Dr. Wilson, who was an experienced soul winner, asserts that you must find something that connects with a person’s current situation or mental state to gain their attention so that you can win them for Christ. So he prepared himself for different types of witnessing situations with people he commonly encountered in his personal life. Below is one example that you could learn for the next encounter you have with someone to share the Gospel.
A PERSON READING A MAGAZINE or WATCHING THE NEWS OR TV Attention question: Have you noticed how much time and space is used for advertising stuff? Listen to their reply and opinion.
Bait question: Do you know what is the most diversified advertising campaign?(Wait for their reply.) Answer: It is the advertising of the birth of Christ!
Dragging question: What date is on the ad you are reading/hearing? (Let him answer)This date is referring to Jesus’ birth. Jesus has existed for all eternity but whatever the year is, marks approximately how long it has been since Jesus entered the world as a man---that is when he was here on earth as God in bodily form.
This advertising is everywhere. It is on your birth certificate, marriage certificate, graduation certificate, each bill you receive and pay, licenses you have, airplane or theater tickets, on the money you use to buy these items, and(pause) will be on each person’s death certificate (pause).
Throw out the net: Continue by explaining the reason for this massive advertising plan of God is so that we may know about and receive this Savior that God has provided for us out of His great gift of love for anyone who reads, sees, or hears these dates.
Ask them: Does that include you? (Obvious answer is ‘yes’.) Has His advertising campaign been in vain with you? Ask if he or she knows why God is so concerned about providing a Savior for us. (Listen to his response and look for an acknowledgement of his personal sin, consequence of it, and personal hopelessness to fix this problem.)
If any part is missing about the message of the Gospel, fill in the missing details. Consider sharing the following verses: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” [Romans 3:23] “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Romans 6:23] “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8] “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” [Romans 10:9]
For other resources for learning how to share heart of the Gospel see our article “Prepare, Give, Trust”.
Draw the net in: Ask if he is grateful that God has been trying to let him know about the only solution for his biggest and immediate need and if he would like to receive it now. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” - John 1:12
Who was Walter Lewis Wilson? Walter Lewis Wilson (1881-1969) was a doctor in Kansas City; but he didn’t just treat people’s physical bodies and illnesses, he told them about the Great Physician and how God could save their souls. He was always looking for divine appointments from the Lord to have everyday conversations with people about spiritual matters that would lead him into the Gospel.
Click HERE for a book list to read more examples of how he shared Christ in everyday situations.
Adapted by Daye with NETworkers TEC --- Posted 7/30/28 Adapted from Chapter 2: We Open the Conversation from the book: “Let’s Go Fishing with the Doctor” by Dr. Walter Lewis Wilson, MD published by Dunham Publishing Co. 1964 (Grand Rapids, Michigan).