When Is It to Be Conducted?
THIS will vary with different individuals. We personally prefer to hold it the last five nights of the campaign. We begin the build-up about two weeks before the class begins, emphasizing that this is the most important part of the series. We also have it advertised in our handbill.
Planning the Class
With an average-sized group it takes about seven hours to cover the material, so the evening program has to be planned carefully. This is our class schedule:
Song service---7:20-7:25
Prayer---7:25-7:26
Message in song by singing evangelist---7:26-7:30
The Bible class begins promptly at seven-thirty and ends at nine o'clock.
Who Is the Teacher?
The one who has done the preaching has the confidence of the people. It is imperative that he teach the class. The people know how he thinks and are able to follow him.
Where Held?
Psychologically it would be wrong to shift this to smaller quarters. Hold it in the main auditorium.
What Is Used?
We began by using the material on the inside of the baptismal certificate, dividing the statements of faith into five groups. We left them numbered the same as on the baptismal certificate and mimeographed these statements on five different sheets, one to be used each evening of the five nights. This proved very effective.
We kept mental note of the different questions that arose. Thus we eventually developed our own booklet used exclusively in the Bible class. There are a number of booklets that could be used, but the one chosen would largely be determined by the personality of the one conducting the class. Whatever is used should be very attractive.
We request that the people be there four of the five nights in order to earn the book. This helps to hold the crowd. Once our own church members attend one of these meetings, you can't get them to stay away.
How Is It Conducted?
There are three basic rules:
1. This is a Bible class and not a testimony meeting, therefore, the congregation participation must be in the form of a question, or answer if the teacher asks a question.
2. Our guests have first priority to ask questions.
3. Questions should deal with the topic under discussion. This prevents rambling to and fro without any conclusions being formed. It gives opportunity for the material to be covered in depth.
Each evening I try to have a period of time just prior to nine o'clock when I open the discussion for any general questions. The purpose is threefold:
1. To prepare for baptism those who have made their decision.
2. To assist those still uncommitted in making a decision for God's last-day message.
3. To prepare everyone, church members as well as nonmembers, for the second coming of Christ. As a result they become bold in sharing their faith.
My philosophy for a series of meetings is to avoid all pressure. The Holy Spirit will convict; only in this sense is pressure applied. There is danger in departing from the method Jesus used in presenting the evidence and letting people make their own decision. Those who succumb to arm twisting will always be weak members. Many of the solid people of the community will rebel at such techniques and turn away from the message. I prefer to see someone who has doubts as to whether this is God's message take a little time to make an intelligent decision through his own study and follow-up by the church group. Thus, baptisms will continue for many months after an evangelistic campaign.
During the last preaching service we hold our decision period to about the same length as on any other night. Almost always there are a large number who are uncommitted. As I draw the call to a conclusion, I ask, "How many cannot make a decision tonight because you lack sufficient knowledge, but you want the Lord to know that what you have heard you believe and accept? You want the opportunity of attending the Bible class to hear the entire message covered in question-and-answer form. At its conclusion, if you are convinced that this is God's last-day message, you will respond with those who have already indicated a positive decision for Him and His truth. Would you raise your hand if this is your commitment?" It is amazing how many hands will be raised and how many will follow through on just this basis.
In a number of incidents we have also had folks who have attended only one or two of the evangelistic meetings attend the Bible class regularly and make their decision.
An Outline of Materials Presented in the Bible Class
Opening Night:
The True God
The Godhead
God's Plan for Salvation
Righteousness of Christ
The Holy Scriptures
Second Night:
The Law of God
Two Different Kinds of Laws
Importance of the Seventh-Day Sabbath
Why Is the Sabbath Important?
The Nearness of Christ's Return
Third Night:
Man's Condition in Death
The Millennium
Baptism
Sons and Daughters of God
Mixed Marriages
Christian Dress
Fourth Night:
Sons and Daughters of God
Amusements and Recreation
Christian Education
God's Gift to His Church: The Spirit of Prophecy
Stewards of God
Fifth Night:
The Investigative and Executive Judgments
Holy Scripture Substantiated by Prophecy
Church Organization
Secrets of Spiritual Growth
This I Believe
Things to Remember
Concluding the Bible Class
At the conclusion of the fifth night, after the benediction, we have all our guests (those committed and uncommitted) stay by for a special meeting. We ask if every thing is clear. Establishing that the principles are truth, we ask how many are convinced that this is God's last-day message. Obtaining their response, which is almost always unanimous, we then organize for the baptism the next day as well as for the baptisms that will follow.
To those who say, "I do not have enough background," or "The Bible texts don't flow freely enough that I would dare venture to do this," may I give you this encouragement: Remember that the Holy Spirit is ever present to guide your mind, and if you present the message in a positive way, you need never worry.
Often, as you seek to present the truth, opposition will be aroused; but if you seek to meet the opposition with argument, you will only multiply it, and this you cannot afford to do. Hold to the affirmative. Angels of God are watching you, and they understand how to impress those whose opposition you refuse to meet with arguments. Dwell not on the negative points of questions that arise, but gather to your minds affirmative truths, and fasten them there by much study, earnest prayer, and heart consecration. . . .
If Christ had not held to the affirmative in the wilderness of temptation, He would have lost all that He desired to gain. Christ's way is the best way to meet our opponents. We strengthen their arguments when we repeat what they say. Keep always to the affirmative. It may be that the very man who is opposing you will carry your words home, and be converted to the sensible truth that has reached his understanding.—Evangelism, p. 302.
As long as you present the message in the affirmative and share what is so glorious without ever becoming defensive in its presentation, you will reach hearts. All of us have had questions asked that we could not answer. Be honest with your congregation and tell them that you will need to study further and then will be able to give them an answer the next evening. If you will use this approach, you will always have their confidence, you will never be put in an embarrassing situation, and God will use you to finish His work.
I believe that there is a great avenue of experimentation that needs to be done in this area, and I pray that the Lord will help each of us, as we follow His guidance, to use the very best methods.
