THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM - PART # 1

TAKING THE FIRST STEP - CHAPTER # 2 - PART # 6

TAKING THE FIRST STEP
CHAPTER  #  2  !!!!!!!

#  1  > When God leads us to believe that He wants us to make an effort to bring someone to Christ, the first question that confronts us is, "How will I begin?" Regardless of who the person is, it is comparatively easy. Ask him whether he is a Christian, or ask some other direct and simple question that will inevitably lead to a conversation along this line. Even if the person is a total stranger, it is not difficult. The person can be engaged in conversation on some general topic or on something suggested by passing events and soon be brought around to the great subject of spiritual things. Christ's conversation with the woman of Samaria in the fourth chapter of John is an excellent illustration of this. Many times, even with strangers, it is best to bring up the subject at once. Ask them if they are Christians, if they are saved, or some similar question. If this is done courteously and earnestly, it will frequently make even disinterested people start thinking, and it may result in their conversion. It is astonishing how often one who undertakes this work in humble dependence upon God and under His direction finds the way prepared__and how seldom he receives any rebuff.

#  2  > One day I met a man on one of the most crowded streets in Chicago. As I passed him, the impulse came to speak to him about the Savior. Stopping a moment and asking God to show me if the impulse was from Him, I turned around and followed the man. I overtook him in the middle of the street, laid my hand on his shoulder, and said, "My friend, are you a Christian?" He was startled and said, "That's a strange question to ask a man." I said, "I know it, and I do not ask that question of every stranger; but God put it into my heart to ask it of you." He then told me that his cousin was a minister and had been urging this very matter upon him. He said he was a prosperous businessman but had been drinking excessively. After further conversation we separated, but later I discovered the man had accepted Christ as his Savior.

#  3  > ONE WHO UNDERTAKES THE WORK OF SOUL-WINNING IN HUMBLE DEPENDENCE UPON GOD OFTEN FINDS THE WAY PREPARED.
It is often best to win a person's confidence and friendship before bringing up the subject. It is good to select someone first and then plan to win him to Christ. Cultivate his acquaintance, be kind to him, and when the right moment arrives, ask him the great question. An old man in Chicago was won to Christ in this way by a young woman who found him sick and alone. She called day after day and showed him many kindnesses. After a time, she spoke to him of the Savior and had the joy of seeing him accept Christ. A wisely chosen tract placed in the hand of the one with whom you wish to speak will often lead easily and naturally to the subject.

#  4  > One day I was riding on a train and praying that God would use me to lead someone to His Son. A young daughter of a minister with whom I had had some conversation on this subject came in with a friend and took the seat in front of me. I took out a little bundle of tracts, selected one that seemed appropriate, handed it to her, and asked her to read it. As she read, I prayed. When she had finished, I leaned over and asked her what she thought about it. She was deeply moved, and I asked her if she would accept Christ right there, which she did. As she left the train, she thanked me heartily for what I had done for her. You will often meet someone whose face tells the story of unhappiness or discontent. In such a case, it is easy to ask can tell you about Someone who will make you happy if you will only receive Him." Skill in beginning a conversation will come with practice. You may be rather awkward about it at first, but it will become easier.

#  5  > INTRODUCING A PERSON TO JESUS
Once the subject is opened, the first thing to find out is where the person stands. Then you will know how to treat his case wisely. The following chapters describes different types of individuals you are likely to meet. To ascentain these "types," simply ask questions such as: "Are you a Christian?"  "Are you saved?"  "Do you know that your sins are forgiven?"  "Do you have eternal life?"  "Are you confessing Christ openly before the world?"  "Are you a friend of Jesus?"  "Have you been born again?"
These question can be answered untruthfully either through ignorance or a desire to mislead you. You can, nevertheless, still learn a great deal from how the question is answered. A man's face will often reveal what his words try to conceal. Anyone who studies faces will soon be able to tell in many instances a person's exact state regardless of anything they may say. Above all, be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. If we only look to Him to do it, the Holy Spirit will often reveal the man's position and the exact Scripture he needs. 

#  6  > When we have learned where the person stands, the next thing to do is to lead him to accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Master. We must always bear in mind the the primary purpose of our work is not to get people to join a church, to give up their bed habits, or to do anything other than to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. He is the One who bore their sin in His own body on the tree, and through Him they can have immediate and entire forgiveness. He is to become their Mater to whom they surrender absolutely the guidance of their thoughts, feelings, purpose, and actions. After leading anyone to accept Christ, the next step will be to show him from God's Word that he has forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Acts  10:43,  Acts  13:39,  John  3:36, and John  5:24 give proof of this. Next, show him how to make a success of the Christian life that he has entered. How to do this will be explained later. Each person should be led to accept Christ through use of the Word of God. In the chapters that immediately follow, we will try to show what specific portions of the Word to use in certain cases and how to use them.