Questions answered by Dr. Gray

In Revelation chapter two God told the folks who had lost their first love to go back to their first works. Mark 16:15 says, “GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.” It does not say anything about “winning” anyone to Christ, but it does say preach the gospel to every creature. The first works would be “preach the gospel to every creature”. In other words we are commanded to “warn” every one and sooner or later you will find someone who wants to be saved. Look for people under conviction who want to be saved. No conviction, no conversion. Many times we are stuck on one call when all we do is end up arguing. This will keep you from reaching the one just down the road that “wants to be saved”. “Howbeit certain men clave…” (Acts 17:34). Not everybody got saved, but some did. Not every one came to church, but some did. Not every one got baptized, but some did. Realize according to Ezekiel chapter three and thirty-three you are to “WARN”. Neither Mark 16:15 or Ezekiel chapter three and chapter thirty-three says anything about “winning” anyone, but it does say we are to “WARN” them. If you warn enough people someone will get saved. Let me give you a little formula I have noticed about my soul winning. If I give the gospel to fifteen different people in one seven day period. This does not mean fifteen get saved, but I have clearly given the gospel from A to Z. Out of that I have noticed if I line up five to come with me on Sunday on an average two will come and one will get baptized. It may be different for you, but set some goals for yourself. I have found it usually takes one hour per soul winning presentation by the time I get in my car and start. I start afresh the next week with the same numerical goals. Keep warning and God will show up. Dr. Bob Gray Sr. Ps. 84:11
Dr. Gray, When you came to preach in our church you made a statement that stuck with me and I took it as a challenge. You said, "This is a good church, but it can be a great church, and even a phenomenal church". I want to know, how do we do that? What is my part as the Pastor? How do I challenge my people for that? Thank you! 1) Personally have a convert baptized every week 2) Keep Sunday School classes small; no more than twenty 3) Divide Sunday School classes up to stay under twenty 4) Enlisting those already soul winning and tithing to be Sunday School teachers 5) The greater the number of small Sunday School classes the greater the impact 6) Teach your Sunday School teachers how to pastor their people 7) Dr. Hyles in the early 70’s had 800 Sunday School classes running twenty plus in each class; that’s 16,000 8) Holy Ghost Power - Beg for His power early in the morning and late at night 9) Let sermons be born of the needs of your members 10) Fast and pray regularly 11) Let major issues be covered in lengthy Wednesday night Bible study series 12) Teach doctrine and then practical Christian living and then back to doctrine, etc. 13) Build based on your Wednesday night crowd not Sunday 14) Build Sunday School space then auditorium then back to Sunday School then back to auditorium 15) Live on 80% of your budget