The G.R.A.C.E. Approach: Soul-Building, Part 2

I. Soul-builders

new converts the seven foundations of the spiritual life.
A.

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1. Baptism is the first step of obedience for a new believer. (Matthew 28:19-20)
2. Baptism is a public confession of your faith in Christ.
3. Baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. (Romans 6:4, 5)
4. Baptism should take place as soon as possible after a person trusts Christ. (Acts 2:41; 8:35-37; 16:33)

B.

1. Satan’s first attack on the new believer’s life will be to question his salvation.
2. Salvation is a matter of faith, not feelings.
3. God has given us His Word to assure our hearts. (1 John 5:11-13)
4. If you have received God’s Son you HAVE eternal life right now. (1 John 5:12; John 1:12; John 5:24; Romans 10:13)

C.

1. Christ is the head of the church. (Colossians 1:18)
2. There are two qualifications for church membership: salvation and baptism. (Acts 2:41)
3. Every believer needs to be a faithful participant in a local church. (Hebrews 10:25)
4. The church is a group of believers who have been baptized and have joined together for worship, instruction, service, fellowship, and evangelism.
5. It is in the church where believers are trained to serve God. (Ephesians 4:11)
6. The church becomes the believer’s new family.

D.

1. Growing spiritually requires the Word of God. (1 Peter 2:2)
2. Reading God’s Word prepares you to face problems, burdens, pressures, and temptations.
3. The Bible is a “lamp” to guide our way. (Psalm 119:105)
4. It is a weapon against our enemy. (Ephesians 6:17)
5. It produces a deepening faith. (Romans 10:17; Psalm 1:1-3)
6. God’s Word enables you to be a clean vessel for God’s use. (Psalm 119:9)

E.

1. Prayer is talking to God just like you would talk to your best friend.
2. We have access to God through His Son Jesus Christ. (John 16:23)
3. Prayer should include thanksgiving, confession, and requests.
4. God always answers prayer: Sometimes He says “no.”Sometimes He says “wait.” Sometimes He says “yes.”
5. We have to learn to trust God’s will and know that He wants the best for us.
6. Until you know God’s answer you should follow the instruction of Matthew 7:7-8.

F.

1. Stewardship means recognizing that everything you have comes from God. (1 Corinthians 4:2)
2. Christians have “freely received” and they must also “freely give.” (Matthew 10:8)
3. Giving begins with the tithe (10%) to the local church where you are a member. (Malachi 3:8-10; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Proverbs 3:9)
4. As a steward of God’s gifts you are to give back to Him as an acknowledgment of His ownership of all things.
5. Generous Christians will be rewarded by a generous God. (Luke 6:38)
6. Jesus taught the principle of giving. (Acts 20:35)

G.

1. Christ makes all His disciples to become “fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
2. God says that His children as like “salt and light” in the world. (Matthew 5:13-16)
3. God has declared that soul-winners are “wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)
4. Every Christian is an “ambassador for Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)
5. Witnessing is as simple as telling others what Christ has done for you.

H. After the seven foundations have been taught the new believer needs to go on to learn about his identity in Christ, spiritual warfare, the Christ-life, the Holy Spirit’s work, spiritual gifts, etc.

II. Soul-building that does not go on to soul-winning is not

discipleship.
A. The

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of reconciliation has been committed to all of Christ’s disciples.

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation… —2 Corinthians 5:18

1. Reconciliation (to make peace) is necessary because man is

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   from God.

   But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  —Romans 5:8-10
   As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.—Ephesians 2:1-3
   Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. —James 4:4

2. As a ministry it is our

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   rendered to God.

3. We become the
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   in God’s hand to bring the reconciliation of man to God.

B. The “

of reconciliation” has been committed to Christ’s disciples.

…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. —2 Corinthians 5:19

C. We have been given a

of reconciliation.

God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. —2 Corinthians 5:20

D. It is impossible for a person to be a disciple of Christ and

care for those still without Christ.
E. Healthy soul-building methods produce

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.

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” —Matthew 4:19

III. Neglect of the ministry of soul-building will

the church from reaching the world.

Bringing It Together

I. Before you can reach anyone effectively you must first be

with God yourself and

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with your fellow man.

This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. —Acts 24:16

II. Many people don’t think they know anyone to reach with the Gospel until they start

those who fall within their concentric circles of concern.

• People who are in your immediate family and extended family.
• People with whom you work or those who live around you.
• People that you have contact with periodically, but not regularly.
• People who are strangers to you that cross your path.

III. Having identified people that you can reach you should start

for God to open doors of opportunity for you to share the Gospel.

• Pray for the
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  of God in your life.
• Pray for God to
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  doors to share the Gospel.
• Pray for wisdom and discernment to see
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  you can meet.
• Pray for God to open
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  to the Gospel.

IV. Most converts come to Christ because we build

(relationships) to them over which we can cross to share the Gospel.
V. Once relationships have been established, we should begin looking for ways to show

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love.

• Joyous occasions, birthdays and/or illnesses, children, sorrow, reversals, etc.

VI. Showing love can basically be defined as

and makes for a powerful witness.
VII. We should

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give up on any person even if they don’t respond to the Gospel at first.
VIII. After we have led a person to faith in Christ we must stay with them to help them

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in their faith.
IX. The Gospel in the New Testament went from

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to

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, but not in the fashion we usually think of it.