• Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • About
  • Home

Pathway

Missouri Baptist Convention's Official News Journal

  • Missouri
    • MBC
    • Churches
    • Institutions & Agencies
    • Policy
    • Disaster Relief
  • National
    • SBC Annual Meeting
    • NAMB
    • SBC
    • Churches
    • Policy
    • Society & Culture
  • Global
    • Missions
    • Multicultural
  • Columnists
    • Wes Fowler
    • Ben Hawkins
    • Pat Lamb
    • Rhonda Rhea
    • Rob Phillips
  • Ethics
    • Life
    • Liberty
    • Family
  • Faith
    • Apologetics
    • Religions
    • Evangelism
    • Missions
    • Bible Study & Devotion
  • E-Edition

More results...

Davidson focuses on worth of soul

December 6, 2006 By The Pathway

Davidson focuses on worth of soul

By Scott Lamb
Contributing Writer

CAPE GIRARDEAU – “I don’t like preachers. I don’t like churches. And to be truthful, I don’t like you.” 

So said a 76-year old man named Earl, cussing three words out of every five spoken.

Earl was talking to Gerald Davidson, recently retired pastor of First Baptist, Arnold, who had stopped by his home to share the good news of Jesus with him. Within a few weeks of the initial encounter, both Earl and his wife were converted to Christ through Davidson’s witness. 

A few weeks later when a baptism service was about to begin, Earl leaned in and hugged Davidson and expressed his love for Jesus and for the preacher who led him to Christ. Not too long after the baptism, Davidson stood behind a pulpit and preached a funeral sermon for Earl. The man who had stated his dislike for preachers was now in glory.

Davidson told this poignant story as an ending to his convention sermon at the Missouri Baptist Convention annual meeting in Cape Girardeau. The message centered on Luke 14, a text showing Jesus concern for the soul of a man whom he healed.

Davidson asked Missouri Baptists to consider the question, “What is the value of a soul?”

The Pharisees were not concerned about answering such a question. Instead, “They were far more concerned about their political image and their political desires and agenda than a man’s soul.”

“Missouri Baptists, we must become soul-conscious” Davidson said. “I am convinced that we will never see the value of a soul until we see it through the eyes of the Father.” The value of a soul should be considered in relationship to the death of God’s son on the cross. 

The world may not respond to the message of God’s grace. In Luke 14 we read Jesus’ parable where many people gave phony excuses as to why they could not come to the feast. 

But how should we respond to such a vision of the worth of a soul, especially in view of the possibility of rejection? Again, referring to Luke 14, Davidson said “We must go out, go quickly, go into the highways and hedges – compelling them to come in.”

This is exactly what we as Missouri Baptists must be involved in.

A final question Davidson posed is – “What are the rewards for winning a lost soul?” He said that in addition to helping the person access to God in heaven, the one who shares the gospel will find eternal reward from the only one who really matters – the Father Himself.

“I’m not looking for an award from Missouri Baptists. My reward will come from One who really, really counts – that is the reward from God.”

“Missouri Baptists, consider the worth of a soul, go forth with the good news of Jesus Christ, and keep your eyes on Jesus till the end.”

Davidson quotes

“I have studied and read a lot of books on how to win friends and influence people. Today, I’m not here trying to win friends. But, I do hope that I do not lose friends. And I hope that I will not turn friends off. I spent more time thinking about this message, having known for a year that I was going to be the convention speaker, than any other message I believe that I have prepared in my entire life, because I have some things that are heavy upon my heart.”

“God, the Father, saw His son become sin and He loved the world enough that He let His Son die in our stead. And so you see, you and I need to begin to see the world as God sees the world. We need to see souls through the eyes of the Father.”

“Let me tell you the immediate reward of winning a soul to Jesus Christ means a person who was headed for the devil’s hell, lost and undone, being in an eternal hell for time without end has been delivered. No longer will he be going there. Now he will be headed for heaven.”

“Let’s you and I join our hearts and our lives together and say, ‘God, we are going to get [on with] the business of reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God bless you. I love you. So does Jesus. Let’s do His work.”

Comments

Featured Videos

Lick Creek Fellowship - A Story of Cooperation

A declining rural church faced closure after years of dwindling attendance and aging members. But after the doors closed, a small group stepped in to build something fresh from its legacy. Watch this video to hear this story of cooperation and new life.

Find More Videos

Trending

  • MBC names Rob Pochek to lead prayer and evangelism ministries

  • HLGU asks U.S. Department of Education for protection from unconstitutional mandate 

  • HLGU President: ‘Why I’m asking the Department of Education to protect religious liberty at Christian universities’

  • Rescued: Friends, family of freed missionary ‘filled with praise to God’

  • Documentary tells stories of Joplin tornado, leaves out God’s faithfulness

  • Raytown church finds new chance for life

Ethics

HLGU asks U.S. Department of Education for protection from unconstitutional mandate 

Hannibal-LaGrange University

Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU), affiliated with the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) since 1857, has formally requested a religious accommodation from the U.S. Department of Education from a Biden-era regulation, 34 CFR §668.14. Without timely action by the Department, the university intends to file a lawsuit seeking relief to safeguard its religious freedoms.

Legislative actions aim to protect unborn lives

Timothy Faber

More Ethics Stories

Missouri

HLGU’s Freedom on the Inside program to celebrate first class of graduates

Hannibal-LaGrange University

Hannibal-LaGrange University’s (HLGU) President and trustees, along with the Director of the Freedom on the Inside program, are pleased to announce the program’s first ever graduation ceremony. This unique program allows incarcerated individuals to earn a fully accredited Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies. The graduation ceremony will be held on May 15 in the Jefferson City Correctional Center.

Copyright © 2025 · The Pathway