Conversation Circles ON Winning Others TO Christ Theodore S. Henderson ID I INTERCHURCH WORLD MOVEMENT OF NORTH AMERICA 45 West 18th Street, New York City Price, 2 cents each; 20 cents per dozen; $1.50 per hundred. Conversation Circles on Winning Others to Christ Theodore S. Henderson PURPOSE — The purpose of these Conversation Circles is to assist every sincere and earnest dis- ciple of Christ to develop the art of normal, natural, every-day conversation with others about Christ. This is the imperative need of the church, and the necessary condition to a genuine revival. PRAYER — All members of the Circle should have on their personal prayer lists the names of definite persons whom they would win to Christ. Without this kind of prayer no revival is pos- sible. PEAN — Every pastor should use this leaflet to train his unit or group leaders so that each leader will in turn train the members of his unit or group to talk together about Christ, and then to talk to others who are not Christians in order to win them to Christ. The pastor is not to preach. The leader is not to consume time but to lead the conversation. The object is to develop religious conversation. This leaflet should also be used in a Sunday school board to inspire Sunday school teachers .to become soul winners. So also in every group in the church. Avoid controversy ; develop conversation. Pray intensely ; plan carefully. Dare big things for Christ. Despise not to train one person. Conversation One OUR RESPONSIBILITY 1. God expects it. Acts 1:8. Do you believe God expects you to be a per- sonal witness for Christ in your community? If you have no such conviction how do you expect Christ to become actual King in your community? 2. Gratitude prompts it. Romans 1:14-16. How much do you owe Jesus Christ for saving you? Do you not owe to everybody, eveiy where, everything Christ has done for you? Have you ever talked to others about Christ in the same way some one once talked to you about Him? 3. Christ defeated without it. Luke 19:10. Why did He come? Are you personally help- ing Him to fulfil His mission to seek and to save? Is it possible for you to believe in Him unless you help Him do His work? 4. We are Ambassadors. II Corinthians 5:20. Do you realize Christ will fail unless you are a true ambassador? What does an American am- bassador do in a foreign court? Are you doing that sort of work for Christ where you live? Additional Reading 1. Art of Soul Winning. J. W. Mahood. Study II. 2. Every Day Evangelism. Bishop F. D. Leete. Chapter XII. 3. Individual Work. H. C. Trumbull. Chap- ter I. 4. Practical Evangelism. W. H. Burgwin. Chapter V. CONVEBSATION TWO OUR ADVANTAGES 1. Anybody can do it. Mark 1:17. Do you believe without reservation that a lay- man as well as a minister ought to win others to Christ? If you believe you ought not to do it and can not do it, what is the reason for such belief? 2. It can be done anywhere. Luke 14:12-20. Have you had an idea that personal work means approaching people in public religious meetings? If so, why not correct that false idea at once? Have you tried the method suggested in this scripture by going to the people where they are? 3. Any time is God’s time. John 4:35. Have you ever been tempted to omit talking with others about Christ because you thought it was not the right time? Why is it reasonable to expect all real Christians to give time to this work? 4. God guarantees cooperation. Matthew 27:18-20. Are you fearful that you will fail in your honest effort to win others? Are you fully per- suaded God will make good His promise, “I am with you”? Additional Reading 1. Taking Men Alive. C. G. Trumbull. Chap- ter I. 2. Every Church Its Own Evangelist. L. M. Edwards. Chapter III. 3. Individual Work. H. C. Trumbull. Chap- ter I. Conversation Three OUR OPPORTUNITIES 1. At Home. John 1:35-42. Why does it seem so hard to talk with our home folks about Christ? Has every parent in the circle talked definitely with son or daughter about their definite relation to Christ? Can children win their parents to Christ? 2. In Business. Luke 5:27-32. Can a business man respect another business man’s Christianity when that Christian business man is not doing definite business for Jesus Christ? Do you still believe that old heathen heresy that a business man “must not mix religion and busi- ness” ? 3. In Social Circles. Luke 7:36-50. Why do we hesitate to introduce Christ to our social set? Do you know Christ's choicest words, like John 14 were spoken at a banquet? 4. Among strangers. John 4:7-30. Have you noticed how naturally Christ talked about God in terms of “thirst” and “water”? Do you think that this stranger would have been in- terested in Christ if he had not been interested in what she was doing? A dditional Reading 1. Soul Winners Secrets. G. W. Oliver. Chap- ters IX-X. 2. Every Church Its Own Evangelist. L. M. Edwards. Chapters III-IV. Conversation Four OUR HINDRANCES 1. Personal Inconsistencies. Matthew 18:7-9. What personal hindrances do I need to over- come? Do I need any surgical operation on an offending hand or foot or eye? Is it worth what it will cost me to cut deep in order to cure? 2. Cowardice. Matthew 10:32-33. Why am I so afraid to speak to others about Christ? How can I get the boldness described in Acts 4:29-31? Ought I not to do my duty to Christ even if my courage is weak? 3. Crosses are heavy. Acts 20:17-27. How can the work be easy if Christ is right in Luke 9:23? Would it be worth while if it were easy? Are you personally ready for the dedication, the determination, and the declaration of Acts 20:24? 4. Lack of knowledge. II Timothy 2:15. Have you the personal knowledge involved in the statement in John 9:25? Do you believe the promise in James 1:5? Are you ready to test Philippians 4:19? Are you willing to take Christ as your teacher? Additional Reading 1. Taking Men Alive. C. G. Trumbull. Chap- ter IV. 2. Quiet Talks on Service. S. D. Gordon. Chapter IV. Conversation Five OUR EQUIPMENT 1. Right relation to Christ. Matthew 6:33. What is the supreme ambition of your life? Would you rather win another life to Christ than be rich? Or popular? Or powerful? Have you actually put “Christ first in your life”? 2. Personal spiritual victory. I Corinthians 9:27. If I am not an overcomer as described in Ro- mans 8:37, how can 1 help others to be con- querors? Am I determined to square my con- versation for Christ by my consecration to Christ? 3. Faith revealed by work. Mark 2:1-12. Was it the faith of the paralytic or the faith of his friends which attracted Christ? If every four people in your church would bring one to Christ how many converts would be secured? What are you doing now to help bring one? 4. Persistence born of love. Galatians 6:9. What is the difference between perseverance and nagging? Why do we so quickly become dis- couraged in our work to win others? How is it possible for you to practise I Corinthians 9:22, 23, in your community? Additional Reading 1. Practical Evangelism. W. H. Burgwin. Chapter I. 2. Every Church Its Own Evangelist. L. M. Edwards. Chapter VI. 3. Taking Men Alive. C. G. Trumbull. Chap- ter VII. No. 384.SK. II. 75. Feb. 1920.