Truth Magazine

By Peter McPherson

We Find What We Want To Find

When a man wants to get married, he ` findeth a wife” (Prow. 18:22). When we want to do something, “thy hand findeth” it to do (Eccl. 9:10). If we are after a certain thing, it is usually true that “he that seeketh findeth” (Mt. 7:8). When we lose something, we “seek diligently till (we) find it” (Lk. 15:8). We have little trouble to “find pleasure” (Isa. 58:3). Whenever Barnabas set out to “seek Saul …he found him” (Acts 11:25-26). An old car buff hunts until he finds the model he is looking for. The devoted stamp collector looks and looks until he finds that rare stamp. The coin collector enthusiast will find that special one.

We usually find what we really want to find. First. we have the desire to find and, then, we diligently search for it. You must want to find, more than anything else, personal work contacts-people to study the word of God. And, what better desire could a man have! What better search! What more important find!

Reality Versus Fantasy

There are few gospel preachers, Bible teachers and personal-work Christians that are over-flushed with contacts. And no one should over-simplify the matter by saying that finding contacts is a breeze. I could wax over-enthusiastic, become sales promotional and talk about all the people there are in the United States who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness; about the millions in Canada that are dying for the truth; about all the neighbors around you who are just waiting for you to talk to them; about all the fellows at work that are yearning for you to discuss spiritual things with them, etc. But we need to be practical, reasonable and tell it like it really is.

Brethren, in North America, there are few places that are truly “ripe unto harvest.” There are few places where people are just waiting for someone to come along and talk to them about Christ, Bible baptism and the New Testament church. And, may I add, there are few people who respond after they are told about the same. This is the bare, yet sad, truth. And for some preachers to not face reality but to cite a few rare instances of rapid growth and attempt to make such specific cases the general picture is to affect adversely the spirit of a steady, hard-working, personal-working evangelist. Certainly preachers need to be go-getters but this is not the only factor involved in this work as anyone with a little common sense and spiritual understanding full well knows (Mk. 1:38; Mt. 13:1-23; Mt. 10:14; Acts 17:33; etc.). I say this because I too have been the victim of suspicious looks simply because I mentioned that a certain area was a “hard” area. I realize that much of the problem is in attitude but that does not mean that it’s all a matter of attitude or that there are not actually and, in fact, “hard” areas. Do not always accuse us of a lack of zeal and effort.

Finding Contacts

North America however is not barren. All the soil is not “hard” or impossible to work with. And we do need to keep men in America; we do need to establish sound churches in more cities and villages as well as keep the established congregations active, alive and evangelical. So, how do we find contacts to accomplish this?

A Needed Quality

Ask any person who is dependent for his livelihood on direct sales if he can just coast along or if he has to really dig for his prospects. Ask any successful business man if he got where he is today by slouching, complaining, by negative comments, by “it’s no use” statements, by pessimism, indifference and negligence? It takes hard work, steadfastness, stick-to-it-iveness and dogged perseverance to be successful in almost any field of endeavor. We should not let realism (the fact that we do not have 100 hot leads on file) keep us from being positive and progressive (making one contact here and one there). In many of the areas where we find ourselves working for the Lord, it is imperative that we always and ever be optimistic. Enthusiasm is contagious. Zeal spreads. Eagerness is picked up. To make contacts the very first quality is that we be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18-19). Or, that we be bubbling over with “the word of God dwell(ing) in us ‘richly” (Col. 3:16). And, good friend, if you do not have that ingredient then you will not likely find a single contact to work.

“Seek, And Ye Shall Find”

When Jesus said, “Seek, and ye shall find” (Mt. 7:7), He was stating a general principle, truth, rule or maxim. And it works in personal evangelism too!

Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto Him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? And He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him unto Jesus . . . .The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow Me . . . .Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see (John 1:35-42a, 43, 45-46).

Our motives in seeking contacts must be right. Not to get a big name nor to gain a personal following, etc. Some were “seeking for Jesus. . .because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (Jn. 6:24-26). Contacts should be sought for only one reason-saving their souls..One fruitful result will be a numerically growing local church (Mt. 16:26; Acts 6:7).

Contacts For Christ

We must learn to treat every person as a potential contact for Christ. In all honesty we have to admit a sense of failure in this matter. We do miss opportunities. We pass up some chances. Or, when we do make an approach, we feel that we did not have the right words. Vie did not say the right thing. I am not so concerned about the latter as I am about the former. We can learn to` carry on somehow and follow up someway on a contact after it has been made, but we must make that contact. This is the important thing: making the contact. Anti this is what Mike has asked me to write about. I tromble. I am no pro. I do not have any secret, sure-fire and smooth speech for this. And yet I do make a lot of contacts. I know that I must. I know that as a gospel preacher I just have to (no one but a “hireling” would read the work of a preacher any other way). I know that as a Christian teacher, I had better try. So, I try. I make attempts. I work at it. Let me give you one example of my feeble efforts to make a contact.

Our regular milk delivery man was sick. The supervisor was making the calls. I was in the house that day. I knew that I had a one-shot opportunity to try and talk to him about spiritual things. He appeared like a vary personable fellow. A little “gabby.” I thought probably he was quite worldly! But here goes, I must try. What do I say? Where do I start? First, I asked him hid name and introduced myself. Then I simply blurted out the question, “What church do you go to?” And then followed my next nervous un-necessary remark (yet not in a sarcastic tone, at least) “I suppose none.” He answered “Oh yea, as a matter of fact I am a member of the church.” Well from then on it was easy. We could talk. I asked him how long he had been a member of that church. I told him of my spiritual interests and finally, before he left, I told him that I would drop in on him and his family some evening. He said, “Sure, anytime.” Wow! How hard, but how easy! You see I just made the conversation spiritual. Few of us always have the ability to turn a conversation into a spiritual one like Jesus the Master Teacher did (Jn. 4). We can try but if it just does not turn out that way, We can open up on the prospective contact with a direct question. Say something! And then be ready to follow it up by listening as well as by talking! By just opening our mouths we can make more contacts. With real conviction coupled with true courage, we can do it. How many contacts do preachers pass up every week? What about the salesmen that frequent your house or office? Have you ever tried to make a contact of you mail-person? Why not?

I was determined to try making some contacts with the people sitting next to me on my flights to Columbus, Ohio from Great Falls, Montana and back again. I did. And I talked and talked for hours to three different people. One of these contacts is in the hands of another preacher in another city. Surely such contact making attempts for Christ was only what we “ought to have done” — especially when I was flying to and from holding gospel meetings.

Ways and Means of Finding Contacts

1. By Direct Questions To Strangers. You have a few quiet minutes with a person somewhere. Preface one of the following questions directed to this person with a “I hope you don’t mind me asking but. ..,” and then follow it with one of these: “What religious affiliation do you have?”; “Do you attend church?”; “Do you read the Bible?”; “Are you a member of any church?”; “What are your spiritual interests?” Whatever their answer might be, follow up the same by telling them your name, your spiritual interests, the New Testament plea for unity, etc. This approach can also be used on your friends and neighbors and on all “cold” calls. Sometimes this leads into an opportunity for Bible study or in them going with you to worship. (By the way, do not ask them questions that puts un-wanted ideas in their minds. A question like, “Would you like to help us start a new church in this town” is plain stupid when you consider it from their point of view. Why of course there are already too many churches in town! And never say, “Now I don’t want to cram anything down your throat ….” This is not helpful but only suggests something that they may have never thought about, till then.)

2. Bible Correspondence Courses. Usually those that finish a Bible course need further study before they are converted. Thus, the Bible course can serve as an effective tool in making contacts. Presently this is how most of my contacts are being made. Advertise a free Bible course regularly in your paper or over the radio or TV.

3. Personal Calling Cards. No one has to be a preacher to use a calling card. Advertise your church services, Bible courses, etc., and give your name, address and phone number for anyone wanting any spiritual help. Carry the cards with you always. Leave them all over town. Give them to clerks, attendants, waiters, etc. Contacts have been made this way. And, you have tried.

4. Cold Calling. Canvassing an area for Bible courses, for Home studies, for gospel meetings, etc., will turn up some contacts which show interest. Door knocking is hard work but I have done my share of it over the years. It is challenging, can be frustrating, but is also has its rewards. In spite of the arguments against it-most of the people not home; people sleeping in the day time due to shift work; inconvenience caused by interrupting family privacy; will be associated with the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc., it is indeed an effective way to make contacts. And some have more success at this than do others. You might at least try it now and then.

5. Visitors Attending Services. This is a great way to make a contact. They have done all the work for you by dropping in. Now you must drop everything, greet them, give them your name, ask them for theirs and write it down(address too); do it right there in front of them, for they will not mind, and be warm with your handshake and friendly with your voice and manner (some of the handshakes that I have been given by some of our meeting preachers felt like a cold fish and their manner made them appear like a cold turkey!). Invite them back again. If they do not come then you had better “jump” on that situation right away. Do not let the contact get cold!

6. Leads From Members. Sit down with every member and ask them to give you a list of the names and addresses of their close friends and of their relatives. When you call on these people, you will have someone to relate to as a mutual friend. This “breaks the ice” immediately.

7. Fallen Away Members. Call on all the non-attending members of the church in the whole area. Some might be revived (James 5:19-20).

8. Do Good Deeds. My son mowed the lawn for an aged and crippled widow. This caused her to come to a gospel meeting and to her conversion. Before her death some five years later she had helped to convert about 10 others. Individuals should do good deeds whenever they can (Mt. 25). One never knows what good seed he is sowing by such good deeds.

9. By Living A Faithful Life. We must always keep in mind that there are people watching us all of the time. Our constancy at the services and our dedicated lives are telling someone something. “Let your light so shine before men” (Mt. 5:16). By doing so, a contact can be made with a sinner. He sees you with something that he does not have. Work on being a sincere, contented and joyful Christian where ever you are. You are bound to make contacts for Christ this way.

10. Through Un-important People. Many times we simply wipe off this one or that one because of their humble circumstances, poor education, etc. But let me tell you that contacts are made much easier with such as these-with the down-trodden, the poor and lowly than the intellectuals and with the sages of this age. Never discount a person because of his age, appearance, mental abilities or social prestige. I personally know of four elderly ladies which, from society’s point of view had nothing, but they were contacted, converted and they have become the back-bone in a congregation that started from scratch. Many of the people that I have baptized into Christ have been very poor and many have been in their 60’s, 70’s, 80’s; a couple were even in their 90’s. And many of these so-called un-important people have served to be the door unto entire families, some of which were much young.

11. A New Neighbor Move-in. By warmly welcoming new neighbors, we are apt to make a spiritual contact as well. The fact is, keeping news on the move-ins all over town makes good sense. Strangers to a new area sometimes find it hard to make new friends. You can help in more ways than one.

12. Visiting Sick and Shut-in People. Personal evangelism contacts have been made by simply making a call on those you know to be sick or hospitalized. People appreciate this, remember it and will accept your invitation to “come to church” or have a Bible study.

13. Follow-up on Bible Class Student’s Parents. In many places there are children attending our Bible classes and/ or the V.B.S. Go and see the parents or guardians of these children. Try to get them as a family to “see the Jule Miller Bible films,” or to come to the services. Relate to them the child’s progress in Bible classes and how happy he or she is with learning about Christ, There is no question that, people do things for their children. We might as well take some advantage of that concept, right?

14. Fellow Workers, Associates, etc. I know that you cannot press a fellow about religion when you are supposed to be “on the job.” But, are you sure that you are taking advantage of the opportunities when they open up? What will we say in the Judgment when people with whom we work, play, hunt, fish, bowl and buddy-buddy point an accusing finger at _us and say, “You never told me”? These people ought to be your best contacts. After all, are they your friends? Well can you talk to them about spiritual things ever? Come on! Young people, you too, yes, you ever more so have an abundance of contacts. Your young friends are impressionable. Some are seeking. Pray to God to help you make a contact for the Savior. You can do it!

15. Keep A Contact Name List. Every concerned personal worker should have a little book in which are listed the names addresses and phone numbers of any person that might be a prospective student of the word of God. List them under various categories: Good Contact, Possible Contact, Un-faithful member, New Neighbor, etc. But keep a list. Go over this list regularly. This way you should never run out of people to work with.

Conclusion

Brother Peter Wilson stated in the preface of his book “Indestructible Foundations” (one use of which is for personal evangelism classes) that we should always be “class conscious.” We should try to arrange a home Bible class rather than just answer questions or discuss spiritual things with “a few hurried words. “Likewise, we need to ever be “contact conscious.” Treat everyone as a potential prospect for conversion and view all people as contacts for Christ. Make a contact today. Find one! And remember, “If at first you do not succeed, try, try again! “

Truth Magazine XXII: 18, pp. 296-298
May 4, 1978

By Charles G. Goodall

Those who have been involved for any length of time in personal work generally agree that the traits required for one to be a successful personal evangelist are a love for souls, a means of teaching the gospel, and a zeal to implement that means. When a man is found with that love and zeal, coupled with a reasonable amount of knowledge and preparation, he will be converting people to the Lord. It matters not whether he uses the Jule Miller slides, the Tisdel, Hall, McKnight, or Wilson charts, or his own privately devised lessons. In short, conversions generally come to the dedicated, hardworking, and well-prepared worker regardless of the technique. To the contrary, the finest lessons prepared in conjunction with the most advanced and proven teaching aids are useless and ineffective in the hands of those who are less than totally committed to the Lord.

How Many Lessons Before the “Invitation”?

One of the most frequently asked questions in personal evangelism relates to the time one should spend in study before encouraging a prospect to obey the gospel. Just how many lessons in a home Bible study should be presented prior to extending him the “invitation” to obey the gospel?

Gospel teaching, like the teaching of any subject, requires time for absorption. Not all learn at the same rate. The complexity of the material and the breadth of the subject are certainly variables to be considered. A personal evangelist would be remiss to encourage the obedience of even an honest and willing subject who has been unable to comprehend the truth. The prospect’s prior knowledge, prejudices, concentration, basic mental ability or any number of other factors could be responsible for his lack of comprehension. Surely is irresponsible the worker who would delay a knowledgeable and ready subject (Acts 22:16). The case of the Philippian jailer illustrates how one may soon hear and obey the gospel. His conversion was accomplished quickly under the most adverse circumstances. He had, only moments before, attempted to take his own life. His jail was in turmoil. He had to be told even on whom to believe. Yet, though the hour was midnight, he was baptized “the same hour of the night” (Acts 16:33). In fact, a careful analysis of the conversions in the New Testament indicates this immediacy to be the rule rather than the exception. Even in the case of Saul of Tarsus in which three days passed before contact was made with the preacher Ananias, there is not the slightest hint that it took three days to teach him what he needed to know to become a Christian.

The single lesson approach I use is designed to accomplish conversion “in the same hour of the night,” as in the days of the early disciples. The lesson is divided into three parts: (1) prophecy and the establishment of the church, (2) apostasy and the reformation, and (3) conversion. The lesson is presented within the home of the prospect utilizing an open Bible. While the lesson is accompanied by several charts drawn during the presentation, the lesson itself is delivered totally in an extemporaneous manner with no Bible markings or notes. The presentation is given as a story in a casual way. The conclusion and close are likewise low key. The narrative and lesson plan both come to a vivid and pointed conclusion that places the prospect in the position of being face to face with his lost condition. If the force of truth does not move the prospect to obedience, it is my judgment that he is not ready. For that reason, if the lesson itself does not move him to obey immediately, no attempt is made at that time to persuade him.

What are the Disadvantages of the Multiple Lesson Approach?

There are no disadvantages to the multiple lesson approach for those who need more time if they are spared by the grace of God and continue their interest uniformly. However, many are interested immediately in learning what they need to know and do. The Eunuch’s knowledge was incomplete when he said, “See here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). The failure to satisfy that intense desire immediately by postponing the invitation to obey until later lessons (number four in the Jule Miller series) has led many to seek other religious teachers (Baptist, Methodists, etc.). These false teachers in turn have satisfied their desire for immediate action. Consequently, in my experience, several have announced gleefully upon my arrival for the third or fourth lesson that they have been baptized at a denominational church since the last study.

Another disadvantage of the “several weeks” approach has to do with the conservation of the personal worker’s time. Many will agree to a series of lessons who are not the least bit interested. Their motives vary. Some view the lessons as an additional social outlet. Others look on the meetings as occasions to share religious experiences (“witnessing,” they call it.) Still others simply are unable to say no. Whatever their reasons, the teacher is committed and thus must prod through five weeks of study with an inattentive and unresponsive listener.

What are the Advantages of the Single Lesson Approach?

The single lesson approach that I use places the whole picture of the uniqueness of the Lord’s church in its Biblical setting. The church is then contrasted vividly with the apostate denominations and their historical development. Finally, the plan of salvation is explored with care taken to show the blood connectivity of baptism and the inability of denominational plans to match the form of Romans 6:3-5, 17. The prospect sees at once that he is lost without God and without hope unless he submits to this “form” and unites with the Lord’s body, the church. The lesson has the advantage of setting the church apart from denominationalism within a framework that the listener can appreciate and understand without charging his teacher with being arrogant or a religious dogmatist. Most prospects know very little about church history and thus find that part of the presentation thoroughly enjoyable.

The single lesson approach culls out those who are not responsive. Thus time that would have been spent with someone not interested may be used to teach one who has never had a chance to hear at all and who may well obey the gospel.

Another advantage of the single lesson approach I use is its effectiveness in dealing with anticipated questions. The lesson was designed with that in mind. Questions like “What is the church of Christ?”, “What do its members believe?”, “How does it differ from the denomination I belong to?”, etc. are all dealt with in the lesson. Even if the prospect does not agree with the answers to his questions, he understands why we take the positions that we do.

I have found in general that those who fail to respond with the single lesson approach are never again the same religiously. Several who initially appeared to reject the lesson have returned at a later date to obey the gospel.

How Many Remain Faithful?

A legitimate question asked in the series I present is, “How many remain faithful with your `one shot approach’?” It is the attitude with which this question is often raised that has caused me and others who have been somewhat successful in personal evangelism to hesitate to share approaches and techniques. In the first place, all those I know who use the single lesson approach to conversion follow up immediately with lessons of reinforcement. To do less than that would be irresponsible. It has been my experience, after reviewing a sizeable number of conversions over several years, that of those who have stayed in the follow-up program where I preach, some 75-80 % have remained faithful. Several in this number have either preached or become Bible class teachers. It is with reservation and unwillingness that I submit figures relating to personal evangelism and would not now were it not for those who have reflected unduly on this approach by calling it the “one-shot thing.”

The sincere personal evangelist, believing the gospel will produce and hoping his prospect will respond, presents each lesson in great expectation. Obviously experience has taught him to the contrary. However, each successive prospect is a totally independent individual. He deserves every opportunity to hear the gospel as a beautiful positive story of salvation unfolded in his presence. We must assume that he has never heard it in his life and that upon hearing it he will be eternally grateful for its presentation. It is for this reason that in order to mentally prepare myself, I turn on the baptistry heater prior to going to teach the lesson. I am happy to report that more often than not the baptistry is used “in the same hour of the night.”

Truth Magazine XXII: 18, pp. 294-295
May 4, 1978

By Aude McKee

When I was a boy, the phrase that makes the title for this article was heard with some frequency. Brethren often inquired then, as they do now, “How is the work going where you live?” Then the answer would sometimes come, “Well, we are keeping house for the Lord.” Those who used the phrase to describe local conditions usually were implying a number of things. They had services in the building every first day of the week with different men of the congregation rising to their feet; reading a passage, and perhaps making some comments. Another man might, after a period of quiet, request that the congregation kneel and he would then lead a prayer. When the delay between songs, prayers, or talks became especially long, one of the brethren would then “wait on the table.” Then after the Lord’s Supper, the contribution would be taken. This routine would be broken once a month when a visiting preacher would come to town on the train and then services would be held on Saturday night, Sunday morning and Sunday night. In addition to these activities, about the only thing that ever occurred that was different was the annual revival. This series of meetings was normally held during the hottest time in the year, lasted for two weeks, and the building was comfortably filled every night. A sizable number of people would respond to the invitation; some to confess their faith in Christ and be baptized, and others to be restored. Those restored were often the ones who had been baptized the year before.

“Keeping house for the Lord,” as described above, cannot be criticized because of what was done, but rather because of what was not done. The doors of the meeting house were kept open, but not with enough frequency to get the job done. Mid-week services were usually not held; special classes designed to explore areas of Bible teaching that otherwise might not be touched for years, were never conducted; Bible classes on Sunday morning were either not convened or else all held in the same room divided simply by two or three pews. The subjects covered during the annual meeting were heavily weighted on the first principle side. Those converted each year were not given the kind of spiritual food that would cause them to develop into strong Christians. The number of persons converted under those circumstances was considerable, but the attrition rate was almost as great.

Intensive private investigation of God’s Word, on the part of most people, was lacking. A real need was not kept before people and so motivation was in short supply. Bible classes that required in-depth preparation were rare; more often than not, the lessons brought during the mutual edification period were not provocative of further study, and since teaching in the home on an individual basis was seldom done, answers to all the questions that arise under such circumstances did not have to be dug out. I suspect that the practice of reading a chapter from the Bible and having prayer in the home was more common than it is today, and that practice needs to be encouraged, but reading a chapter before bedtime does not suffice for diligent study of God’s Word.

Looking back, it is easy to see why apostasy was certain to come. It seems to this writer that emphasis was placed on opposing certain practices, such as instrumental music and the support of the missionary society, but very little time was spent on basic principles that would fortify a person against similar things in new dress. The things just mentioned were dirty words to about every Christian, but how to establish Bible authority, local church autonomy, and such matters, were rarely if ever discussed to any extent. And so those Christians who did remain “faithful” were not really grounded in basics and so were easy marks for the promoters of big things. The leaders in the departures from the truth in the past quarter of a century were mostly schooled under these circumstances just described.

But there were other deficiencies in “keeping house for the Lord.” Since very little was ever done that required money, contributions on the Lord’s Day remained pitifully small. When I was a boy, the sight of a bill in the collection basket was the cause for conversation after the service was over. Money was scarce in the thirties but, without doubt, the per capita giving of most local churches could have doubled. And then, in most cases, what is commonly known today as “personal work” was unheard of. Everybody knew when preaching day was, and advertisements in the local paper plus flyers tacked to the telephone poles were sufficient to inform everyone of the approaching revival. We dare not charge anyone with a lack of concern for the souls of lost people, but the fact remains that very little effort was made on the personal level to convert the lost. My mother and I prayed together when I was a boy and I can remember her mentioning people in her prayers, beseeching the Lord that they might be saved. But I can never remember any emphasis being placed on our personal responsibility in the lessons that I heard preachers bring. Perhaps the annual meeting worked so well that everyone’s teaching the Word seemed unnecessary.

The solution to these problems lies in two “ships.” Good leadership and the recognition on the part of individual Christians of their stewardship. As most of our readers know, the responsibility for leadership in the Lord’s church rests on elders (bishops). These men must possess certain qualifications, detailed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, in order to be ordained. When appointed, fearful tasks rest on them. They must exhort and convince the gainsayers (Titus 1:9), rule (1 Tim. 5:17), labor and admonish (1 Thess. 5:12-13), watch for souls (Heb. 13:17), oversee (Acts 20:28), and shepherd the flock (1 Pet. 5:1-4). Really, their responsibilities are closely akin to those of a father. A father over a house (home) must see that the family is provided an adequate place to live, food and clothing sufficient to their needs, discipline (both instructive and corrective), and concern that those who “leave the nest” have been schooled to the extent they will form new homes in keeping with the Lord’s Will. Elders must see that the local church has adequate facilities for the feeding of the flock, for teaching the lost, and for God’s people to assemble and worship. They must see that opportunity is provided every child in the family for spiritual growth, and that everyone’s talents are utilized to the fullest extent. They must see that proper incentives are constantly kept before each person to live a pure and dedicated life, to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord, and to go out inviting people to partake of the good things Christ has to offer. Elders must have good vision. They must be able to see beyond the needs of the local congregation where they serve and be impressed with the mass of lost people in every part of the world. They must lead Christians, whom they oversee, to want to sacrifice that others beyond their immediate sphere of influence, may hear the gospel of Christ. To do their job properly, they must look ahead. Are people being given what they need to face the temptations and problems that tomorrow may bring? Are they being grounded in basics so that they will be able to recognize sin and digression even though Satan may dress it up in new designs and flashy colors?

Elders who are sincere in their desire to see that the local church does more than “keep house,” will have frequent and lengthy sessions together discussing the immediate and long-range needs of the flock. There will necessarily be attention given to individuals and what must be done to utilize their talents, motivate their activity, and stimulate their spiritual growth. They will seek help to do their job well from every source available. They will pray much, they will solicit help from the deacons, from the evangelist, and from every faithful member of the body. Being the right kind of overseers mean that they labor under their responsibilities twenty-four hours of every day and seven days of every week. No local church can reach its potential without the kind of shepherds ordained in God’s Word!

However, with or without proper oversight every Christian’s individual responsibilities remain. Each of us is a living stone and by the hand of the master builder have been put into the temple (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Pet. 2:5). Even though not apostles, we are in a very real sense, “laborers together with God” (1 Cor. 3:9). We have been blessed “with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 1:3), and so are “stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet. 4:10). Paul said in 1 Cor. 4:2 that “it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.” It really does not matter whether I am a member of a wide-awake, active, concerned local church, or a part of one that for the most part just “keeps house.” My personal responsibilities remain the same. I must be faithful in all that the statement “faithful unto death” entails in Rev. 2:10. My life must be pure, my ambitions holy, and my respect for God’s authority evident in all I do and say. I must study my Bible diligently, pray without ceasing, and work in view of the coming night. Even under less than ideal circumstances, I must continually “provoke (my brothers and sisters in Christ) unto love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). I must strive to always set the right example before others because righteousness and zeal are just as contageous as evil and unconcern.

May God help us to do more than “keep house.” We must strive to make the Lord’s house a relationship into which the lost are brought and the saved are kept.

Truth Magazine XXII: 18, pp. 292-294
May 4, 1978

By Mike Willis

In our concern for evangelism, we need to be certain that the church is functioning in the manner that God designed that it should. When the church is doing the work that God wants it to do in the way that God planned for it to do it, the work of evangelism will be done. The number of congregations which are experiencing rapid growth are few and far between; some are not even experiencing any growth; others are actually losing ground through deaths and job transfers. Perhaps it is appropriate that we spend some time in re-examining how God expects the church to function in contrast with the manner in which we sometimes conceive of it functioning.

Present Attitudes

The present disposition among many members of the church is altogether foreign to the Scriptures. I have certainly seen congregations which manifested the disposition of hiring a preacher to do their evangelistic work for them. They have the concept that the preacher is the man responsible for teaching non-Christians what to do to be saved. Sometimes these same members extend the work to elders and deacons, i.e., they think that the elders and deacons also have a responsibility to do this work.

Coupled with this attitude is the disposition portrayed by the members that they have done the sum total of their Christian responsibilities in attending the worship services. There is no doubt that some have developed the idea that attending the worship services on the Lord’s day and the mid-week Bible study is the sum total of their responsibilities in the service to God. The result of this is that members have a church building concept of Christianity, i.e., that one’s service to God is done at the church building.

The consequence of these concepts for evangelism is that the average members are doing little if anything to preach the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ to their neighbors. Little evangelism is done in the local community; few visitors attend the worship services. When one adds to this the fact that preachers are frequently so tied down putting out a local church bulletin, visiting the sick, and doing other jobs that he has little time for evangelism, we can see our sad plight.

The Church As The Body of Christ

I would like to consider the descriptive term “body of Christ” as a means of examining these modern concepts in the light of the Scriptures. The Lord used this figure of speech to help us better understand the nature and work of the church. Since all of us are familiar with the operation of a physical body, we can use it as a means of better understanding the operation of the Lord’s body, the church.

1. A body requires the function of every individual part. Examine these Scriptures which show that the proper functioning of every individual part of the body is necessary for the proper operation of the body of Christ .

. . .but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (Eph. 4:15-16).

The proper functioning of each individual part of the body is necessary for the total functioning of the body. In my body, I need every muscle and ligament to do its work in order for my body to function properly. When some part of my physical body quits functioning, it affects my overall physical condition. Similarly, the church requires that every member of it be active in doing the work which God has given him to do. We have no parts of our body which are non-functional. A non-functional part of the body of Christ is a diseased organ in need of healing.

2. Every individual part of the body serves a particular function. My body is so composed that every individual part serves a particular and individual job which no other part of the body is designed to do. No other organ can do that job for it. For example, the lungs cannot do the work which the heart is designed to do nor can the kidneys do the work of the small intestine. Every individual part of the body has a particular and individual function to do. Here is how Paul stated it:

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired (1 Cor. 12:14-18).

The same as is true with reference to our physical bodies is also true with reference to the body of Christ. The man who sits in the pew cannot say, “Because I am not a song leader, elder, deacon or preacher I am not a part of the body.” He is a part of the body and has a particular job which he does.

A body is a particular organism in which a multiplicity of differing parts work together for the good of the whole. Again, Paul continued,

And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet. “I have no need of you” (I Cor. 12:19-21).

There are no useless members of the body of Christ. There are a good many who feel useless and think that there is no job which they should be doing. That is a part of the problem. The average member has lost sight of his work in the body of Christ. He has the unscriptural concept that because he is not an elder, deacon, preacher, teacher, song leader, or man serving the Lord’s supper that he is not doing anything. Consequently, he is occupied with the business of doing nothing! The total body is suffering from this problem with the individual members.

The necessity of every member functioning is further seen in Paul’s comments about the body. He said,

On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness, whereas our seemly members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked (1 Cor. 12:22-24).

Our physical bodies are so composed that those weaker members are the more necessary. My arm can absorb a greater amount of punishment than can my liver. Nevertheless, I can live without my arm but not without my liver. The same can be said of other parts of my physical body; I can survive without my leg but not without my heart or lungs. Yet, who did you ever see flex his liver muscle as he does his biceps? You see, God has so composed the body that those parts of it which we deem less honorable are the more necessary.

Now, make the transition to the church. We tend to exalt the elders, preachers, deacons and song leaders; they are the more “honorable” parts of the body. Yet, I have seen churches exist without elders, preachers, deacons, and song leaders. However, I have never seen a church exist without members! The Lord has so composed the body of Christ so that those parts which we deem less honorable are the more necessary. As a preacher, I can preach my best lesson without result unless the members are present and are active in bringing their friends, neighbors and relatives to hear the gospel preached. In my ten years of preaching, I have yet to baptize an empty seat; I have yet to see an empty chair restored. Indeed, those parts of the body of Christ which we tend to say are the less honorable are the more necessary.

The well-being of the body depends upon every individual doing his part. Not all of us have the ability to do the same job, but all of us have a job to do. We do err significantly when we so burden one or two parts of the body with doing jobs that it is not assigned to do that it cannot do its God-assigned tasks. We expect the elders to clean the building, print the bulletin, and mow the lawn; we expect the preacher to type the bulletin, take care of mailing out the correspondence courses, visit the sick in behalf of the entire congregation, etc. We have committed the error which the apostles sought to avoid-“it is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables” (Acts 6:2). What has happened to the body of Christ reminds me of the condition of a man with a broken leg. His arms have to help him do the walking through the usage of crutches; therefore, someone else has to do the work of the arms (open doors, carry things for him, etc.). The only difference in this illustration is that in the body of Christ the leg is not broken!

Let us activate the entire membership of the body of Christ. The jobs which can be done by non-preaching members should be done by those who lack the ability to preach. The jobs which can be done by those who do not need to be teachers of the word of God should be done by those who lack the ability to teach. Let us call an end to that day in the church when we depended upon 5 % of the body of Christ to do 95% of the work!

Application to Evangelism

This series of articles in this special issue is designed to deal with the subject of evangelism. Consequently, let us make application of these principles to the subject of evangelism.

1. Let us free those men who have the ability to preach from the tasks which anyone can do so that they can do their God-assigned job of preaching. Do not make a secretary out of your preacher; let one of the ladies who has the ability to be a secretary do the secretarial work of the congregation. Let them type, fold, address and mail the church bulletins.

2. Let every member of the body of Christ be active in his own service. The work of visiting the sick, comforting the distressed, and checking on those who are not attending belongs to more Christians than just the elders and preacher. Let every individual accept his personal responsibility in these areas and be active in discharging them.

3. Let every member be active in taking the gospel to others. Any member who knows enough about Jesus Christ to obey the gospel knows enough to tell his neighbor of his need for salvation and to invite him to attend the worship services with him. He can initiate the contact. Even if he lacks the ability to do the teaching, he can at least bring people to worship with him and in other ways establish contact with non-Christians in order that they might be taught the gospel of Christ. He can do as Cornelius did; he called together his kinsmen and near friends in order that Peter might preach the gospel to them.

Conclusion

There is no doubt in my mind that grasping the concept of the church as a functional unit in which every member is working to do his part will increase the number of conversions which congregations are experiencing. Instead of conceiving of our service to God in terms of attendance of the worship services, we must view the worship services as times for being built up in the faith in order to go out and convert the world to Jesus Christ. Like the early Christians, we must leave the assembly and go everywhere “preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). The number of conversions we witness will be proportionate to the number of persons in the body of Christ whom we can activate in preaching the word.

Truth Magazine XXII: 18, pp. 290-291
May 4, 1978