Communicate Sensitively

Pastor Don Carpenter

Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism / Ac 17:15–34

Find what is in common and build on that.

Tonight we continue our series Soul Winning: Much More Than Evangelism.

We discovered that the one place in the Bible that mentions winning souls was not directly talking about leading someone to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 11:30 KJV

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise.

We discovered that a soul is one’s heart and mind, and to “win” it is to grab hold of it, capture it. We learned that just grabbing a soul is not virtuous of itself. It has to be done as part of the fruit of the righteous.

We learned that the definition or indicator of this righteousness was not some man made external standard, but the fruit of a Spirit controlled heart.

James 3:13–18 KJV

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Since discovering these truths about what soul winning actually is, we went on to learn practically how to do it. We learned to Speak Graciously, Teach Meekly, Answer Softly, Live peacefully, and Love Truthfully.

Tonight we will study how to reach across cultural barriers. We will learn how to Communicate Sensitively.

The Puritan Preacher Jonathan Edwards said this:

If man does not give his highest respect to the God that made him, there will be something else that has the possession of it. Men will either worship the true God, or some idol. It is impossible it should be otherwise; something will have the heart of man. And that which a man gives his heart to may be called his god.

In our passage tonight, the Apostle Paul was running for his life. He ended up in Athens just to escape his enemies. He was not planning on starting a church there or even giving the gospel. He did however, make use of the unusual opportunity given him.

 Paul’s message is a masterpiece of communication. He started where the people were by referring to their altar dedicated to an unknown god. Having aroused their interest, he then explained who that God is and what He is like. He concluded the message with a personal application that left each council member facing a moral decision, and some of them decided for Jesus Christ.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 472–473). Victor Books.

Be Aware Of Your Spiritual Surroundings.

Acts 17:16–17 KJV

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 

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.

 The city. Athens was in a period of decline at this time, though still recognized as a center of culture and education. The glory of its politics and commerce had long since faded. It had a famous university and numerous beautiful buildings, but it was not the influential city it once had been. The city was given over to a “cultured paganism” that was nourished by idolatry, novelty (Acts 17:21), and philosophy.

 “The Greek religion was a mere deification of human attributes and the powers of nature,” wrote Conybeare and Howson in their classic Life and Epistles of St. Paul. “It was a religion which ministered to art and amusement, and was entirely destitute of moral power” (pp. 280–281). The Greek myths spoke of gods and goddesses that, in their own rivalries and ambitions, acted more like humans than gods; and there were plenty of deities to choose from! One wit jested that in Athens it was easier to find a god than a man. Paul saw that the city was “wholly given to idolatry,” and it broke his heart.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 471). Victor Books.

 • He saw the city wholly given to idolatry

 • He reached people where they were, Jews in the Synagogue and Gentiles in the market.

Be Aware of Your Audience

Acts 17:18–21 KJV

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 

And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? 

For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 

(For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

Paul had to confront two opposing philosophies as he witnessed in Athens, those of the Epicureans and the Stoics. We today associate the word Epicurean with the pursuit of pleasure and the love of “fine living,” especially fine food. But the Epicurean philosophy involved much more than that. In one sense, the founder Epicurus was an “existentialist” in that he sought truth by means of personal experience and not through reasoning. The Epicureans were materialists and atheists, and their goal in life was pleasure. To some, “pleasure” meant that which was grossly physical; but to others, it meant a life of refined serenity, free from pain and anxiety. The true Epicurean avoided extremes and sought to enjoy life by keeping things in balance, but pleasure was still his number one goal.

The Stoics rejected the idolatry of pagan worship and taught that there was one “World God.” They were pantheists, and their emphasis was on personal discipline and self-control. Pleasure was not good and pain was not evil. The most important thing in life was to follow one’s reason and be self-sufficient, unmoved by inner feelings or outward circumstances. Of course, such a philosophy only fanned the flames of pride and taught men that they did not need the help of God. It is interesting that the first two leaders of the Stoic school committed suicide.

The Epicureans said “Enjoy life!” and the Stoics said “Endure life!” but it remained for Paul to explain how they could enter into life through faith in God’s risen Son.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 472). Victor Books.

 • Some saw Paul as a Babbler

“Babbler” (NIV, NASB) translates a Greek expression applied originally to birds pecking up grain but came to apply to worthless persons; an English equivalent to the reproach might be “birdbrain.” But in the same verse Luke lets these critics demonstrate their own stupidity: they think Paul is preaching gods (plural), because he preaches Jesus and resurrection—“Resurrection” (Anastasis) was also a woman’s name.1

1 Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Ac 17:18). InterVarsity Press.

 • He was brought to Areopagus (and Paul was willing to go in spite of his Jewish background (also known as Mars’ Hill to the Romans)

This description of the regular activity at the Areopagus (Mars Hill) helps establish the irony of Paul’s discourse. While the Athenians put Paul and Christianity on trial, Paul puts their philosophies on trial. Thus, what looks to the Athenians like confused thinking actually points to the incoherence in their philosophies.1

1 Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 17:21). Lexham Press.

 • They viewed his doctrine as strange and new. Paul saw that as an opportunity, not a barrier.

 • Athenians loved to talk and ponder the abstract. Perhaps this was seen as lazy or ostentatious by Jewish folks.

Athens was proverbial for the curiosity of its inhabitants. By the first century, Athenian desire for entertainment also extended to gladiatorial shows, drawing the criticism of several famous moralists.1

1 Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Ac 17:21). InterVarsity Press.

Be Aware of Common Ground

Acts 17:22–23 KJV

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 

For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

 • Very religious/ fearful/ superstitious.

 • They had many Gods with labels.

During a plague long before Paul’s time, no altars had successfully propitiated the gods; Athens had finally offered sacrifices to an unknown god, immediately staying the plague. These altars were still standing, and Paul uses them as the basis for his speech. Paul does avoid, however, the practice of some of his Jewish predecessors and some second-century Christian successors, of accusing pagan philosophers of plagiarizing their good ideas from Moses!1

1 Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Ac 17:23). InterVarsity Press.

 • There was one to an unknown God – Paul used that as a starting point.

 • They said they wanted to know what Paul knew, so they admitted their ignorance in this area. Paul, not out of judgement but love, offered to remove their ignorance of the Unknown God.

 The word {ignorance} was originally used of a small bird that went around picking up grain, and later was applied to persons who picked up food scraps and other odds and ends in the market place. Still later it came to be used figuratively of any person who picked up odd bits of information, and especially of one who was unable to put them together properly.

1 Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1972). A handbook on the Acts of the Apostles (p. 336). United Bible Societies.

Be Basic and Logical in Your Introduction of Cross Cultural Truth without insulting your audience.

Acts 17:24–26 KJV

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 

Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

The essence of Paul’s message to the Athenians may be summed up in the following way: (1) this unknown god whom you worship is the true God though you do not know it; (2) you can learn much about this unknown God by observing what he has done in the creative order; (3) this true God will remain unknown to you until you meet him in the person of Jesus Christ.1

1 Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1972). A handbook on the Acts of the Apostles (p. 340). United Bible Societies.

• God made everything.
• God rules everything
• Therefore things created by man cannot contain Him.

The affirmation that God is both Creator and Lord of heaven and earth leads naturally to the conclusion that he does not live in temples made by men. Made by men (literally “handmade”) designates that which is material in contrast with what is spiritual.1

1 Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1972). A handbook on the Acts of the Apostles (p. 340). United Bible Societies.

• Since He is the one that gives life and breath, he does not need human sculptors for His existence.
• All men have the same blood designed by God.
• All men are designed to feel after and find God.

Acts 17:27 KJV

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

An expression for felt around for him may come from the activity of blind persons feeling around in order to identify some object or so as to determine where they are.1

1 Newman, B. M., & Nida, E. A. (1972). A handbook on the Acts of the Apostles (p. 342). United Bible Societies.

Acts 17:28–29 KJV

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

 • All men depend on God for existence

 • Therefore it is illogical that God would depend on an idol builder for His existence.

 • Even Greek philosophers said that humans are God’s offspring, affirming that man is dependent upon God for existence, not God upon man.

Be specific and direct when calling for a response.

Acts 17:30–31 KJV

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

 • Now that ignorance has been removed, God calls for repentance.

 • We will all face judgement

 • God has given us hope by raising Christ from the dead.

Expect Results

Acts 17:32–34 KJV

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 

So Paul departed from among them. 

Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

 • Mocking

 • Curiosity

 • Belief/Conversion

Cyprian of Carthage said this:

To him who still remains in this world no repentance is too late. The approach to God’s mercy is open, and the access is easy to those who seek and apprehend the truth.

Acts 17 is a monumental passage worthy of many hours of study. God wants us to be soul winners, to capture the hearts and minds of people for righteous purposes. When faced with a cross cultural challenge it is best to communicate sensitively. 

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 5:41 PM September 21, 2022.

Answer Softly

Pastor Don Carpenter

Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism / Anger / Proverbs 15:1–2

While church planting in Washington State, I worked as a Transitional Housing Coordinator with Inland Counseling Center, a Mental Health Provider.  It was a wonderful place to work because they not only gave me a chance to reach a very needy population, they also were a teaching facility for those pursuing their Masters of Social Work Degree. We were constantly learning the newest and latest techniques in the Mental Health counseling field.

Every once and a while, a staff member would be spotlighted for doing something right so that others can learn from it. One Wednesday staff meeting I was surprised to find myself in that spotlight. Apparently a Nurse was listening outside my closed door as I was counseling with an angry client with a history of physical violence. You see he was getting real loud and on the edge of a temper tantrum because I would not give him more money than was in his budget. He had a history of drug abuse. I met his aggressive and violent voice with a calm and tender answer. Soon his speech matched mine and the situation was under control.  

“Where did you learn Pace and Lead?” the nurse asked. I explained that it was not a new technique, it was Proverbs 15.1-2 that I was implementing. The entire staff learned that day that what was just being discovered, God had told us about in the Bible thousands of years ago. It is a profound thing to learn to Answer Softly.

Today is our fourth lesson on Soul Winning. Remember, to win a soul is to capture a mind and heart and grab hold of it. The Bible tells us that when a righteous person does so for righteous purposes, it is a demonstration of wisdom.

Proverbs 11:30 KJV

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise.

We learned that the evidence of righteous motivation is seen not in an external check list of appearance standards arbitrarily made up but rather a Biblical list of character traits that will accompany righteous wisdom.

James 3:17–18 KJV

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

We went on to learn that to win a soul we needed to always speak graciously – with unmerited favor. We also needed to add a little salt to make one thirsty for the truth.

Colossians 4:5–6 KJV

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Last week we learned that not only do we need to be gracious in our speech when dealing with outsiders, but we need to teach with gentle meekness when addressing believers who have lost their way.

2 Timothy 2:23–26 KJV

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Tonight we will address how to respond when things get heated. We will see that when we face an increasing volume and rising anger, we must be disciplined to Answer Softly.

A Soft Answer Puts Wrath In Reverse

 Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

 A soft answer turneth away wrath…

 A soft answer turns away wrath: Soft in relation to speech means “gentle,” “kind,” or, as reb says, “mild.” It is a response without anger or harshness. The importance of kindness and respect in the use of speech is expressed again in 24:26 and 25:15.1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (pp. 326–328). United Bible Societies

J Vernon McGee makes the following observation:

 I’m sure that the people who come to your mind at this proverb are Abigail and Nabal. We have seen several proverbs that are applicable to them. Abigail was the beautiful, lovely wife and woman. Nabal, her husband, was the fool but a very rich man. Someone has written a book called “Beauty and the Beast,” and it is the story of Nabal and Abigail—Abigail is the beauty and Nabal is the beast. You will recall that when Abigail heard that her husband had sent an insulting answer to David, who had in kindness and consideration taken care of his flocks, she hurriedly ordered the servants to gather a great deal of food for David. Then she went to meet David and fell down on her face before him. She recognized him as the future king, and she spoke to him of the fact that his life was bound up in the bundle of life with God—a beautiful expression. She gave a soft answer, and it did turn away wrath. On the other hand, grievous words stir up anger—which certainly was true of the words of Nabal.1

1 McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: Poetry (Proverbs) (electronic ed., Vol. 20, p. 132). Thomas Nelson.

1 Samuel 25:23 KJV

And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,

1 Samuel 25:32–33 KJV

And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: 

And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

1 Kings 12:7 KJV

And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

Proverbs 14:3 KJV

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Proverbs 25:15 KJV

By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

Turns away translates the causative form of a verb meaning “to turn back.” The thought is that the anger of the first speaker can be set aside or calmed by a gentle response.1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 328). United Bible Societies.

Wrath is anger or fury. cev says “A kind answer soothes angry feelings,” and spcl has “A friendly reply calms anger.” In some languages it may be necessary to expand this line to say, for example, “Reply to a person with gentle words and you will calm their anger.”1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 328). United Bible Societies.

Harsh Words Excite Anger

 Proverbs 15:1 (KJV)

 …But grievous words stir up anger.

Stirs up or “excites” contrasts with turns away in the first line. The verb refers to causing something to rise, in this case the angry emotions of the other speaker, as reb says: “but a sharp word makes tempers rise.” gecl translates this full saying “A reconciling answer cools down anger, but a hurtful word heats it up.” See also tev.1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 328). United Bible Societies.

A Wise Tongue Uses Knowledge Correctly.

 Proverbs 15:2 (KJV)

 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright…

The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge: The Hebrew of this line, as the rsv footnote shows, has “makes knowledge good” in place of dispenses knowledge. However, hottp rates the text as “A” and interprets the line as “The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge.” The tongue of the wise refers to the speech or teaching given by the wise, as in tev. tev follows the recommendation of hottp with “make knowledge attractive.” We may also translate this line, for example, “The speech of the wise ones makes knowledge lovely,” “Knowledge is made beautiful in the words of wise people,” or “When a wise man talks, everybody is glad and wants to know more.”1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 328). United Bible Societies.

A Foolish Mouth Gushes Foolishness

 Proverbs 15:2 (KJV)

 …But the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Proverbs 14:17 KJV

He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: And a man of wicked devices is hated.

Psalm 10:4 KJV

The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Proverbs 1:7 KJV

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:22 KJV

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge?

Fools are described in 1:7 and 1:22 as people who hate wisdom and instruction. Pour out renders a verb meaning to flow or bubble up in reference to water. In relation to speech it is used figuratively to mean “burst out with speech.” See tev “spout nonsense.” One translation renders this line as “but when a fool talks, he just throws empty words around1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 328). United Bible Societies.

We rarely use the word “gushes” for something good, whether we are speaking of blood or emotion, and this is also true when we are talking about folly. The image compares speech to water or some other rushing liquid—too much spouting out too quickly, neither controlled nor contained. Knowledge, by contrast, is (lit.) “made good” by the tongue of the wise, perhaps by taking the time and effort to make it attractive; when it comes out, its product is worth keeping. It comes out in moderation, not excess, so that nothing is lost.1

1 Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (pp. 394–395). Zondervan.

So there it is more wisdom regarding winning a soul, or capturing a heart and mind. We will not do so by bombastic, insulting, intimidating, and bullying speech toward those who do not believe like we do. When faced with the fleshly wrath of a poor soul who has been deceived or stirred up by the forces of darkness, or angered because of mistakes we have made, do not play that game. Do not answer in kind. Continue on the path of Grace speech. Continue in the stream of unmerited favor and answer softly.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:23 PM August 24, 2022.

Teach Meekly

Pastor Don Carpenter

Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism / Humility / 2 Timothy 2:24–26; James 3:13; 1 Peter 3:15

A.W. Tozer, a great Pastor and Bible Scholar that began his ministry over 100 years ago had warning that rings true today.

 We have gotten accustomed to the blurred puffs of gray fog that pass for doctrine in churches and expect nothing better. From some previously unimpeachable sources are now coming vague statements consisting of a milky admixture of Scripture, science, and human sentiment that is true to none of its ingredients because each one works to cancel the others out. Little by little Christians these days are being brainwashed. One evidence is that increasing numbers of them are becoming ashamed to be found unequivocally on the side of truth. They say they believe, but their beliefs have been so diluted as to be impossible of clear definition. Moral power has always accompanied definite beliefs. Great saints have always been dogmatic. We need a return to a gentle dogmatism that smiles while it stands stubborn and firm on the Word of God that lives and abides forever.

–A.W. Tozer

This is the third week of our series “Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism” Our cornerstone text for the whole series is 

Proverbs 11:30 KJV

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise.

Our first week we discovered that the soul winning that Solomon was talking about was much more than getting someone to pray a prayer with you, writing their name in your Bible, and taking credit for their salvation. We learned that to win a soul was to capture a heart and mind. One could do it for wicked purposes and it was still technically soul winning. We saw that this verse was speaking of capturing a heart and mind as a result of righteousness. We then saw that God outlines exactly what heavenly wisdom, the wisdom that is involved in righteous soul winning, looks like.

James 3:17–18 KJV

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

Now that we understood what righteous soul winning was, we endeavored to learn how we can accomplish that. Last week we discovered the fact that we needed to always speak Graciously. That is, we need to speak with unmerited favor toward those hearts and minds we are trying to capture.

Colossians 4:5–6 KJV

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Today we are going to address the issue that A.W. Tozer raised in our opening quote. Many folks have had their theologies muddled with part scripture and part opinion only to end up mixed up and often stubborn and dogmatic. How can these poor misguided folks be rescued from the snare of ignorance and deception that grips their very soul? We must win their souls! We must in wisdom and righteousness follow the path God has laid out and learn what it means to Teach Meekly.

Avoid Strife Triggers

 2 Timothy 2:23–24 (KJV)

 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 

 And the servant of the Lord must not strive…

William Barclay makes the following observation:

Timothy is told to flee from youthful lusts. Many commentators have made suggestions as to what these youthful lusts are. They are far more than the passions of the flesh. They include that impatience, which has never learned to make haste slowly and has still to discover that too much haste can do far more harm than good; that self-assertion, which is intolerant in its opinions and arrogant in its expression of them, and which has not yet learned to see the good in points of view other than its own; that love of debate, which tends to argue long and act little, and which will talk the night away and be left with nothing but a litter of unsolved problems; and that love of novelty, which tends to condemn a thing simply because it is old and to desire a thing simply because it is new, underrating the value of experience.1

1 Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, p. 202). Westminster John Knox Press.

The Lord’s Servant Must Not Strive!

“Strive” is machomai (???????), “to fight, wrangle, quarrel, dispute.” “Must” is dei (???), “it is a necessity in the nature of the case.” There is a moral obligation attached to this duty1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 141). Eerdmans.

James 3:13–16 KJV

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

1 Timothy 3:3 KJV

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

Isaiah 53:7 KJV

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.

Avoid Foolish Questions

“Foolish” is m?ros (?????), “dull, sluggish, stupid.” 1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 140). Eerdmans.

Proverbs 15:14 KJV

The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: But the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

Avoid Unlearned Questions

What is forbidden us is controversies which in themselves are ‘stupid and senseless’ and in their effect ‘breed quarrels’. They are ‘stupid’ or ‘futile’ (jb) because they are speculative. For the same reason they are ‘senseless’ (apaideutos), literally ‘uninstructed’ or even ‘undisciplined’, because they go beyond Scripture and do not submit to the intellectual discipline which Scripture should impose upon us. They also inevitably ‘breed quarrels’ because when people forsake revelation for speculation, they have no agreed authority and no impartial court of appeal1

1 Stott, J. R. W. (1973). Guard the Gospel the message of 2 Timothy (p. 77). InterVarsity Press.

Pursue Teaching Virtues

 2 Timothy 2:24–25 (KJV)

 …but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 

 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; …

Be Gentle

“Gentle” is ?pios (?????), “affable, mild, gentle.” Expositors says that ?pios (?????) implies gentleness in demeanor, as praut?s (???????), meekness of disposition.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 141). Eerdmans.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

Matthew 5:9 KJV

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Be Apt to Teach

They must be apt teachers; they must not only know the truth but also be able to communicate it, and they will do that not so much by talking about it as by living in such a way that they show Christ to others.1

1 Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, p. 203). Westminster John Knox Press.

1 Corinthians 15:34 KJV

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Be Patient

1 Peter 3:8 KJV

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

They must be forbearing; like their Master, if they are criticized they must not respond with similar criticism; they must be able to accept insult and injury, slights and humiliations, as Jesus accepted them. There may be greater sins than touchiness, but there is none which does greater damage in the Christian Church.1

1 Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, pp. 203–204). Westminster John Knox Press.

Be Meek

Ephesians 4:2 KJV

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Philippians 2:3 KJV

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

They must discipline their opponents in gentleness; their hands must be like the hands of a surgeon, unerring to find the diseased spot, yet never for a moment causing unnecessary pain. They must love people, not browbeat them into submission to the truth.1

1 Barclay, W. (2003). The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon (3rd ed. fully rev. and updated, p. 204). Westminster John Knox Press.

Correct Those That Oppose Themselves

Isaiah 42:3 KJV

A bruised reed shall he not break, And the smoking flax shall he not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

“Those that oppose themselves” is antidiatith?mi (?????????????), “to place one’s self in opposition.” Those who place themselves in opposition to the true servant of the Lord and to true doctrine, “are to be dealt with as tenderly and considerately as they who err from right living” (Expositors)1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 141). Eerdmans.

“Instructing” is paideu? (???????). Vincent suggests “correcting” as the better rendering here. The context bears him out.1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 141). Eerdmans.

Pray For A Targeted Outcome

 2 Timothy 2:25–26 (KJV)

 …if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 

 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Not Winning the Argument, but Winning The Soul.

A servant of God must instruct those who oppose him, for this is the only way he can rescue them from Satan’s captivity. Satan is a liar (John 8:44). He captures people by his lying promises, as he did Eve (see Gen. 3; 2 Cor. 11:3). A servant’s purpose is not to win arguments but to win souls. He wants to see deceived persons brought to repentance (“I was wrong—I have changed my mind”) and the acknowledging of the truth1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 248). Victor Books.

Repentance

1 Timothy 2:4 KJV

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Acknowledging the Truth

“Acknowledging” is epign?sis (?????????), “precise, experiential knowledge.”1

1 Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Vol. 8, p. 141). Eerdmans.

Ezekiel 36:31 KJV

Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

Recovery From the Devil’s Snare

The word recover (2 Tim. 2:26) describes a man coming out of a drunken stupor. Satan makes people drunk with his lies, and the servant’s task is to sober them up and rescue them. The last phrase in 2 Timothy 2:26 can be interpreted three ways: (1) they are delivered from the snare of the devil who took them captive to do his will; (2) they are taken captive by God’s servant to do God’s will; (3) they are delivered out of the snare of the devil, who took them captive, to do God’s will. I prefer the third interpretation.1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 248). Victor Books.

Craig Larson talks about being at a lunch party on a warm, Chicago day in early September with a dozen of his fellow workers. The windows were left open, and soon a bee found its way in. After buzzing around for a while, it landed on some food on the table. Then someone took an empty bottle of sparkling grape juice and put the mouth of the bottle near the bee. Without a moment’s hesitation, the bee flew to the mouth of the bottle and climbed inside the narrow opening. Immediately, Larson’s colleague put the cap on the bottle and screwed it shut. The bee spent the rest of the party drinking at the bottom of the bottle, and as far as anyone knew, the bee was never released.

The people at that table were not concerned about the bee. Their purpose was not to make sure it enjoyed itself and had a good time. No! Their only concern was capture and control.

That’s the way it is with Satan. He is not concerned about us. His purpose is not to make sure we have a good time. No! He despises us, and his only concern is capture and control.

(From a sermon by C. Philip Green, Pitfalls of Leadership, 7/29/2010)

So here we are as God’s servants. We see folks who have been dazed and confused by smooth talkers and Bible bullies. It would be easy to look down on them as ignorant simpletons and just scream and insult them back in line… which may work for while, but you will not win their soul. Remember this imperative: God’s Servant MUST NOT STRIVE! As soon as we do we undo anything God would want to do through us.

James 1:20 KJV

For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Let us therefore avoid stupid questions, and with a gentle demeanor, patiently and meekly teach, praying that God would lead them to repentance and restoration. This is how to win a soul when you teach meekly.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 1:42 PM August 17, 2022.

Righteous Soul Winning

Pastor Don Carpenter

Soul Winning: So Much More Than Evangelism / Proverbs 11:30

In the mid 1800’s Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, used our text verse to coin a term “Soul Winner”. Soul winning became a verb synonomous with evangelizing. When ever we think of someone who has a passion to share the Gospel with the lost, we call that person a “Soul Winner”. Revivals, Missions Conferences and Bible Conferences have used our text verse as a rallying cry to stir up believers to get involved in evangelism.

Those of us who have been saved a while can agree that Satan knows Scripture too and he knows how to corrupt and manipulate us to miss the mark. Everything he does is to counterfeit the real. This passage is no different. He has used superficial understanding and fleshly motives to corrupt what God is trying to communicate here. This is the reason we are going to take 9 weeks to examine the Biblical Concept of Soul Winning. It is so much more than evangelism.

A word of caution is in order at this point. We are going to get deep into the weeds of words, meanings, understanding and misunderstanding of concepts and practices. If you are only casually listening, there is a real danger you will misunderstand the material. I strongly suggest you take notes, go to forum.ebcct.org to review my notes, and re-watch our recorded live feed on Facebook. The truths we will discover in the next couple of months will help you in every facet of your relationships with others.

As we take this verse apart, we will ask and answer three questions that are vital to us understanding this verse. Once we do that we will discover a truth from this verse that is often ignored and that will help us tie it all together.

 Proverbs 11:30 (KJV)

 … he that winneth souls is wise.

What Is A “Winner”?

laqach (??????, 3947), “to take, receive, take away.” This word occurs in all Semitic languages and in all periods of Hebrew. It occurs about 965 times in the Old Testament.

Primarily this word means “to take, grasp, take hold of,” as when Noah reached out and “took hold of” the dove to bring it back into the ark (Gen. 8:9)1

1 Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 1, p. 255). T. Nelson.

What Is A Soul?

nepesh (???????, 5315), “soul; self; life; person; heart.” This is a very common term in both ancient and modern Semitic languages. It occurs over 780 times in the Old Testament and is evenly distributed in all periods of the text with a particularly high frequency in poetic passages.

Mind

Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). In Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 1, p. 237). T. Nelson.

Genesis 23:8 KJV

And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,

Deuteronomy 18:6 KJV

And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose;

 Deuteronomy 28:65 (KJV)

 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

 Jeremiah 15:1 (KJV)

 Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

 Ezekiel 23:18 (KJV)

 So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.

 1 Samuel 2:35 (KJV)

 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.

 2 Samuel 17:8 (KJV)

 For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.

Heart

Exodus 23:9 KJV

Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

 Leviticus 26:16 (KJV)

 I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

 Deuteronomy 24:15 (KJV)

 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.

 2 Samuel 3:21 (KJV)

 And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

 Psalm 10:3 (KJV)

 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, And blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

 Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)

 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.

So to review – to win is to snatch, grab hold of , take or take away. A Soul is not just a person, but in this context it is ones heart and mind. So the act of soul winning is not limited to getting someone to bow their head and to repeat a prayer… it is the act of snatching someone’s heart and mind and capturing it. This kind of thing takes skill. This leads us to a somewhat startling question and answer.

Is It Possible To Be A Wicked Soul Winner? YES!

2 Samuel 15:6 KJV

And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

Proverbs 6:24–25 KJV

To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 

Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; Neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

So it is possible to “win” a “soul” – to catch or snare them, in order to fulfill ones personal lusts for money power or influence. It is possible to be wicked soul winner.

We Independent Fundamental Baptists have “soul winning” clinics and courses dedicated to teach folks how to trick people into praying a prayer and then boasting on the numbers of souls “won” when in reality, the tricks employed did not lead them to true salvation, but rather tricked them into an outward symbol with no inward reality. So what is the missing factor? What truth will bring us away from a fleshly wicked trickster approach at manipulating the gullible to seeing genuine Godly influence and conversion? The answer is found in the first part of this verse … the part that is often ignored or glossed over.

 Proverbs 11:30 (KJV)

 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise.

Godly Soul Winning Is The Fruit Of True Righteousness.

Discern Between Earthly and Heavenly Wisdom

James 3:13–18 KJV

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

If we take tree of life as indicated above, this line may be expressed, for example, “The good person’s fruit is a tree that gives long life.” Using non figurative language we may say, for example, “The acts of a good person are a source of life” or “What a good person does gives life to others.” We may also say, for example, “The way honest people live gives life to others.”1

1 Reyburn, W. D., & Fry, E. M. (2000). A handbook on Proverbs (p. 260). United Bible Societies.

H. A. Ironside, a famous preacher and commentator from the early 1900’s said this

 … all who are truly wise according to God will be channels of blessing to others—winners of souls. Searching is the truth here stated. Wisdom consists not in the knowledge of Scripture, or divine principles, precious as such are and must be; but in the ability to walk in the power of these things, and to so minister to men and women, yea, and children too (preeminently, one might say), that they shall be won for Christ and His truth. Tested by this, how few are the wise! It is evident that soul-winning is not the slipshod business many would make it out to be—the mere hit-or-miss ministry that is so common to-day. On the contrary, it is a divine science, requiring much earnest preparation of heart in the presence of God; careful study of the need of the souls of men and of the truth of the Scriptures as given to meet that need.1

1 Ironside, H. A. (1908). Notes on the Book of Proverbs (pp. 128–129). Loizeaux Bros.

Jesus Said His Disciples Would Catch Men

Luke 5:10 KJV

And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

This Involves a Conversion of Thought.

James 5:19–20 KJV

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 

Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

So what have we learned this evening?

 • To win is to catch, grab hold of, snatch, take.

 • A Soul is one’s heart and mind.

 • To win a soul not not limited to evangelism.

 • It is possible to be a wicked soul winner.

 • Godly soul winning starts with a person already made righteous, following godly motives and tactics, reaching out in love to influence a heart and mind for good.

James 3:17–18 KJV

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

In the next 8 weeks we will examine how to follow James 3:17-18 as we seek to capture hearts and minds or God’s glory. We will learn to:

 • Speak Graciously

 • Teach Meekly

 • Answer Softly

 • Live Peacefully

 • Love Truthfully

 • Communicate Sensitively

 • Reach out Sympathetically 

 • Persuade Passionately

May God be with us all as we hone the art of righteous soul winning.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:03 PM August 3, 2022.