How to bring men to Christ

In Short

This book serves as a technical handbook for personal evangelism, written by a prominent 19th-century educator. It breaks down the process of soul-winning into specific, manageable methodologies, mapping biblical verses to particular human doubts and circumstances. Rather than abstract philosophy, it offers a pragmatic toolkit for navigating the inquiry room or the street. It has lasted because it treats evangelism as a learnable skill, emphasizing the necessity of spiritual preparation and the disciplined application of scripture to address the varied, often predictable, objections that people raise when confronted with the Gospel.

The Story

The narrative of the book is the logical progression of the soul-winner’s journey. It begins not with the person being converted, but with the worker. The opening premise holds that before one can effectively bring others to Christ, one must be "baptized with the Holy Ghost." This foundational spiritual empowerment is presented as the essential prerequisite for all service. Once this internal preparation is established, the arc of the book moves outward to the street, addressing the initial challenge: how to start a conversation with a stranger. The author argues that even in crowded city settings, a courteous, direct question about one’s spiritual state can open a door that might otherwise remain closed.

As the interaction deepens, the book categorizes the varied responses of those encountered. It details the steps for dealing with the "indifferent," who require the sobering weight of scripture regarding judgment and sin; the "anxious," who want to be saved but do not know the way; and those who possess intellectual or emotional barriers, such as the belief that they have committed sins too grave for forgiveness or that their hearts are too hardened to change. The arc of these encounters follows a consistent pattern: the worker listens, identifies the specific "malady," selects the appropriate scriptural "remedy," and holds the person to that truth until a decision is reached.

The narrative continues through the complexities of the skeptic, the denier of Christ’s divinity, and the willfully resistant. For each, the author provides a set of conversational moves that avoid fruitless argument in favor of targeted scriptural engagement. He emphasizes the importance of patience, warning against the "haste" that leads to superficial results. The process often culminates in a quiet, private moment—getting the inquirer on their knees to pray—which acts as the resolution to the struggle.

The book concludes by returning to the worker’s own spiritual health, reinforcing the necessity of persistent prayer and the ongoing study of the Word. The final resolution is not a single conversion story but the transformation of the reader into a equipped, confident laborer. The end of the work is the internalization of these methods, ensuring that the worker is prepared to handle the diverse responses of the world, from the seeker to the skeptic, with the same methodical care demonstrated throughout the chapters.

How It Unfolds

The foundational preparation. The work begins by asserting that the worker must be filled with the Holy Spirit, viewing this as a non-negotiable prerequisite that provides the necessary power for any subsequent evangelistic success.

Initiating the encounter. The middle beats explore the practical art of beginning a conversation, whether with a stranger on a busy street or a seeker in a church setting, emphasizing that directness is often more effective than evasion.

Diagnosing the barrier. The book then maps a wide range of human obstacles—such as intellectual doubt, the fear of losing friends, or the feeling of being "too great a sinner"—to specific, corrective biblical passages.

Navigating the conclusion. The final sections shift to the importance of moving beyond mere discussion toward a definitive decision, often involving prayer or a clear, pointed challenge to the individual’s will.

The People

The central figure is the "Worker," an individual who desires to guide others but often feels ill-equipped. This person wants to be useful but must overcome their own hesitation, fear of rejection, and lack of training. They emerge from the book as a disciplined, confident, and patient agent who learns to look past outward impressions to see the underlying spiritual need of those they encounter.

The second figure is the "Inquirer," a broad category encompassing everyone from the intellectually curious skeptic to the deeply troubled sinner. This person is defined by their "malady"—their specific doubt, false hope, or hardened heart. They are not merely passive recipients; they often push back, voice objections, and struggle with the implications of the message. Through the persistent, compassionate intervention of the Worker, they move from a state of uncertainty or resistance toward a clear, personal commitment, often finding relief from the burdens they previously deemed insurmountable.

In Its Own Voice

“There is medicine in the Bible for every sin–sick soul, but every soul does not need the same medicine.”

This appears in the preface as the author explains his strategy of matching specific biblical passages to the unique spiritual condition of the individual.

“It is astonishing how often one who undertakes this work in humble dependence upon God and under His direction, finds the way prepared and how seldom he receives any rebuff.”

The author provides this encouragement in Chapter II to reassure readers who are anxious about the prospect of initiating conversations with strangers.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is about the power of the Word of God as an instrument for human change. It argues that spiritual transformation is not achieved through human cleverness, debate, or persuasive rhetoric, but through the precise application of scripture to the conscience. It treats the Bible as a diagnostic tool, suggesting that every human objection—whether it stems from skepticism, pride, or fear—has a corresponding biblical truth that can effectively address it. The work posits that the primary obstacle to evangelism is not the hardness of the world, but the lack of preparation and the hesitation of the believer. It is a study in the intersection of human psychology and theological conviction, demanding both deep empathy for the individual and an unyielding commitment to the authority of the text.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of evangelism or the mechanics of pastoral care will find this book a revealing primary source. It captures a specific, earnest, and highly systematic approach to faith that was prominent in the late 19th century. The prose is clean, direct, and entirely devoid of modern fluff, making it a surprisingly efficient read.

However, readers should be prepared for its period attitudes. The book reflects an era of high theological confidence and a rigid, almost clinical view of human nature that may feel jarring today. The insistence on "driving home" a point and the specific approaches to skeptics and those of other faiths will strike many contemporary readers as blunt or confrontational. Furthermore, the reliance on the King James style of biblical engagement and the specific cultural references of 1890s Chicago give the text a distinct historical flavor.

It is best approached as a window into a bygone methodology of personal influence. You will likely walk away struck by the author’s unwavering belief in the power of the individual to effect change, a theme that remains resonant even when the specific tactics feel like artifacts of a different time. It is a demanding, rigorous, and unapologetically focused piece of writing.