JESUS LOVES

The following study is from a compilation created by Glenn A Coon entitled, "I Know Something Good"  A soul winning manual for sharing the good news of salvation.

LESSON IX

JESUS LOVES

A Law of Courtship

I.   Soul winning is a Love Affair
1. Why do we love Jesus?
"We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19.
2. What attitude toward God do we have before His love is realized? "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8.
"When we were enemies." Romans 5:10.
3. What is God's love for the unlovely called? 

"A great mystery." Ephesians 5:32.
a. To marry we woo. 1 John 4:19.
b. To marry we speak positive words. Philippians 4:6-8.
c. We do not denounce or belittle the sweetheart. Philippians 2:3. 4. A wise person saves souls by doing what?
"He that winneth souls is wise." Proverbs 11:30.

II. The Key to Winning Others
1. Which chapter in the Bible shows that love is the key? Read 1 Corinthians the 13th chapter.
"Love is the key to open hearts."Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 535.
"If we would humble ourselves before God, and be kind and courteous and tenderhearted and pitiful, there would be one hundred conversions to the truth where now there is only one."Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 189.
"Love will gain the victory when argument and authority are powerless."Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 135.
"Pure love has special efficacy to do good, and can do nothing but good. It prevents discord and misery, and brings the truest happiness."Testimonies, Vol. 4, p, 138.

III. We Win Others by Reflecting Christ's Love
1. How do we know that we are the real epistles people read?
"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men." 2 Corinthians 3:2.
"The world will be convinced not so much by what the pulpit teaches as by what the church lives. The preacher announces the theory of the gospel, but the practical piety of the church demonstrates its power."Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 260.
2. What words of Scripture make plain that it is our life that really counts?
"That, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear." 1 Peter 3:1, 2.

IV. Church Members Will Manifest Character of Christ and Win Many.
1. What will love cause us to do with the faults of others?
"He that covereth a transgression seeketh love." Proverbs 17:9. "Love covereth all sins." Proverbs 10:12.
2. Will love publish the mistakes of others?
"The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen: Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph." 2 Samuel 1:19, 20.
3. How great is Christ's love for His church?
"Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." Ephesians 5:25. 

"Enfeebled and defective, needing constantly to be warned and counseled, the church is nevertheless the object of Christ's supreme regard."Testimonies, Vol. 7, p. 16.
"It is on the earth that His children are to reflect this love through blameless lives. Thus sinners will be led to the cross, to behold the Lamb of God."Acts of the Apostles, p. 334.
4. How great was Christ's love for His disciples, even the traitor?
"Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." John 13:1, last part.
5. Will love conceal wrong in a brother to shield him; or will love, while shielding him from human gaze, lead him to repentance?
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13.
"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. James 5:20.

Reflection
Since soul Winning is a love affair, will you join us in loving men and women into Christ, while at the same time avoiding "all appearance of evil".