Need Soul-Winning Advice

[37818]

Hey guys,

So I'm looking for any advice you guys have from experience when out knocking doors. Particularly, I'm looking for the best approaches to introducing dialogue, getting the topic on salvation, and the best ways to keep the interest of the person you're talking to.

What I've realized thus far about soul winning is that I have to almost coax a person into listening, which causes me to feel pushy afterward. And on the opposite side of that spectrum, if I don't be pushy at all, I don't even get to preach any of God's word to them when I feel like I have the opportunity. There have been many a time when I haven't even cracked my Bible on a soul-winning event; and I'm not sure if that's due to my inability or the receptiveness of the area I live in (affluent smaller town with many business owners and retirees).

Are there any tips you guys can give me on how to be more persuasive, how persuasive to be, and any good methods for reading people? I realize that much of this comes from pure experience, but I was hoping to save some time and discouragement.

Thanks in advance.

Before I make a suggestion, I would like to know what you would explain as to how one would know for sure of going to Heaven when one dies?

 

[Reformed]

Take advantage of every opportunity God provides. I will never tell a person not to knock on doors. Do it. What we should not do is shame or criticize those who do not. It is the Gospel that saves, not the method.

Sorry for the forcefulness of the message.
But the advice was simple, don't do it!
There are more effective ways to reach those in your community.

The community where I live bans door-to-door solicitation for a reason - I'm not sure if religious door knocking counts by law but it would in spirit.

My church sponsors summer soccer camps in various neighborhoods
Backyard week or two bible clubs for kids
We have a Revolutionary War militia group that meets regularly
Small groups meet weekly for fellowship and bible study - backyard cookouts with neighborhood locals invited
The church has summer cookouts on the grounds with everyone/anyone invited
We encourage Boy Scouts and Girl Scout groups (and many other non-religious groups) to use our campus to encourage witness encounters with 'outside' people

My advice, witness where you work, play, worship, rest, but don't go out of your way to disturb people.

Persuasion by force of reason rarely works.

Rob

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[lewlew]

Pragmatism is well and alive today and has infected churches.
We do not base what we do by whether or not it works but whether or not it is biblical.

Going out and sharing (Or attempting to) the Gospel with people is biblical and right.
We are responsible to share the good news, whether it's "effective" or not.
While I understand door to door is not very "effective", I wonder if the ones who are against it ever share the Gospel in other ways?

If door to door doesn't "work" in your community then fine, but what exactly are you actively doing to share the Gospel with people?

We are commanded by God to share the Gospel. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.To go out....that is why the feet in the Armor of God are represented for sharing the Gospel "And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace"; Whether we think it works or not, does not matter. We should always do what God has commanded us to do.

 

[JohnDBaptiste]

Hey guys,

So I'm looking for any advice you guys have from experience when out knocking doors. Particularly, I'm looking for the best approaches to introducing dialogue, getting the topic on salvation, and the best ways to keep the interest of the person you're talking to.

What I've realized thus far about soul winning is that I have to almost coax a person into listening, which causes me to feel pushy afterward. And on the opposite side of that spectrum, if I don't be pushy at all, I don't even get to preach any of God's word to them when I feel like I have the opportunity. There have been many a time when I haven't even cracked my Bible on a soul-winning event; and I'm not sure if that's due to my inability or the receptiveness of the area I live in (affluent smaller town with many business owners and retirees).

Are there any tips you guys can give me on how to be more persuasive, how persuasive to be, and any good methods for reading people? I realize that much of this comes from pure experience, but I was hoping to save some time and discouragement.

Thanks in advance.

Yeah, the impersonal approach doesn't really work unless the person is lonely, desperate, or weird.

My former step-father (raised Catholic) was on the verge of blowing his brains out when two Jehovah's Witnesses knocked on his door. Sadly, try as I may, I could not get him out of that cult because he had such an emotional bond with them. And I cut my apologetic teeth on the teaching of the late great Dr. Walter Martin. I did lead his son (my half brother) out of the Watchtower Bible Society. But not his father.

I am glad he did not succeed in killing himself. And at times I wish Christians could have been the ones knocking at his door. But I still do not believe door-to-door salesmanship is the way to successfully accomplish anything. Even visiting members to get them to attend Church service....

Witnessing is best with people who know you. Or, people who share the same affliction or loss as you. It takes more nerve to witness to them it seems than total strangers or people you are only acquainted with.

The biggest think is to witness when the Spirit of God tells you to.

"I don't know... he's my coworker... he will think I'm a Bible thumper..."

Or...

"I don't like this person. Let 'em burn!"

Or any number of excuses like "what if I can't answer their questions? Or what if they stump me? Or what if they convince me about the way they believe?"

That last one comes under the heading KNOW WHY YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE FIRST.

When it's grounded in the Word of God you are thoroughly equipped with TRUTH.

Compassion is a good motivator (and not fake compassion; they'll know).

Learn where the cults foul up the Word of God and how to point it out with answers they can't question and questions they can't answer.

Learn unbiased science for witnessing to atheists, skeptics, agnostics etc.

1st and 2nd Laws of thermodynamics militate against evolution and the big bang theory.

Expect a lot of guff from all of the above (because people love untruth and believe it is truth) so they'll hate it when you show up with the real thing.

But at the same time...

Chuck Swindoll once said it best... "Rather than backing over them with a dump truck load of theology... I am a poor beggar trying to tell others where I found bread."

It's really on a case by case person by person basis.

 

[JohnDBaptiste]

And by the way... I love it when Cultists knock on my door. They only do it once. And usually have some half-baked excuse to leave in the middle of my presentation (just as I am warming up).

 

[JonShaff]

I do like Door knocking--and most of the time i get invited into their home. I believe almost everyone that evangelized in an organized fashion in the Scriptures did house to house evangelism/Discipleship.

Luke 10
Matthew 10
Paul went house to house for 2 years in Asia Minor.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Are there any tips you guys can give me on how to be more persuasive, how persuasive to be, and any good methods for reading people? I realize that much of this comes from pure experience, but I was hoping to save some time and discouragement.

My strongest advice (apart from to pray) is LISTEN. No matter how half-baked the views of the guy you're talking to may be, listen to him and let him have his say. Then tell him about Jesus and invite him to come to church or an informal discussion group in Starbucks or a Christianity Explored course. Don't get in an argument. It may make you feel good to refute all his deeply-held convictions, but experience on this board will teach you that doing so will not change his mind. Only God can do that.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Before I make a suggestion, I would like to know what you would explain as to how one would know for sure of going to Heaven when one dies?

1 John 5:13.

 

[Dave G]

Paul went house to house for 2 years in Asia Minor

" And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
19 serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20 [and] how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." ( Acts of the Apostles 20:17-21 )

Paul went house to house teaching believers.

 

[JonShaff]

" And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
19 serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20 [and] how I kept back nothing that was profitable [unto you], but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." ( Acts of the Apostles 20:17-21 )

Paul went house to house teaching believers.

How did they come to be a believer?

 

[Dave G]

How did they come to be a believer?

The Ephesians?
Paul preached the Gospel to them and they believed.
Acts of the Apostles 19:1-10.

He later wrote the epistle to the Ephesians telling them many more things that God wanted them to know.

My point?
He didn't go house to house preaching to unbelievers...he went into public places, and those that believed he preached more of God's word to..

May God bless you sir.

 

[JonShaff]

The Ephesians?
Paul preached the Gospel to them and they believed.
Acts of the Apostles 19:1-10.

He later wrote the epistle to the Ephesians telling them many more things that God wanted them to know.

My point?
He didn't go house to house preaching to unbelievers...he went into public places, and those that believed he preached more of God's word to..

May God bless you sir.

Good morning, brother!

We will have to agree to disagree here. Are you in the Gospel Ministry? If you build from the ground up there is a lot of "ground work" that has to happen. It's like pre-discipling for lack of a better word. You teach and preach and then get conversions. Follow up is a must. That, to me, sounds exactly what Paul did...

Acts 20 (Paul recapping his ministry with the Ephesian Elders at Miletus)

20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

To me, this sounds like he was speaking with unbelievers as well--making converts.

The passage you quoted sounds like it speaks to what i'm saying as well...

10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

 

[Dave G]

We will have to agree to disagree here. Are you in the Gospel Ministry?

No, Jon, I am not in the Gospel ministry.
The Lord has not seen fit to make me an evangelist.

If you build from the ground up there is a lot of "ground work" that has to happen.

From my perspective, the only thing that has to happen is the preaching of the word.
The same way I heard it when I believed would probably be a good template...
Plow the ground with the Law, for Gentiles.
Then preach Christ and Him crucified.

It's like pre-discipling for lack of a better word.

I don't know of any such thing in the Bible...would you please point out passages that show this concept?

I am making observations on how God's servants in the book of Acts went about preaching to the masses.
From my reading, I see that they went to public places ( street preaching and the like ), and that the passages that refer to going "house to house" are with respect to confirming the faith of those who had already believed.

"Follow-up" can describe it, I suppose.

You teach and preach and then get conversions.

To me, God is the one who gets conversions...follow up is only necessary if someone expresses interest or outright confesses Christ.
But I think I understand what you are referring to.

Follow up is a must. That, to me, sounds exactly what Paul did...

As I see it, that is what Paul did, in effect....that is where I see him going house to house.

To be clear, my main disagreement is with today's modern door-to-door style that has been prevalent for some years now, but was not common until maybe the last 100 years, if it even goes that far back.
As recently as the "Great Awakenings" in America, nothing like today's modern "door-to-door" efforts existed, as far as I am aware.


May God bless you sir.

 

[JonShaff]

No, Jon, I am not in the Gospel ministry.
The Lord has not seen fit to make me an evangelist.



From my perspective, the only thing that has to happen is the preaching of the word.
The same way I heard it when I believed would probably be a good template...
Plow the ground with the Law, for Gentiles.
Then preach Christ and Him crucified.



I don't know of any such thing in the Bible...would you please point out passages that show this concept?

I am making observations on how God's servants in the book of Acts went about preaching to the masses.
From my reading, I see that they went to public places ( street preaching and the like ), and that the passages that refer to going "house to house" are with respect to confirming the faith of those who had already believed.

"Follow-up" can describe it, I suppose.



To me, God is the one who gets conversions...follow up is only necessary if someone expresses interest or outright confesses Christ.
But I think I understand what you are referring to.



As I see it, that is what Paul did, in effect....that is where I see him going house to house.

To be clear, my main disagreement is with today's modern door-to-door style that has been prevalent for some years now, but was not common until maybe the last 100 years, if it even goes that far back.
As recently as the "Great Awakenings" in America, nothing like today's modern "door-to-door" efforts existed, as far as I am aware.


May God bless you sir.

Thanks for your reply brother. Honestly, I think we probably see things similarly, I'm just not articulating my point well. I apologise for that

 

[Rockson]

I'm thinking the crucial thing about this subject is for us daily to pray and ask for opportunities that God will bring our way to share the gospel. Jesus said, ask and we would receive, seek and we would find and knock and doors would be open to us. I can't see any more unselfish way to apply this verse than to ask for the ways he want us to share the gospel in a particular region and ask that he'd bring across our path those who would be most receptive. Christians should never feel condemned or have a sense that they failed because they've done A, B or C and people didn't get saved. You did your part and that is preach the gospel. You held forth the word of life and that's all you can do. And keep in mind you may be planting seeds that will grow maybe years later. A person may say I remember that person years ago say the same thing and their getting saved is a culmination of many people who have sown into their lives.

 

[Nicolaus Mourer]

I want to thank everyone for the replies they've provided over the past few months.

 

[37818]

1 John 5:13.

Yes, that tells us we can know. But that reference alone is missing much necessary information.