Soul winner by C.H. Spurgeon (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example)
Today we continue to consider how a soul winner is wise because he must be:
(i) a soldier at war;
(ii) a wrestler;
(iii) a dealer with secret and mysterious ways in hearts;
(iv) a fisherman;
(v) a bird catcher;
Then Spurgeon gives us some of the ways by which souls are to be won:
(i) by believing in instantaneous conversions;
(ii) keeping close to soul-saving truth;
(iii) bringing others to hear the word;
(iv) trying to talk to strangers after the sermon;
(v) button-holing acquaintances and relatives;
(vi) writing letters for your Lord and Master;
(vii) mastering the art of prayer;
(viii) asking if your own soul is won.
I was struck by the importance of love in soul-winning: 'Love is the true way of soul-winning, for when I spoke of storming the walls, and when I spoke of wrestling, those were but metaphors, but this is near the fact. We win by love. We win hearts for Jesus by love, by sympathy with their sorrow, by anxiety lest they should perish, by pleading with God for them with all our hearts that they should not be left to die unsaved, by pleading with them for God that, for their own sake, they would seek mercy and find grace. Yes, sirs, there is a spiritual wooing and winning of hearts for the Lord Jesus; and if you would learn the way, you must ask God to give you a tender heart and a sympathising soul. I believe that much of the secret of soul-winning lies in having bowels of compassion, in having spirits that can be touched with the feeling of human infirmities.'
If we wish to win souls, we should first learn to love them.
Next week's reading
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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