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Lesson #6
Persuasion

1) Webster- Persuade: To cause someone to do something especially by reasoning, urging, or inducement; to convince.
2) Some are opposed to the use of persuasion, believing that we should merely present the gospel and then let the sinner make up his own mind about obeying or rejecting it. Yet these same people do not apply this same line of reasoning to other areas of their lives. If persuasion is wrong then it would be wrong for a young man to try to persuade a young lady to marry him, or for parents to persuade their children to make better grades in school or to behave. Salesmen would go hungry if they didn’t persuade.
3) Which is worse, to over-persuade or to under-persuade? Either way they are still lost. I had rather be guilty of over-persuading than under-persuading.
4) Before we try to persuade the individual must have been properly taught. We must make sure the individual understands what they need to do to obey the gospel and why.
5) 2 Corinthians 5:11 "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men". We should not want anyone to be lost.
6) Acts 2:40 "And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, Be saved from this perverse generation." When Peter preached the gospel in all of its power and simplicity, he did not sit down at the end of his presentation. Peter was trying to persuade them to accept the gospel. Why? Because they were lost and doomed to the fires of an eternal burning Hell. We must use every legitimate means at our disposal to rescue those who are lost in sin.
7) Jude 22-23 "And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh."
8) Luke 14:16-23 (Parable of The Great Supper) "Then the master said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."
9) Acts 13:43 "Many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God." (This was at Antioch in Pisidia. Here we see persuasion is accomplished through speaking.)
10) Acts 18:4 "And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks." (Paul was at Corinth. Persuasion is also accomplished through reasoning.)
11) Acts 18:13 "Saying, This fellow persuades men to worship God contrary to the law." (We today should persuade people to worship God correctly.)
12) Acts 19:26 "Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands." (Persuasion can be accomplished through seeing and hearing. The lost can be persuaded through seeing the sincere interest of a Christian who cares enough to go and teach them.)
13) Acts 26:28 "Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." (Not all efforts of persuasion are successful, but none will be if persuasion is absent.)
14) Acts 28:23 "So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening." (Paul was at Rome persuading the Jews)
15) Acts 21:14 "So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done." (This is Agabus trying to persuade Paul. There comes a time when people will not be persuaded, then we should stop for the time being.)
16) Acts 24:24-25 (KJV) "And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." (Paul persuaded Felix the Roman governor to the point that he trembled.)

17) Acts 18:28 "For he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ."

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