Evangelism Don’ts – Christian Worker’s Handbook

Evangelism Don’ts – Christian Worker’s Handbook

The following “don’ts” from the Christian Worker’s Handbook are not hard-and-fast rules, never to be broken, but in general it is safe to observe them:
1. Don’t wait for impressions. Be “instant in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2).
2. Don’t argue. If one is not in earnest, give him the word he needs and go to another (Mt. 7:6).
3. Don’t always attempt to prove spiritual things. The burden of proof rests upon the unbeliever. Simply declare truth and leave results with God (Isa. 55:10-11).
4. Don’t always try to explain spiritual things (1 Cor. 2:14). If one insists on this, ask him to explain electricity, radio waves and other material things he believes in.
5. Don’t give your own experience. Seekers might want a similar experience as evidence of salvation instead of looking to Jesus by faith. Use the Word to answer all problems (2 Tim. 2:15; 4:2).
6. Don’t exalt yourself (or act as though you were an angel and the seeker a lowly sinner). Become all things to all men to win them (1 Cor. 9:19-23).
7. Don’t overwork the personal pronoun “I.” John wrote his whole gospel without using it once. Exalt Christ (Jn. 16:13-16).
8. Don’t give Scriptures secondhand. Have a Bible ready. If the seeker disputes it, show him he makes God a liar (Rom. 3:4).
9. Don’t hurry over any Scripture. One or two is all that is necessary to prove a point (2 Cor. 13:1). Emphasize the part the seeker needs until he clearly understands.
10. Don’t raise unnecessary objections. Inquirers will bring up plenty for one to answer wisely and scripturally (2 Tim. 2:15).
11. Don’t condemn. Sinners are already condemned (Jn. 3:16-21).
12. Don’t refer to the sins and habits of a seeker. Get him saved and these things will take care of themselves (2 Cor. 5:17).
13. Don’t insist on going to an altar. Endeavor to get men saved where they are, or offer to go with them anywhere to pray. Insist on immediate surrender (2 Cor. 6:2).
14. Don’t give too many points. Find a verse that covers the excuse and stick with it. Going from verse to verse leads to other objections (Mt. 10:16).
15. Don’t permit a sinner to lead you from subject to subject. This shows a lack of conviction and reveals that his purpose is merely to argue (2 Tim. 2:25).
16. Don’t state your idea or belief. Others have these too, so explain what the Word says, and trust the Holy Spirit to convince of sin (Jn. 16:7-11).
17. Don’t act victorious or smart when you score a point. Give God the credit for helping you (Phil. 2:13).
18. Don’t be led to side issues. The sinner needs the new birth first (Jn. 3:3-5). He can learn about “Cain’s wife,” “Hell” and other doctrines later (1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 2:16).
19. Don’t practice telling sad stories. These things may cause tears, but not because of sin. Point the sinner to Christ (Jn. 3:16).
20. Don’t talk all the time. Let the inquirer do the talking after the conversation is started, then answer him wisely with the Word (1 Pet. 3:15).
21. Don’t cross a seeker. Agree with him when possible or say nothing (Pr. 11:30).
22. Don’t leave one case for another. This is the way to land fish. Land him and then catch another (Mk. 1:16-20).
23. Don’t talk too loudly or get excited. Be calm and prayerful in winning souls (Jn. 3).
24. Don’t be overzealous. Sometimes a worker who is overzealous and inexperienced will seek to force a sinner to get saved. This sometimes drives sinners away (Mt. 10:16).
25. Don’t be indifferent to those seeking God. This is no time to stand and talk and visit. If you are not working yourself, do not hinder others (1 Tim. 3:15).
26. Don’t be an intruder. Two workers talking to a soul at the same time often give opposite instructions. The seeker becomes confused (1 Cor. 14:33).
27. Don’t interrupt a worker dealing with a soul. Your conversation can wait. This might give the sinner a chance to change his mind and put off salvation (Rom. 13:10).
28. Don’t crowd around seekers. This may embarrass the seeker and confuse the worker (1 Cor. 14:40).

29. Don’t tell seekers to think it over. Bring them to a decision at once if possible. They may never get this close to surrender again (Mt. 13:19).
30. Don’t have bad breath or a noticeable body order. Keep yourself and your clothing clean (1 Cor. 6:19-20).
31. Don’t be a hypocrite. We have too many of them already. Get saved first before you save others (Rom. 2:21-24).
32. Don’t hurry the seeker. Let him pray as long as he desires and then help in whatever way you can (Lk. 13:1-5; 18:13-14).
33. Don’t tell persons they are saved. Let the Spirit reveal this to them. If they are doubtful give them Scripture that assures them of salvation and then let them believe and be satisfied (Rom. 8:16; 1 Jn. 1:9).
34. Don’t insist on keeping sinners on their knees. Some knees are more tender than the heart. Men can be saved in any position (Lk. 18:9-14).
35. Don’t let a sinner go away unsatisfied. If he has prayed and he still is doubtful because he does not feel anything, show him that his faith must rest upon the Word of God, not on feelings and experiences of others (Eph. 2:8-9).
36. Don’t insist that a sinner get saved like you did. Circumstances and dispositions may be different in his case (Jn. 3:16).
37. Don’t emphasize emotions. Remind a seeker that facts come first; feelings and emotions last (Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Jn. 1:9).
38. Don’t lean on sinners. Their sins are heavy enough to bear without having to bear your weight. Let him think of his sins and not you (Jn. 16:8).
39. Don’t pray long or loud prayers. Pray right to the point and along the line you have been directing him. Confess sins and pray with him as if you were also a sinner (Dan. 9:20).
40. Don’t be discouraged. Your business is to witness and leave results with God. Jesus or none of His apostles won everyone they talked with. Faithfulness, not success is required. Never give up a case. Stick to it as long as Satan does (1 Pet. 5:8-9).
41. Don’t look upon any case as being hard. Remember Paul, the chief of sinners got saved (1 Tim. 1:15).
42. Don’t discuss church conditions or Christian failures with sinners. They know too much about these things already. Get them to see Jesus as the example (1 Pet. 2:21).
43. Don’t act too familiar with the opposite sex. In general, men should work with men and women with women. Avoid all appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22).
44. Don’t act indifferent to any human need. Sinners are quick to discern any lack of interest or earnestness in workers (Rom. 12:11).
45. Don’t be discourteous. Some workers talk to sinners as though they were the untouchables. Really love and care for the lowest of sinners. This will be like Jesus (Mt. 11:19).
46. Don’t try to force anyone to accept truth or read the Bible. If he does not want truth let him alone (Mt. 7:6).
47. Don’t lose patience. Sinners will be quick to detect any anger or impatience and you will lose your chance to win them. Keep self-control and consider lost souls first, not your feelings (Gal. 5:22-23).
48. Don’t be careless or half-hearted in dealing with a soul. Realize that an eternal soul is at stake and this maybe his last chance to escape hell. Be thorough and in dead earnest to rescue every man for whom Christ died (Lk. 19:10).
49. Don’t lose sight of the value of a soul. Jesus died that each man should be saved. Each soul is worth more than the whole world and the greatest price that Heaven could afford was paid for everyone (Mk. 8:32; 1 Cor. 6:20; Jn. 3:16).
50. Don’t fail to instruct new converts on how to live a Christian life.

Christian Worker’s Handbook.

The Christian Worker’s Handbook is only available in the Dake Reference Library Software.