PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
How to bring men to Christ
Torrey, R. A. (Reuben Archer), 1856-1928 · 28,387 words · 47 reading sections
Part 1
Transcriber’s Notes Italic text enclosed with _underscores_. Bold text enclosed with =equal signs=. Small–caps replaced by ALL CAPS. More notes appear at the end of the file. ------------------------------------------------------------------------…
28 wordsSECTION 2R. A. TORREY
_Superintendent Chicago Bible Institute_…
4 wordsSECTION 3250 LA SALLE AVE.
Eastern Depot: East Northfield, Mass. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _JUST PUBLISHED. By the same Author._ =Vest Pocket Companion for Christian Workers.= The best texts for personal work. Classified for practical use, printed in full, and arranged for ready reference. Fro…
207 wordsSECTION 4PREFACE
This book is written because it seems to be needed. The author has been repeatedly requested by Ministers, Y. M. C. A. Secretaries, Christian Workers, and his own students to put into a permanent and convenient shape the substance of what he has said at Conventions, Summer Schools and in the class–room on personal work…
217 wordsSECTION 5XIII. THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 104
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0 wordsSECTION 6THE GENERAL CONDITIONS OF SUCCESS IN BRINGING MEN TO CHRIST
There are certain general conditions, the fulfilment of which is absolutely essential to real success in bringing men to Christ. These conditions, fortunately, are few and simple and such as any one can meet. 1. _The one who would have real success in bringing others to Christ must himself be_ A THOROUGHLY CONVERTED P…
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4. _The one who would have real success in bringing men to Christ must_ PRAY MUCH. Solid work in soul winning must be accompanied by prayer at every step. (1). We must pray God to lead us to the right persons to approach. God does not intend that we speak to every one we meet. If we try to do it, we will waste much val…
527 wordsSECTION 8HOW TO BEGIN
When God has led us to think that He wishes us to make an effort to lead some given individual to Christ, the first question that confronts us is, “How shall I begin?” If the person has gone into an inquiry room, or remained to an after–meeting, or even if they are merely present at prayer–meeting, Sunday–school or oth…
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When the subject is once opened the first thing to find out is where the person with whom you are dealing stands; then you will know how to wisely treat his case. In the chapters immediately following this all the classes of men one is likely to meet will be given, and the first point to be ascertained is to which clas…
489 wordsSECTION 10DEALING WITH THE INDIFFERENT OR CARELESS
One of the classes of men most frequently met with, is The Indifferent, or Careless. There are several ways of dealing with them. One is to show them their need of a Saviour. A good verse to use for this purpose is Romans iii. 23. Get the person with whom you are dealing to read the verse, “For all have sinned and come…
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Galatians iii. 10 is a verse which we very frequently use in our work in dealing with the Indifferent. After the one with whom you are dealing has read the verse, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in…
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Oftentimes you will meet one who is not willing to sit down and let you deal with him in this deliberate way. In that case the only thing to do is to look up to God for guidance and power and give him some pointed verse in great earnestness, such for example as Heb. x. 28‒29; Romans vi. 23; John iii. 36; Isaiah lvii. 2…
133 wordsSECTION 13DEALING WITH THOSE WHO ARE ANXIOUS TO BE SAVED BUT DO NOT KNOW HOW
There is a very large class of persons who are anxious to be saved but simply do not know how. It is not difficult to lead this class of persons to Christ. Perhaps no other passage in the Bible is more used for this purpose than Isaiah liii. 6. It makes the way of salvation very plain. Read the first part of the verse …
1,604 wordsSECTION 14DEALING WITH THOSE WHO ARE ANXIOUS TO BE SAVED AND KNOW HOW, BUT WHO HAVE DIFFICULTIES
A very large number of persons whom we try to lead to Christ, we will find are really anxious to be saved and know how, but are confronted with difficulties which they deem insurmountable.…
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1. One of the difficulties is, “_I am too great a sinner_.” 1 Tim. i. 15 meets this fully. One Sunday morning a man who had led a wild and wandering life and who had recently lost $35,000 and been separated from his wife, said to me in response to my question, why he was not Christian, “I am too great a sinner to be sa…
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2. Another difficulty we frequently meet with, is “_I can’t hold out_,” or “_I am afraid of failure_.” 1 Peter i. 5 is useful in showing that we are not to keep ourselves but are “kept by the power of God.” John x. 28, 29 shows that the safety of the one who accepts Christ does not depend upon his “holding out” but upo…
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7. “_Too much to give up._” Mark viii. 36 will show them that they had better give up everything than to lose their soul. Philippians iii. 7, 8; Ps. xvi. 11 will show them that what they give up is nothing compared with what they get. Ps. lxxxiv. 11; Romans viii. 32 will show them that God will not ask them to give up …
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The people who honestly say this, are as a rule about the most difficult class to deal with of any that you will meet. John vi. 37, is the great text to use with them for it shows that Jesus will receive any one who will come to him. Hold him continually to that point, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”…
443 wordsSECTION 19DEALING WITH THOSE WHO ENTERTAIN FALSE HOPES
1. Among those who entertain false hopes, perhaps the largest class are _those who expect to be saved by their righteous lives_. These persons are easily known by such sayings as these, “I am doing the best I can.” “I do more good than evil.” “I am not a great sinner.” “I have never done anything very bad.” Gal. iii. 1…
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3. A third class of those who entertain false hopes, are _those who say “I am trying to be a Christian.”_ John i. 12, will show them that it is not “trying” to be a Christian or “trying” to live a better life or “trying” to do anything that God asks of us, but simply to receive Jesus Christ, who did it all, and you can…
632 wordsSECTION 21I. THOSE WHO LACK ASSURANCE.
Those who lack assurance may be divided into two classes. 1. _Those who lack assurance because of ignorance._ 1 John v. 13, will show all such that we may know that we have eternal life. Often times when you ask people if they know they are saved, or if they know their sins are forgiven, or if they know they have eter…
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2. _Those who lack assurance because of sin._ The trouble with those who lack assurance is, often, that there is some sin or questionable practice which they ought to confess and give up. John viii. 12; Is. lv. 7; Prov. xxviii. 13; Ps. xxxii. 1‒5, are useful passages in dealing with this class of men, for they show tha…
678 wordsSECTION 23DEALING WITH PROFESSED SKEPTICS AND INFIDELS
There are various classes of Sceptics and the same methods of dealing will not answer for all. 1. _Skeptics who are mere triflers._ With such use 1 Cor. i. 18. If a man says the Bible is foolishness to him, you can say “Yes, that is just what the Bible itself says.” He will probably be surprised at this reply and then…
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One evening at the close of a service I asked a gentleman why he was not a Christian. He replied: “I will tell you. I do not talk much about it; for I am not proud of it as some are, but I am a skeptic. I have lain awake nights thinking about this matter.” “Do you believe there is a God?” “Yes, I never gave up my faith…
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The passages under 1 and 2 can also be used with this class and generally it is wise to use them before those given under this head. There are however, three passages that are often times effective with this specific class of skeptics. Ps. xiv. 1; before using this passage you can say to the man, “Let me read you from …
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d. In John v. 22‒23 we find Jesus claiming the same honor as his Father, and either He was Divine or the most blasphemous impostor that ever lived. Drive it home that the one who denies Christ’s Divinity puts Him in the place of a blasphemous imposter. Mark xiv. 61, 62, can be used in a similar way. e. 1 Jno. ii. 22, …
253 wordsSECTION 271. THOSE WHO COMPLAIN OF GOD.
Many that you wish to lead to Christ will say something to the effect that God is unjust and cruel, Job. xl. 2, and Romans ix. 20, are very pointed passages to use with inquirers of this class and need no comment. It might be well to preface the reading of the passages with some remark like this; “Do you know of how en…
748 wordsSECTION 283. THOSE WHO COMPLAIN OF GOD’S WAY OF SALVATION.
A great many men will say, “I do not see why God could not save men in some other way than by the death of His son.” Is. lv. 8, 9, Romans xi. 33 are useful in dealing with such. I have used Romans ix. 20 with effect with men of this sort. A young student said to me one night, when I asked why he was not a Christian, th…
550 wordsSECTION 29DEALING WITH THOSE WHO WISH TO PUT OFF A DECISION UNTIL SOME OTHER TIME
1. There are several classes of those who wish to put off a decision. One of the largest is composed of _those who say “I want to wait,” or “Not to–night,” or “I will think about it,” or “I will come to–morrow night_,” or some such thing. Use Is. lv. 6. The inquirer having read the passage, ask him when it is that he i…
886 wordsSECTION 301. THE WILLFUL
There are several varieties of the Willful. There are those for example who say “_I do not wish you to talk to me_.” In such a case it is usually best to give some pointed passage of scripture and let it talk for itself and then leave the person alone to reflect upon it. Romans vi. 23; Heb. x. 28, 29; Heb. xii. 25; Mar…
478 wordsSECTION 312. THE DELUDED
_a._ Under this head come the _Roman Catholics_. A good way to deal with a Roman Catholic is to show him the necessity of the new birth and what the new birth is. Jno. iii. 3, 5, 7, shows the necessity of the new birth. What the new birth is, is shown in Ezek. xxxvi. 25‒27; 2 Cor. v. 17; 2 Peter i. 4. Many Roman Cathol…
953 wordsSECTION 32SOME HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
There are a few general suggestions to be made that will prove helpful to the worker. 1. _As a rule choose persons to deal with of your own sex and about your own age._ There are exceptions to this rule. One should be always looking to the Holy Spirit for his guidance as to whom to approach, and He may lead us to one …
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8. _Be dead in earnest._ Only the earnest man can make the unsaved man feel the truth of God’s word. It is well to let the passages that we would use with others first sink into our own souls. I know of a very successful worker who for a long time used the one passage, “prepare to meet thy God,” with every one with who…
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15. _Before parting from the one who has_ _accepted Christ, be sure to give him definite instructions as to how to succeed in the Christian life._ The following are points that should be always insisted upon. (a.) Confess Christ with the mouth before men every opportunity you get. Rom. x. 9, 10; Matt. x. 32, 33. (b.) B…
355 wordsSECTION 35THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
There is one condition of success in bringing men to Christ that is of such cardinal importance, and so little understood, that it demands a separate chapter. I refer to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. In Acts i. 5; Luke xxiv. 49 (comp. Acts i. 8), and Acts ii. 4, we have three expressions; “baptized with the Holy Spir…
121 wordsSECTION 361. WHAT IS THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
1. _It is a definite and distinct operation of the Holy Spirit of which one may know whether it has been wrought in him or not._ This is evident from the fact that Jesus bade His disciples tarry in Jerusalem until they had received this enduement, (Luke xxiv. 49, comp. Acts i. 8), and if it was not a definite and disti…
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3. _The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is always connected with testimony or service_, (see 1 Cor. xii. 4‒13; Acts i. 5‒8; Luke xxiv. 49; Acts ii. 4; iv. 8, 31; vii. 55; ix. 17, 20; x. 45‒46; xix. 6.) The Baptism of the Holy Spirit has no direct reference to cleansing from sin. This is an important point to bear in mind fo…
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We are now in a position to define the baptism of the Holy Spirit. _The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, is the Spirit of God falling upon the believer, taking possession of his faculties, imparting to him gifts not naturally his own, but which qualify him for the service to which God has called him._…
56 wordsSECTION 392. THE NECESSITY OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A PREPARATION FOR CHRISTIAN WORK.
(1.) _In Luke xxiv. 49. Jesus bade the apostles to tarry in Jerusalem until they were “endued with power from on high.”_ These men had been appointed to be witnesses of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. (Luke xxiv. 45‒48. Acts; i. 22; x. 39‒41.) They had received what would seem to be a splendid and sufficien…
465 wordsSECTION 403. HOW CAN WE OBTAIN THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
We now come to the practical question: how can we obtain this Baptism of the Holy Spirit which is such an absolute necessity in our work for Christ? Fortunately the answer to this question is very plainly stated in the Bible. (1) “Repent ye and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remissio…
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(b.) Prayer implies desire. There is no real prayer for the Baptism of the Spirit unless there is _a deep desire for it_. As long as a man thinks he can get along somehow without this blessing, he is not likely to get it; but when a man reaches the place where he feels he must have this no matter what it costs, he is f…
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(c.) _The prayer to be effectual must be in faith (Mark xi. 24)._ James says in regard to the prayer for wisdom, “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” (Jas. i. 6, 7.) Th…
910 wordsSECTION 434. THE REPETITION OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
One thing more needs to be said before we leave this subject. _The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience that needs frequent repeating._ This appears from a comparison of Acts ii. 4—where Peter with others was filled with the Holy Spirit—with Acts iv. 8.—where Peter was filled again,—and with Acts iv. 31 where Pe…
477 wordsSECTION 44―THE PRESBYTERIAN REVIEW.
=_The Life of Jesus Christ._= 12mo, cloth. $ .60 “Every one needs a brief, comprehensive, but attractive Life of Christ, that may be almost committed to memory, so that whatever is read thereafter may find its fitting place in our Lord’s history. For this purpose I know of none equal to ‘Stalker’s …
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_“‘In Christ,’ ‘The Two Fold Life,’ and ‘The Ministry of the Spirit,’ are worthy to lie on the table by any dying couch, side by side with Thomas A. Kempis’ ‘Imitation of Christ,’ and Jeremy Taylor’s ‘Holy Living and Dying.’ These are fit to be placed among the religious classics approved after long experience, by Chri…
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Printed Corrected Page comprhensive comprehensive 2 gives in clear and comprehensive iuformatiou information 2 information for Christian workers Backsliders Back–sliders 5 ASSURANCE, AND BACK–SLIDERS very every 9 every other grace of sorely, need sorely need, …
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On Page 85, “I must do something else first.” has been italicized for consistency. On Page 116, started a new paragraph at “(a.) There must be”. Punctuation for chapter headings has been regularized. Missing periods have been added to the chapter number. Periods have been removed from chapter titles and centered sect…
159 wordsSource & rights
Public domain in the USA; original historical text digitized by Project Gutenberg.
Project Gutenberg source record →
Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.