Methods of Soul-Winning
Soul-Winning Lesson 3
There are many methods of delivering the gospel message to people. The gospel can be given personally, either in a confrontational (one-to-one) or congregational (one-to-many) format. It can be given through media, such as radio or online videos. It can also be given through literature, such as in a gospel tract or a book (see John 20:30-31). The Bible commands us, “Give a portion to seven, and also to eight” (Ecclesiastes 11:2), and utters a blessing upon the one who sows their seed “beside all waters” (Isaiah 32:20). We should use any and every means available to bring the gospel to the world, and thereby to save the greatest amount of people. The three most effective forms of evangelism are the following:
- Byway (Steet/Lane-Highway/Hedge): public and trafficked areas
Luke 14:21-23: So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Acts 16:13: And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
Acts 17:17: Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
- Door to Door (House to House): residential areas
Acts 5:42: And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:20: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.
- Public Forum (Synagogue/Hilltop): public, congregational areas
Acts 17:1b-2: … they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.
Acts 17:19, 22: And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? . . . Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill…
Door-to-Door Evangelism
Revelation 3:8: I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
Door-to-door is a biblically grounded method of evangelism. The Bible says that the disciples “ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ,” “in every house” (Acts 5:42). Paul the apostle said that he shared the gospel “from house to house” (Acts 20:20). Throughout the gospel accounts, Jesus is frequently found at people’s houses (e.g., Matthew 26:6; Mark 5:38). God has often appeared to people at their door (e.g., Genesis 18:1). In fact, the only way that a ministry can “fully” preach the gospel of Christ (Romans 15:19) and effectively preach to “every creature” (Mark 16:15) is by implementing a house-to-house outreach program; although not everyone walks around, everyone does live somewhere.
Door-to-door evangelism is the only sustainable method of soul-winning for a large and aggressive evangelistic ministry. The “door” in the Bible is––in many places––symbolic of opportunity. Paul called the ability to preach the gospel “a door of utterance” (Colossians 4:3), and when preaching the gospel in Troas he spoke metaphorically about the receptivity of the area when he said “a door was opened unto me of the Lord” (II Corinthians 2:12). A “shut” or closed door therefore indicates the closing of some given occasion (e.g., Luke 13:25; Matthew 25:10).
I Corinthians 16:9: For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
A great amount of wisdom is needed in being a powerful soul-winner at the door. Witnessing at doors, as in witnessing elsewhere, requires one to be very sensitive to the responsiveness of the people. Among a neighborhood, we must “inquire who in it is worthy” (Matthew 10:11), and not waste our time with unwelcoming homes (see Matthew 10:11-14). However, because gates and doors form barriers to people, and those who are in houses can often be less intelligent (in Africa especially) than those around town, many can get easily discouraged in this method of evangelism. We must remember that if we knock, “it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7), and that even if the door is “now shut” (Luke 11:7), if we have importunity, it can be opened. Like when Peter, after escaping from prison, “continued knocking” at the door of the gate where the disciples were assembled (see Acts 12:13-16), in the same way we must, as it were, continue knocking doors until at last the lost souls open the door.
It is necessary to understand how to read a map in order to effectively be a good door-to-door soul-winner, so as to be organized. Skilled biblical warriors were not geographically challenged, but knew the land they fought in very well (e.g., David’s battle with Absalom in the wood of Ephraim: II Samuel 18:6-17). When Joshua sent the Israelites to make maps of the land, they were capable and cunning in doing so (see the map-making in Joshua 13-19).
Door-to-Door Practices
- Study your map well, and understand its bearings and location. Remember and record the doors you knock.
- Walk directly to the location you will be door-knocking at.
- Preach on the roads, in-between doors, and around houses, as you go door-to-door. Doors are opportunities to talk to people, but a seen person on the way is more valuable than an unseen person behind a door. We are not commissioned to preach the gospel to doors, but to people.
- Be proactive in ensuring that every door in your area and on your map is knocked.
- Knock loudly and call for the residents.
- When coming to a closed gate which likely has several homes within, first knock while calling, and then––if that fails––attempt to enter (if possible).
- If no one is home, or no one answers for more than ~15-30 seconds, then leave a tract in the door/gate.
- Place the gospel tract in the door/gate in a quick way that will not take up too much of your time (it should not take more than a few seconds).
- Place the gospel tract in the door/gate in a lasting way so that it will not fall out by the forces of nature (e.g., wind). Fold/bend the tract if necessary to make it stick.
- Place the gospel tract in the door/gate in a visible way where it can be easily seen by someone entering the passageway.
- Do not deviate from your map, but deliberately follow it and mark off the areas that have been knocked (to the best of your ability). Be careful not to knock doors that are not a part of your map. Continue your assignment even if it seems fruitless.
- Do not argue with people on their property who command you to leave, nor with landlords/security guards (who have legitimate authority) which are trying to usher you away from their compound or hostel/apartment complex. Either attempt to preach to them, or just move on.
- Do not preach in a foreign language (e.g., Luganda, French, Arabic; unless you feel very compelled to do so), but ask for the English speaker first, or simply leave them in a kind fashion. Only if the church you are working with (or a good one nearby) has ministry in those languages is it a wise idea to routinely evangelize in those languages. Otherwise, leave them for a later time.
- Do not forsake your soul-winning partner(s), but stay near them or (at least) within earshot/eyesight of them. Go out with them, and return in with them.
Revelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.