.  Concern For Our Family (v.41)

@ILL TITLE = UNHAPPY EVER SINCE

@ILL TEXT = One day G. Campbell Morgan received a letter from a little boy. It read,"Dear Doctor Morgan:  Last night in your meeting I received the Lord Jesus as my Savior, and I have been unhappy ever since‑‑" Dr. Morgan paused, thinking he must have misunderstood the opening words.  But he quickly realized he hadn't finished his sentence.  The lad had written,"Last night in your meeting I received the Lord Jesus as my Savior, and I have been unhappy ever since, because my father is not a Christian."

@LEVEL TWO = 2B.  Concern For Our Friends (v.45)

@ILL TITLE = PERSON TO PERSON

@ILL TEXT = After preaching a sermon on the believer's duty to be a personal witness for Christ, C. H. Spurgeon went into a side room of the church.  A member of the congregation who had heard the sermon followed him.  The man seemed to be greatly moved by the message, and he asked Spurgeon's advice on how to apply it.  He wondered if he'd be allowed to join with others in the church who went out to win people to Christ.  "What is your occupation?" asked the preacher.  "I'm a steam locomotive engineer," was the reply.  "Is the fireman on your train converted?"  "No, I don't think so," said the man, "but what does that have to do with it?"  "Why, my dear fellow," exclaimed Spurgeon, "that is your piece of work!"

@PAGE NUMBER = Page 5

@LEVEL TWO = 3B.  Concern For Other Folks (v.43)

@ILL TITLE = IN NAME OR IN REALITY?

@ILL TEXT = A medical missionary was leaving by ship for a foreign field. The famous Andrew Bonar of Scotland came to the pier to bid farewell to his friend, only to discover that the doctor was to be accompanied by his sister.  Turning to her, he said, "My dear, I don't believe I've ever had the privilege of making your acquaintance.  I'm pleased that you are going as your brother's assistant, and I'd like to remember you in my prayers.  What is your first name?"  "Christine," was the reply.  "I like that!" said the aged servant of the Lord, "for you have Christ in your name.  I trust you also have Him in your heart!"  The woman looked away and was silent for a moment.  Before she could think of an answer, the last call to board the ocean liner was given. Convicted by Bonar's words, she began to think about her relationship to the Lord.  Although she went to church regularly, she suddenly realized that she was not truly saved and had never actually become a "new creature" in Christ.  That night she knelt and asked the Savior to pardon her sins and make her His child.  Much later an article appeared in the Moody Monthly relating this incident.  It concluded by saying that her years of consistent living and faithful service showed the reality of Christine's decision.

@LEVEL ONE = 3A.  THE STEP OF CONFESSION (vv.41b,45b)

@LEVEL TWO = 1B.  Confess Who Jesus Is (v.41)

@LEVEL FOUR = Messiah

@LEVEL FOUR = Savior

@LEVEL TWO = 2B.  Confess What Jesus Has Done (v.45)

@LEVEL FOUR = Fulfilled the law and prophets

@LEVEL FOUR = Saved

@ILL TITLE = FINDING AND TELLING

@ILL TEXT = Many years ago some men were panning for gold in Montana, and one of them found an unusual stone.  Breaking it open, he was excited to see that it contained gold.  Working eagerly, the men soon discovered an abundance of the precious metal.  Happily, they began shouting with delight, "We've found it!  We've found gold!  We're rich!"  They had to interrupt their celebrating, though, to go into a nearby town and stock up on supplies. Before they left camp, the men agreed not to tell a soul about their find.  Indeed, no one breathed a word about it to anyone while they were in town.  Much to their dismay, however, when they were about to return, hundreds of men were prepared to follow them.  When they asked the crowd to tell who "squealed," the reply came, "No one had to.  Your faces showed it!"

@PAGE NUMBER = Page 6

@LEVEL TWO = 3B.  Confess How Jesus Can Be Found (vv. 42,46)

@LEVEL THREE = 1C.  Take them to Jesus  (v.42)

@SCRIPTURE = Brought = ago; a prim. verb; prop. to lead; by impl. to bring, drive,

@SCRIPTURE = Come = erchomai; accompany, bring

@LEVEL THREE = 2C.  Trust them to Jesus (v.42b, 47‑51)

@LEVEL ONE = CONCLUSION

@LEVEL FOUR = To Be A Soul Winner You Must...

@LEVEL THREE = Commit Your

@LEVEL FOUR = Way

@LEVEL FOUR = Walk

@LEVEL FOUR = Wealth

@LEVEL THREE = Be Concerned about

@LEVEL FOUR = Family

@LEVEL FOUR = Friends

@LEVEL FOUR = Folks

@LEVEL THREE = Confess

@LEVEL FOUR = Who

@LEVEL FOUR = What

@LEVEL FOUR = How

@LEVEL TWO = Are You A Soul Winner?

@ILL TITLE = "HE LEFT NO VACANCY"

@ILL TEXT = A man once laid a piece of chocolate candy on a table.  Then, picking up an ant, he put it near the delicious bon‑bon.  He was surprised to see it take a single bite and then hurry off to inform the rest of the colony.  Soon the little creature returned, followed by a long train of other ants who enjoyed the treat with him.  Many Christians who have tasted that the Lord is good can learn a lesson from that little insect!  Having found God's rich supply of grace, they ought to spread the glad tidings to others.