WINSOME TO WIN SOME

 

 “Many years ago there was a movie titled, "Stars in My Crown."  It told of an elderly black man who owned a little farm outside a southern town.  Some very precious metal was discovered in that area, and suddenly there was pressure on him from many people to sell his land.  But he would not sell.  He wanted to stay exactly where he was.  However, the people in the area would not take "no" for an answer.  They did everything they could to make him move.  They burned down his barn, shot through his house one night, and eventually threatened to hang him by sundown the next day if he did not agree to sell.

 

“The local Methodist minister heard about the trouble and went to visit the old man.  At sundown of the next day, all the leading citizens of the community came to the farm dressed in their white hoods.  They were ready to hang the black gentleman if he refused to sell.  The farmer came out on the porch to meet them wearing his best clothes.  He said that he was ready to die and that he had asked the minister to draw up for him his Last Will and Testament, which he wanted to have read at that time.

 

“The minister read the will, and those present realized quickly the old man was giving everything to them.  He willed the farm to the banker who seemed so hell bent on having it.  He gave his rifle to another of the men there who had first learned to hunt with it.  He gave his fishing pole to another.  In fact, that old man gave everything he had to the people who were prepared to kill him.  He killed them first with love and affection.

 

 “The impact was incredible.  Seeing goodness given in the face of such animosity was more than any of them could tolerate. 

 

 “One by one, in shame, they turned away, and the entire lynching mob disappeared.  The minister's grandson had watched everything from a distance, and as everyone departed, he ran up to his grandfather and asked, ‘What kind of will was that, Granddaddy?’

 

“The old minister answered, ‘That, my son, was the will of God.’ (1)

 

This story is a good illustration of how we should go about winning souls to Christ.  The man was WINSOME TO WIN SOME.  He was gracious and being gracious he affected those around him.

 

It is our being purposely gracious or winsome that will also bring or win people to Christ.

 

Last week we shared with you a formula for being an effect witness for Christ.

 

HP + CP + CC = MI

High Potency

Close Proximity

+ Clear Communication

MAXIMUM IMPACT (2)

 

Maximum impact, as we said last week, is being as effective as possible with our witness for Christ.  Sometimes this will mean that we will actually see someone come to Christ.  Other times it will mean that we are being good witnesses even though nobody made a decision for Christ.

 

Last week we talked about “clear communication”, and how using such tools as “Steps to Peace with God” you can clearly present the Gospel.

 

Whether you use a witnessing tool or simply share the Gospel, clear communication is important.  As we said before there are three things that people need to know to make a decision:

 

1. THEY ARE SINNERS WHO DON’T DESERVE HEAVEN   

2. THERE IS A SAVIOR WHO DIED FOR THEM   

3. THERE IS SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST

 

Matthew 5:13 - Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

 

This verse leads us to talking about the rest of formula that leads to Maximum Impact in witnessing for Christ.

 

Salt is a preservative.

Salt makes one thirsty.

Salt spices things up.

 

Jesus calls Christians “salt”.

Salt is a preservative.

The world is morally and spiritually rotting away.

As Christians we act as preservatives against the rottenness.

We should be living in such a way that we are doing what is right.  The world should see us as standing against the trends of wickedness.

 

Jesus calls Christians “salt”

Salt spices things up. When a Christian is “spicy” he is giving excitement to a dull world that only thinks that life is exciting. The Christian has more abundant life in Christ.

 

Jesus calls Christians “salt”.

Salt makes one thirsty.

The Christian should make non-Christians thirsty for a better life, for Christ, for having what the Christian has.

 

Jesus warns about salt that loses its savor or saltiness.

If Christians are not salty they are not effective.

High Potency means that we as Christians are acting as preservatives, living righteously.  And we are living a spicy life that makes non-Christians thirsty for what we have.

Our testimony should be potent as Christians.

 

Close Proximity is also part of the witnessing equation.

Salt does no good if it’s in the salt shaker and not be spread around.

 

So, how do we as Christians practice High Potency and Close Proximity?  How do we become “Winsome to Win Some”.

I have a few suggestions.

 

BE CONSISTENT

 

Consistency is something non-Christians lack.

In order for us to act as preservatives and to make people want we have we need to be consistent in at least two ways.

 

·        WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE

 

If we believe in Jesus as our Savior, we also need to believe that Jesus has called us to live a holy life.

 

Titus 2:11-12 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, [12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

 

You will not win anyone to Christ by being just like them.

If your Christianity has not made you different, why should anyone else want it?

 

I’m not saying you should walk around preaching everywhere you go.  I am suggesting that the way you live should reflect an element of righteousness that is noticeable.   

   

As you live a holy life, one that is different, you will have opportunities to share your faith.

 

1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

 

·        WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE

·        WE NEED TO BE CONSISTENT WITH WHO WE ARE.

   

We will not win anyone to Christ by pretending to be something we are not.

People do not like hypocrisy even when they are hypocritical themselves.

One of the worst things we can do as Christians is to pretend everything is okay when it isn’t.

Some have this convoluted idea that Christians are to always smile, always laugh, always appear on top of things even when they are not. They are to never get angry or hurt.

 

We Christians do have our sorrows.

We do have our hurts, trials and disappointments.

We do get angry.

We do have bad days.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 - To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 

Unsaved people need to see that we are human, we are real.

But what should they see that’s different from them in this.

In our sorrow we should show hope and joy and thanksgiving. In our anger we should show forgiveness.   

Christians should not be defeated by the sorrows. 

They should use them as stepping stones towards a closer walk with God and that makes us different from the unsaved.

 

James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

Ephesians 4:32 - And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

 

So we need to be consistent with what we believe and who we are.   

 

BE CONGENIAL

 

Proverbs 18:24 - A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly…   

 

Not everyone is out going.

Not everyone is a back-slapper.

Not everyone treats all others as long lost friends.

 

But whether we are introverted or out going, we can all be friendly.

We can take the time to say “Hello”.

We can take the time to ask how someone is doing.

We can show interest in their answers.

If a grouchy person gives you advice, are you likely to listen?

If a person won’t talk to you are you likely to take him seriously if all of a sudden he starts talking to you about religion?

If your faith in Christ as not made you a friendly person, why should anyone want what you have?

 

BE CONGENIAL

BE COMMITTED

 

One of the most precious commodities we have is time.

None of us seem to have enough of it.

Our job demands time.

Keeping up with the yard and house demands time.

Spending time with your family demands time.

Church activities demand time.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus to hear His Word takes time.

Hobbies take time.

Friendships take time.

Developing relationships takes time.

One of the most precious gifts you can give someone is your time!

 

Using our time wisely takes discernment.

 

Ephesians 5:16-18 -  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. [17] Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. [18] And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

 

If you want to win someone to Christ, it will take a time commitment on your part.

One of the best things you can do is find things to do socially with an unsaved person.

That doesn’t mean you have to do things that you don’t believe in, such as going to bars.

But find things such as picnics, shopping, playing games, hunting, going to ball games, and going out to eat that allow you to get to know each other better.  

 

A person I made a time commitment to was a man named Seymour Hayes.  Seymour is now 72 years old.  I first got to know him by spending time drinking coffee with him in the coffee house across the street from the Village Bible Church.  I also talked to him at his home.

He was the co-manager of the local speed way and I ended up praying for some of the races.

I remember going to a 40^th anniversary party for he and his wife and was asked to speak a couple of minutes.

 

When Seymour wanted to talk, I listened, and helped him make a significant decision concerning his involvement in the local speedway.  He got out.

 

I called Seymour on the phone and asked him if he thought our friendship had anything to do with him being saved.  He verified that it did.  He also mentioned something I have forgotten. 

 

He said that one day he bought my coffee and said that it might help him get to Heaven.  He claims I was at his house talking to him about it that very night. Bear in mind that by the time I talked to Seymour, he was already my friend, and he said that conversation got things started towards his decision to trust Christ.  

 

If we are committed to winning people to Christ we must be committed to spending time with them.

Sometimes we will have witnessing opportunities when we hardly know people.  However being committed to a friendship will give you excellent opportunities to share.

 

BE CONCERNED

 

Proverbs 27:10 - Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not…

   

Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

 

Giving time to a friend is not just for social activities.

When things are going bad for a friend, a true friend is around to listen, to cry, to help.

When things are going well for a friend, a true friend is there to rejoice.

   

Sometimes the only thing we can do for a friend is be there.

Sometimes we can just listen.

I know a pastor who once helped clean up blood in a bedroom after a teenage boy committed suicide.  The acts of being available as a friend to cry with the family and then helping with the cleanup and helping the father tell his parents about the tragedy did more to witness for Christ than all the sermons in the world.

 

Showing concern begins with just checking on our friends to see how they are doing.

Showing concern also means being sensitive to a person’s moods, and knowing when to ask if things are okay.

Showing concern may also mean tactfully warning someone when we see that they are headed in a wrong direction.

Showing concern will earn you a hearing, when you are ready to share the Gospel.

If a person knows that you are truly concerned for them, they are more likely to listen.

 

BE CONCERNED

BE COOPERATIVE

 

I realize that some of these thoughts overlap.

Being concerned should lead us to the next logical step which is to cooperate with our friend in any way that we can to help.

 

Galatians 6:10 - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

 

Our cooperation should begin with our support for the well being of those who are brothers and sisters in Christ.  The demonstration of this active love for the brethren should be such in our Christian churches that the unsaved will take notice.

 

John 13:34-35- A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

Several years ago in Fonda, New York, one of our church families lost a baby.  He was still-born.  The church people so rallied around that family that the wife’s unsaved relatives made positive comment that the love that was bestowed.

 

More recently I think of the way some of you who aren’t family helped Randy and Denise with building their home.

This is a positive testimony of the love of Christ.

 

But our cooperation is to go beyond those who are of our faith family.  We need to reach out also to our friends and even people we don’t know with a compassion that says “I’ll help if I can.”

 

It might be a donation of money or groceries to a family in need.

It might be transporting someone to the hospital and/or waiting through surgery.

It might be going with someone to a hearing or some other uncomfortable situation.

It might be bringing a meal or dessert to someone during a difficult time.

You can be creative. There are many ways to cooperate in friendship.

 

BE COMMUNICATIVE

 

This brings us back to what we talked about last week, clear communication.

We must be prayerfully looking for opportunities to share our faith, even if it is in little does.

We should not rush the process in wanting to witness if the door is not open.

 

However, when God opens a door we need to be ready to move right in and speak up for Christ.

 

Remember, the soul winning is a process.

 

1 Corinthians 3:6 - I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

 

 And remember the formula:

HP + CP + CC = MI

High Potency

Close Proximity

+ Clear Communication

MAXIMUM IMPACT (2)

For high potency and close proximity be winsome to win some!

 

BE CONSISTENT

BE CONGENIAL

BE COMMITTED

BE CONCERNED

BE COOPERATIVE

BE COMMUNICATIVE  

 

 

(1) - SOURCE: Dynamic Preaching Disk, Spring 1992 "A"

TITLE: Do You Have A Forgiving Spirit?

AUTHOR: Rev. Eric Ritz

PAGE: Apr 7 92

DATE: 4/1/92

ENTERED: 9/10/92

TYPIST: David Holwick

 

NUMBER: 2236   

Holwicks Illustrations

 

(2) Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg, Becoming A Contagious Christian, (Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zondervan Publishing House, 1994) p. 47