Hands-free narration of this study — good for the car.
Synopsis
Public evangelism remains a potent soul-winning strategy, though its effectiveness varies with local culture and receptivity. The Handbook identifies four connected tasks: organizing revival, preparing the membership for outreach, preparing for the evangelistic campaign itself, and discipling new members afterward. Revival, meaning literally 'to bring to life again,' is essential because a lukewarm membership will not sustain outreach and can even discourage it; conversely, 'the strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.' Revivals may take many forms—a mini-evangelistic 'reaping meeting,' all-night prayer meetings, a weekend spiritual emphasis, a full week of revival, or a series of small-group meetings in homes—and should center on total surrender to Christ, recognition of sin, God's promises, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Home visitation is a vital revival tool, intended not primarily to correct but to pray, read Scripture, and awaken discipleship. Planning an evangelistic campaign typically begins six months in advance, moving through stages of committee organization, record keeping, Bible studies, small groups, and final preparation of the venue and advertising. Practical counsel covers choosing a site, scheduling nights, keeping the opening program vibrant and under forty minutes, gathering names and addresses, and using tools such as Bible marking and nightly quizzes to sustain attendance and comprehension.
Key points
- Public evangelism, revival, and follow-up form one connected process; none should be attempted in isolation from the others.
- Revival, 'to bring to life again,' is essential because a lukewarm church cannot sustain effective outreach.
- Revivals may take several forms—reaping meetings, all-night prayer, weekend emphasis, week-long revival, or home small groups.
- A campaign requires roughly six months of organized preparation, from committee formation through advertising and opening night.
Key texts
- Acts of the Apostles p.105 (cf. Nehemiah 8:10)
- Joel 2:12-13
- Zechariah 4:6
From the book
Session 11 · Personal Ministries Handbook pp. 61–73 · Read the handbook
- “Time is short, and our forces must be organized to do a larger work.” (book p. 62)
- “The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.” (book p. 63)
- “The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort has been presented to me by One who cannot err.”
Put it into practice
- Assess your congregation's spiritual condition and select a form of revival suited to its needs.
- Organize visitation teams for revival calls focused on prayer, Scripture, and discipleship rather than correction.
- Begin campaign planning at least six months ahead, following the timeline of committees, record keeping, and Bible studies.
- Plan the opening night carefully: a focused, well-rehearsed program with the message as the heart of the evening, no more than forty minutes.
- Comprehension
1. What does the word 'revival' mean, and why does the Handbook say it is necessary before evangelism?
- Comprehension
2. List three forms of revival mentioned in the Handbook.
- Doctrinal Clarity
3. What is the true purpose of home visitation during a revival, according to the Handbook?
- Scripture
4. How far in advance should planning for a public evangelistic campaign typically begin?
- Contrast
5. Contrast a 'reaping meeting' revival with an all-night prayer meeting revival in purpose and format.
- Comprehension
6. What guidance does the Handbook give regarding the length and content of opening night?
- Doctrinal Clarity
7. Why does the Handbook caution against attacking other religions directly when presenting doctrine?
- Application
8. What form of revival do you believe would best suit your own congregation right now, and why?