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Baptist Message

"Helping Louisiana Baptists Impact the World For Christ"

EVANGELISM 101 (Part 3): The Gospel conversation

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Regardless of the soul-winning ap­proach used to spiritually engage someone (Con­frontational, Conversa­tional, Lifestyle, or Rela­tional), each evangelistic effort must eventually narrow down to an in­tentional decision-mak­ing moment. The conversation may begin in several ways depending on whether the opportunity follows a Sunday sermon, an area-wide evangelistic event, a conversation with a family member or a knock-on-the-door initiative. Somone might prefer the Evangelism Explo­sion method of asking, “If you were to die today and stand before God, and He was to ask you, ‘Why should I let you into My Heaven?’, what would you say?” Others might lean toward the F.A.I.T.H. Gospel conversation starter, “In your person­al opinion, what does it take for someone to go to Heaven?” But in the end, the culmination of the sowing and watering, whether brief or over an extended time, must con­clude with reaping – and that involves a discussion about sin and debt, as well as forgiveness and the means to obtain it. Again, there are mul­tiple models to struc­ture this conversation: Continuing Witness Training, Evangelism Explosion, Four Spiritual Laws, … [Read more...]

The peril of emptiness upon evil’s return

By Ron HaleJesus emphasized the danger of emptiness in an eerie story about a man who had a demon cast out. The formerly possessed man’s freedom was short-lived because he did not protect himself from the return of evil. … [Read more...]

EVANGELISM 101 (Part 2): Four soul-winning approaches

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Leading someone to saving knowledge in Christ is not a “one size fits all” spiritual effort. Just as Christ used different methods to heal the sick and afflicted, the Holy Spirit offers different methods for different con­texts to successfully share the Gospel with the lost. Remember, the Holy Spirit was active in cre­ation (Gen. 1:1), as well as during the times of the Old Testament (consider the anointing on Moses, Saul, David, Bezalel & Oholiab, Othniel, Samson, etc.) and New Testament (e.g. Peter at Pentecost, Paul while confronting the sorcerer Elymas). Most importantly, He is active today (John 14:15-18; 15:26-27; 16:5-15), specif­ically in salvation (John 16:8; Ephesians 1:13-14) and in holy living afterwards (Galatians 5:22-23). There may be hybrids of each, according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but the following soul-winning approach­es largely define how to engage unbelievers in the four contexts for evange­lism presented in God’s Word. CONFRONTATIONAL Many people visualize all evangelism as publicly confronting sinners (some­thing akin to “street cor­ner” preaching). However, the Holy Spirit designed this … [Read more...]

Save your Facebook Live videos

Every Sunday my Facebook Feed is filled with live streamed services from all over Louisiana and across the country. It is great to see so many churches using this platform to share the Gospel with their communities! And it is a great option for a lot of churches. Easy to use, great connection with people, and an affordable live stream option for churches. … [Read more...]

Evangelism 101 (Part 1): The heart of soul winning

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Evangelism truly is a matter of the heart for both the soul winner and the lost soul. Indeed, without both hearts surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit, any sharing of the Gospel will be fruitless. Regardless of how eloquently or emotionally a personal testimony is articulated by a believer, unless God is making His appeal through the believer (2 Cor. 5:20) and the unbeliever’s spirit has been prepared by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 7:10), it is all for nought. Consider 2 Chronicles 7:14 which states “if My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Too often, Christians read this passage and immediately presume that they must fall prostrate in prayer or seek a solemn assembly with others. But when read in context, God is calling us to be “humble.” It is from this condition of the mind, the heart and the soul that we pray and seek His face. Then, in response to this spiritual state, He responds to listen, forgive and heal. Indeed, the Bible tends to define all spiritual processes in … [Read more...]

The phenomenal surge of faith on the field

From every perspective, the college football season that culminates next Monday night in Atlanta has been a season of firsts. For the first time in the history of the sport, a 12-team playoff will determine the national championship in a game nearly three weeks after New Year’s Day. Teams with 13 or 14 victories will find their records great but not good enough to claim the mantle of best in the land. But something else, something unexpected, looks to be another first on the field — a pervasive expression of faith in the Bible and God’s love and provision for the teams and players, win or lose. … [Read more...]

2025 Resolution: Win souls

By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Historians have traced the tradition of New Year’s resolutions to about 4,000 years ago and the ancient Babylonians, who celebrated a 12-day festival of planting at the start of their new year (March) by promising their gods to pay back debts and return borrowed items. Nearly 2,000 years later when emperor Julius Caesar established January 1 as the beginning of the annual calendar, the Romans adopted similar practices, offering sacrifices and promising to be good in the coming year. Today, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are celebrated worldwide, and research indicates that in the United States up to half of adults make some sort of resolution (typically regarding health, fitness or finances, but Bible study and prayer are popular commitments among Christians). However, for 2025, I urge Louisiana Baptists to resolve to do something more meaningful than just “better oneself” – even spiritually. Instead, I call on Louisiana Baptists to make a specific commitment to win souls to Christ! Soul winning is not something new to Louisiana Baptists. Indeed, it is believed that in 1799 Baptist preacher Joseph Willis swam the Mississippi River on the back of … [Read more...]