Soul Winner

A model is a thing used as an example to follow or imitate.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a strategy is:

1. A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.
2. The art of planning and directing overall military operations and movements in a war or battle.

We, God’s people are engaged in constant warfare for the souls of men. Yet when it comes to winning the lost and planting churches most of our models and strategies are passive. They more take into account the comfort of the planter/pastor, and the considerations have more to do with what will grow “my church” than what is biblical or what will expand the Kingdom. So, is there such a thing as a Biblical model for church planting? YES!!! Luke 10:1-9 offers an alternative to the best we can do. It provides us with both a model and strategy for church planting.

To begin with, our Lord Jesus sent the seventy disciples out two by two (v.1). The church doesn’t often practise this today, we are more comfortable inviting people to come to a gospel meeting or going out as a big group with a band and a preacher. Jesus’ model however is to GO OUT “two by two”. There are both practical and spiritual reasons for this. One important practical reason is that it provides protection and Support (Ecclesiastes 4:12). The two spiritual reasons are, there is more power in prayer (Matt 18:19). The other is that there is a corporate anointing when two or more believers come together (Matt 18:20).

In verse 2, Jesus said, “the Harvest truly is great” yet Christians often describe a certain generation, a certain community or a certain people group as being ‘hard of heart’ or ‘unresponsive to the Gospel’. However, Jesus tells us that a harvest is always ready (John 4:35). In fact Jesus uses the words “white for harvest” to indicate that the harvest is over-ripe. When you go anywhere you must understand that there are always people ready for harvest. The real problem is, “the labourers are few.” Because the labourers are few we are not only to be praying for more labourers, we should be actively looking for them. That is exactly what we do when we go into a village or a town; we are to win the lost and train them to become labourers of the gospel.                                                                                                   

In verse 3 Jesus said, “Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.” We are not to go anywhere with “guns blazing,” but rather we are to go as lambs (v.3). Lambs are harmless, innocent, and at times foolish people and the places they are sent to are occupied by wolves. Making a lot of noise will attract the wolves (Acts 9:20-25 & 26-30; Acts 14:1-6 & 14-19) but if we follow Jesus instructions we are less inclined to attract wolves.

Next Jesus tells us to, “Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road” (v.4). The Lord needs us to stay reliant on Him, over preparedness can give way to self- confidence.  Also, if we greet people while we are in transit we can get side-tracked, but the pervading message of verses 3, 4 is to go quietly. Remember you are in a sense, a spy going into enemy territory and you don’t want to wake or alert the enemy.

Once you arrive at your destination your objective is to find the “son of peace” (v.6) because you are going to plant a church in their home. When you enter any house you are to bless it saying ‘Peace to this house’ (v.5); we are to bless the families of the world (Gen.12:3). Jesus goes further He says, “And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you” (v.6). The Greek translation for son of peace is huios eirene, it simply means person of peace; the son of peace could be a man a woman or even a child. The Samaritan woman was a son of peace for Jesus, Lydia was a son of peace for Paul and Cornelius was a son of peace for Peter. The son of peace may not be a believer, he or she may even be an enemy of the Lord, but when you share the Gospel they will understand and receive the Word (Jn1:12).

How do you know you have found a son of peace? They will invite you to stay with them and will show you hospitality. Stay at that house, “eating and drinking such things as they give.”(v.7). Eating is extremely important; some would say it is the first preliminary to winning that family. Jesus spent much time eating with others because eating together is proof of the acceptance of relationship (Revelations 3:20).

Initially upon arriving at place, you may need to go to a few houses to find a son of peace but once you have found them, stop and make their home your base of operations (v.7). Let the son of peace invite the people they think will be most receptive to the Gospel. This is what Lydia did; the person of peace knows who to call in their community or village and they know who not to call. Eat and drink whatever they put in front of you and take the opportunity to pray and heal the sick (vs.8.9).

Always be open to a power encounter. Sometimes relationship makes a way for a miracle and sometimes a miracle makes way for relationship. The latter was usually how Jesus and His disciples ministered, everywhere they went, the deaf hear the blind had their eyes opened and the poor had the gospel preached to them. Once people see a power manifestation then they are further open to the Kingdom and that is when you tell them about the King and His Kingdom. We usually do it the other way don’t we?

We impose our teaching first and power ministry (may) come later but here Jesus taught the reverse. Jesus model is first demonstration of power, then preaching of the word then a church can begin to be established, people come and get healed, then they repent and are delivered and discipled.

Download my lecture: See How to Bring in the Harvest – A Biblical Strategy (Luke 10:1-9) for further information.