Lesson Eight
Where To Start Personal Work
(Text: John 4:35-37)
Introduction
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In a world lost in sin it seems strange we should have to consider a question of this nature. Yet, there are those in the church who sincerely ask it. Brethren, all we have to do is open our spiritual eyes, and we can see places to do personal work and visitation on every hand. In the words of Jesus, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." God opens doors of opportunity unto us each day if only we were capable of seeing them.
This reminds me of a story I once heard. A woman had a little daughter who was stricken with a serious spastic condition, and the doctors said she could not be cured. She read of the great wonder performed in a similar case by Dr. Adalf Lorenz, a famous surgeon in Vienna, who had been brought to Chicago by the Armour family and had performed his amazing technique successfully on their child.
The woman took new hope and began a prayer campaign while she had influential friends to write letters to him. But Dr. Lorenz, an old man, was closely watched and had been warned to take things easy; and she never received an answer from him. No doubt the letters never reached him personally. Word was printed that he would soon sail to Europe, and she prayed harder. She prayed that a miracle might happen. Day and night she fasted and prayed. One day a terrifying electrical storm struck. When a piece of porch furniture slammed against the house, she went to rescue it. As she worked, she was aware of a disreputable old man huddling at her porch. "Go away from here, old man," she said, "go away." The look on his face was so pathetic, a wave of remorse attacked her. She should ask him in, but her place was in a deplorable condition with undone chores. The woman hurried to struggle with her garage doors. When she had them closed, she turned to see a limousine draw up to the curb. A chauffeur sprang out, and inside both a man and woman leaped to the sidewalk to help the old rain-soaked figure of the man she had sent away into the car. Passers-by stood and gaped, forgetful of the downpour; and the woman, overcome with curiosity, joined them. As the limousine drove away she asked of one of the onlookers, "Who is the man?" He told her that it was Doctor Lorenz, the whiz surgeon. He was out for a walk and got lost. Everybody was frantic for him. "He's due to take the train east at six and sail back to Europe tomorrow." The woman took one last look at the disappearing limousine. God had worked a miracle for her and sent Dr. Lorenz to her very doorstep. She had thought him a vagrant and had sent him away, no mercy nor kindness in her heart.
The sad thing is that we too often do not take advantage of our opportunities. In some cases these doors will never be opened unto us again. When God opened the door of opportunity to Paul, he took advantage of it (I Cor. 16:9). May God help us to do the same in the future. Where can we start doing personal work?
Start At Home
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Sometimes we need to start personal work by teaching personal work in our own homes. There are those within the family in most cases who do not obey Christ's command to "...go preach." They are just as lost as long as they rebel against Christ in this command as those who rebel against Him as to Baptism. The children should encourage their parents to do personal work, and the parents should encourage their children.
There are those who are lost and have never been saved in every family. We should do our best to save them. When Andrew found Christ, he went and found Peter his brother and brought him to the Saviour (John 1:41). When Peter came to the house of Cornelius, he found Cornelius had called his kinsmen to hear the gospel as well (Acts 10:24). Jesus bade the demoniac of Gadara after he had been healed to return to his house and show how great things God had done unto him (Luke 8:39). Every man who is converted should begin to tell the saving power of Christ to his own family and relatives. Christian friend, you may wish you had a larger field of endeavor in the service of our Lord; but one of the largest fields for which you could wish is within your own family. Start there.
Start In The Homes Of Others
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The Apostle Paul not only preached the gospel publicly, but "from house to house" (Acts 20:20). Many homes are open to the gospel of Christ if we were only ready and willing. A man who once visited in the home of Charles Spurgeon's parents, by a few words to a little boy, made such an impression that this little boy late grew up to be the great English preacher. If you are willing to teach, in most cases others are willing to listen. Many have told me when in their home, "We enjoy talking about the Bible."
Start With A Close Friend
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Have you a friend? "Sure," you say, "a whole host of them. Who doesn't? This is wonderful. Now, do you have a friend who is not a Christian? "Oh, yes," you say, "a whole host of them are not." Then you are just the person for which the Lord is looking. He wants people who have friends who are lost so they can lead them to Christ, You have a glorious opportunity to do good if such is the case. As sadly as it may be, yet it is true, and we all know it, that we talk to our friends about everything else but the gospel of Christ. We talk about hunting, fishing, golfing, and the like but fail to mention the Saviour to them. We should keep in mind we have a great influence on our friends. In fact, more so than anyone else. Why not use this influence for good? Cornelius remembered his friends when it came to Christianity (Acts 10:24). When Philip found Christ, he went and found Nathanael and brought him to the Lord (John 1:45). No doubt they were good friends. In all probability when Philip found the Lord, he said, "My friend Nathanael would be interested in Him;" and so he went in search for Nathanael. Have you a friend who is lost and without Christ? Then bring him to the Master.
Start During A Gospel Meeting
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There is no better time to do personal work and visitation than during a gospel meeting. Interest is high, and people are more easily converted. At each gospel meeting every member of the local congregation should visit erring Christians and those who know what to do to be saved. Just a few words fitly spoken can mean the difference in salvation and condemnation. During the meeting each member of the church should invite and encourage others to attend. Should you know of some interested party, you should do everything within your power to teach him the truth. It is always good to let the visiting evangelist and the local preacher talk with him. It may necessitate meeting at the church building, meeting in your home, or meeting elsewhere. If every Christian worked as hard as he or she could during an evangelistic effort, there is no telling how much good would be accomplished. The reason there are few "big meetings" any more is due to the failure of the membership to work. The fault does not lie within God's power to save. His Word is still as powerful as ever (Rom. 1:16; Heb. 4:12). Yes, you can start doing personal work during a gospel meeting.
Start By Doing A Good Deed
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There is no better way to influence people for Christ than by doing good. Action speaks louder than words. I once heard of a couple who were very prejudiced toward the church. They became very ill and needed help. A dedicated member of the church saw their condition and helped. She washed and ironed their clothes. She cooked and cared for them in every way. Their sickness was extended for some time. After it was all over they asked this person how much they owed her. She said, "You do not owe me anything. You see, I am a Christian and the Bible teaches me to do good. And I have only done what the Lord wanted me to do." This couple could not understand, so they said to each other, "If her religion means that much to her, and it causes her to do what she has done free of charge and out of a heart of love, then I want to go and see what kind of religion she has." The next Lordís day they were at worship. They heard the gospel and liked it. They went back a few times, and it wasnít long until they obeyed the gospel. This happened all because they saw Christ in the life of a dedicated servant of His. Oh, yes, good works will work when nothing else will. We need to remember part of a poem written by Annie Johnson Flint:
Christ has no hands but our hands
To do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way;
He has no tongue but our tongues
To tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help
To bring them to His side.
The Lord encourages good work in his Word. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Gal. 6:10). Paul tells us we are dedicated to good works after we become Christians. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works . . . " (Eph. 2:10). Our lives should be a pattern of good works (Titus 2:7). Christians are to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Titus 3:8, Titus 2:14). These are only a few places where the Lord encourages His people to do good. Just remember you can do personal work by taking someone to the hospital to see the sick, by helping someone fix the lawnmower or the automobile. You can bring people to Christ by remembering them in the hour of bereavement, or during sickness, distress and need. The world is hungry for people of this disposition. Will you start now for Christ and lend a helping hand?
Start On The Job
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Many have done personal work on the job. There is no telling how many have been brought to Christ in this way. In all probability Aquila and Priscilla were brought to the Master because they worked and labored with the Apostle Paul. He was a tentmaker by trade and so were they (Acts 18:1-3). Adam Clarke, the great commentator thinks this to be true. It is a known fact that much good could be done by members of the Lord's church while on the job if they so desired. I have known of people working side by side who were members of the church and did not find it out until after weeks and months had gone by. I question the sincerity of one's religion when this is true. Why not start doing personal work on the job, Christian friend? Talk to your fellow workers when taking a break or eating lunch. It will work.
Start With Your Next Door Neighbor
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Most of us have neighbors who are lost and without Christ. Why not start doing personal work just across the street? In most cases we do not know our neighbors. In fact, the veterinarian knows many more people by name than the average Christian does. The reason for this is he takes care of their dogs and cats. Could it be that he is more devoted to the care of animals than we are to the salvation of the lost?
We should try to know people because we want to save them. How can we expect to lead them to Christ when we do not know them? Personal work means personal contact. When a new family moves to the city or community, members of the Church of Christ should be the first to visit them. In most cases we are the last. I have heard time and again the remark, "The church has already been by to see us. They have invited us to worship with them." Don't kid yourself, they lead many into error in this way. In a great many cases, members of the church tell me of others visiting them. In most cases we do not go; and if we do, we are always last. Why should we not be the first? Each church should have a pretty brochure the members could use as they go to their neighbors inviting them to worship. Yes, fellow Christian, start with your neighbor.
Start With Some Community Work
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There are many good community works in which members of the Lord's church should participate. We have too long divorced ourselves from the community. Many good contacts could be made if only we were willing to get involved. Do not get me wrong. I am not encouraging members of the church to get into anything that would lead them in the wrong or cause them to place the kingdom of God second. Any civic club which does not lead one into sin or that which is wrong would be eligible. Such things as PTA, little league baseball and football, and the like are always good in making contacts for our Lord. Why not pick out something good and start to work for Christ?
Start When Someone Is Sick
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If you know of a family where there is sickness, then you know of a place to do visitation and personal work. As I think of people visiting the sick and remembering the less fortunate, I think of a brother in Nashville, Tennessee, who is 82 years of age. Last year he visited 1,500 people in private homes, hospitals, funeral homes, and nursing homes in one year; and this wasn't a special year, for he has done this for the past 11 years. Some of the best contacts are made when people are ill, and we show concern. Jesus often remembered the sick. No doubt many were converted because he healed the sick and afflicted. We may not heal the sick as did He, but we can remember them in prayer and in good works. It would be wise for a church to keep a list of the sick in the city and see that they are visited ever so often. This list should be composed of both Christians and non-Christians. This type of work would lead many to salvation each year. Just a word of caution here. Those who visit the sick should be trained as to how long to stay, what to say, etc. There are many good books and pamphlets on the subject.
Start By Meeting People At Worship
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There is no better way to sway people toward the church than showing warmth and friendliness at the worship hours. What many congregations need is a good defrosting. In a great many cases there are icicles in the pews, and the church building is nothing more than an icehouse. If a cold spirit had anything to do with the temperature, many of the church buildings would not need air conditioning. Of a truth, if some of them smiled their face would crack. Beloved, we need to go out of our way to be friendly. We should have a smile on our face, a cheerful word on our tongue, and a warm handshake. As members of the church we should seek out our visitors, meet them and invite them back. God says, "A man that hath friends, must shew himself friendly..." (Prov. 18:24). Show me a friendly, outgoing church, and I will show you a growing church. Either church members should warm up and thaw out or get out (Rom. 12:11). This is plain, but it is no plainer than the Word of God.
Start By Setting A Supper
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"Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind; And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just" (Luke 14:12-14).
Jesus is not here forbidding us to invite our friends and relatives to eat with us, but he is saying we should remember the less fortunate. They, like we today, were guilty of inviting those who would in turn invite them. Wouldn't it be wonderful if every family in the church would invite a family a month who are not members of the church into their home to eat with them? How great would be the growth of the church in one year if only this one thing were practiced. If we would feed a man, he would come and worship with us when we asked him; and he would be more prone to study the Word of God with us. The association and fellowship alone would have a great impact on him and his family. Why not do personal work by setting a supper?
Conclusion
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Personal work could be done while traveling. We can do it when riding a bus, train, plane and the like. We can do personal work while shopping. Getting our hair cut, a shoe shine, while at the beauty shop, on the sidewalk, at parks and resorts, at prisons, hospitals, and other public institutions. To make it short, personal work should be done everywhere we have an opportunity. The early church did it this way. "They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word" (Acts 8:4). Every child of God should always be on the lookout for an opportunity to put in a word for the Son of God. Will you try to do this? We hope so, for your eternal welfare depends on it.
Questions For Lesson Eight
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True Or False
........ 1. Children should encourage their parents to do personal work, and the parents should encourage their children.
........ 2. The Apostle Paul not only preached the gospel publicly, but "from house to house."
........ 3. During a gospel meeting is a good time to do personal work.
........ 4. The reason there are few "big meetings" any more is due to the failure of the membership to work.
........ 5. It is good to do personal work on the job.
........ 6. Some of the best contacts are made when people are ill and we show concern.
........ 7. A good way to do personal work is by setting a supper.
........ 8. Personal work should not be done while traveling.
Fill In The Blanks
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- God opens doors of ........................................ to us each day if only we were capable of seeing them.
- ........................................ speaks louder than words
- The Lord's people are to be ................................ of good work.
- Personal work means ........................................ contact.
- ........................................ often remembered the sick.
- What many congregations need is a good ........................................
- "A man that hath ......................................., must shew himself ........................................"