Old Paths Journal

05/30/2026

Learn why many people who quit doing sin end up going back to it
https://www.oldpathsjournal.com/post/pushing-out-the-old

05/30/2026

Learn why many people who quit doing sin end up going back to it

A critical principle is taught when God took away the first commandment to establish the second. The first commandment was sacrifice and offerings, but the second commandment was that Christ became our sacrifice so

05/30/2026

Allowing someone's name to continue to be marred because of your cowardice to expose the lie shows that you are an evil coward

05/30/2026

When Jesus started His earthly ministry, one of the first things He did was go soul winning. As you look at His first recorded effort, you notice that Jesus was walking by the sea of Galilee and saw two men fishing. Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
The key to these men following Jesus is that He first struck up the conversation. You will notice that these men did not talk to Jesus first, but Jesus talked to them first.
You will never be a good soul winner if you do not know how to be a conversationalist. You must be the first one to strike up the conversation before you can ever have a conversation about the Gospel.
One of the great secrets to being able to lead many people to Christ is that I use every opportunity I can to strike up a conversation with people. First, I am friendly with them. A smile on your face and a simple hello are easy ways to begin a conversation. Second, I use whatever setting I am in to start a conversation. I do exactly what Jesus did with these two men; He used their setting and occupation to begin speaking with them, and I try to use whatever setting I am in to do the same.
Let me illustrate. When I...

05/30/2026

When Jesus started His earthly ministry, one of the first things He did was go soul winning. As you look at His first recorded effort, you notice that Jesus was walking by the sea of Galilee and saw two men fishing. Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

The key to these men following Jesus is that He first struck up the conversation. You will notice that these men did not talk to Jesus first, but Jesus talked to them first.

You will never be a good soul winner if you do not know how to be a conversationalist. You must be the first one to strike up the conversation before you can ever have a conversation about the Gospel.

One of the great secrets to being able to lead many people to Christ is that I use every opportunity I can to strike up a conversation with people. First, I am friendly with them. A smile on your face and a simple hello are easy ways to begin a conversation. Second, I use whatever setting I am in to start a conversation. I do exactly what Jesus did with these two men; He used their setting and occupation to begin speaking with them, and I try to use whatever setting I am in to do the same.

Let me illustrate. When I visit people in the hospital, I often have to take the elevator to different floors. If I am alone in the elevator with someone, my first question is, "Are you here to visit a family member or a friend?" That one question opens the door to begin a conversation. Many times it allows me the opportunity to step off the elevator with them and share the Gospel.

If you want God to use you as a soul winner, then you need to learn to be the first one to strike up a conversation with people. Use the setting you are in to greet people. Ask them a question, and when they answer, you know they are at least willing to talk with you. You will never be able to give the Gospel until you first learn to talk to people.

The greatest soul winner who ever lived did not wait for people to come to Him; He went to them. If you are going to become an effective soul winner, you must do the same. Learn to start conversations, and you will find that many of those conversations can become opportunities to give the Gospel.

05/29/2026

Learn the five things God uses to give us strength in hard times
https://www.oldpathsjournal.com/post/being-strong-in-christ

05/29/2026

Learn the five things God uses to give us strength in hard times

Strength is never found in times of ease, but it is built in times of adversity and trials. We hear the importance of being strong in Christ Jesus, but we miss one word that tells us how to get the strength. God says, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The word

05/29/2026

You will never maintain an exhorting and optimistic spirit if you continually spend time with people who have a negative spirit

05/29/2026

Satan has been fighting a losing battle since he was cast out of Heaven. However, the book of Revelation tells us that from the moment he was cast out of Heaven, Satan has continually tried to prevail against God's people.
Yet, we have a promise from God that the Devil will not prevail against us. Matthew 16:18 says, "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." Notice that this promise was not given to an isolated believer, but to Christ's church. The church is God's institution through which He advances His work and strengthens His people. When a believer stays faithful to the church Christ established, he places himself where God has promised strength, encouragement, accountability, and spiritual protection. The promise that the gates of Hell shall not prevail was given to the church, and believers experience the benefits of that promise as they faithfully remain a part of the church.
I often hear people say that when they get everything worked out in their life, they will come back to church. However, you cannot win your battle against Satan by staying away from the very institution God established to help you prevail. The church is not a place to return to after you have fixed your problems; it is the place God gave to help you overcome them.
You see, the church is not the building, but the called-out believers who assemble together every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. When believers separate themselves from the church, they remove themselves from the exhortation, fellowship, preaching, and accountability that God designed to help them grow. Satan wants believers isolated because isolated believers are easier targets.
What is sad is that many believers allow Satan, the loser, to prevail against them when he has no power to prevail...