TEN lesson: 
 
 IN 
 
 PERSONAL EVANGEUSM 
 
 JOSEPH P. HICKS 
 
 ..^'c.wissawMafiH! 
 
BV 3790 .H45 1922 
 Hicks, Joseph P., 1867- 
 Ten lessons in personal 
 evangelism 
 
TEN LESSONS IN 
 PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 Rev. JOSEPH P. HICKS, a.m. 
 
Ten Lessons in 
 Personal Evangelism 
 
 BY 
 
 Rev. JOSEPH P. HICKS, a.m. 
 
 WITH A FOREWORD BY 
 
 Rev. mark A. MATTHEWS, d.d., ll.d. 
 
 NEW XSJr YORK 
 GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 
 
COPYRIGHT, 1922, 
 BY GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY 
 
 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
 
DEDICATION 
 
 To the splendid class vn Personal Evangelism 
 which the author conducted in the First 
 Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma 
 City, in the year 1921, and to 
 other classes of similar char- 
 acter, which may yet he con- 
 ducted, is this volume af- 
 fectionately dedicated. 
 
FOREWORD ^ 
 
 The Holy Spirit has but one program for 
 the church, namely, the program of evan- 
 gelism. All that we are accustomed to in- 
 clude in our terms, "Home and Foreign 
 Missions," is included in the word "evan- 
 gelism." 
 
 When Christ said, "Go ye into all the 
 world and preach," He meant all that is 
 intended in the word "evangelism." 
 
 The greatest need of this day is a passion 
 for souls, a love for incessant Christian 
 work, and a knowledge of how to do per- 
 sonal work. 
 
 Drummond said we should "buttonhole" 
 men to Christ. Christ sent His disciples 
 out two by two. The Holy Spirit sends each 
 Christian out with instructions to make a 
 disciple for Christ. It is impossible for one 
 [vii] 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 to be a Christian without being a mission- 
 ary, and, of course, impossible for a mis- 
 sionary to go out unless he is a true 
 Christian. Therefore, each and every Chris- 
 tian who is redeemed by the blood of Christ, 
 who is baptized into the body of Christ by 
 the Holy Spirit, and who is sealed with the 
 everlasting seal of the Holy Ghost, is in- 
 structed to do personal, evangelistic work. 
 
 It is the duty of each and every Christian 
 to lead some person to Christ every day. 
 It means the development of the Christian, 
 the evangelization of the world, and the 
 preparing of the body of Christians for the 
 coming of Jesus Christ. 
 
 Let me urge you to be a diligent student, 
 an untiring worker, and a successful, per- 
 sonal evangelist. 
 
 Seattle 
 
 [viii] 
 
PREFACE 
 
 In January, 1921, the author of this text 
 book was invited by the Pastor and Session 
 of the First Presbyterian Church of Okla- 
 homa City to conduct a School of Evan- 
 gelism lasting ten consecutive weeks. The 
 School was conducted on Wednesday Eve- 
 nings. The ladies of the church prepared a 
 worker's dinner which they served promptly 
 at 6 :30 P. M. and before the Prayer Meet- 
 ing, which was held at 7:45 P. M. While 
 partaking of the dinner the people became 
 better acquainted and this added materially, 
 as well as spiritually, to the success of the 
 work of the teaching period. 
 
 More than two hundred people attended 
 the school at the close of which, class night, 
 was held, when Doctor Baird, the Pas- 
 tor, presented the graduates with their di- 
 plomas. 
 
 [ix] 
 
PREFACE 
 
 During the continuance of the school, 
 from the first of January to the week pre- 
 ceding Easter, nearly three hundred new 
 members were added to the church. 
 
 The school proved so helpful to the First 
 Church of Oklahoma City that many pastors 
 throughout the land made request that the 
 same lessons be given in their respective 
 churches. 
 
 When the Synod's Committee on Evan- 
 gelism met in Cushing, October 5-7, 1921, 
 the Ten Lessons used in this school were 
 commended to all the churches throughout 
 the bounds of the Oklahoma Synod. 
 
 After Doctor Baird had started on his 
 journey round the world the Author of this 
 book received the following letter from 
 him: 
 
 Rev. J. P. Hicks, 
 
 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 
 Dear Brother and Co-worker : — 
 
 I am thinking this morning of our 
 conferences concerning Him and His 
 
 w 
 
rUEFACE 
 
 work — all of which have been so pleas- 
 ant, and of the School of Evangelism 
 which you led for us last year. 
 
 This school, my friend, has proven of 
 much benefit to us in many ways. I 
 have had inquiries from other churches 
 concerning it and requests for your 
 time in putting on such work in other 
 places. 
 
 On account of this benefit and the 
 fact that the work was along the line of 
 the New Era — in fact, quite a little in 
 advance of it — I am greatly in hopes 
 the church will cooperate with you in 
 putting on another such study. Men 
 prepare for salesmanship and we have 
 schools for preparation in life's chosen 
 business. How fit it is for the children 
 of light to prepare for the work of 
 eternity. I trust it will seem good to 
 the Session and the people to cooperate 
 with you in this work, I shall sorely 
 miss the privilege of meeting with you 
 [xi] 
 
PREFACE 
 
 at your dinners and your Wednesday 
 evening lessons. 
 
 I am speaking to you now while on 
 my way to the other side of the globe. 
 We are not far apart by the throne. 
 
 May God bless you and your family, 
 is my prayer. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 Phil C. Baird. 
 
 Any church desiring it may use the les- 
 sons herein given and conduct a School of 
 Evangelism. The school idea should run 
 throughout all the work. The first class to 
 take the course will prove invaluable as the 
 Alumni of the School of Evangelism and 
 will help to bring others into the school 
 from year to year. 
 
 If through the pages of this little text 
 book any one is led to become more inter- 
 ested and proficient in soul winning the 
 [xii] 
 
PREFACE 
 
 Author will be doubly repaid for the work 
 which has been required in preparing the 
 book. 
 
 J. P. H. 
 
 [xiii] 
 
They therefore that were scattered abroad went 
 about preaching the word. — Acts 8:4- 
 
Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all na- 
 tions, baptizing them in the name of the 
 Father, and of the Son and of the Holy 
 Spirit; teaching them to observe all things 
 whatsoever I have commanded you : and lo, I am 
 with you always, even unto the end of the 
 world— Mathew 28:19, 20. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER PAei 
 
 I Introduction: 
 
 THE TASK OP THE CHURCH 19 
 
 II Lesson One: 
 
 PERSONAL WORK ... 22 
 
 III Lesson Two: 
 
 THE PERSONAL WORKER . . 30 
 
 IV Lesson Three: 
 
 SUGGESTIONS FOR PERSONAL 
 WORKERS 35 
 
 V Lesson Four: 
 
 METHODS OF PERSONAL WORK 38 
 
 VI Lesson Five: 
 
 SWARMING BEES FOR PER- 
 SONAL WORKERS ... 45 
 
 VII Lesson Six: 
 
 PERSONAL WORKER, WHAT 
 
 OP THYSELF? .... 52 
 
 VIII Lesson Seven: 
 
 THE PERSONAL WORKERS' 
 
 OPPORTUNITIES ... 57 
 
 [xix] 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 APTEE PAGE 
 
 IX Lesson Eight: 
 
 THE PERSONAL WORKERS' 
 
 TASK 65 
 
 X Lesson Nine : 
 
 THE PERSONAL WORKER AND 
 
 HIS BIBLE 75 
 
 XI Lesson Ten: ' 
 
 THE PERSONAL WORKER AND 
 
 HIS PROBLEMS ... 81 
 
 [XX] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN 
 PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
TEN LESSONS IN 
 PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 I 
 
 THE TASK OF THE CHURCH 
 
 Introdtiction 
 
 "The Church has an abiding and supreme 
 task which has confronted her and put its 
 solemn obligation upon her in every age. 
 This task is to bring sinful men to accept 
 the mercy and forgiveness of God with 
 reconciliation to Him and newness and full- 
 ness of life in Him. Whatever else the 
 Church fails to do, she must not fail in this. 
 The Church was born in the evangelistic 
 and missionary fervor of the first Christians. 
 They had experienced forgiveness and the 
 joy of reconciliation which they had sought 
 in vain through certain rites and ceremonies. 
 [19] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGEUSM 
 
 They experienced a newness and fullness of 
 life, which they were right in attributing 
 to the presence and power of the Spirit of 
 God which dwelt richly in them. About 
 this great discovery, they could not refrain 
 from telling others. They went everywhere 
 proclaiming this and gathered into 
 Churches and those Churches became cen- 
 ters of evangelistic and missonary effort. 
 They were witnessing, winning, converting 
 Churches. Men were won, almost, in spite 
 of themselves. They were saved from sin 
 to the new life. There have been since those 
 first years many periods of decline and in- 
 activity, of worldliness, of spiritual power- 
 lessness, of hopelessness accompanied by a 
 feeling bordering on despair. These times 
 have come when this primary abiding task 
 of the Church was forgotten or neglected. 
 The neglect of the real task of the Church is 
 always disastrous and fatal. The Church 
 may go on in a fair-seeming way, its great 
 temples and cathe<lrals and its stately serv- 
 [20] 
 
THE TASK OP THE CHURCH 
 
 ices may preseut an appearance of impres- 
 siveness, but if it is not touching the spir- 
 itual lives of men with saving power and 
 renewing grace it is all unavailing. The 
 apostolic method of evangelization has 
 never been improved. It was the successful 
 method of the early Church. The members 
 of the Churcli went eveiywhere proclaiming 
 Christ to sinful men. This is the task of the 
 Church to-day. That Christians may be 
 trained for this task this book is edited and 
 compiled and given to the Church. The au- 
 thor acknowledges help from many sources. 
 Any one who takes the time to read the 
 scriptural references, alone, will find an in- 
 spiration to go into all the world and pro- 
 claim Christ. This is your task. This is 
 my task." 
 
 [21] 
 
II 
 
 PERSONAL WORK 
 
 Lesson One 
 
 The first thing that impresses us in the 
 study of this theme is the great number of 
 scriptural references which directly refer 
 to personal endeavor. If personal work is 
 emphasized by the teachings of the Bible, 
 no Christian should excuse liimself from 
 the task. 
 
 LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD 
 
 "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto 
 a man that is an householder, who went 
 out early in the morning to hire laborers 
 into his vineyard. And when he had agreed 
 with the laborers for a shilling a day, he 
 sent them into his vineyard. And he went 
 out about the third hour, and saw others 
 [22] 
 
PERSONAL WORK 
 
 standing in the marketplace idle; and to 
 them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, 
 and whatsoever is right I will give you. 
 And they went their way. Again he went 
 out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and 
 did likewise. And about the eleventh hour 
 he went out, and found others standing; 
 and he saith unto them. Why stand ye here 
 all the day idle? They say unto him, Be- 
 cause no man hath hired us. He saith unto 
 them. Go ye also into the vineyard. And 
 when even was come, the lord of the vine- 
 yard saith unto his steward. Call the labor- 
 ers, and pay them their hire, beginning 
 from the last unto the first. And when they 
 came that were hired about the eleventh 
 hour, they received every man a shilling. 
 And when the first came, they supposed 
 that they would receive more ; and they like- 
 wise received every man a shilling. And 
 when they received it, they murmured 
 against the householder, saying. These last 
 have spent but one hour, and thou hast 
 [23] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 made them equal unto us, who have borne 
 the burden of the day and the scorching 
 heat. But he answered and said to one of 
 them, Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst 
 not thou agree with me for a shilling? 
 Take up that which is thine, and go thy 
 way; it is my will to give unto this last, 
 even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me 
 to do what I will with mine own? Or is 
 thine eye evil, because I am good? So 
 the last shall be first, and the first last." 
 Matthew 20:1-16. 
 
 "Again on the morrow John was stand- 
 ing, and two of his disciples ; and he looked 
 upon Jesus as he walked, and saith. Behold 
 the Lamb of God! And the two disciples 
 heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 
 And Jesus turned, and beheld them follow- 
 ing, and saith unto them, What seek ye? 
 And they said unto him. Rabbi (which is 
 to say, being interpreted, Teacher), where 
 abidest thou? He saith unto them, Come, 
 and ye shall see. They came therefore and 
 [24] 
 
PERSONAL WORK 
 
 saw where lie abode; and they abode with 
 him that day; it was about the tenth hour. 
 One of the two that heard John speak, and 
 followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's 
 brother. He findeth first his own brother 
 Simon, and saith unto him. We have found 
 the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, 
 Christ). He brought him unto Jesus. 
 Jesus looked upon him, and said, Thou art 
 Simon the son of John ; thou shalt be called 
 Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter) ." 
 Johnl:So-It2. 
 
 "I must work the works of him that sent 
 me, while it is day ; the night cometh, when 
 no man can work." John 9:4- 
 
 "And he suffered him not, but saith unto 
 him. Go to thy house unto thy friends, and 
 tell them how great things the Lord hath 
 done for thee, and how he had mercy on 
 thee. And he went his way, and began to 
 publish in Decapolis how great things 
 Jesus had done for him ; and all men mar- 
 velled." Mark 5:19-20. 
 [25] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 "Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from 
 henceforth thou shalt catch men. And 
 when they had brought their boats to land, 
 they left all, and followed him." Luke 
 5:10-11. 
 
 "Now Peter and John were going up into 
 the temple at the hour of prayer, being the 
 ninth hour. And a certain man that was 
 lame from his mother's womb was carried, 
 whom they laid daily at the door of the tem- 
 ple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms 
 of them that entered into the temple; who 
 seeing Peter and John about to go into the 
 temple, asked to receive an alms. And Pe- 
 ter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, 
 said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto 
 them, expecting to receive something from 
 fhem. But Peter said. Silver and gold have 
 I none; but what I have, that give I thee. 
 In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 
 walk. And he took him by the right hand, 
 and raised him up ; and immediately his feet 
 and his ankle-bones received strength. And 
 [26] 
 
PERSONAL WORK 
 
 leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; 
 and he entered with them into the temple, 
 w^alking and leaping, and praising God. 
 And all the people saw him walking and 
 praising God; and they took knowledge of 
 him, that it was he that sat for alms at the 
 Beautiful Gate of the temple ; and they were 
 filled with wonder and amazement at that 
 which had happened unto him." Acts 3:1- 
 10. 
 
 In addition to all the array of scripture, 
 which specifically encourages every one to 
 do personal work we have the example of 
 Christ as he dealt personally with Nico- 
 demus, and the disciples, who were diligent 
 to bring others under the influence of Jesus 
 when He was living here among men. 
 
 It is the privilege as well as the obliga- 
 tion of every saved individual to engage in 
 personal work. 
 
 If you are saved yourself, help some one 
 else into the kingdom. 
 [27] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 Personal work is not difficult. It is easy. 
 Listen, "My yoke is easy." 
 
 Personal work is practical. It is the 
 pride of the business man to meet his fel- 
 lowman and talk to him about his business 
 and if possible to make out of him a cus- 
 tomer. 
 
 Social activities make it obligatory. 
 Education demands it. The politician is 
 a diligent personal worker. This is the 
 process by which he climbs into office, 
 usually. 
 
 What is profitable in these different de- 
 partments of life is also profitable with the 
 Christian. The Christian should do per- 
 sonal work only after much prayer. The 
 record is that Paul and Silas, two of the 
 greatest personal workers known in their 
 time, prayed all night, and then were pre- 
 pared to tell the terrified jailer what to do 
 to be saved. 
 
 The successful soul winners of all time 
 have been men and women of much prayer. 
 [28] 
 
PERSONAL WORK 
 
 John Knox often spent the whole night in 
 prayer. Martin Luther spent three hours 
 in prayer each day. Soul winner, do not 
 attempt to lead men and women into the 
 light of the gospel of Christ, until you have 
 spent much time in prayer to God for 
 guidance. 
 
 [29] 
 
Ill 
 
 THE PERSONAL WORKER 
 
 Lesson Two 
 
 To bring others into right relationship 
 with Jesus Christ is a task that angels might 
 well covet. The large majority of us are 
 unable to sway the multitudes by our elo- 
 quence; but we can tell individuals with 
 whom we associate day by day of the sav- 
 ing and renewing power of Christ. Henry 
 Ward Beecher said, "The longer I live, the 
 more confidence I have in those sermons 
 preached where one man is the minister 
 and one man is the congregation; where 
 there is no question as to who is meant when 
 the preacher says, "Thou art the Man." In 
 the work of the Kingdom there is a task 
 for those who can sway the multitudes by 
 their eloquent sermons and there is a task 
 [30] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKER 
 
 for the individual who can lead one indi- 
 vidual to accept Christ. This is the Bible 
 way of evangelism as set forth in the first 
 chapter of the gospel by St. John. 
 
 There is a wonderful array of scripture 
 setting forth the work of the personal 
 evangelist. We give some of the passages 
 for the prayerful consideration of the stu- 
 dent; these and similar passages should be 
 committed to memory for use when the ac- 
 tual work is begun. 
 
 "Say not ye, There are yet four months, 
 and then cometh the harvest? Behold, I 
 say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look 
 on the fields; that they are white already 
 unto harvest. He that reapeth receiveth 
 wages, and gathereth fruit unto life etemal ; 
 that both he that soweth and he that reap- 
 eth may rejoice together." John 4'S5-36. 
 
 "I am the vine, ye are the branches; he 
 that abideth in me, and I in him, the same 
 beareth much fruit; for apart from me ye 
 can do nothing." John 15:5. 
 [31] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELLSM 
 
 "And they that be wise shall shine as the 
 brightness of the firmament; and they that 
 turn many to righteousness as the stars for 
 ever and ever." Daniel 12:3. 
 
 "Let no man despise tliy youth; but be 
 thou an ensample to them that believe, in 
 word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, 
 in purity. Till I come give heed to reading, 
 to exhortation, to teaching." / Timothy 
 4:12-13. 
 
 "Let no corrupt speech proceed out of 
 your mouth, but such as is good for edify- 
 ing as the need may be, that it may give 
 grace to them that hear. And grieve not 
 the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were 
 sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph. 
 4:29-30. 
 
 "I beseech you therefore brethren, by the 
 mercies of God, to present your bodies a 
 living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, 
 which is your spiritual service. And be not 
 fashioned according to this world ; but be 
 ye transformed by the renewing of your 
 [32] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKER 
 
 mind, that ye may prove what is the good 
 ami acceptable and perfect will of God." 
 Romans 12:1-2. 
 
 "Give diligence, to present thyself ap- 
 proved of God, a workman that needeth 
 not to be ashamed, handling right the word 
 of truth." II Timothy 2:15. 
 
 "Every scripture inspired of God, is also 
 profitable for teaching, for reproof, for cor- 
 rection, for instruction which is in right- 
 eousness ; that the man of God may be com- 
 plete, furnished completely unto every good 
 work." // Timothy 3:16-17. 
 
 "And, behold, I come quickly ; and my re- 
 ward is with me, to give every man accord- 
 ing as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12. 
 
 The personal worker must be character- 
 ized by certain natural endowments. We 
 give some of these, briefly, here for the con- 
 sideration of the student : 
 
 The personal worker should be tactful, 
 shrewd, wise, courageous. His address must 
 [33] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 appeal. He must be a person of good char- 
 acter. His habits must be properly formed. 
 He must avoid dangerous companionships 
 and places of resort. He must not be apolo- 
 getic. 
 
 He must be well endowed spiritually. His 
 spiritual qualifications will include being 
 seved himself. He must know that he is 
 saved. He must believe the Bible. He must 
 have all faith in the power of the gospel to 
 save to the uttermost all those who believe 
 it. He must be mightily impressed with the 
 fact that men without Christ are eternally 
 lost. He must hate sin. He must love 
 righteousness, know his Bible, and be a man 
 of prayer. He must have faith, humility 
 and be personally pure. He must be pa- 
 tient and have great love for the unsaved. 
 He should make a report of every visit made 
 and every soul brought to Christ. 
 
 [34] 
 
IV 
 
 SUGGESTIONS FOR PERSONAL 
 WORKERS 
 
 Lesson Three 
 
 To some, personal work may seem a small 
 matter, too small in fact, to waste time with 
 it. The personal worker should divest him- 
 self of this idea at once. Joel Stratton won 
 John B. Gough from a life of disgrace and 
 shame. Mr. Gough expressed his apprecia- 
 tion to Mr. Stratton in the following words : 
 "My friend, it may be a small matter for 
 you to speak the one word for Christ that 
 wins a needy soul — a small mutter to you, 
 but it is everything to him." 
 
 The suggestions which follow are to be 
 considered by the student, simply, as sug- 
 gestions and nothing more. It is possible 
 [35] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 for each suggestion mentioned to have 
 something added or subtracted, doubtless, 
 and if so, then, have no hesitancy in alter- 
 ing them to suit the conditions surround- 
 ing the work to be accomplished. The sug- 
 gestions follow : 
 
 1. Choose persons of your own sex and 
 age, as far as possible. 
 
 2. Get the individual with whom you are 
 dealing all alone. 
 
 3. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in 
 everything. 
 
 4. Do not content yourself in reading or 
 quoting scripture to him. Ask him to com- 
 mit certain verses to memory. 
 
 5. Use only a single passage of scripture 
 at a time. 
 
 6. Hold him to the one passage or sub- 
 ject under consideration. 
 
 7. By all means, be courteous. 
 
 8. Be dead in earnest. 
 
 9. Never lose your temper. Keep sweet. 
 10. Never argue. 
 
 [36] 
 
SUGGESTIONS FOR PERSONAL WORKERS 
 
 11. Never interrupt another. 
 
 12. Do not be in a hurry. 
 
 13. When at all wise get the man to pray. 
 
 14. When you seem to fail do not be dis- 
 couraged. Go home and pray. 
 
 15. If you seem to fail the first time to 
 win him leave him in a humor that will per- 
 mit a return visit. 
 
 16. When once you have won him give 
 him some instruction in practical Christian 
 living. 
 
 17. When you have won him impress him 
 with the importance of relating himself with 
 the Church of his choice. 
 
 18. When he has united with the Church 
 give him something to do. 
 
 19. If he should show indications of loss 
 of interest in the Church, speak an encour- 
 aging word to him. 
 
 20. It is the "I can" fellow who brings 
 things to pass. 
 
 Napoleon said "Can't is found only in the 
 dictionary of fools." 
 
 [37] 
 
METHODS OF PERSONAL WORK 
 
 Lesson Four 
 
 This is an age of specialization. The best 
 methods of bringing things to pass are being 
 sought in eyerj department of life. Prog- 
 ress is apparent everywliere. We do not 
 do things to-day like we did yesterday ; and 
 we will not do things to-morrow like we are 
 doing them to-day. Hence there can be 
 no set rules for the great task of leading 
 men into the light of the gospel of Christ. 
 
 As one star differeth from another star 
 so people differ from each other. No two 
 leaves that tremble on the oak, and no two 
 roses that bloom in the flower garden, are 
 identically the same. 
 
 The method that might be very effective 
 [38] 
 
METHODS OF PERSONAL WORK 
 
 with one individual would utterly fail if 
 applied to another. 
 
 Jesus Christ the great teacher sent from 
 God has given us the only safe rule for 
 guidance in this work of soul winning in 
 the words, "My meat is to do the will of 
 him that sent me, and to finish his work." 
 
 We present the following as a guide to 
 the worker: 
 
 C First — there is an approach to each in- 
 dividual. The worker should study the in- 
 dividual and be sure he is right and then go 
 ahead. / Even as the successful teacher 
 would not think of permitting a year to 
 pass without reading a good work on 
 psychology, so the personal worker may 
 profit by the same rule. We should remem- 
 ber that none of us is perfect. The best of 
 us will make mistakes, but God overrules 
 honest mistakes to His own Glory. 
 ( Second — good judgment is essential to 
 successful effort. In personal work as in 
 [39] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 every other work there is needed a good 
 supply of common sense. ) The successful 
 salesman studies the needs of his customers. 
 "He does not offer silks to the Eskimo or 
 furs to the Ethiopian. He does not try to 
 sell plowshares to seamen or anchors to 
 farmers. ( He studies diligently, the person- 
 alities of those to whom he would sell his 
 wares. He tries to thoroughly understand 
 their viewpoints, their modes of thought, 
 their mental attitudes, their business meth- 
 ods, their personal habits, their social con- 
 nections, their politics and their religion.'' 
 Third — there must be naturalness on the 
 part of the personal worker. Camouflage is 
 easily detected. You cannot long seem what 
 you are not without being found out. The 
 men who have won out on account of their 
 peculiarities have not assumed such peculi- 
 arities. They were natural with them. The 
 man who tries to be some one else usually 
 falls heir only to the weak things in the life 
 [40] 
 
METHODS OF PERSONAL WORK 
 
 of the one he attempts to imitate. The imi- 
 tator is a failure, as a rule. Personal 
 worker, be yourself, your best self! 
 
 Fourth — the personal worker must be 
 tremendously in earnest. Earnestness has 
 won many a victory. Ralph Waldo Emer- 
 son said "Every great and commanding 
 movement in the histoi'y of the world is the 
 result of earnestness bordering on enthusi- 
 asm." The minister said to the actor, "How 
 is it that you, speaking fiction, can wring 
 tears from the eyes of your hearers, while 
 I, speaking the truth, cannot so effect my 
 audience?" 
 
 The actor replied by saying, "The answer 
 is easy. I speak fiction as though it were 
 truth while you speak truth as though it 
 were fiction." When Lloyd Garrison was 
 assailed by his enemies, he met them with 
 this declaration, "I am in earnest. I will 
 not equivocate. I will not retreat. I will 
 be heard." This brought victory. ^ ' All the 
 opposing powers in the world cannot keep 
 [41] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 the earnest and determined man from walk- 
 ing in the great highway of success. "Pur- 
 pose once fixed — then death or victory" — 
 will accom^lisli anything that can be done 
 in this world. 
 
 Men are greatly in earnest as to their 
 business. The people who care for so-called 
 society enter into it with earnestness. The 
 politician does not go about his campaign 
 with an indifferent careless spirit. He goes 
 out to win. And many times even after 
 the returns are in, he is hard to be con- 
 vinced that he has been defeated. Why not 
 be in earnest about our religious work? It 
 is the greatest work in the world. One time 
 when Rowland Hill was speaking most ear- 
 nestly, he stopped in the midst of his dis- 
 course and said, "Because I am in earnest 
 men call me an enthusiast. When I first 
 came into this community," he said, "I saw a 
 gravel pit fall in and entomb three men. I 
 yelled loud enough to be heard a mile away. 
 Men came and saved the life of two of the 
 [42] 
 
METHODS OF PERSONAL WORK 
 
 men. At that time no one seemed to think 
 that I was too much in earnest." Personal 
 workers, souls are perishing for the water of 
 life! Be in earnest about your work! It 
 is said a certain minister kept the picture 
 of Heniy Martin in his study. Wherever 
 he would move round in the room the eyes 
 of the man of God seemed to follow him 
 and seemed to say to him "Be in earnest, do 
 not trifle, do not trifle." And this good man 
 would bow his head and say "I will be in 
 earnest, I will not trifle. For souls are per- 
 ishing and Jesus must be glorified." 
 
 A number of good methods for personal 
 work have been suggested by certain suc- 
 cessful soul winners. Among them we 
 would call attention to the "Invitation 
 Method." 
 
 This consists in simply inviting people 
 to the services and by this means get them 
 under the power of the sermon and the song. 
 
 Some have used the "Correspondence 
 Method" to fine advantage. Some workers 
 [43] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 have had gospel invitations printed on their 
 stationeiy. The worker should be very dis- 
 creet in this as well as other ways of work- 
 ing. 
 
 Some have used the "Prayer Method" 
 with much success. Sometimes the prayers 
 of workers have resulted in the conversion 
 of the unsaved. 
 
 In dealing with a soul he should be 
 brought face to face with the question of 
 his acceptance or rejection of Christ as his 
 Saviour. Now is the time. To delay is dan- 
 gerous. 
 
 [44] 
 
VI 
 
 SWARMING BEES FOR PERSONAL 
 WORKERS 
 
 Lesson Five 
 
 First, ^^Be prayerful/^ 
 
 "In nothing be anxious; but in every- 
 thing by prayer and supplication with 
 thanksgiving, let your requests be made 
 known unto God." Phil. Jl^:6. 
 
 "But thou, when thou pray est, enter into 
 thine inner chamber, and having shut thy 
 door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, 
 and thy Father who seeth in secret shall 
 recompense thee." Matt. 6:6. 
 Second, ''Be tactfiiV 
 
 "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for 
 thou shalt find it after many days." Eccl. 
 11:1. 
 
 "Giving no occasion of stumbling in any- 
 [45] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 thing, that our ministration be not blamed." 
 // Cor. 6:3. 
 Third, ''Be loyal." 
 
 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or 
 whatsoever ye do, do all to the gloiy of 
 God." / Cor. 10:31. 
 
 "But Peter and John answered and said 
 unto them, whether it is right in the sight 
 of God to hearken unto you, rather than 
 unto God, judge ye ; for we cannot but speak 
 the things which we saw and heard." Acts 
 It .19-20. 
 Fourth, ''Be clean." 
 
 "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the 
 Lord will not hear me." Psalms 66:18. 
 Fifth, "Be sure of your own salvation." 
 
 "Therefore being justified by faith we 
 have peace with God, through our Lord 
 Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1. 
 
 "There is therefore now no condemnation 
 to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk 
 not after the flesh, but after the "Spirit." 
 Romans 8:1. 
 
 [46] 
 
SWARMING BEES FOR PERSONAL WORKERS 
 
 Sixth, ^'Be separate from the world" 
 
 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with 
 unbelievers ; for what fellowship hath right- 
 eousness with unrighteousness? and what 
 communion hath light with darkness? And 
 what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or 
 what part hath he that believeth with an 
 infidel? And what agreement hath the tem- 
 ple of God with idols? For ye are the tem- 
 ple of the living God; as God hath said, I 
 will dwell in them, and walk in them; and 
 I will be their God, and they shall be my 
 people. 
 
 "Wherefore come out from among them, 
 and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and 
 touch not the unclean thing; and I will re- 
 ceive you, and will be a Father unto you, 
 and ye shall be my sons and daughters, 
 saith the Lord Almighty." // Cor. 6:14-18. 
 Seventh, ^^Be definite in your work." 
 
 "For I determined not to know anything 
 among you, save Jesus Christ, and him 
 crucified." I Cor. 2:2. 
 [47] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 Eighth, ^^Be specific in your work/^ 
 
 "He that believeth on Him is not con- 
 demned : but he that believeth not is con- 
 demned already, because he hath not be- 
 lieved in the name of the only begotten Son 
 of God." John 3:18. 
 Ninth, ^^Be devoted to your work." 
 
 "But what things were gain to me, those 
 I counted loss for Christ, yea doubtless, and 
 I count all things but loss for the excel- 
 lency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my 
 Lord : for whom I have suffered the loss of 
 all things, and do count them but dung, 
 that I may win Christ." Phil. 3:7-8. 
 Tenth, ''Be a Bihle Student.'' 
 
 "Study to show thyself approved unto 
 God, a workman that needeth not to be 
 ashamed, rightly dividing the word of 
 truth." // Tim. 2:15. 
 
 "All scripture is given by inspiration of 
 God, and is profitable for doctrine, for re- 
 proof, for correction, for instruction in 
 righteousness ; that the man of God may be 
 [48] 
 
SWARMING BEES FOR PERSONAL WORKERS 
 
 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good 
 works." // Tim. 3:16-17. 
 Eleventh, "^Be a Lover of Christ." 
 
 "Whom having not seen, you love." 
 1 Pet. 1:8. "We love him because he first 
 loved us." / John Jt:19. 
 Twelfth, ''Be intense in your love for souls." 
 
 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer 
 to God for Israel is, that they might be 
 saved." Romans 10:1. 
 
 Thirteenth, ''Be a worker of unwavering 
 faith." 
 
 "Above all, taking the shield of faith 
 wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the 
 fiery darts of the wicked." Eph. 6:16. 
 
 "Holding faith, and a good conscience; 
 which some having put away, concerning 
 faith have made a shipwreck; of whom is 
 Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have 
 delivered unto Satan that they may learn 
 not to blaspheme." / Tim. 1:19-20. 
 Fourteenth, "Be wholly dependent on the 
 Holy Spirit." 
 
 [49] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy 
 Spirit, whom the Father will send in my 
 name, he shall teach you all things, and 
 bring all things to your remembrance, what- 
 soever I have said unto you." John 14-26. 
 Fifteenth, '^^Be gentle hut earnest." 
 
 "Come unto me all ye that labor and are 
 heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take 
 my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I 
 am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall 
 find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is 
 easy, and my burden is light." Matt. 
 11:28-30. 
 
 Sixteenth, ^^Be careful to urge immediate 
 decision." 
 
 "King Agrippa, believest thou the proph- 
 ets? I know that thou believest. Then 
 Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou per- 
 suadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, 
 I would to God, that not only thou, but also 
 all that hear me this day, were both almost, 
 and altogetlier such as I am, except these 
 bonds." Acts 26:21-29. 
 [50] 
 
SWARMING BEES FOR PERSONAL WORKERS 
 
 "Now is the accepted time; behold now 
 is the day of salvation." // Cor. 6: 2. 
 Seventeenth, '^^Lct us not he weary in well- 
 doing, for in due season we shall reap 
 if we faint not." Galatians 6:9. 
 Eighteenth, ^^Be not slothful in business; 
 fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." 
 Romans 12:11. 
 
 [51] 
 
VII 
 
 PERSONAL WORKER, WHAT OF 
 THYSELF? 
 
 Lesson Six 
 
 First, Do I listen for the voice of God? 
 
 "I will hear what God the Lord will 
 speak ; for he will speak peace unto his peo- 
 ple, and to his saints ; but let them not turn 
 again to folly." 
 
 Second, Am I conscious of my secret 
 Faults? 
 
 "Cleanse thou me from secret faults." 
 Psalm 19:12. 
 Third, Have I Presumptuous sins? 
 
 "Keep back thy servant also from pre- 
 sumptuous sins ; let them not have dominion 
 over me; then shall I be upright, and I 
 shall be innocent from the great transgres- 
 sion." Psalm- 19:13. 
 
 [52] 
 
PERSONAL WORKER, WHAT OF THYSELF? 
 
 Fourth, Arc my words acceptable words? 
 
 "Let the words of my mouth and the medi- 
 tations of my heart, be acceptable in thy 
 sight, O Lord, my strength, and my re- 
 deemer." Psalm W.lJi. 
 
 "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold 
 in pictures of silver." Prov. 25:11. 
 Fifth, Do I abstain from fleshly lusts and 
 desires? 
 
 "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strang- 
 ers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, 
 which war against the soul." / Pet. 2:11. 
 Sixth, Am I living a pure life? 
 
 "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither 
 be partaker of other men's sins; keep thy- 
 self pure." / Tim. 5:22. 
 Seventh, Do I keep myself in the love of 
 God? 
 
 "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves 
 on your most holy faith, praying in the 
 Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of 
 God, looking for the mercy of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ." 
 
 [53] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 Eighth, Do I know the source of my help? 
 
 "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills 
 from whence cometh my help. My help 
 eometh from the Lord, which made heaven 
 and earth." Psalm 121:1-2. 
 Ninth, Is my life filled with trepidation or 
 trust, which? 
 
 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the 
 throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, 
 and find grace to help in time of need." 
 Heh. 4:16. 
 
 Tenth, Am / in touch with the great source 
 of supply? 
 
 "But my God shall supply all your need 
 according to his riches in gloi'y by Jesus 
 Christ." Phil. 4:19. 
 
 Eleventh, Is my mind and heart stayed on 
 Christ? 
 
 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, 
 whose mind is stayed on thee; because he 
 trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3. 
 Twelfth, Do I know my power? 
 [54] 
 
PERSONAL WORKER, WHAT OF THYSELF? 
 
 "If ye abide with me, and my words abide 
 in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it 
 shall be done unto you." John 15: 7. 
 Thirteenth, Do I let my light shine? 
 
 "Let your light so shine before men, that 
 
 they may see your good works, and glorify 
 
 your Father who is in heaven." John 5:16. 
 
 Fourteenth, Do I rightly direct my 
 
 thoughts f 
 
 "Finally brethren, whatsoever things are 
 true, whatsoever things are honest, whatso- 
 ever things are just, whatsoever things are 
 pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatso- 
 ever things are of good report; if there be 
 any virtue, and if there be any praise, think 
 on these things." Phil. 4-8- 
 Fifteenth, Have I received the Holy Spirit? 
 
 "But ye shall receive powder, after that the 
 Holy Spirit is come upon you ; and ye shall 
 be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, 
 and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto 
 the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1 :8. 
 [55] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 Note. — If the Personal Worker will take 
 the time to commit these questions and an- 
 swers they will be an abiding source of 
 strength and help in winning souls to Christ. 
 
 [56] 
 
VIII 
 
 THE PERSONAL WORKERS' 
 OPPORTUNITIES 
 
 Lesson Seven 
 
 The opportunities for personal evangel- 
 ism present themselves in many different 
 ways. The ice-man, the milk-man, the gro- 
 cery-man, the gas-meter reader, the electric 
 light meter reader, the man who works by 
 your side in the factory or the store, the 
 man with whom you travel on the train, in 
 fact every individual you meet, who is not 
 now a Christian, is a possible disciple of 
 Christ. It is your task as a personal work- 
 er, guided by the Holy Spirit, to bring that 
 one to know Christ, whom to know aright 
 is life eternal. 
 
 Then there is work among ourselves as 
 Christians. It is said that the early Chris- 
 [57] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGEUSM 
 
 tians spake often one to another. There is 
 much to talk about if we are truly follow- 
 ers of Christ. 
 
 If we are really Christians we have many 
 reasons for giving thanks unto the Father 
 of us all. 
 
 "He brought me up out of a horrible pit, 
 out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon 
 a rock, and established my goings." Psalms 
 40:2. 
 
 "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy 
 transgressions for mine own sake, and will 
 not remember thy sins." Isa. 43:25. 
 
 "Let not your heart be troubled; ye be- 
 lieve in God, believe also in me. In my Fa- 
 ther's house are many mansions; if it were 
 not so I would have told you. I go to pre- 
 pare a place for you. And if I go and pre- 
 pare a place for you, I will come again, and 
 receive you unto myself; that where I am, 
 there ye may be also. And whither I go ye 
 know, and the way ye know." John 14:1-4- 
 
 There are many backsliders who need to 
 [58] 
 
THE TERSONAL WORKERS' OPPORTUNITIES 
 
 he brought hack to right relationship with 
 Christ. The lost sheep of the house of Is- 
 rael needed hunting up when Christ came 
 into the world. There are many Church 
 members who have lost their way and they 
 need help in order that they might again 
 find their places of usefulness in the Church. 
 
 "The backslider in heart shall be filled 
 with his own ways." Prov. 11^:11^. 
 
 "Go and proclaim these words toward the 
 north, and say, Return, thou backsliding 
 Israel, saith the Lord ; and I will not cause 
 mine anger to fall upon you ; for I am mer- 
 ciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep 
 anger forever." Jer. 3:12. 
 
 "So when they had dined, Jesus saith to 
 Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest 
 thou me more than these? He saith unto 
 him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love 
 thee. He saith unto him. Feed my lambs." 
 
 "He said to him again the second time, 
 Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He 
 saith unto him. Yea, Lord; thou knowest 
 [59] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed 
 my sheep." 
 
 "He saith unto him the third time, Simon, 
 son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was 
 grieved because he said unto him the third 
 time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto 
 him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou 
 knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto 
 him, Feed my sheep." John 21:15-17. 
 
 "Now the just shall live by faith ; but if 
 any man draw back, my soul shall have no 
 pleasure in him." Heb. 10:38. 
 
 "Nevertheless I have somewhat against 
 thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 
 Remember therefore from whence thou art 
 fallen, and repent, and do the first works, 
 or else I will come unto thee quickly, and 
 will remove thy candlestick out of his place, 
 except thou repent." Rev. 2:^-5. 
 
 And last there are those tvho are lost in 
 sin, the vast throng of unbelievers, who mu^st 
 be led into the light of the glorious gospel. 
 [60] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKERS' OPPORTUNITIES 
 
 The following scripture will throw light 
 on the present condition of such individ- 
 uals: 
 
 "He that believeth on him is not con- 
 demned; but he that believeth not is con- 
 demned already, because he hath not be- 
 lieved in the name of the only begotten Son 
 of God." John 3:18. 
 
 "And when he is come, he will reprove the 
 world of sin, and of righteousness, and of 
 judgment; of sin because they believe not 
 on me." John 16:8-9. 
 
 "For as many as are of the works of the 
 law are under the curse; for it is written, 
 Cursed is every one that continueth not in 
 all things which are written in the book of 
 the law to do them." Gal 3:10. 
 
 The future condition of the unsaved is 
 vividly set forth in the following declara- 
 tions of the Bihle: 
 
 "He that believeth on the Son hath ever- 
 lasting life; and he that believeth not the 
 [61] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 Son shall not see life ; but the wrath of God 
 abideth on him." John 3:36. 
 
 "I also will laugh at your calamity; I 
 will mock when your fear cometh ; when 
 your fear cometh as desolation, and your 
 destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when 
 distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then 
 shall they call upon me, but I will not an- 
 swer; they shall seek me early, but they 
 shall not find me." Proverbs 1:26-28. 
 
 "For the Lord knoweth the way of the 
 righteous ; but the way of the ungodly shall 
 perish." Psalms 1:6. 
 
 "And while they went to buy, the bride- 
 groom came ; and they that were ready went 
 in with him to the marriage; and the door 
 was shut." Matt. 25:10. 
 
 "Then said Jesus unto them, T go my way, 
 and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your 
 sins; whither I go, ye cannot come." John 
 8:21. 
 
 "And these shall go away into everlast- 
 [62] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKERS' OPPORTUNITIES 
 
 ing punishment ; but the righteous into life 
 eternal." Matt. 25:46. 
 
 The personal evangelist should always 
 hear in mind that salvation has heen pro- 
 vided for all nnhelicvers, and that it is in 
 his power to avert such disasters as are de- 
 scribed, so graphically, in the foregoing 
 scriptural declaration. 
 
 "For the Son of man is come to seek and 
 to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10. 
 
 "But God commendeth his love toward 
 us, in that, while we were yet sinners, 
 Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. 
 
 "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of 
 all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into 
 the world to save sinners." / Tim. 1:15. 
 
 "For Christ hath once suffered for sins, 
 the just for the unjust, that he might bring 
 us to God, being put to death in the flesh, 
 but quickened by the Spirit." / Pet. 3:18. 
 
 "In this was manifested the love of God 
 toward us, because that God sent his only 
 [63] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 begotten Son into the world, that we might 
 live through him. Herein is love, not that 
 we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent 
 his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 
 IJohn 4:9-10. 
 
 There is salvation for all who will repent 
 of their sins. Here is the very message that 
 God would have the personal evangelist to 
 deliver : 
 
 "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord 
 God, I have no pleasure in the death of the 
 wicked; but that the wicked turn from his 
 way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your 
 evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of 
 Israel." Ezek. 33:11. 
 
 "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." 
 Mark 1:15. 
 
 There is ahsoliitely no hope for the sin- 
 ner without Christ. 
 
 "But as many as received him, to them 
 gave he power to become the sons of God, 
 even to them that believe on his name." 
 John 1:12. 
 
 [64] 
 
IX 
 
 THE PERSONAL WORKERS' TASK 
 
 WINNING SOULS 
 
 Lesson Eight 
 
 "Come for all things are now ready." 
 Luke 14 fX'^- This is the invitation of the 
 Great Head of the Church. When Christ 
 was in the world he often taught by para- 
 bles. This invitation occurs in the parable 
 of the "Marriage Supper." The big thing 
 in the hearts of men then, as now, was the 
 exaltation of self. Christ came into this 
 world to teach men a better way. In this 
 parable he strikes selfishness a sledge ham- 
 mer blow. He said when you are invited to 
 a feast take the lowest seat. It is better 
 to take a low seat and be invited up, than 
 to take a high seat and be invited down. 
 This idea was new to the Pharisees. 
 [65] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 Then he said when you make a feast in- 
 vite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the halt 
 and the blind. Doubtless those sedate Phar- 
 isees said, Master these people are not all 
 members of our social gang. Many of us 
 would not feel at home at a feast which 
 would be given by Christ. 
 
 In this parable we have the account of a 
 certain man who made a great feast and 
 bade many. When the supper was prepared 
 he sent his servant out to tell the guests 
 that all things were ready. They began to 
 make excuse. 
 
 The first said, "I have bought a piece of 
 ground. I must see it. Please, have me 
 excused." Another said, "I have bought 
 five yoke of oxen. I go to prove them. 
 Please have me excused." And still an- 
 other said, "I have married a wife, there- 
 fore I cannot come." 
 
 The servant returned and reported his 
 findings. The Master of the house was very 
 angry. Why shouldn't he be? The servants 
 [66] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKERS' TASK 
 
 then were sent into the streets and lanes of 
 the city, to the highways and hedges, to in- 
 vite the halt, the lame, and the blind, in 
 fact any one whom they might encounter in 
 their rounds. 
 
 This feast is typical of the great feast 
 which has been so bountifully prepared by 
 Christ and the invitation is to "Come for all 
 things are now ready." 
 
 Nothing has been left undone. Jesus has 
 tasted death for every man. He gave Him- 
 self a ransom for sin. By His stripes we 
 are healed. A devotee of a pagan religion 
 went to his priest and asked him how to be 
 free from his burden of guilt. He was told 
 to drive spikes into his shoe soles and to 
 walk on them a distance of five hundred 
 miles. He undertook the journey. Of course 
 he found no relief. One day while resting 
 under the shade of a great tree by the road 
 side wher6 travelers were accustomed to 
 stop and rest, a missionary came, and began 
 to speak to the people gathered there. He 
 [67] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGEUSM 
 
 took for his text "The blood of Jesus Christ, 
 His Son, cleanseth from all sin." This poor 
 man said "This is what I want. This is what 
 I have wanted to hear, oh, so long." He 
 accepted the message of the gospel and be- 
 came a devoted Christian. The awful bur- 
 den of the world is sin. The only remedy 
 is the blood of Christ. There are those who 
 tell you that the blood of Christ is no more 
 than the blood of any other good man. Do 
 not believe such nonsense. There is no re- 
 mission of sin apart from the shed blood 
 of Christ. 
 
 "Come, sinner to the gospel feast, 
 Let every soul be Jesus' guest, 
 You need not one be left behind, 
 God hath bidden all mankind." 
 
 The Holy Spirit pleads with men to turn 
 from their sin and live. As the sun pours 
 his invigorating rays down into the very 
 heart of the earth and fills all vegetable life 
 with new vitality, so the Holy Spirit is 
 ready to come into men's hearts and fill 
 them with Christ's life. Never was a 
 [68] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKERS' TASK 
 
 sparkling rain drop readier to come down 
 into tlie heart of the rose than the Holy 
 Spirit is to come into the sin sick soul to 
 bring the healing balm. He stands at the 
 door of every faded life to offer new lustre 
 and beauty. 
 
 How willing Christ was to speak to the 
 leper as he came down from the mountain 
 after having delivered that great sermon on 
 the mount, just that willing is He to give 
 life to the sinner to-day. The Holy Spirit 
 stands in readiness to bring the world back 
 into right relationship with God. There 
 is every possible encouragement for men to 
 come back to Christ. The promises of God 
 to the sinner shine out of His word like the 
 stars out of the vaulted sky. The promises 
 of God are an exhaustless mine of wealth. 
 Happy is the man who can find this mine 
 and enrich himself with its treasures. 
 
 The promises of God are an armory. It 
 contains all manner of weapons, defensive 
 and offensive. Fortunate, Indeed, is the 
 [69] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 man who obtains the key to this armory and 
 enters the sacred arsenal to clothe himself 
 with the breastplate of righteousness and 
 the helmet of salvation. 
 
 The promises of God are a surgery. Here 
 the diligent seeker may find all manner of 
 restoratives and blessed elixirs. Here the 
 sinner finds an ointment for every canker- 
 ing sore, a cordial for every faintness and 
 a remedy for evei*y disease. Happy is the 
 man who becomes skilled in heavenly phar- 
 macy and knows how to search out the heal- 
 ing virtues. 
 
 The Bible is a casket of promises. Lift 
 the lid and watch the diamonds sparkle. 
 Some diamond hunters became discouraged 
 because they did not find what they were 
 seeking. Some of the company was ready 
 to give over the search. One of them said 
 "Let us search just a little longer." They 
 did so, and found enough diamonds to af- 
 fect the diamond market of the world. Here 
 in God's Book, the Personal Workers' hand 
 [70] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKERS' TASK 
 
 hook, are the most wonderful diamonds in 
 the world. God gives to us these exceeding 
 great and precious promises notwithstand- 
 ing our unworthiness to receive them. When 
 Caesar liad remembered a friend with a 
 valuable gift, the friend said it is too great 
 for me to receive, whereupon Caesar said 
 "It is not too great for me to give." The 
 promises of God are great but not too great 
 for Him to give to every man who will ac- 
 cept them. 
 
 The Personal Worker need not go about 
 his task apologetically. The greatest men 
 of all time have been men of God. 
 
 Moses, Paul, and David tower far above 
 the men of their time. Luther, Wesley, and 
 Calvin were the prominent men of their 
 time. Gladstone and Frances Willard are 
 names, more recently indelibly written on 
 the scroll of greatness. 
 
 Notwithstanding all these favorable con- 
 ditions that confront men in regard to their 
 becoming Christians there are many who 
 [71] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 are still makiug excuses as they did in the 
 first century of personal evangelism. Men 
 say "I am trying to live as well as I can." 
 "My life talks." It is most foolish to try to 
 live right without God's help. Others say, 
 "When I am fixed in business I will give 
 spiritual things the attention they demand 
 but not now." "Seek first the Kingdom of 
 God." 
 
 And still others say, "Christianity is a 
 gloomy thing, and therefore I do not want to 
 have anything to do with it." 
 
 Is it gloomy? The Apostle Paul, pos- 
 sibly the greatest advocate of Christianity, 
 aside from Christ Himself, taught that 
 Christianity was calculated to make a man 
 rejoice in the very presence of persecution 
 and death itself. Notice a contrast : Phillip 
 Stanhope was the polished English gentle- 
 man, the fourth Earl of Chesterfield, high 
 born, eloquent, witty, but he worshipped not 
 God. He was admired. In social life he 
 shone as a star of the first magnitude. He 
 [72] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKERS' TASK 
 
 was the silver-tongued orator of Parliament. 
 He received every honor that could come to 
 a man. But the closing of his life came. 
 What did he have to say then? The last 
 words of a man are usually his weightiest 
 words. When he came down and faced 
 death he said, "My life has been joyless. My 
 life has been empty. My life has been 
 selfish.'^ Repartees sparkled from his dying 
 lips, but all was gloomy and foreboding 
 from within. The pleasures and honors of 
 the world had faded like stars at break of 
 day. Truth declines to write his epitaph, 
 virtue has no garlands for his grave. 
 
 But on the other hand notice the closing 
 scenes of one humble servant of Christ. 
 John Wesley spent his life helping others. 
 Selfishness had no place in his great heart. 
 
 He sought not the world's pleasures, but 
 the heavenly, and down at the closing scenes 
 of a life of usefulness he said, "The best of 
 all is, God is with us ; I am going home to 
 die no more." 
 
 [73] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 Personal worker, go out into the homes, 
 business offices, factories, everyivhere and 
 say "Come for all things are now ready." 
 
 A feast of good things in life, awaits you. 
 "Come for all things are now ready." 
 
 Contentment in death, awaits you. "Come 
 for all things are now ready." 
 
 A blessed immortality beyond the grave, 
 awaits you. "Come for all things are now 
 ready." 
 
 [74] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS 
 BIBLE 
 
 Lesson Nine 
 
 The one book, indispensable, to the suc- 
 cess of the pei^sonal worker is the Bible. 
 This he cannot a£ford to neglect. Some 
 look upon this wonderful book as a garden 
 of spices, in which you may walk, and at 
 your leisure pluck the flowers and gather 
 the fruits of the Eden of God. "But the 
 Bible is more like a mine, in which you must 
 dig and labor, the vast wealth of which is 
 not to be obtained without much toil — a 
 mine rich in gold and precious things, but 
 it must be wrought day and night in order 
 to produce them." 
 
 "The Bible is the best covenant that was 
 ever agreed on, the best deed that was ever 
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TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 sealed, the best evidence ever produced, the 
 best will that was ever made and the best 
 testament that was ever signed, and that 
 which crowns all is, that the Author is 
 without partiality, decides only what He 
 understands all about, without hypocrisy, 
 in whom is no "variableness, neither shadow 
 of turning." 
 
 How should the Personal Worker use his 
 Bible? 
 
 First, the Bible should he studied prayer- 
 fully. 
 
 "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold 
 wondrous things out of thy law." Psalms 
 119:18. 
 
 Second, The Bible should be studied dili- 
 gently. 
 
 "And these words, which I command thee 
 this day, shall be in thine heart ; and thou 
 Shalt teach them diligently unto thy chil- 
 dren, and Shalt talk of them wlien thou sit- 
 test in thine house, and when thou walkest 
 by the way, and when thou liest down, and 
 [76] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS BIBLE 
 
 when thou risest np. And thou shalt bind 
 them for a sign upon thine hand, and they 
 shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 
 And thou shalt write them upon the posts 
 of thy house, and on thy gates." Deut. 
 6:6-9. 
 
 Third, The Bible should he studied studi- 
 ously. 
 
 "These were more noble than those in 
 Thessaloniea, in that they received the word 
 with all readiness of mind, and searched the 
 Scriptures daily, whether those things were 
 true." Acts 11:11. 
 
 Fourth, The Bible should be studied hon- 
 estly. 
 
 "But that on the good ground are they, 
 which in an honest and good heart, having 
 heard the word, keep it, and bring forth 
 fruit with patience." Luke 8:15. 
 Fifth, The Bible should be studied under 
 the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy 
 Spirit, whom the Father will send in my 
 [77] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 name, He shall teach yoii all things, and 
 bring all things to your remembrance, what- 
 soever I have said unto you." John 14 '26. 
 Sixth, The Bible should he studied micro- 
 scopically. 
 
 "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye 
 think ye have eternal life ; and they are they 
 which testify of me." John 5:39. 
 Seventh, The Bible should be studied tele- 
 scopically. 
 
 "His going forth is from the end of the 
 heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it; 
 and there is nothing hid from the heat 
 thereof." Psalms 19:6. 
 Eighth, The Bible should be studied in the 
 light of Christ's World Program. 
 
 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, 
 saying, All power is given unto me in heaven 
 and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach 
 all nations, baptizing them in the name of 
 the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
 Holy Spirit ; teaching them to observe all 
 things whatsoever I have commanded you; 
 [78] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS BIBLE 
 
 and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the 
 end of the world." Matt. 28:18-20. 
 Ninth, The Bible should he studied in the 
 light of the First coming of Christ. 
 
 "For unto us a child is born, unto us a 
 son is given; and the government shall be 
 upon his shoulder; and his name shall be 
 called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty 
 God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of 
 Peace. Of the increase of his government 
 and peace there shall be no end." Isa. 9:6-7. 
 Tenth, The Bihle should he studied in the 
 light of the second coming of Christ. 
 
 "When the Son of man shall come in his 
 glory, and all the holy angels with him, then 
 shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; 
 and before him shall be gathered all na- 
 tions; and he shall separate them one from 
 another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep 
 from the goats; and he shall set the sheep 
 on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 
 
 Then shall the King say unto them on his 
 [79] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM i 
 
 \ 
 
 right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, 
 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from 
 the foundation of the world." Matt. 
 25:3 1-34. 
 
 [80] 
 
XI 
 
 THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS 
 PROBLEMS 
 
 Lesson Ten 
 
 "And they all with one consent began to 
 make excuse." Luke 14-'18. 
 
 Now, as of old, men hunt for excuses for 
 not being a Christian, and their excuses are 
 just as frivolous as the excuses made by 
 those who were invited to the "great sup- 
 per" long ago. 
 
 The Personal Worker must be able to 
 meet the excuses with reasonable argument, 
 convincing, beyond any shadow of a doubt, 
 that the thing for every man to do is to 
 make a full surrender of himself to Christ. 
 
 We mention here some of the excuses 
 which the personal worker will hear, pos- 
 sibly, most frequently. 
 [81] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 First, "I want to he a Christian, hut I am 
 not good enough." 
 
 Amid the awful pandemonium of the 
 world of darkness, were it possible to imag- 
 ine a conference on the subject of turning 
 men's minds against Christian principles, 
 you would no doubt hear one of the coliorts 
 say "I think the way to keep men from ac- 
 cepting Christ is to advertise Christianity 
 as a "Goody, goody" kind of a thing and 
 real men will spurn it." Satan is busy all 
 the time tidying to keep the fact out of men's 
 minds that Christianity is a great principle. 
 Christianity is a basic principle, and no in- 
 dividual can be fully developed without it. 
 
 Men come into the kingdom of heaven by 
 being born into it. It is not a question of 
 being good. It is a question of being born 
 again. "Ye must be born again," said the 
 Great Teacher. 
 
 A man said "I have certain ideas that I 
 feel like I want to get rid of and then I 
 am going to join the church." But becom- 
 [82] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS PROBLEMS 
 
 ing a Christian is not ridding ourselves of 
 certain preconceived notions. I said to this 
 man "Do you accept Jesus Christ as your 
 Lord and Master?" He said, "I do." Then 
 I said, "Leave your notions to the disposal 
 of your Lord and Master." 
 But what does the Bible have to say in re- 
 gard to being good? 
 
 "For all have sinned and come short of 
 the glory of God." Romans 3:23. 
 
 "But we are all as an unclean thing, and 
 all our righteousness is as filthy rags." 
 Isa. 64:6. 
 
 "And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat 
 in the house, behold, many publicans and 
 sinners came and sat down with him and his 
 disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, 
 they said unto his disciples. Why eateth 
 your master with publicans and sinners? 
 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto 
 them. They that be whole need not a physi- 
 cian, but they that are sick. But go ye 
 and learn what that meaneth, I will have 
 [83] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 mercy, and not sacrifice ; for I am not come 
 to call the righteous, but sinners to re- 
 pentance." Matt. 9:10-13. 
 
 "For the Son of man is come to seek and 
 to save that which was lost." Matt. 18:11. 
 
 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or 
 the leopard his spots? Then may ye also 
 do good, that are accustomed to do evil." 
 Jer. 13:23. 
 
 "Not by works of righteousness which we 
 have done, but according to his mercy he 
 saved us, by the washing of regeneration, 
 and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Titus 
 3:5. 
 
 Surely with this array of scripture, no 
 sinner, however vile, will hesitate a moment 
 to come to Christ because he feels that he 
 is not good enough. 
 
 Second, ^^I want to he a Christian, hut I am 
 afraid I cannot hold out." 
 
 Many people permit this excuse to keep 
 them from making an immediate surrender 
 of themselves to Christ. If a man could save 
 [84] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS PROBLEMS 
 
 himself, he would have no need of a Saviour. 
 He would be his own Saviour. The Bible is 
 plain on this point. 
 
 "There hath no temptation taken you, but 
 such as is common to man ; but God is faith- 
 ful, who will not suffer you to be tempted 
 above that ye are able; but will with the 
 temptation also make a way to escape, that 
 ye may be able to bear it." / Cor. 10:13. 
 
 "For whatsoever is born of God overcom- 
 eth the world ; and this is the victory that 
 overcometh the world, even our faith." 
 / John 5:4- 
 
 "Now unto him that is able to keep you 
 from falling, and to present you faultless 
 before the presence of his glory with exceed- 
 ing joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, 
 be glory and majesty, dominion and power, 
 both now and ever. Amen." Jude 24-25. 
 
 "For I know whom I have believed, and 
 am persuaded that he is able to keep that 
 which I have committed unto him against 
 that day." // Tim. 1:12. 
 [85] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 God not only knows how to keep men from 
 falling, but his word is out that he will do 
 it. He would permit heaven and earth to 
 fall before he would allow one of his prom- 
 ises to go unfulfilled. 
 
 Third, Others will sap ^'I am afraid of he- 
 ing persecuted." 
 A good way to deal with a man who is 
 "afraid" is to be plain with him and tell him 
 he is cowardly, and leave him to think the 
 matter over. A man who is a real man, and 
 that is the kind who make the best Chris- 
 tian workers, will not long stay under the 
 shadow of being branded as a coward. 
 Fourth, ^'^I have tried before to he a Chris- 
 tian but miserably failed." 
 Such an one may be perfectly honest in 
 his declaration and he needs to be helped 
 into the light of what it really means to be 
 a Christian. 
 
 Fifth, There are still those who say, ''I can- 
 not be a Christian so long as there are 
 so many hypocrites in the Church." 
 [86] 
 
THE PERSONAL WOEKBR AND HIS PROBLEMS 
 
 We must admit that there are some hypo- 
 crites in the Church. But not nearly so 
 many as there are out in the world. The 
 best way to get away from hypocrites is to 
 accept Christ and join the Church, and live 
 for awhile with the few, who may be found 
 in the Church and finally go to heaven where 
 there are none at all. This is far better 
 than to live in the world without Christ, and 
 among the hypocrites to be found in almost 
 every sphere of life, and finally to go to the 
 world of darkness, where will be found all 
 the hypocrites that joined the Church and 
 all who did not. 
 
 We do not reject dollars because we hap- 
 pen to get a counterfeit in change once in a 
 while. 
 
 Sixth, Others will say ^'There is too much 
 to give up." 
 
 The personal worker should bring the in- 
 dividual out on this question, and find out 
 what it is that he thinks he will have to 
 give up, if he becomes a Christian. Do not 
 [87] 
 
TEN LESSONS IN PERSONAL EVANGELISM 
 
 leave him until you thoroughly convince him 
 that to become a Christian does not mean 
 that he will have to surrender one single 
 wholesome thing. 
 
 "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; 
 the Lord will give grace and glory ; no good 
 thing will he withhold from them that walk 
 uprightly. O, Lord of Hosts, blessed is the 
 man that trusteth in thee." Psalms 84:11-12. 
 
 "And he said unto them, Verily I say un- 
 to you, there is no man that has left house 
 or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, 
 for tlie kingdom of God's sake, who shall not 
 receive manifold more in this present time, 
 and in the world to come life everlasting." 
 Luke 18:29-30. 
 
 Seventh, and still others will say, "I intend 
 to become a Christian hut not now." 
 
 The Bible time is now, heaven's time is 
 now, the true penitent's time is now, but 
 the devil's time is not now. Which will you 
 choose? 
 
 "Boast not thyself of to-morrow ; for thou 
 [88] 
 
THE PERSONAL WORKER AND HIS PROBLEMS 
 
 knowest not what a day may bring forth." 
 Prov. 27:1. 
 
 "He that being often reproved hardeneth 
 his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed and 
 that without remedy." Prov. 29:1. 
 
 "Behold, now is the accepted time; be- 
 hold now is the day of salvation." II Cor. 
 6:2. 
 
 These are only a few of the excuses that 
 the personal worker will hear from time to 
 time as he tries to bring men into the light 
 of the gospel of Christ. It is interesting to 
 jot down other excuses that you will hear as 
 you come in contact with people of different 
 feelings and temperaments. 
 
 ^'Therefore they that were scattered 
 abroad, went about preaching the word." 
 Acts 8:4. 
 
 ''Go ye therefore, and make disciples of 
 all the nations." Matt. 28 :19. 
 
 THE END 
 
 [89] 
 
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