In Order To Win Some, You Gotta Be Winsome!
/This is a message I had the honor to preach on the Mission Sunday at the Skokie Valley Baptist Church in Willmette IL on March 12, 2017.
PROVERBS 11:30
NIV The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.
KJV The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Daniel 12:3
3 Characteristics of winsome believers
winsome: 1: generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence a winsome smile 2: cheerful, lighthearted
1) Being generous with the lost helps overcome the obstacle that it is all about money
If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:12
17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:17-18
2. Being culturally sensitive with the lost helps overcome the obstacle that we are attacking their heritage.
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:22-23
3. Being a person of integrity among the lost helps overcome the obstacle of distrust.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
3 Characteristics of winsome believers: generous - integrity culturally sensitive
