A. Ray Stanford - Handbook of Personal Evangelism

Handbook of Personal Evangelism

by

Dr. A. Ray Stanford

Founder of Florida Bible College

Pharr, Texas:

Wally Morillo

1991

Revised Edition 1975
Current Edition 1991

All material in this book can be quoted in part or in whole.
Reproduction is encouraged as there is no copyright.

Hope. Inspiration. Trust.

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Contents

This book places at your fingertips practical, clear, effective methods to reach people for Christ in a loving way. You will be provided the answers to difficult questions concerning cults, sects, religions, agnostics and atheists and how to recognize the truth from false doctrine.

You will have proof that creation is a scientific fact and that the theory of evolution is a farce. It will give you the know-how to give comfort and assurance to believers, that they can be saved for eternity and that God will never let them be lost. This book is dedicated to all who love people and dont want them to end up in hell.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

The Handbook of Personal Evangelism is the result of many years of study and active, effective soulwinning by Dr. A. Ray Stanford, Founder of Christian Youth Ranches; Grove Community Church; Florida Bible Church and Florida Bible College; Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal (twice) during World War II. This book was written with the assistance of Mrs. Carol Streib and Dr. Richard Seymour. The author expresses appreciation for proofreading the manuscripts to Mrs. Ann Patterson and Mrs. Connie Mitchell.

THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR MEN AND WOMEN TO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE IMPORTANT TASK OF BECOMING SPECIALISTS IN SOULWINNING!

This book is written to guide a Christian in his personal witnessing so that he will present the plan of salvation in a clear and simple way that the lost can understand. To achieve simplicity in presenting the gospel takes much thought, much effort, and much practice. We must give the message in words the people can understand.

A doctor cannot communicate with most of his patients by using medical terminology. What the physician says may be true, but most patients will not be able to grasp the meaning. The Scriptures tell us in II Cor. 3:12, Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech, and in I Cor. 14:8, 9, For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? So like wise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak into the air.

Communication is with words, and they have to be on the level of the persons understanding. Christ said, Feed My sheep. He did not say, Feed My giraffes. As we prepare ourselves to reach a person for the Lord, we must constantly bear in mind how our words will come across to the lost. Remember, the average American cannot quote two Scriptures from memory. We do the lost a great injustice to speak in ecclesiastical terms which, though they may be precious to us, do not convey the proper meaning to the unsaved... and this defeats our whole purpose in witnessing.

Many people testify that before they were saved, although they went to church regularly and heard their minister use terms like born again, redemption, justification, propitiation, etc., they didnt understand that Christ had paid for all their sins on the cross. They didnt understand the gospel. It is a crime to keep people from coming to know the Lord as their Saviour because we felt like exhibiting our 30,000 word vocabulary.

Some may feel that a speaker is not educated unless he uses words the people cannot understand. They completely overlook the fact that to make something understandable takes much brilliance, thought, and work. As you strive to make the message plain, you will discover that simplicity is not simple... but it will greatly increase the fruit in your ministry.

1. THE NEED: God is real. Heaven is real. Hell is real. The Bible is the Word of God and tells us that all those who have not received Christ as their Saviour will spend eternity in hell... separated from God, in conscious torment (Luke 16:23-26; John 3:18). Knowing the terrible destiny of the unsaved should motivate anyone with any compassion at all to explain the plan of salvation to them. Paul said, Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men... (II Cor. 5:11).

I cannot understand how any person who really knows he will go to heaven when he dies could be so selfish as to keep the best news in the world from the lost who so desperately need Christ as their Saviour. It would be like not warning the sleeping occupants of a burning building of their great peril. To stand by and watch the building burn and let the people die in the flames would be a great and grievous sin. A woman once said to me, I used to have a real burden for souls, but I have learned not to let it bother me, and now I just dont think about it any more. This person is a very busy church worker and is well thought of by her Christian friends. Do you think she is well thought of by God? I believe when we stand before the Lord Jesus Christ every Christian will wish he could call back the time and start witnessing as he should have while on earth, because then he will fully realize the need of souls for Christ as their Saviour. Now is the time to witness. Later will be too late.

2. GODS COMMAND: God has given every Christian a job, a responsibility, a command. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16: 15). You can obey Gods command, or you can disobey it. But your orders are still to WITNESS.

Remember, witnessing is a command of God, not a leading. God leads those who are already obeying His command to a particular field of service. Obey Gods command of GO in the Scriptures! You dont stop your car when the signal light says, GO! I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ... PREACH THE WORD; be instant in season, out of season... (II Timothy 4:1,2). For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! (I Cor. 9:16).

If a father tells his son to mow the yard, and the son replies, I dont feel led to... Id rather watch television... but praise your name, Father, what is your will for me? If my son said this to me, I would again tell him, Go mow the yard! If my son still didnt mow the yard, I assure you, it wouldnt be long until he would be in the lawn-mowing business.

When you feel like it, and when you dont, you should consistently give out the gospel. We are in a battle for the souls of men. Soldiers cannot stop fighting on the battlefield just because they dont feel like fighting. God has chosen us to be soldiers for Him. There are enough conscientious objectors. God is looking for loyal, front-line troops who will give themselves wholeheartedly to the task at hand... telling others the good news of salvation.