The Need for Personal Workers

Although preaching God's last warning  message is today the most important busi­ness of the church, personal work and the teaching of the Bible in the homes of the people is the most successful method to win them to the faith. To carry out this phase of ministry, the remnant church was instructed that "wisely directed Bible workers" were to help inquiring minds after the public preaching of the Word had created an interest. "Keep on the track of souls. . . . Personal influence is a power. The more direct our labor for our fellow men, the greater good will be accomplished."—Evange­lism, pp. 437-439.

The messenger of the Lord continues, "The people should be allowed to ask questions con­cerning subjects presented... The people can­not retain one half of the discourses which they hear. Give short talks and more Bible read­ings. This is the time to make every point as plain as mileposts."—Ibid., pp. 438, 439. One readily understands that there is wisdom in fol­lowing up the evangelistic sermon with a Bible study for the interested before they disperse.

The value of personal work by the evangelist is urged home in the following instruction: "Teaching the Scriptures in families,—this is the work of an evangelist, and this work is to be united with preaching. If it is omitted, the preaching will be, to a great extent, a failure." The suggestion rather pointedly follows that "sermonizing" is the pleasant and comparatively easy part of a minister's work. The harder labor follows after he leaves the desk. The seed must be watered by visits to the homes, by Bible -study and prayer. The worker must deepen the impression already made upon hearts and con-_.sciences. (Ibid., pp. 441, 437.)

We have been admonished, "The study of the workers now should be to learn the trade of gathering souls into the gospel net."—Ibid., p. 443. Our ministers cannot do this work alone, especially when the gospel net is a large one. God has given many of our sisters special tal­ents for evangelism. Consecrated, tactful, skilled women can do a successful work in visiting families. They are most helpful in coun­seling with mothers in their homes. They know how to sympathize, and how to help the sick. Their gentle and quiet type of visiting produces results, opens hearts for the truth in the Scrip­tures, and breaks down barriers of prejudice. This plan of house-to-house visitation, so ably carried on by our sisters, is the Lord's method of laying a permanent foundation for the mes­sage in our cities. (Ibid., p. 462.)

We wish to stress to our student seminars the wisdom of the wonderful instruction under Sec­tions 13 and 14 in our new guidebook, Evange­lism. Prospective ministers and Bible instructors should become well acquainted with God's pattern for personal and Bible work. Before we enter the organized work these plans should become the blueprint for building our profes­sional attitudes. Workers have sometimes failed to receive the right service from Bible instructors merely because they have attempted to develop their work according to their own patterns. When we know and follow the heavenly blueprint we are assured results in soul winning. Bible work is now attracting the proper type of women to this ministry, and they are indispensable in our larger evangelism plans. Let both prospective ministers and Bible instructors learn well the techniques of per­sonal work.

The Ministry of Personal Work

STUDY HELPS: John I:35-45, Evangelism, Sections 13 and 14.

DISCUSSION PROBLEMS

1. How must personal work in evangelism be evaluated ? Evangelism, pages 430, 435, 437^­439, 463, 471, 445.

2. What miracle of God's guidance always enters into personal work? (The truth seeker and truth teacher make contact.) Page 434.

3. Why is house-to-house labor a "search­ing" and "hunting" for lost souls ? Pages 431, 433, 437, 44², 461, 464.

4. Why do women make such an outstanding contribution in evangelism? Pages 464, 474.

5. What lessons may be learned from Mrs. White's personal soul-winning methods? Pages 447^-455.

FOR MEDITATION AND PRAYER

I. What qualities must be developed in my life if I am to be a successful personal worker? Pages 628-678.

2. What cheering vision of success encour­ages every personal_.worker? Page 462.

SERVICE SUGGESTIONS

I. Discover for yourself an opportune open­ing for personal work.

Endeavor to turn the casual conversation of a prospective Bible reader to the Word. Pages 43¹, 43⁶, 437.

DOCTRINAL TOPICS FOR MONTH 

(Presented by seminar members.)

1. The Sabbath in a Modern World.

2. Prophecy Declares the Judgment Hour (2300 Days).

3. What Was Done Away With at the Cross? (Sanctuary types).

4. Spiritism, and World Collapse.

L. C. K.