Some have approached me saying "Peter, I hear that you are good at doing personal work." They want to know my system for the same and the formula to follow. To be right truthful, I am really not that good at it (few are for that matter). It is more a matter of being convicted about it and therefore getting at it.

Good salesmanship of any product is over-balanced with drive and enthusiasm. Perhaps something like 75% zeal to 25% knowledge (that does not mean that most salesmen are not knowledgeable of their product; only stating that a person with' a little knowledge and a lot of drive can sell). Surely, then, most Christians and certainly all preachers and teachers ought to be pretty good at doing personal work (unless it is still true that "the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light"-Lk. 16:8). Really, anyone can, do some personal work. It is just a matter of getting at it and working the percentages and dropping the old excuse "I don't know enough." We might convert one out of four (Lk. 8:5-8), or one out` of ten (Lk. 17:12-18) but the Lord hag promised a "pay off" of precious souls (Jn. 4:35, 36). Incidentally, in a sales field I used to be in, a man could make a fair living if he sold his product to about one out of five to seven prospects, and a real good salesman made a sale on the average of one out of three to five demonstrations. Even at that, brother, let me tell you it was no "breeze." Most good salesmen have to work.

Other than the problems that all human beings have to face for any people-meeting work, such as bashfulness, timidness, nervousness, fear, anxiety, etc. (all of which have to be worked out and overcome to be successful), the real problem is this ... conviction. Christians and teachers are not as convicted about doing personal work as they should be, or else they would be doing more of it. The God-fearing, honest, and heaven-desirous person will do whatever he is "taught of God" (Jn. 1:45) about and is thus convicted concerning. Is not that why we all obeyed the gospel? And is not that the reason we "worship God"? Man with genuine conviction will "do . . . whatsoever He (Jesus) saith unto him" (Jn. 2:5). With true conviction, all that Jesus has to say to a man is "Go, and he goeth . . . come, and he cometh ... do this, and he doeth it" (Mt. 8:9).

Many bashful and backward men have developed into tremendous pulpit proclaimers; they have had conviction that they should preach publicly; they wanted to be preachers and so they are. Likewise, and for the same reasons, you can do personal work. The result will be a local harvest; fruit will be forthcoming (Jn. 4:35-36; Mt. 9:36-38). And inasmuch as one soul is worth all the riches in the world (Mt. 16:26), we can say in the words of Nehemiah, "I am doing a great work" (Neh. 6:3). The great apostle to the Gentiles was thrilled that he was "made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God ... to preach ... the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:7,8). But notice that his preaching did not always place him in the public limelight, for he taught also "from house to house" (Acts 20:20; 16:13-15). Teaching a person about sin and salvation via private home studies and baptizing him "into Christ" (Gal. 3:27) "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38) at some quiet and late hour may not be as flamboyant as doing the same at a "Gospel Meeting" and before great numbers, but it is just as great before God. It is still a great work! And it is my opinion that it is high time that preachers be trained to do personal work and that that work be held in as high an estimation by the brethren as pulpit proclaiming. The man who desires to be a truly great preacher in the sight of God will strive to follow the New Testament example of teaching, and that's both "Publicly and from house to house" (Acts 20:20).

Since it has become much more difficult to get people to attend our evangelistic meetings over the past few decades, there is a tremendous need for pre-meeting personal work to make those meetings successful and climatic. All body-members need to become soul-winners, personal workers, door to door teachers, home class conductors, private discussion Priscilla's and Aquila's. . . "fishers of men" (Mk. 1:17). "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few" (Mt. 9:37). Every able-bodied, spiritual-minded and heaven-determined disciple of Christ needs to get involved in this person to person, Christ-charged, conviction prompted, love-motivated, fruit-rewarding, salvation bringing work.

"Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in" (Lk. 14:21); "And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men" (Mk. 1:17); "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth" (Mk. 1:38); "Go.. . to the lost sheep ... And when ye come into an house . . ." (Mt. 10:6,12); "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations . . ." (Mt. 28:19);. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk. 16:15); "Andrew ... findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah.. . the Christ. And he brought him unto Jesus" (Jn. 1:40-42); "Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found Him . . . Jesus of Nazareth" (Jn. 1:44, 45); "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4); "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ" (Acts 5:42); "I have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house" (Acts 20:20); "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth......Here am I; send me" (I Sam. 3:9; Isa. 6:8).

The following are some notable examples and implied instances of personal work. Jesus: John 4:1-26; Lk. 7:36-50; Lk. 10:38,42; Lk. 15:1-32; Lk. 18:18-22; Lk. 19:1-10; Lk. 23:43; Mt. 15:22-28. Paul: Acts 13:6-7; Acts 16:13-15; Acts 16:25-34; Acts 18:7; Acts 24:24-25; Acts 28:30-31. Peter: Acts 10; Acts 5:42. Aquila and Priscilla: Acts 18:2426. The- above cases should be read and studied carefully. The individual's spiritual state was considered; the teacher impressed Christ and the truth and not self; the contact's habits and background were used often as a beginning place and a spiritual lesson drawn. Jesus was the Master at this (Jn. 4), and we are to follow His example (1 Pet. 2:21).

If your congregation is having or has had a personal-work training class, well and good. But if it has not, do not wait. A lot of conviction and a little effort and action will accomplish more than a dozen personal work programs that never get out of the class room. What good is all the training in the class room without the experience of meeting and confronting real live people?

The purpose of this article is to motivate Christians to the job of soul winning and to avoid the stress of professionalism and perfectionism. So, we will not bog you down now with a lot of paraphernalia nor present some expertise method. However, the personal worker who is clothed in the "armour of God" (Eph. 6:10-17) probably should make use of some "aids." The Jule Miller film strip studies are good to use, they are generally sound, and they can be used by a babe in Christ. Appropriate Bible study lesson books, charts on varied themes and / or chapter studies of the Bible make good introductory or follow-up material. You should 'study with all apparently honest and earnest people endlessly. I am persuaded that we give up far too soon on many of our contacts. Let's get started now. "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh Harvest? behold, 1 say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest" (Jn. 4:35).

Inasmuch as Jesus told us to "preach to every creature" (Mk. 16:15) and since we humans cannot know "what is in man," we must look upon every individual as a potential Christian. We have to work cold-calls, hot-leads, relatives, friends, friends of friends, etc., etc. Different people will be more successful with different types of people and with different approaches. It is impossible' to eliminate the personality factor and therefore you might be able to reach a person with the truth that your preacher has been unsuccessful in reaching.

It is still true that the "wise and prudent," the sophisticated and the intellectuals (Mt. 11:25; 1 Cor. 1:1921) (and do we have a lot of them these days!) "reject the counsel of God against themselves" (Lk. 7:30). And it is still basically quite true that "the common people hear Him gladly" (Mk. 12:37); that "babes" (humble-minded ones ... Mt. 11:25; 18:1-6; 5:1-10) are the more receptive and that "God hath chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom" (Jas. 2:5). This does not mean that we are constantly to work among the "rabble," as history and experience teach that they are "easy come, easy go."

In the discussion of the Bible with aliens, all premature discussions and questions should be avoided. Rather, set-up some extended classes (one hour a week) that will cover these points orderly. Heated arguments amount to "vain jangling" and "the' servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach,' patient. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (2 Tim. 2:24,25). Brother, sister, open your Bible with a neighbor right soon, won't' you?

What greater joy and reward could anything bring than winning a lost soul to, "The Way, The Truth, and The Life"? (Jn. 14:6). "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30), "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Dan. 12:3). "And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together" (Jn. 4:36).

How exciting it is to see, after the toil of weed removing, slow cultivation, prayerful, planting, proper watering . . . .fruit blooming and bearing, to see God giving the increase (1 Cor. 3:7 Jn. 15:5; Rom. 7:4). And, "If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward" (1 Cor. 3:14).

What joy it should bring to us to know that because of our untiring efforts in the slow and tedious area of personal work "many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; in the kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 8:11). What thrills flood the soul when we realize that spirits will be able' to romp and roam in their Heavenly home ... that they will sail and soar upon the Celestial shore, because you cared enough to point them to "The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29).

When a man is convicted about doing personal work, he will take courage, and courage will lead him to set-up cottage meetings and cottage-meetings results in conversions and conversions make church members. Faithful followers of the Master, both the teacher and the taught, will one day be ""caught up into paradise," will have mansions in glory, and" will make their abode with God in His holy habitation' in heaven.

The Bible says that Christians "are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works . . ." (Eph. 2:10). Without controversy, teaching the truth. of the gospel is -a "good work" of God. Then1 if you care to hear the kind words from the sweet lips of Jesus, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant," and to have Jehovah place upon your redeemed brow a "crown of righteousness," you had best get to the work.

If the sweet invitation they never have heard,

O will you not tell them the cheer bringing word?

Truth Magazine, XVIII:6, p. 6-7
December 6, 1973