Lets Get A Vision For Souls

1. Lets Get A Vision For Souls!

2. 6�Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7�After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8�So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9�And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10�Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10 (NKJV)

3. 11�Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, 12�and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. 13�And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14�Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15�And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us. Acts 16:11-15 (NKJV)

4. The actual Number of people going to church is shrinking in the US. Today less than 20% of Americans regularly attend church- half of what Gallup and Barna tell us.

5. Numbers from actual counts of people in Orthodox churches show that in 2004, 17.7% of Americans went to church on a given Sunday.

6. Why the difference? We call this the �halo effect�. This is the difference between what people tell pollsters and what people actually do.

7. Americans tend to over-report socially desirable behavior like voting and attending church, and under-report socially undesirable behavior like drinking.

8. Today about 23% of Americans go to church at least 3 out of 8 Sundays every two months. Olson, author of this study reports that even if an influx of 1 million souls came into church the average would only increase to 18%!

9. In 1990, 20.4% of the population went to church. By 2004 it was 17.7%. By the year 2050 they believe it will only be 11%!

10. �Stated inversely, 94% of our churches are losing ground in the communities they serve,� � Thom Rainer

11. Only one state is outpacing it�s population growth. (Hawaii) Church attendance declined in more than 2,300 counties in the US, and increased in only 795.

12. Mid-sized churches (majority) are declining, while only small (less than 50) And mega (more than 2,000) are growing. Just to keep up with the population growth in this nation we will need to average an additional 10,000 churches every 5 years!

13. The Apostle Paul was the greatest soul winner of all time , second only to Jesus! His example should motivate each of us.

14. Every day we should pray: Lord I�ll go where you want me to go I�ll be what you want me to be I�ll do what you want me to do I�ll say what you want me to say

15. Sometimes God shuts one door while opening up another. Psalm 37:23 � The steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord�

16. 1. Paul got a hold of Gods� vision. Keys to hearing God: A. Word of God B. Spiritual leaders, friends C. Circumstances D. Prayer

17. 2. Paul went on an adventure for God. Paul�s first church was the result of a group of praying women!

18. 3. Paul Tasted The Victory Reasons to persevere A. Soul winners are wise. �The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who wins souls is wise. Prov 11:30 (NKJV)