Day 2: Soul Winning vs. Disciple Making

“Many people think soul-winning is the effort that brings people to the obedience of the gospel, and disciple making is the aspect that establishes them in the church.” – Stand Gleason, Follow to Lead

Soul Winning

In our very first devotion, we looked at producing a “right theology.” In other words, is what we are doing, saying and thinking biblically founded and accurate? That said, “soul winning” isn’t found in the bible except for once in Proverbs 11:30. However, this is the only translation that says “wins souls.” All other areas translate it as to “take” “life, souls, minds, and persons.” The New Testament does not include this vocabulary in reference to ministry, service or discipleship.

Some challenges with a soul winning philosophy:

1. It is not what Jesus told us to do
2. It is not New Testament language
3. Very few in the congregation relate to it
4. It generally isn’t associated with disciple making
5. It is not how we live our daily lives
6. It is presented in an unnatural institutionalized context
7. It is presented and received with a high-level of guilt motivation

Disciple Making

The biblically prescribed way to reach the world with the Gospel is through disciple-making.

• We often unknowingly make false equivalents between the new birth experience and soul winning, and spiritual maturity and disciple-making.
• We think winning a soul is bringing someone through the new birth experience.
• We believe spiritual maturity is discipleship.

• Jesus did not compartmentalize the new birth experience and spiritual maturity.
• Jesus placed the process of salvation under one grand vision of making disciples.

Final Thoughts

Our great commission isn’t to win souls, but to go and make disciples. This requires a change in thought, heart, mind and ultimately our actions.

Biblical Devotion

“Soul Winning”—although Proverbs says that whoever wins souls is wise, consider how the authors used the same vocabulary throughout the Bible in italics.

John 10:17  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.

Acts 20:24  But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Genesis 14:21  And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.”

Psalms 49:15  But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah.

Proverbs 1:19  Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Proverbs 11:30  The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever wins souls is wise.

Proverbs 22:25  Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

Consider how Romans teaches us to make disciples, and not just “win souls.”

Romans 10:1-21  Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.  (2)  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  (3)  For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.  (4)  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  (5)  For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.  (6)  But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?'” (that is, to bring Christ down)  (7)  “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?'” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).  (8)  But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);  (9)  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  (10)  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  (11)  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”  (12)  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.  (13)  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  (14)  How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?  (15)  And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”  (16)  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”  (17)  So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.  (18)  But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”  (19)  But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”  (20)  Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”  (21)  But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Isaiah 53:1-5  Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?  (2)  For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.  (3)  He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  (4)  Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  (5)  But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 65:1  I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name.