Service and Bible study; a new plan of personal evangelism through the Spirit and the Word

Contents

SUBJECTS

Service: Works — The Master's Method — The Holy Spirit, The Worker— The Bible and Service — Opportunity — Christian Effort — The Unseen Tragedy — The New Evangelism — Inactive Members 7-12

Preaching and Teaching: The Pulpit — Ministerial Duties — A Consultation Hour — A Christian Clinic 13-17

Prefatory Note

This little book of Bible Studies has been prepared as a supplement to the Eiddell Lectures on Vital Christianity. It is intended to serve as a means of extending the work begun by the Holy Spirit through the lectures. The Personal Worker's System, as here outlined, is little more than suggestive. To be made effective, it must be adapted to local conditions, and altered to meet specific needs. No system is more than a means. Consecrated workers, prevailing faith, and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, can alone make the system effective, and get spiritual results. Should any pastor or Christian layman desire to try to introduce the system apart from the lectures, the author will be glad to cooperate through correspondence, and assist in every way possible to make the efforts glorify Jesus Christ in the redemption of precious souls, or in deepening the spiritual experience of believers.

Faithfully, In His Name,

Newton Eiddell.

Address 7522 Garrison Ave., Chicago, 111.

AND THE

PERSONAL WORKER'S SYSTEM.

Introduction

1. Works: "My Father worketh even until now, and I work." "If any will not work, neither let him eat."* Growth demands action. Doing is a way of becoming. Service is a means of appropriating Divine grace, love, truth and power. Idleness results in weakness, paralysis — death. To attempt or expect to live in the body of Christ without doing something for Him Is irrational and unscientific. Inactive cells of an organic body are cast out; the unfruitful branches of a vine are cut off; an unprofitable servant is cast into prison. Many have no spiritual appetite because they do nothing to produce a hunger and thirst after righteousness. Some churches are powerless because their members are lifeless. The body of Christ suffers more from internal apathy than from external opposition.

2. The Master's Method: Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master, was first of all a teacher. He taught the disciples. He taught in the synagogues. He taught the multitudes. Many believed on Him because of

* The American Revised Version is used throughout this book except when otherwise indicated.

His works. Believed what? His sayings. Many were convicted. By what? The Spirit and the truth. He made His teachings the means to spiritual birth and Christian living. His Spirit is in the world to continue His methods. Whoever would work in harmony with Him and be used of Him must learn to proclaim the Word in faith and depend upon the Holy Spirit for results.

3. The Holy Spirit, the Worker: The Master said, "The words that I say unto you I speak not from Myself: but the Father abiding in Me doeth His works." "It is God who worketh in you both to will and to work." Christian service consists primarily in serving as a channel for the Lord's expression. Its first requirement is unconditional surrender and whole-hearted consecration of all we are and have. Its second is to choose continually that His will be done in us, through us and by us. This course permits Him to come into manifestation. It also fulfills the law of spiritual progress. "Whosoever would become great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant."

4. The Bible and Service: The scriptures are the true basis of all Christian endeavor. They supply the right teaching to enable the Holy Spirit to do His work. To become an eflacient worker, one must learn to use his Bible and depend upon it. In making converts, teaching the truth, encouraging the discouraged, directing the perplexed, strengthening the weak, counseling the strong, comforting the sorrowing, convicting sinners, or inspiring saints, there is nothing equal to the scriptures wisely used

PEESONAL EVANGELIS]\J 9

by a consecrated soul. All other means are questionable, and the results obtained are seldom deep, genuine, or permanent. Human opinions are faulty; argument separates and excites opposition. Much talk and persuasion is a waste of time and opportunity. "Thus saith the Lord," is the way to victory and lasting results. Every Christian should study his Bible, first, with a view of getting a clear understanding of its vital themes, doctrines and promises; second, with a view of applying its teachings to specific needs. Studied in this way it will be found to contain an answer to every question, a way of escape from every difficulty, a word of counsel for every perplexity, and a solution for every problem.

5. Opportunity: "The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few." God's work is so varied that every one willing to be a channel of Divine love, no matter what his station, position, or condition in life, may serve. No one is so limited that he cannot do something to promote the kingdom. The Lord needs common laborers as well as skilled artisans and overseers. The poorest and weakest can disseminate love, radiate goodness, repeat a promise, or give a cup of cold water in His name. It is all a question of willingness. If the heart is right for the Lord's use, every association and condition is an opportunity. Daily work for the Master means daily bread for the soul.

Every unconverted soul needs Christ; every non-church-goer needs a personal invitation to attend Divine worship; every un-Christian home needs visiting by Christian friends; every pastor needs the prayers

10 SEEVIGE

and co-operation of his parishioners. Parents need instruction in eugenics and child training; children need culturing according to their physical and mental requirements; young people need instruction in social hygiene, the science of the emotions, and the privileges and duties of courtship, marriage and parentage. Many need direction in choosing vocations, in increasing efficiency, in character building, and in acquiring the elements of success. All need educating in the principles of democracy and the rights and duties of citizenship. Foreigners need help in mastering the language, and in securing such education as will enable them to intelligently exercise the rights of franchise. Society needs a higher and truer ideal of what constitutes happiness. Business, industry, and politics all need reorganizing on the basis of co-operation, mutual helpfulness and a Christian conscience. Only gross selfishness, mental or moral stupidity, or criminal indifference, can withhold a soul from trying to do something for others.

6. Christian Effort: The chief work of a Christian is to realize the kingdom of God within, and convert others. The first is the means of accomplishing the second. One must be before he can do. Ministering to mankind's temporal needs is an essential part of Christian work. But no social service can compare with, or take the place of, converting people to accept Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour. Life, spiritual life, is humanity's first need. "All men kave sinned." "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." "The wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Realizing the lost condition of the unregenerate should inspire every Christian and lover of mankind with zeal for service.

7. The Unseen Tragedy: An army long accustomed to slaughter, groans and suffering, becomes so hardened that it can look upon death with levity; dance and make merry amidst scenes of horror. Likewise, the church has become so accustomed to the tragedies of sin and selfishness that they excite little genuine interest. Blind to the necessity of being born anew, many good people under the illusion of self-righteousness are unaware of their lost condition and need of a Saviour. Love of ease, pleasure seeking and selfish ambition keep multitudes from the straight and narrow way. Millions are so buried in the grind of industry and vocational activities that they are indifferent to things spiritual. The weak and the wicked, betrayed by desire, burning with the fires of passion, know not Love's way of escape. It is time for heroic effort. The tragedy of sinful humanity is appalling. The perils of the unsaved should quicken the human expression of Divine love. As one would shield a child from impending danger, protect the blind from an open pit, stop a friend from unwittingly drinking a deadly poison, or battle with flames to rescue sleeping loved ones from a burning building; so should every Christian be impelled to rescue the unregenerate, and persuade men everywhere to turn from death and find life in Christ.

8. The New Evangelism: The new plan of personal evangelism aims to supplement the efforts of the preacher and the professional evangelist. The present regime depends mainly upon the regular church services and special meetings for making converts. This limits the opportunity to the few that attend church. Again, but few converts continue in association with those that were instrumental in their conversion. Surrounded by opposing influences, many lapse into old conditions. The new program makes it possible to approach every member of society, whether church-attendant or not, and to assist every convert to grow in grace until grounded in the faith through personal experience.

Christianity is a Spiritual Life, not human life perfected or highly evolved, but a supernatural life begotten in man by the Holy Spirit, and sustained by grace. Every normal person has the capacity to receive this life and enter into the Kingdom of God. Therefore, most of the unconverted in Christian lands are so, because the influences brought to bear upon them have failed to so enlighten the mind and open the heart as to cause response to the plan of salvation.

Human nature in all is much the same. It is unjust and irrational to assume that the unconverted are more willful, sinful and less susceptible to truth and Divine love, by nature or choice, than Christians were before their conversion. Since current methods for making converts reach only the few, it is imperative that they be supplemented by a system of more general application.

9. Inactive Members: The splendid work of trained choirs and eloquent preachers makes possible the maintenance of large

PEESONAL EVANGELISjJd 13

churches in which but few of the members take any regular, active part. This is deadening. It retards development. It fosters dissension and worldliness. It fails to utilize the power latent in inactive members. The Personal Worker's System gives every member something to do, not only on the Lord's day, but during the week, thus providing a means for individual growth, and increasing the working force of the church. The old idea and practice of making religion a thing apart from secular activities must give way to the new and the true ideal of Divinity in all things pure and righteous. Christian living means living in Christ and manifesting Him in everything. A man's vocation is Ms principal means of service. No profession of faith, or Lord's day observance of religious customs, can make amends for an unrighteous business, or take the place of daily devotion expressed through social ethics and vocational righteousness. The individual, the church, or the institution, that exists without the purpose of helpfulness to others, is un-Christian. The Master's words, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these My brethren, even these least, ye did it unto Me," apply to institutions, business firms and corporations quite as much as to persons. Those that are not serving mankind are not serving Christ, and are therefore under judgment.

PREACHING AND TEACHING.

1. The Pulpit: The preacher of truth and righteousness has been the power of God unto salvation to the multitudes. But preaching should be supplemented by a systern of definite teaching. Every thoughtful pastor realizes the limitations of the pulpit. He speaks to a congregation of all ages, grades of intelligence and degrees of spiritual development. He is required to dispense milk and meat at the same time. What he might say v^ith great helpfulness to the few, he dare not say to the many, for they are not able to receive. The new program gives him an opportunity to meet the needs of all, and to train every member in the use of the Bible and the art of personal work.

2. Ministerial Duties: The work of the minister should be confined to ministering. He should be relieved from purely social and secular obligations. He needs time to be still before God. He must be Spirit-filled and Spirit-taught to be the channel of Divine grace to others. The Master said, "For their sakes I sanctify Myself." If He, then how touch more should the preacher have time and take time for daily consecration.

"Be still and know that I am God." The quiet hour is the way of inward holiness, inspiration and power. To be still, one must, by Divine grace, stop thinking, stop willing and stop desiring; and love God with the whole heart, soul, mind and strength. It is easy to enter the subjective realm of the mortal spirit and experience various kinds of phenomena, listen to voices of mingled truth and error, and demonstrate mind-power and privileges; but the true mystical silence of spiritual consciousness is reached only by the operation of the Holy Spirit within a regenerate human spirit. To co-operate with Him takes time.

PERSONAL EVANGELISM 15

practice, self-renunciation, non-attachment, purification, and earnest, faithful devotion. It often requires heart-searching and repentance, and it always demands obedience and the acceptance of Christ's vicarious atonement. These, with intense love, Divine love, open the door into the Holy of Holies, and effect the union of a soul with God. This union through the efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ and the operation of the Holy Spirit is what makes a preacher. No natural talent, education, or theological training can take the place of Christ formed within. The servant must be able to say out of his own heart's experience, "I know Whom I have believed."

The preacher that has no time for daily spiritual concentration can not live his highest nor do his best. Regular practice of entering into the Lord's consciousness, eventually makes it possible to do so during work and turmoil. If this course is persisted in, it will become habitual, resulting in consciousness of the abiding presence of the Most High. This is the secret of continual deliverance from the desires of the flesh. It is the way of escape from the temptations and worries of the world. It is the path of duty and privilege that insures the presence of Divine power and efficiency in service.

"Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." This initial requirement obtains throughout the Christian experience. Therefore, in seeking to enter the presence of the Most High, the faithful disciple becomes as a little child. He remains as a little child, not presuming to know, or have opinions of his own; waiting upon the Lord in loving expectancy, eager to receive and quick to ohey. Precious beyond expression are the experiences given in the quiet of the soul, when God manifests Himself as Love and Truth. But unless directed to communicate the Lord's instructions to others, the wise disciple gratefully accepts them for his personal guidance, protection and inspiration, and fulfils the injunction, "See thou tell no man."

3. A Consultation Hour: A minister should have a regular consultation hour. His own people and the public should be invited to come to him with their problems. Young people need personal advice on subjects seldom spoken of in the home. Many are struggling with temptations, besetting sins, bad habits, or devils of fear and worry. Domestic diflaculties, business perplexities, etc., are numerous and varied. A minister actuated by Divine love, trained in the use of the Word and illumined by the Spirit, can be of inestimable service in the solution of these personal problems. Moreover, these conferences afford the best opportunities for leading applicants to accept Christ, which is often the solution of their difficulties. In consultation, human opinions are of little value, and are often dangerous and misleading. The Word of God should be the servant's answer. This keeps personality out, and places the responsibility upon the applicant to respond to God, not man. No unnecessary confidences should be solicited or accepted; but when received, duty and discretion demand that they be held as belonging to the Lord, too sacred to be repeated even to wife or husband.

PEESONAL EVANGELISlld 17

4. The Christian Clinic: Christ came into the world to do the will of the Father; to give the more abundant life; to seek and to save that which was lost; to set at liberty those that were bound; to destroy the works of Satan; to suffer once for all, and fulfil the law of vicarious atonement, that through Him all might be saved; to give all that was His to them that believe, walk by faith and live by grace. He said in the upper room, "Father, * * * i have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do;" and again on the cross, "It is finished." Therefore all He accomplished is for those that believe and accept His finished work. He entered once for all into the Holy Place as a High Priest, where He ever liveth to make intercession for us. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. The works that He did during His incarnation He is able and willing to do through the Holy Spirit in as many as believe and have faith in His presence and power. No one need be bound by bad habits, perverted passions, vanity, temper, greed, or diseases arising from sin or wrong emotive activities. The Lord is mighty to deliver and quick to heal the souls of His people. The church has lost much by failing to apply the Gospel as the remedy for every form of human depravity. To be truly saved means more than the assurance of entrance into Paradise. It means deliverance here and now from the carnal nature and its besetting sins, weaknesses and perverted tendencies.*

* In the lecture on "Service and the Christian Clinic," published in the author's book, "Method," specific directions are given for applying the Gos. pel in gaining deliverance from every form of evil.

All applicants for counsel are of two classes, those that have accepted salvation by vicarious atonement and those that have not. The latter should be directed to Christ as the way out of their difficulties; the former should be taught how to appropriate the full riches of their inheritance as members of the body of Christ. The vicarious atonement made by Jesus Christ, when fully accepted, substitutes in man Divine nature and perfection for perverted human nature and imperfection. The needy soul should be taught to "die daily" unto self, and to "put on Christ" moment by moment, — His spiritual blood* for the purifying and vitalizing of human blood; His wholeness and holiness for mortal ills; His strength for mortal weakness; His freedom, power, and victory over all the works of Satan, for mortal bondage, and the limitations of the evil one. Persistent acceptance of the finished work of Calvary and insistence upon the victory of Christ will finally lead the Christian into the "glorious liberty of the children of God," into full "citizenship" in the kingdom of heaven, into complete restoration to the Divine image and dominion over all things.

THE PERSONAL WORKER'S SYS^ TEM.

1. Object: The personal worker's system is not an organization, but a method of supplementing the various departments of church work, and increasing their efficiency. It aims to vitalize the church by spiritual-

* See page 158, in the author's book, "Method.'

izing its membership; and then increase the membership through personal evangelism, education and social service.

2. Method: The system is based upon the biological law of life-propagation and cell-multiplication. Christ is the life. The nucleus or unit of the system is a twiceborn, consecrated. Spirit-filled soul. All individual growth, propagation and multiplication are by the communication and expression of the one indivisible Christ-life. The scriptures are the means used to instruct the mind and open the heart to receive the quickening Spirit. No one can become a worker in this system unless vitally related to Jesus Christ, and willing to serve as a channel for the Holy Spirit's expression. Human nature can assist and encourage human nature; and all unselfish endeavor is commendable, and has its place in Christian service. But no human effort, however wellmeaning and zealous, can accomplish spiritual works. Only spiritual causes can produce spiritual effects. Only Christ can devitalize a soul of sin and re-vitalize it with spiritual life. Therefore everyone who would become a worker must begin in his own heart, and by self-surrender, faith and grace, realize the fullness of his Lord before presuming to be fully equipped for service.

3. The Word: Next to being Spirit-filled, the most important part of the worker's equipment is to be thoroughly furnished with the Word, and trained in its use. This furnishing should include a knowledge of its vital teachings, the plan of salvation, the law of grace, the commandments, the promises, and the revealed operations of the Holy Spirit. It is a consistent, persistent presentation of wisely selected scripture that instructs, convicts, converts and inspires. No human opinion, argument or persuasion is comparable with the right use of God's Word. The more fully a worker depends upon the Holy Spirit and the Word of the Lord for everything, the inore satisfactory will be his personal experience and efforts to help others.

4. How to Begin Work: Enter into complete surrender to be used by the Holy Spirit in praise and thanksgiving, and in intercessory prayer for the sick and afflicted, for loved ones and the unsaved. Remember always it is the Spirit that intercedes effectually; that human nature apart from Him can do nothing. As He directs, talk with friends and business associates, the neighbor and the stranger, of spiritual verities, life and immortality. Every contact with others is an opportunity for personal growth and true service. Obey the impulses from within to help others. They are from Him. Invite an unsaved friend or two to join you in a brief study of the vital teachings of the Word. By directing this reading and keeping in the Spirit, it is possible to make the Word the means of conversion. As soon as new converts are furnished with the Word, and Spirit-filled, they should be encouraged and inspired to repeat the process. Any equipped soul may become the nucleus of an organization of unlimited numbers, living and working to the glory of the King and the establishment of His kingdom on earth.

5. The Pastor's Opportunity: The minister should be the initial unit of the vital system within his church. By bringing together a few of his most spiritual parishioners and leading them into the deeper experience he may form a strong vital center. By instructing the members of this center in the use of the Word in making converts, how to pray and exercise faith, how to live and radiate the Divine life, and how to receive and manifest perfect love, he may soon have a working constituency of great possibilities. Through these few the entire church may be vitalized, instructed, and equipped for service. Such a body in any community, under wise direction, will soon double its membership and become a mighty power for righteousness and true progress. A preacher need not be eloquent, nor even scholarly, to be used of God in the accomplishment of mighty works. God's requirements may not include all that universities have to offer, nor all that many churches demand. If a consecrated, Spirit-filled grocery clerk could become Moody the Evangelist, and be used of God in the salvation of hundreds of thousands, the same Spirit may use any soul that meets the requirements necessary for His operations.

THE SYSTEM IN OPERATION.

When a pastor has a trained, consecrated group of ten or more workers, he should direct each to form a small circle for special Bible study and the use of the Word in personal evangelism. He should insist upon thoroughness of equipment. Half-trained, half-consecrated workers fail in their efforts.

lose interest and defeat the plan. The Living Word in the heart, expressed in the life, insures eflBcient effort from the start.

When a church is sufficiently vitalized to have a zeal for service, the system divides the work into two general divisions: Educational and Evangelistic. The work of each division is directed by a department superintendent appointed by the pastor and his advisory board for a term not exceeding one year.

1. The Educational Department: The work of the educational department is subdivided into three parts: (a) The personal worker's training class. This course of instruction is presented in twenty-five or more lessons, and includes a brief study of the vital themes of the Bible and the plan of salvation; how to pray in Spirit, and exercise faith; how to enter into deeper Christian experience by His grace; how to approach the unsaved and do personal work by the tactful use of the Word. The Bible studies outlined in this book are intended to form the basis of this course, but they should be supplemented by additional texts and collateral reading. (A list of suggestive helps will be found in the back of this book.) Each lesson should include a thorough scripture teaching on one theme, with questions, answers, and examinations, to make sure that the Word and its meaning is in the mind of every member of the class. Typical cases of personal work should be presented to the class for discussion, and helpful suggestions noted. This course of instruction is under the direction of the pastor and is to be repeated once each year. All new members should be encouraged to take this course. Those who have taken the course once should be permitted to enter the class a second or third time for review if they so desire.

(b) Three reading circles conducted by efficient leaders, selected by the superintendent: (1) Eugenics, Heredity and Pre- Natal Culture. (2) Child Training and Family Government. (3) Character Building; The Elements of Success and How to Acquire Them. (Outlines of these courses will be found in the back of this book.) These reading classes are conducted during the winter season, meeting usually once a week for twenty weeks. The time of meeting is so arranged that one may take two or more of the courses. Each lesson usually consists of selected readings under the direction of the leader, followed by brief discussion, with corroborative quotations from standard authors. These classes should be open to the public, and made a means of interesting outsiders and strangers to become identified with the work of the church, and enjoy its privileges. They should be repeated each year.

(c) A course of lectures along educative lines, interspersed with a bi-monthly spelling contest, pronouncing contest, or debate. These contests include junior and senior divisions. Every member of the Church and Sunday School is invited to take some part, not only for personal advantage, but as an opportunity of service. The youth of the age are missing much that came to their parents through the old-fashioned spellingschool and debating-society. Theatres, moving pictures and dance-halls are supplying the entertainment for the young. It is the duty and privilege of the church to save child-life from the evil impressions too often made by such amusements. Young people must have some place to go. They demand entertainment. Division (c) is intended to meet this demand by making the church a social center, a common meeting place for wholesome entertainment and instruction.

2. The Evangelistic Department: The work of this department is subdivided into four parts: (a) Extending personal invitations to non-church-goers, strangers and hotel guests to attend some of the regular services or join one or more of the evening classes. To increase interest and eflSciency in this individual work the active membership of the church and Sunday School is divided by the department superintendent into teams of ten. Each team has a captain, who directs its work and makes a report to the superintendent of the number of new attendants gained and new members secured to one or more of the classes or church societies. No contest is made between teams in this work, but each is urged to do its best, not with the motive of surpassing others, but for the glory of God.

(b) Personal work is done in the office, the shop, at the noon hour, or on the train; wherever there is an opportunity to speak of things spiritual or read a verse of scripture. Each trained worker, as his time will permit, invites one or two of his friends or associates to his home for systematic study of the Word. By the formation of these little circles where two or three gather together, the most effective personal work can be done, and many reached who could not be induced to go to church or join one of the larger classes. It is usually unwise to urge friends to accept Christ as a personal Saviour until the right instruction through Bible study has been given. The Word put into the mind and heart will be used by the Holy Spirit in convicting and converting. If the teaching is thorough, the worker may be sure of results. At the right time a definite decision may be suggested, and even tactfully urged. The worker should keep in mind that there are only two primary causes why every one does not accept salvation through Jesus Christ, viz., ignorance of the facts and laws involved, and sin and its effects. The scriptures rightly used make plain the former and show the consequences of the latter.