Do you long to be able to share your faith, but you are afraid that you might be asked a question you can't answer? I was.
I collected all the Bible instructor helps I could find. I studied and memorized Bible verses so much that when I went to bed I couldn't fall asleep—the texts I memorized ran through my mind like a scroll. In spite of all this, when I thought of giving a Bible study, I was petrified. I couldn't remember my own name, never mind the texts I knew by heart.
I wasn't afraid of people. I loved people. I greeted strangers at evangelistic meetings. It was something about the idea of the study itself that I feared—the idea that I wouldn't know where to find an answer in the Bible to questions.
For years I accompanied my husband on Bible studies, but I never gave a study myself, and that bothered me.
Once while traveling with my husband, I remained in Kansas City while he went on to another city for a few days. While there, all alone in a motel, an idea was born that has revolutionized my life. I found a solution for my fear.
During the night the idea came to me to make a notebook containing all the important Bible doctrines and the texts that supported them. I would carry my book along with my Bible in my handbag at all times. When anyone asked me a question pertaining to the Bible, I could easily find it. Then I wouldn't be afraid to go out and share my faith. I got so excited I could hardly wait for morning to come so that I could buy a suitable notebook.
A heavy snowfall during the night didn't hinder me from making my way out of the motel, across the freeway, to the K-Mart. I found a nice little black loose-leaf note book, got extra refills and a good fine-point pen. It didn't take me long to get back to the motel. Collecting my material, I set to work at once. I used J. L. Shuler's Helps to Bible Study as my guide. I wrote all day and far into the night.
How thrilled I was with my new book when it was finished! It gave me confidence, and as I had hoped, all fear was gone. I could carry my notebook along with my Bible as a reference book. I used that book for many years and have since made another one. This time I typed on my script typewriter, and it still looks home made—I like it that way.
My book has come in handy on many different occasions. Once on a plane, I sat beside a young man who told me that although his family was not religious, his father had told the family just before going on that flight that he would like them to start reading the Bible. He felt a spiritual need in the family.
After enrolling him in the Voice of Prophecy correspondence course, I took out my little black book and asked him to read the lesson on "How to Become a Christian." (It's one of my favorites.) After he read it, he said, "I have never read anything so beautiful! How could I get a copy of this for my family?" I opened my notebook and took it out, telling him he could have that one. He hesitated, and said that wouldn't be right to take it out of my book. I reassured him that I had another copy and would replace it.
Several people, after seeing my book, mentioned that I should have it printed for others to use. My answer is that it is not possible. Such a book must be carefully and prayerfully made by one who sincerely wants to witness. When you spend time, you will see how valuable it becomes to you.
To help you get started, I'll give you the list of topics I now have in my notebook, which are arranged by categories with purchased dividers.
Angels
Three Angels' Messages
Baptism
The Bible
Bible—How to Understand It
Conversion
How to Become a Christian
Christ's Second Coming
Second Coming of Christ
Christian Dress
Daniel 2
Daniel's 2300-Day Prophecy
Daniel 8
The Elijah Message
God's Purpose for This World
Healthful Living
Heaven
Heavenly Sanctuary
Jesus, High Priest
Judgment
The Great Day of Judgment
Law and Grace
The Lord's Day
Mark of the Beast
Millennium
Punishment of the Wicked
Remnant Church
Repairing of the Breach in God's Law
The Sabbath
How to Keep the Sabbath
The Change of the Sabbath
First-day Texts
The First Day of the Week in the New Testament
Salvation
What Must I Do to Be Saved?
Seal of God
Seven Last Plagues
Sins
Soul Winning
Spirit of Prophecy
Spirit of Prophecy in the Remnant Church
State of the Dead
Where Are the Dead?
Tithing
Unpardonable Sin
Your list of topics may be different than mine, and as you use your notebook, I'm sure you'll often make changes. Now, let me share with you my section on conversion, to give you an idea of how I organize each list of texts. As you can see, I do not quote the text here, but only give personal comments that I will use after I read or quote that particular text to the person with whom I'm studying.
Conversion
Matt. 19:16. The supreme question that everyone asks at some time in his life is What must I do to have eternal life?
John 3:3. We must be born again. What does this mean? Being born again is the changing process from sin to salvation.
Acts 3:19. Before God can cleanse us from sin, we must repent and be converted.
Ps. 32:5. We must acknowledge our sin—have a sorrow for sin.
Prov. 28:13. Repentance will lead us to confess our sins, and then forsake them to obtain mercy.
1 John 1 :9. If we confess our sins, Christ is faithful to forgive them. He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2 Cor. 5:17. We can tell if we have been born again, because we will be changed. We become new creatures. Old things pass away. We no longer do things that God forbids. All things become new.
I John 3:2-4. Another way we can tell if we are truly living a Christian life is that we know that Christ abides in us if we keep His commandments
Heb. 5:9. We obtain salvation through obedience.
Gal. 2:20. We can get power, courage, and strength to live a good Christian life by letting Christ live in us. We can live for Him and do what He wants us to do. By turning from sinful ways and by repenting and confessing all our sins, God can cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Christ will come into our lives and live His life in us when we invite His presence. It is then that we can have eternal salvation.
Preachers make notes and many times write out their entire sermons. They depend on such aids in their preaching. We also need notes and comments that we can use in our work of soul winning. Once you overcome fear, you will be used in a .way you never dreamed of, and God will greatly bless you.
