MANY believers, both men and women, have a great desire to hold "forth the word" (Phil. 2:16) to the famishing multitudes. Some realize that they do not have the necessary voice or the delivery to preach in a public meeting. Yet they have found themselves giving out the Word in smaller groups, and even to one-member audiences. They have been so filled with the great truths of Inspiration that they have been unable to keep the priceless knowledge to themselves.
When these sincere persons train themseves to follow a wise plan of teaching, leading from easy-to-be-understood matter to the more difficult and deeper truths, they are Bible instructors, whether or not they are employed by a conference. This is especially so when they learn how to gain from their readers a willing commitment on each subject necessary to an intelligent understanding of present truth.
God's Word Answers All Problems
We need to search prayerfully for and find texts that answer as many problems as possible. Most people want their personal difficulties resolved before they can have peace of mind to study doctrinal subjects. God's Promises Solve My Problems, by G. A. Coon, is an excellent manual for this phase of Bible work. We should memorize at least two texts for each problem or objection and review them frequently. It will be found profitable to practice using them on Adventist friends. Ask them what answer they would give to a specified objection. When they exhaust their own wisdom, ask them if a certain text (quote or read) would answer it satisfactorily if that were their problem. Thus one finds the weak spots in his textual equipment.
Whether we get names of those who are willing to study the Scriptures from cards turned in for materials at evangelistic meetings, from relatives or friends or church members, from the visitors' register at Sabbath school, from missionary journal subscription lists or correspondence school students, each name is a sacred trust. As a rule each person will fall into one of the following classes:
Types We Meet
- The self-satisfied person.
- Those who are indifferent to the gospel.
- Agnostics or self-named infidels.
- Religious persons with no depth of experience.
- Members of religious bodies that have grave errors in teaching.
- Those who would like to become Christians but do not know how.
When our Saviour told His followers, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matt. 4:19), they understood and accepted the challenge.
They expected Him to teach them the laws of catching human fish instead of finny ones. They knew that they would have not only to learn where the human fish were, but also to use the variety of bait relished by each kind, and to present it in the most inviting form. They accepted the trust. So must we. A soul winner would do well to learn how to deal in a general way with one type a week, practicing on friends. Experience and prayer will enable one to adjust the method to meet individuals in each class. Typical conversations might go this way:
Using Scriptural Bait
I. Meeting the self-satisfied person.
"I am not worried. I pay my debts, and I'm square with people. I'm just as good as those who go to church."
"I agree with you [he is surprised to find agreement]. Salvation is the result of good works, but I believe this text will show that it is not our good works that save us. 'All our righteousnesses [rightdoing] are as filthy rags' (Isa. 64:6). That doesn't sound as if our good works add up to much in heaven's register, does it? Self-interest enters into them too much. The Bible tells of persons who were good, but were far from being ready for heaven. The prodigal's older brother had always done right. Was his heart right with God? or even with his own father? Judas was intelligent, and had even done a worthy work for the church. Was he ready to go through the pearly gates?
"Your works of paying your debts and treating others by the golden rule need the merits of Jesus to make them acceptable to the Father. Wouldn't you say we have to be saved in God's way? Who does the saving, God, or ourselves? We read: 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God' " (Eph. 2:8).
(If he acknowledges this, show him the simple plan of salvation.)
2. Interesting the indifferent person.
"Do you like to get a bargain?" (Read John 3:16.) "By believing in Jesus you can have eternal life. You love life, don't you? Or would you just as soon die now? Eternal life is a thousand times better than one hundred good years in this present world.
"Here is another part of the bargain [read Prov. 23:26]: 'Give me thine heart'; [and Rom. 6:23]: 'The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.' We give Him our poor, wayward hearts, and He gives us life through His Son. [Read Rev. 3:20.] He is knocking at the door of your heart now. Will you open it? He will come in, if you mean it."
(If you see he is yielding to the Holy Spirit in God's Word, get him to pray.)
3. Conciliating the atheistic, argumentative person. Ask him some scientific question.
a. "What would you give as scientific proof of this text?" [Read Gen. 2:7.] (Man is composed of the same sixteen elements as earth's soil, plus some trace ones.)
b. "Most pianos have strings that give about seven and a half octaves of sound, yet pianos are so heavy that it takes several men to move one of them. The human ear contains, in less than one cubic inch, 24,000 cords or nerve filaments of varying lengths capable of detecting twelve octaves of sound. Does this show God's great power and His scientific genius?"
c. "Why do your tears contain Lysozyme, one of the most effective germ-killing substances known? Because God wants to preserve from infection and harm the eyesight that He has so generously given you. Does that show His love for you? Would you believe that He loves you, even though you have been antagonistic to Him?
" (Read Jeremiah 31:3.) How many persons are 'thee?' ONE! YOU! What kind of love does He have for you? 'Everlasting.' It has never worn out, even when you have scorned Him."
(If he acknowledges that God must love him, show him the plan of salvation.)
4. Seeking to elevate shallow, religious persons.
Tell him you are glad he enjoys studying God's Word.
"How much time a day do you spend reading it? Have you found some new and precious message in its pages this past week? Would you say the object of Bible study is to find out God's will so that we can decide whether we want to do it? or, to find out God's will that we may gladly do it? You will find if you come to hear Evangelist Blank that he gives many Bible texts. Perhaps you will hear some that have thus far escaped your attention. Will you come tomorrow evening and hear him preach on the one who got to see the king?"
5. Helping those with grave errors.
Ignore the errors. Bring to his attention positive heart-warming truths that will stir his soul. Never condemn his church nor its leaders. "The way to dispel darkness is to bring in a flood of light."
6. Leading those who would sincerely like to be Christians.
Present the simple plan of salvation. Use a few texts bringing out three points:
a. We are sinners and cannot save ourselves (Rom. 3:10).
b. Jesus is our perfect Saviour (Isa. 53:6, emphasize all).
c. Accept Him as your Saviour (John 1:12; Prov. 23:26).
Other Outlines
a. The wages of sin is death, but God gives us life through Jesus (Rom. 6:23).
b. Will you believe that Jesus' hands and feet were nailed to the cross for your sins? and His side pierced for you? (John 20:27).
Will you accept Him as your Lord and your God? (You may need to use John 1:1, 14, 10, 3, in that order to show that He is our Creator.) Get him to kneel and tell the Saviour he does accept Him. The reason there are so many unconverted people in churches today is that no one got them to pray. It is difficult to be a hypocrite in prayer.
***
a. 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4. The gospel is that Jesus died and arose again for us. Do you believe it?
b. Hebrews 4:2. Some, when they heard the gospel, did not mix it with faith, and it did them no good.
c. Hebrews 12:2. Continually look to Jesus and He will give you saving faith.
***
a. Jeremiah 17:9. Would you say this is a true description of your natural heart?
b. Luke 18:13. Can you say this from your heart: "God be merciful to me a sinner"? (If so, read verse 14.)
c. Revelation 3:20. Jesus is waiting at your heart's door. Will you invite Him in? Kneel and pray, telling Him so. (You may need to help him.) After prayer, read John 1:12. Thank Him that He has come into your heart, and that you have received Him. Upon His infallible Word, you are now a son (daughter) of God.
There must be much earnest prayer each morning that God will lead us to the souls whom we can help and bring to Him. Pray much for the ones you plan to visit, and pray during your conversation with them. It is not our words but the words of God's living Book that bring them to Christ. Try to get each person to accept Him as his Saviour first. Then he will grasp, accept, and gladly obey the doctrines without murmuring or doubting.
