The fifth step in the soul winning process happens when a person makes a decision to change his beliefs and ways. He brings the person into line with God's word which has
When one makes that decision known, the matter is considered closed on the assumption that the decision will take immediate effect in the form of appropriate action. So finally, let us consider this
There are three points to make
Although the word of God cuts to the heart, its acceptance is made with gladness, not with peevishness
Where the decision is made reluctantly, with the minimum action as a result, the person has probably been pushed into it by the power of the teacher's personality and the pressure of the group, instead of the power of God's word. That is not a closing. That's a bulldozing! When a true closing is made,
One of the effects of achieving the closing, is that a bond is forged between all those who have participated. When Paul helped Onesimus, the runaway slave, to correct his ways, the bonding was so strong that Paul spoke of Onesimus as his son begotten in the gospel
Where relationships are strained and estranged, it is often because the process we have been discussing is not going on, and the closing is being thwarted. Errors are not being resolved, so the bonds remain weak. Where people submit to the soul winning process, even to its unsettling and closing, the yield is stronger fellowship, the people involved "having been knit together in love"
That might sound strange. The closing, the last step in the process, described as a beginning?
The secret of the soul winning process is that it is cyclic. It goes on and on, over and over, as we mature in Christ. It isn't something that happens once at conversion. It is a constant process
It's like the people who are always painting the Sydney Harbour Bridge. When they get to one end, they find it is already high time to go back and start at the beginning again
When we achieve a closing, we don't write "The End." No, we go back to the reassuring, even further back if need be,
The soul winning process is not a journey travelled but once. It is a round where each stop is visited cyclically. I suppose that we should think of the journey not as a flat circle, but as a gradually ascending spiral. For although we go round and round, we do get somewhere, and
While ever there remains something to correct in a person, we will be subjecting that person, and ourselves, over and over again to the soul winning process. Satan does not stop his soul destroying process. So why should we not continually refresh
In the outreach process...
Always keep in mind that the outreach process is not linear, but cyclic. It doesn't stop at the closing, but proceeds to one of the earlier steps, so that the process constantly builds people up and ensures spiritual
One final thought:
Before you reach out,
Reach up, and reach in...
Look to God, look to self,
Before you begin.
1.THE OPENING
Use what passes between you and another, in natural day-to-day contact, to open a conversation about God's word, and to uncover genuine
2. THE INVITATION
Ask the person to come to a Bible study (usually a home study). Make a definite time-and-place appointment, but don't be tied down to
3. THE REASSURING
Immediately make the person feel comfortable with the commitment. Use the God's word, not your own sentiments. Use the pronoun "you" and avoid using "I" statements. Answer doubts and objections,
4. THE UNSETTLING
Disturb the person by confronting him or her with God's word on a relevant matter. This will usually be the main or critical matter in which they are in error. Awaken their conscience, test their honesty. This step is uncomfortable,
5. THE CLOSING
Get the person's agreement to change his or her position. Get them to accept and conform to the word of God in a matter in which they
Here are some more literary gems for you, since you enjoyed the story of Jennifer and Norman so much! Use these stories to help you consider the outreach process that we have
Bob and Peter
The loudspeaker says the six ten train to Frankston has been cancelled. Bob mutters something derogatory about the railways. Sitting next to him, is Peter,
Peter has learned to take these annoyances in his stride. But he treats what Bob has said as a remark addressed to him, although Bob is a stranger who could have been addressing
"It reminds me," replied Peter, "Of the time I was on a train which stopped just inches short of some powerful explosives which schoolboys had stolen and placed on the line. The train driver saved lives --possibly mine-- by having his wits about him. He told the newspaper reporter that God had helped him stop the train. We could use more
Mavis and Iris
Mavis is a new Christian. She meets up with Iris, an old girlfriend she hasn't seen for three years. She discovers that they are near enough neighbours. It's a small world! They are pleased and excited
Catching up on the news, Mavis learns that Iris is living with a defacto. "Oh, Iris! I can't agree with that!" Mavis remarks, "According to the Bible fornicators will go to hell." That wipes the smile off Iris's face. "Don't call me a fornicator," she retorts,
Dick and Molly
Dick had been studying the Bible with cousin Molly. The topic was "righteousness, temperance,
Molly was scared by what the Bible said about the judgment. She knew she was very short on righteousness and temperance, yet, with the right changes and commitment, she could receive forgiveness and hope from Jesus instead of condemnation. She was deep in thought when
Dick spluttered, "Oh! sorry Molly, I didn't mean to upset you! We'll