Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Introduction:

A. His Example is our Standard for all time.

Matt. 4:19, “And he saith unto them, >Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

B. Our Guarantee of Success is found in our appropriation of His Methods.

I. A Brief Study of This Peerless Evangelist Will Be Profitable.

A. Prophecy set Him out as one who would win souls.

Zech. 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

B. Early groups witnessed to His Messiahship.

1. Marry and Elizabeth,

2. The Angels and Shepherds,

3. Anna and Simeon,

4. The Wise Men of the east.

C. John, the Forerunner introduced Him as the Evangelist of the new day.

1. All Hell put forth its utmost efforts to Prevent His Successful entranceon His campaign.

2. His First Public Act --- Baptism at John’s hands --- announced Him as one approving this new ordinance --- TheEvangelist’s Sign of A Soul-Winning Victory.

D. He Began His role of Evangelism by:

1. Starting out Andrew as a Soul-Winner.

2. By Himself winning Philip.

3. By sending Philip out to win Nathaniel.

4. For Three Years in:

a. Public Sermons,

b. Quiet Teaching,

c. Personal, face-to-face dealing with men.

5. Jesus set all the world an Example in evangelism By Winning:

Philip --- Nicodemus --- Zaccheus --- Bartimeus --- Samaritan Woman --- Pharisees --- Scribes --- Priests --- Soldiers --- Publicans, etc.

II. Jesus’ Evangelism Was Characterized By:

A. A Holy, Sinless Life.

B. Knowledge of God and Complete Surrender to His will.

C. A realization of Man’s Condition --- need --- helplessness --- impending doom.

D. Limitless Compassion for a ruined race, as show by:

1. His words of Love and Mercy,

2. His life of Unselfish Service,

3. His Tireless and Unremitting Ministry,

4. His Broken Heart over the sinning,

5. His Sacrificial Death.

E. Intercessory and Importunate Prayer.

F. An Artful and Tactful method in reaching men.

G. Endowment without measure by the Spirit of God.

III. Some of The Winning Characteristics of Jesus’ Preaching Were:

A. Simplicity --- He utilized every day illustrations, spoken in simple but strong and overpowering words.

B. Positiveness and Divine Authority.

C. Heart-Searching, Conviction-Bring Power.

D. Abundance of fundamental doctrine and principle.

E. Supreme tenderness and love, often mingled with scathing, blistering denunciation for the hypocrite.

F. Direct and personal reach.

G. Unfailing appeal to the highest in man.

IV. The Personal Work of Jesus Christ.

A. Jesus used both direct and indirect methods of reaching men with the truth.

1. He was always tender with those who recognized themselves as being sinners.

2. His scathing denunciations were turned loose on hypocrites.

B. Instead of directly accusing the unsaved, he usually led them to a confession of their sins --- the Samaritan Woman (John 4).

C. He always Refused To Be Sidetracked from the main matters of the soul.

D. His method of illustration and impartation of truth was:

1. From the natural to the spiritual,

2. From the simple to the complex.

E. He was never vague or indefinite about:

1. The nature and guilt of man,

2. The direful consequences of sin.

3. The necessity of a divine regeneration,

4. A deep work of grace, in the heart.

F. There was no veneer or whitewash in His teaching --- He had one Gospel for all.

1. He put Baptism and Church Membership in their proper places.

2. He put Teaching and Instruction in an important place, as necessity for:

a. Growth in Grace,

b. Development of Character,

c. Usefulness in His service.

G. He was a tremendously sincere and compassionate evangelist.

1. His tears and sorrowing for the lost have come down to us, not his jokes and wit and humor.

2. He rightly valued souls in all their eternal relations and went straight after them.

3. The ministry today needs to follow His Example.

H. Not only was He the Greatest Soul-Winner --- Not only is He our Example today --- He is still in the Saving Business.

V. What Does The Bible Teach About Winning Souls?

A. Our Prayer:

Isa. 6:8, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Acts 9:6, “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, >Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

B. Our Field:

John 4:35, “>Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”

Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, >Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

John 4:28-29, “The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?”

C. Our Time:

Eccl. 9:10, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

2 Thess. 3:13, “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.”

2 Cor. 6:2, “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”

D. Our Motive:

2 Cor. 5:14-15, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

Col. 3:23, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”

E. Our Helper:

Matt. 28:20, “>Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

John 15:5, “>I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Phil. 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Heb. 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Exo. 4:10-12, “And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.   11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.”

F. Our Theme:

John 3:16, “>For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

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.”

1 Tim. 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that >Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

Rom. 4:25, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

G. Our Message:

Ezek. 33:11, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

2 Tim. 4:2, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Rom. 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

1 Cor. 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

1 Thess. 2:4, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”

H. Our Strength & Power:

Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Zech. 4:6, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

I. Our Examples:

John 9:4, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

Luke 2:49, “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

J. Our Reward:

Matt. 25:23, “His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

2 Tim. 4:8, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Rev. 22:12, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

1 Cor. 3:8, “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”