The People Had a Mind to Work - part 6

Many of the principles mentioned in this series are found in Otis Gatewood's book, You Can Do Personal Work. Every Christian home needs a copy of this book and every Christian needs to read it. Although it was written in 1951, the principles of effective personal work and church growth taught throughout are timeless.

Last week, we spoke of showing a proper attitude toward those with whom we are studying. For the sake of re-emphasis- Seek to understand before you seek to be understood!

In addition, remember to begin your study by emphasizing the common ground. If I begin by pointing out all the differences between my prospect's beliefs and my own, our study will be short-lived and fruitless. "Go not forth hastily to strive" (Prov. 25:8). Emphasizing the common ground establishes a good relationship and lays a foundation upon which we can build mutual trust. Begin by emphasizing your love for God and desire to go to heaven. Then find and establish common ground in the following areas: the authority of the Bible (John 17:17; 1 Cor. 4:6); the all-sufficiency of the scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17); and doing things as God has commanded (Col. 3:17). Show your prospect the only way by which man can prove his love for God: "If ye love me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15), and, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3).

With few exceptions, conflicts will arise at some point during your studies. How we handle these conflicts may (probably will) determine whether or not our prospect will ever obey the gospel. "A soft answer turneth away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge uprightly, but the mouth of a fool pours forth foolishness" (Prov. 15:1-2). The wise man also said, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" (Prov. 25:11). The apostle Paul wrote, "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Col. 4:6).

We must never compromise the message of the gospel in order to avoid conflict or confrontation, but we must also use our speech wisely. Speak in such a fashion as to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" (Matt. 10:16). At the same time, we must not be ashamed of the gospel, for it alone is God's power to save men from sin (Rom. 1:16). Paul told Timothy, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner" (2 Tim. 1:8). Jesus said, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38). I would hate to stand before my Lord and be found guilty of being ashamed of the message He preached and the one for which He died.

Brethren, let us love the gospel and the souls of men who need this precious message! May we never be ashamed of the truth and may we always speak it in love.

TC