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BOOK: Having The Right Bait, A Fisherman’s Guide to Soulwinning

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Fisherman's Guide
Having The Right Bait, A Fisherman’s Guide to Soul-winning.

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All believers are to be witness for Christ. Many fail in this aspect of their Christian life because they are not equipped with the right bait. Jesus said we would be fishers of men if we followed Him. What bait do we need in order to become effective fishers of men? This book answers that question and provides everything the believer needs to become an effective witness for Jesus Christ. an excerpt:

I was born in the backwoods of Arkansas, not far from the small town of Boswell. As a boy, my mother and I lived part of that time on a farm with my uncle, Troy Craig. Uncle Troy had several milk cows, which he milked each day by hand. I remember that he would sit on an old three-legged stool, which he carved out by hand. That three-legged stool was an important part of his milking equipment. A one-legged stool was impractical. It required too much effort to balance ones self. A four-legged stool was unnecessary and impartial. That three-legged stool was perfect for the task at hand.

The ministry of the local church is somewhat like that old three-legged stool. A churches duty can be reduced to three simple, yet vital categories. These three are: Evangelism, Discipleship, and Service. The total responsibility of the church can be summed up in reaching the lost, indoctrinating the saints, and enlisting them in God’s service. We dare not attempt to do the work of God with an one-legged stool. We cannot confine our activities to just one ministry.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The ministry of the local church is like an old three-legged stool: Evangelism, Discipleship, and Service.[/pullquote]

Some churches have attempted to do that, and have met with failure. On the other hand, a church may attempt things in which it should not be involved. They are impractical, expensive and unnecessary. This Fisherman’s Guide is designed to accomplish the “first leg” of the local church’s ministry- the ministry of reaching of the lost for Christ. We acknowledge that it is only one leg. Nevertheless, without it, the other two are not necessary or possible. My hope is that this little “guide” will motivate and assist you in reaching others for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no greater service or joy than that of winning men and women to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, let’s go fishing!

HOW IMPORTANT IS SOUL-WINNING

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How Important Is Soul-Winning

Soul-WinningBy Ken Blue

How important is soul-winning? Perhaps the following illustration will help you decide: A storm developed in the Pacific Ocean and for several days the waves crashed against the sandy beaches of the Hawaiian Islands. Thousands of sand dollars washed upon the seashore and were stranded. A lady, walking along the beach, saw them and one by one began tossing them back into the ocean. A man came along and said, “You’re wasting your time. There are too many for you to make a difference.” She picked up one and threw it back into the water and said, “It made a difference to that one.” She picked up another and as she tossed it back into the ocean she said, “It made a difference to that one.”

I ask you, how important is soul-winning? You decide. It will make a difference to that one.

HAD ENOUGH BLACK EYES?

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Another Black Eye on Fundamentalism

Black Eye

By Ken Blue

“Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.” Proverbs 20:17.

“Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not… commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery?… For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you…” Romans 2:21-24.

Christianity and Fundamentalism have received another black eye from Hammond, IN. The scandalous reports over the past few decades would require more paper than the Obamas Health Care Program. In a sermon preached August 8th, the now ex-pastor at First Baptist of Hammond said, “And I’ll look at the person and say, who ya sleeping with? Your kid’s problem(s) isn’t, the, did you see how short her skirt is, no, the problem is, she takes her skirt, and everything else off. Your kids are coming to me and telling me they have sexual experiences in the hundreds; hundreds; hundreds.”  It is time we think about changing our name or changing our behavior. Fundamentalism is becoming a laughing stock. If you advertise your church as fundamental to the lost in your community, you will be laughed out of town.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The lost do not care that you are KJV, independent, fundamental, pre-millennial, and dispensational.[/perfectpullquote]

I, for one, embrace all the fundamentals of the faith for this dispensation. However, there is a world of difference between the fundamentals of the faith, and the mindset of most who embrace fundamentalism.  I have observed over the years that those who preach and talk most about standards, seldom have them. The lost, in your community, do not care that you are KJV, independent, fundamental, pre-millennial, and dispensational. If these words do not have a negative connotation to them, they certainly are a foreign tongue to the unsaved.

Also, these sins cannot be blamed on television, computers, or Facebook. The tool for those seeking an opportunity to sin is now the new cell phone. If we can’t control it, we must remove it.

We are not above a serious fall ourselves. 1 Corinthians 10:12. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Many use the sins of believers as a justification to reject the gospel. We realize that this will not excuse them, but the damage is done just the same. May God help us not to give the cause of Christ another black eye.

IS THERE A SOCIAL GOSPEL?

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What is the Social Gospel?

Social Gospel

 

By KenBlue

Definition: “Social gospel. 1 : the application of Christian principles to social problems.  2  a movement in American Protestant Christianity especially in the first part of the 20th century to bring the social order into conformity with Christian principles.” Merriam-Webster’s 11th. Collegiate Dictionary.

The first thing I noticed in the above definition is, that the gospel is nowhere mentioned. In fact, I do not believe there is any such thing as a “social” gospel. If there is, I don’t know what it is. As far as I am concerned, there is only one gospel. It is clearly defined in I Cor. 15 and defended in the book of Galatians. The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again the third day for sinners. This salvation is for anyone who will accept it by faith. This is the only true gospel, and all other gospels are not the gospel at all.

Now, what of the definition given for the social gospel? It appears that some churches are working to get society to accept Christian principles. I noticed that on the Courthouse lawns there are monuments with the Ten Commandments on them. Should these commandments be allowed or removed? Do we want unsaved people to learn Bible principles about life before they are saved? Many would say “no.”

Should a church get involved when a national disaster strikes? Should they feed and clothe the naked and the hungry? Should we withhold the soup until they profess Christ as Savior, or are we allowed to give a bowl of soup in hopes that we can get the gospel to them? What about skid row mission work, orphanages, and helping the sick? Do we have a responsibility to help these, even if they aren’t saved?

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again the third day for sinners.[/pullquote]

What about your neighbor, would you help him repair his fence in hope you could witness to him? Would you get his car or animal out of the ditch if he was not saved?

I am fully aware that the number one goal is to get people saved. Is it unscriptural and anti-scriptural to use these avenues to get the gospel to the lost? I don’t think so.

There is no social gospel. There are social programs that any church could get involved in, in order to better their community and get the gospel to a lost world. For example, Open Door Baptist Church used the public school system to get thousands of invitations to the community. Who would fault them for doing that?

Don’t be afraid to get involved in community activities if it will better your community, help people, and open doors for witnessing. Remember, there is no social gospel.

If you can give a clear Scriptural definition of a social gospel, please do so.

 

HAS IT COME TO THIS?

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SOUL WINNING IN THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH

soul winning

By Ken Blue

I never thought I would see the day when churches that emphasize soul winning would be castigated as the downfall of America. Yep, you heard me right. There are those who say the reason for the corruption in America is that pastors and evangelist have focused on soul winning instead of politics.

Someone has a screw loose in their head if they think there is anything more important than getting people saved and keeping them out of hell. Those who teach this are only excusing their own lack of soul winning and their unconcern for the lost. Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost. Also, as My Father hath sent me, even so send I you. In the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, we are told three times that there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who gets saved than 99 people who are already saved.

These deceived souls don’t believe a pastor can do more than one thing at a time. The pastor is to do the work of an evangelist/missionary by getting people saved and starting new churches. The pastor is also to feed the flock the Word of God so they can grow thereby. Any pastor who lays down the ministry of soul winning is disobedient to God and will watch his self-righteous church die.

It is strange we don’t hear any criticism of Dr. Jack Hyles or Dr. Rice who put soul winning at the top of the list. Pastors are commanded to preach the Word, not the ideology of other evangelist or pastors. Don’t go to seed on any subject, but if you must, make it soul winning. God will be pleased with you, and a sinner will thank you. Your soul winning church is not the cause of the downfall of America or anyone else.