CHARLES FINNEY COURSEBOOK

Topics [All] Altar Call (2) - Anxious Seat (1) - Bible School (3) - Conversion (2) - Convicted Sinners (1) - Devotions (2) - Doctrine (3) - Evangelism (3) - Holy Bible (1) - Holy Spirit (2) - Home Meetings (1) - Inquiry Meeting (1) - Preaching (2) - Revival Means (4) - Salvation (3) - Spirit of Prayer (2) - True Christianity (3)
1 HOUR Papers [TOP] 331 - 328 - 326 - 315 - 314 - 311 - 299 - 243 - 225 - 212 - 211 - 176 - 123 - 100
2 HOUR Papers [TOP] 320 - 222 - 125 - 103
3 HOUR Papers [TOP] 179 - 129

REQUIRED STUDY: T21 Revival In Rochester 1830 #13
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=353#13

13 I had never, I believe, except in rare instances, until I went to Rochester, used as a means of promoting revivals, what has since been called the anxious seat. I had sometimes asked persons in the congregation to stand up; but this I had not frequently done. However, in studying upon the subject, I had often felt the necessity of some measure that would bring sinners to a stand. From my own experience and observation I had found, that with the higher classes especially, the greatest obstacle to be overcome was their fear of being known as anxious inquirers. They were too proud to take any position that would reveal them to others as anxious for their souls.

14 I had found also that something was needed, to make the impression on them that they were expected at once to give up their hearts; something that would call them to act, and act as publicly before the world, as they had in their sins; something that would commit them publicly to the service of Christ. When I had called them simply to stand up in the public congregations I found that this had a very good effect; and so far as it went, it answered the purpose for which it was intended. But after all, I had felt for some time, that something more was necessary to bring them out from among the mass of the ungodly, to a public renunciation of their sinful ways, and a public committal of themselves to God.

T21 Revival In Rochester 1830 #28
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=353#28

28 As I learned afterwards, when this woman went home, her husband said to her, 'My dear, I mean to go forward tonight, and give my heart to God.' 'What!' said she; 'I have today told Mr. Finney that I would not become a Christian, or have anything to do with it; that you did not become a Christian, and I would not; and that if you went to hell, I should go with you.' 'Well,' said he, 'I do not mean to go to hell. I have made up my mind to go forward tonight, and give my heart to Christ.' 'Well,' said she, 'then I will not go to meeting, I do not want to see it. And if you have a mind after all, to become a Christian, you may; I won't.' When the time came, he went to meeting alone. The pulpit was between the doors, in the front of the church. The house was a good deal crowded; but he finally got a seat near one of the aisles, in quite the back path of the church. At the close of the meeting, as I had done at other times, I called for those that were anxious and whose minds were made up, to come forward, and take certain seats and occupy a certain space about the pulpit, where we could commend them to God in prayer. It afterward appeared that the wife herself had come to the meeting, had passed up the other aisle, and taken a seat almost opposite him, in the extreme part of the house. When I made the call, he started immediately. She was watching, and as soon as she saw him on his feet, and making his way along the crowded aisle, she also started down the other aisle, and they met in front of the pulpit, and knelt down together as subjects of prayer.

IMPORTANCE: Charles Finney invented the Altar Call. It is used now in nearly every church meeting, and revival where sinners are present.

Paper 328. [ANSWER IT] [PRINT] Wednesday July 22 2009 :
Inquiry Meeting, Revival Means

REQUIRED STUDY: 1 HOUR
T19 Revival At Reading #13
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=351#13

13 He said nothing publicly. But he said to me, 'I know nothing about such a meeting as this; take it into your own hands, and manage it in your own way.' I opened the meeting by a short address, in which I explained to them what I wished; that is to have a few moments conversation with each of them, and to have them state to me frankly how they felt on the subject, what their convictions were, what their determinations were, what their difficulties were.

14 I told them that if they were sick and called a physician, he would wish to know their symptoms, and that they should tell him how they were, and how they had been. I said to them, 'I cannot adapt instruction to your present state of mind, unless you reveal it to me. The thing, therefore, that I want, is that you reveal, in as few words as you can, your exact state of mind at the present time. I will now pass around among you, and give each of you an opportunity to say in the fewest words, what your state of mind is.' Dr. Greer said not a word, but followed me around, and stood or sat by me and heard all that I had to say. He kept near me, for I spoke to each one in a low voice, so as not to be heard by others than those in the immediate vicinity. I found a great deal of conviction and feeling in the meeting. They were greatly pressed with conviction. Conviction had taken hold of all classes, the high and the low, the rich and the poor.

IMPORTANCE: The second mode of means, which comes after preaching, is the Meeting of Inquiry (sometimes called the Anxious Meeting). As the term is hardly used in our day, we will look into how this meeting is arranged and organised.

The invitation of this meeting took place by an announcement in the preaching or main sunday sermon, paragraph 11 - 'I gave notice that a meeting for inquiry would be held in the lecture room, in the basement of the church, on Monday evening. I stated as clearly as possible the object of the meeting, and mentioned the class of persons that I desired to attend; inviting those, and those only, that were seriously impressed with the state of their souls, and had made up their minds to attend immediately to the subject, and desired to receive instruction on the particular question of what they should do to be saved.'

OBJECTIVES: Doctrine of Revival Continued
To Understand What needs to be corrected in Promoting a Revival
To Understans some of the means used

REQUIRED STUDY: T19 Revival At Reading
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=351

3 AS I found myself in Philadelphia, in the heart of the Presbyterian church, and where Princeton views were almost universally embraced, I must say still more emphatically than I have done, if possible, that the greatest difficulty I met with in promoting revivals of religion, was the false instruction given to the people, and especially to inquiring sinners. Indeed, in all my ministerial life, in every place and country where I have labored, I have found this difficulty to a greater or less extent; and I am satisfied that multitudes are living in sin, who would immediately be converted if they were truly instructed. The foundation of the error of which I speak, is the dogma that human nature is sinful in itself; and that, therefore, sinners are entirely unable to become Christians. It is admitted, either expressly or virtually, that sinners may want to be Christians, and that they really do want to be Christians, and often try to be Christians, and yet somehow fail.

4 It had been the practice, and still is to some extent, when ministers were preaching repentance, and urging the people to repent, to save their orthodoxy by telling them that they could not repent, any more than they could make a world. But the sinner must be set to do something; and with all their orthodoxy, they could not bear to tell him that he had nothing to do. They must therefore, set him self-righteously to pray for a new heart. They would sometimes tell him to do his duty, to press forward in duty, to read his Bible, to use the means of grace; in short, they would tell him to do anything and everything, but the very thing which God commands him to do. God commands him to repent now, to believe now, to make to him a new heart now. But they were afraid to urge God's claims in this form, because they were continually telling the sinner that he had no ability whatever to do these things.

5 As an illustration of what I have found in this and other countries, more or less, ever since I have been in the ministry, I will refer to a sermon that I heard from the Rev. Baptist Noel, in England, a good man, and orthodox in the common acceptation of the term. His text was: 'Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.' In the first place he represented repentance not as a voluntary, but as an involuntary change, as consisting in sorrow for sin, a mere state of the sensibility. He then insisted upon its being the sinner's duty to repent, and urged the claims of God upon him. But he was preaching to an orthodox congregation; and he must not, and did not, fail to remind them that they could not repent; that although God required it of them, still He knew that it was impossible for them to repent, only as He gave them repentance. 'You ask, then,' he said, 'what you shall do. Go home,' said he, in reply,' and pray for repentance; and if it does not come, pray again for repentance; and still if it does not come, keep praying till it does come.' Here he left them. The congregation was large, and the people very attentive; and I actually found it difficult to keep from screaming to the people, to repent, and not to think that they were doing their duty in merely praying for repentance.

6 Such instructions always pained me exceedingly; and much of my labor in the ministry has consisted in correcting these views, and in pressing the sinner immediately to do just what God commands him to do. When he has inquired of me, if the Spirit of God has nothing to do with it, I have said, 'Yes; as a matter of fact you will not do it of yourself. But the Spirit of God is now striving with you to lead you to do just what He would have you do. He is striving to lead you to repentance, to lead you to believe; and is striving with you, not to secure the performance of mere outward acts, but to change your heart.' The church, to a very great extent, have instructed sinners to begin on the outside in religion; and by what they have called an outward performance of duty, to secure an inward change of their will and affections.

7 But I have ever treated this as totally wrong, unorthodox, and in the highest degree dangerous. Almost innumerable instances have occurred, in which I have found the results of this teaching, of which I have complained, to be a misapprehension of duty on the part of sinners; and I think I may say I have found thousands of sinners, of all ages, who are living under this delusion, and would never think themselves called upon to do anything more than merely to pray for a new heart, live a moral life, read their Bibles, attend meeting, use the means of grace, and leave all the responsibility of their conversion and salvation with God.

IMPORTANCE: The importance of sound teaching cannot be underestimated. It is what causes revival. Here Finney illustrates the problem, and what he did to cause revival. We can do exactly the same thing. For some of us, it is a simple matter of changing our teachings.

The first step Finney took to a backlidden place was, be preached from the pulpit for 3 sundays, being licensed to preach. There were no meetings at all during the week, and certainly no prayer meetings.

The next step was the meeting of inquiry - with these instructions given - 'inviting those, and those only, that were seriously impressed with the state of their souls, and had made up their minds to attend immediately to the subject, and desired to receive instruction on the particular question of what they should do to be saved.'

IMPORTANCE: Some people would be so rejoiced and excited if there were any convictions in their midst. They would try to stir up even more feelings. Or worse, they would blaze abroad the matter to boast that God is at work among them. But it is not wise to handle convicted sinners this way. We must not cause unneccessary feelings. Once we begin to see convictions, what are we to do next?

FURTHER STUDY:
AFFLICTIONS AND SUFFERING A25 #22
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=331#22
22 The opposite, I saw, must be true in every instance in the case of the wicked. All these thoughts passed often through my mind while in my law office. Even then I could not help thinking intensely on these points, nor could I help seeing the force and the bearing of earthly afflictions to curse the wicked and to bless and not harm the righteous. In this state of my mind, I did not perhaps quite envy Christians their lot, but I felt that none but they had any reason to be cheerful. The sinner, I plainly saw, had no business to be cheerful. Nothing could benefit his condition and prospects but to howl and mourn in most hopeless anguish. Nothing but ill was on him; nothing but ill yet more awful was before him.

OBJECTIVES: Interview and Guidance
To assess the suitability of the Candidate for Charles Finney Bible School.
To provide some guidance in answering questions, especially in using plain English.

REQUIRED STUDY: 1 HOUR GUIDANCE ENTRANCE
Refer to Further study for Plain English

IMPORTANCE: This Interview covers seven areas:
1.PERSONAL QUALITIES 2.THE GOSPEL 3.PRACTICAL WORK 4.CHARLES FINNEY 5.DOCTRINES 6.REVIVAL 7.THE CHURCH

QUESTIONS:
1.PERSONAL QUALITIES
What is the most important personal quality to have?
Understanding our weakness is the most important
1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
What is the most important thing to pray?
That we may be found worthy
Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
In summary, to WATCH over our own lives and to PRAY.

2.THE GOSPEL
What are the important points of the gospel? (statement of faith)
What are some Extra Doctrines that have crept in?
What is the danger of Extra Doctrines?
1. are not required
2. do not equal holiness
3. lead people to believe that they are necessary
4. once fully involved, delude people into believing that they do not need to do anything else besides these teachings to get into heaven, a delusion which is fatal to their souls.
Do you have any more examples of Extra Doctrines?
What is the one large obstacle to overcome in order to have revival? (Wealth - give the words of Jesus)
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Give up a whole day or afternoon in prayer together for the practical work

3.PRACTICAL WORK
What is the importance of Bible School or some formal training for Church Leaders?
To learn the teaching and personal development that will produce revival
Most people need a radical change
How does one develop a devotional time? (Breaking up fallow ground, why we do not get power from on high, bondage to sin)
How is Evangelism to be done?
How are Home Meetings to be turned to the best use?
What are the financial obligations of the church congregation, and how are they to be met?
Salary of the Minister, Church rents

4.CHARLES FINNEY
Have you studied any of Finney's works?
What sort of imbalances has Finney been criticized for?
Why is it important to do a complete study of Finney's works?
Each sermon was adapted to that specific situation, so we need to study all his works to get a true understanding
What are the dangers into which people may fall by not doing a complete study? (Perfectionism, Legality)
Could you give examples?
A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.
How does fanaticism develop? Fanaticism is known as 'Loveless Light'
How would you describe a belligerent ministry?

5.DOCTRINES
What are the types of things the modern publications of Finney's works are in danger of omitting?
(doctrines, Freedom from sin)
Universalism is the doctrine that everyone will be saved.
It is the leading feature in those groups who try bring world faiths together.
The statement of faith of most churches however includes eternal punishment, which is a stumbling block to them.
Would you say there are many Christians who are really universalists at heart?
How does the idea of Universalism practically reveal itself in them?
Understanding how to answer Universalism is a key to promoting revival (recommend T04)
What doctrines are now taught to school children in public schools?

6.REVIVAL
What is the basis of Prayer? (asking for grace rather than justice)
How is God's grace shown? (the outpouring of the Holy Spirit)
Do you begin everything with prayer?
What is the spirit of prayer?
What are the signs of revival?
What is the importance of revival?
How is revival promoted?
How are we to view the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, in the light Christ's order to 'tarry in Jerusalem'?

7.THE CHURCH
What are your views of Ecumenism?
What is the truth about Catholicism?
Have you heard of Keith Green?

ANSWERS:
Student: Jeff Joyce
Student: Good Morning Tony
Student: Hello
President: Good morning Jeff
President: Are you ready to begin?
Student: I wasn't sure if this coputer would do this. I am at work on my break for 15 minutes. I'm excited about this.
President: This Interview covers seven areas:
President: 1.PERSONAL QUALITIES 2.THE GOSPEL 3.PRACTICAL WORK 4.CHARLES FINNEY 5.DOCTRINES 6.REVIVAL 7.THE CHURCH
Student: ok
President: What is the most important personal quality to have?
Student: integrity
President: Understanding our weakness is the most important.
President: 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
President: What is the most important thing to pray?
President: Father in heaven I invite you now
Student: for wisdom to carry out Gods will, plans and purposes for life and ministry
President: I pray for Jeff Lord, we both come to you
President: As your children
President: blessed be your name
President: That we may be found worthy
President: Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
President: In summary, to WATCH over our own lives and to PRAY.
President: If I could briefly ask you, What are the important points of the gospel? (statement of faith)
Student: Amen
President: Thank you Jesus, fill our minds with your wisdom
Student: The Word of God is true without error. the birth life suffering , death , resurrection, ascension and return of Lord Jesus. Salvation only through the Blood of Jesus.
President: Just a quick summary of statement of faith, what it should cover
President: What are some Extra Doctrines that have crept in?
President: Extra doctrines are dangerous becuase they delude people into believing that they do not need to do anything else besides these teachings to get into heaven, a delusion which is fatal to their souls.
Student: go to heaven by good works. prosperity for selfish reasons,
President: What is the one large obstacle to overcome in order to have revival?
President: How much time do we have left?
Student: sin
Student: I can keep going
President: Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
President: What did Jesus say to the rich young man? In the light of this, would you be Give up a whole day or afternoon in prayer together for the practical work
Student: complacency and greed
President: would you Give up a whole day or afternoon in prayer together for the practical work
President: ?
Student: he did everything but sell all that he has and then follow Jesus
Student: I give up time now and am willing to do more prayer and fasting
President: What is the importance of Bible School or some formal training for Church Leaders?
Student: to know the truth before we teach it. to be aware of false doctrines
President: We also need to be strengthened ourselves. Have you studied any of Finney's works?
Student: yes. autobiography, lectures in theology, prevailing prayer , higher power
Student: lectures on revival
President: That is quite a good amount of reading you have done.
President: It is important to do a COMPLETE study - A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.
Student: I do alot of reading and studying. Charles Finney and Andrew Murray are my favourites
Student: yes alittle knowledge can be dangerous
President: Would you make the following commitment: 'I agree to complete all the necessary courses, learn all I can and do my part to withhold nothing from God. I am willing to depart from iniquity as quickly as I learn of it in my own life.'
Student: yes
President: And the second part: 'I make a commitment to be thoroughly used by the Lord Jesus Christ by putting into practice all I learn.'
President: What are your views of Ecumenism?
Student: my prayer every morning!
Student: ther's a big difference between church unity and unity in the Body of Christ
President: What is the truth about Catholicism?
Student: false religion, idol worship, eventually will be the church of the New World Order
President: Keith Green wrote 4 really good articles on the Roman Catholic Church.
President: What are the financial obligations of the church congregation, and how are they to be met?
Student: I know his songs, I don't recall his articles but would like to read them
Student: bring the tithes into the storehouse for support of the Pastor and operating costs and ministry outreaches, also offerings
President: The Pastor's salary is first to be paid before any rent. Then rents, and other expenses
President: Keith Green died shortly after exposing the Vatican and Roman Catholic Institution in these hard hitting Christian tractshttp://tr.im/hN0l
President: FINAL QUESTION: What are the signs of revival?
Student: prayer and repentance in the Body of Christ first. Then this will stem out to salvation of sinners
President: Let us pray.
President: Father in heaven, be glorified
President: Be glorified in us, in your temple we pary
President: We pray for you spirit to fall upon us
President: The spirit of prayer is the sign we need of your revival
President: Lord, pour out your spirit upon us and your church
President: Lord I pray for Jeff's church and ministry
President: Lord I believe that you brought him here
Student: Thank you Lord for this time we have had together. I ask you to bless Tony and all the work at Charles Finney College, for your glory Lord.
President: I pray that you will show him by your spirit
President: Open his eyes to communion and fasting prayer with you
President: to see your hand move
President: in the name of Jesus we pray
Student: Amen
President: Amen
President: The interview is complete. God willing, I will send you more information on the next steps by email today.
President: Do you have anything you would like to know or to ask about the Bible School?
Student: Thank you Tony for your time and prayers. God bless you even more than He has
Student: No, it's OK. I believe God has led me here and I will ask along the way.
President: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. I will leave you now.
Student: Good Bye Brother.
President: Good bye. And God Speed.

FURTHER STUDY:
ADVANCED ENGLISH TIPS

'We need to write in plain English to be understood'. In what I just said, let me ask you, WHO is going to understand? And WHO is going to be understood? If I had rather said 'we need to write in plain English for people to understand us' - we know straight away. For readers to understand us.

There are a few basic tips I would like to tell you about that can improve your writing and keep people interested in what you have to say because what you say is put in the simplest language and you do not lose people midway, like I just have, because my sentence was too long.

RULE 1 � Sentence length must be a maximum of 20 words. Then full stop. If longer, find a way to break it, or else you lose your readers. The average length should be 15 words. This means you must use short 10-word sentences a lot.

RULE 2: � Paragraph length must be 4 to 5 sentences long. Long paragraphs can be daunting, so keep them short to retain the attention of your readers. It also helps to break up your work into logical pieces.

RULE 3:- Use the active, rather than the passive form. For example, �The Car was parked by me� is passive. But you should rather write �I parked the car�. It helps the reader to think in correct sequence and not back to front. It also makes understanding it clearer when you say WHO did it.

Sometimes people forget to say WHO when writing in the passive, for example �the car was parked�. Now YOU as the writer may know who parked the car, but your reader may not, BUT if you write in the active form, you are forced (correction: it forces you) to put WHO parked the car, it is a constant reminder to be clear about WHO did what.

Avoiding blame: a letter may use passive language to avoid blame. It may say �We regret that the rubbish was left outside� and not say �We regret that WE left the rubbish outside�.

GENERALLY in anything you write, a maximum of 10% of sentences can be passive.

RULE 4: � Avoid NOMINALISATION. This long word describes the common practice of placing THE or A in front of verbs, then usually adding 'ion' or 'ing' to the end of the verb then sometimes adding 'of' after the verb. This changes the verb into a noun. Example: 'complete' becomes 'the completion of' also 'adding' becomes '(the) addition (of)' or 'the adding of'.

Also what I said already, 'the common practice of' is a nominalisation too! We do it all the time! Why? because it makes the language seem more elevated (this is a passive statement so, I should rather say, it seems to elevate the language more). Nominalisation makes your writing more formal and abstract. But not in contact.

To remove a nominalisation, it sometimes means changing the whole structure of the sentence (or better put, it sometimes means we have to change the whole structure of the sentence, as I have just done!

We have to read and re-read through what we write to fine tune it. An example of nominalisation is �The addition of this page will help you write� we need to change this to �This page was added to help you write�. The verb 'added' had been nominalised to 'the addition of'. Also, since this is still passive, as a writer, we need to state who actually did the adding. So to make the final improvement say �We added this page to help you write�.

RULE 5: � Use words which come from Anglo-Dutch roots Rather than French roots. To understand what I just said (and it can be confusing for a few people) we need to understand the historical background of how the English language developed.

In 1066 AD the French invaded England, and the simple language became complex because now new words were introduced. These new words were used by the rulers who took over, who were the Aristocrats. So the language became more upper class and complex to sound more important. The common folk still used the Anglo-Dutch root words.

For example �PUT it down� is Anglo-Dutch whereas �PLACE it down� is French. �He TOOK it� is Anglo-Dutch which is simpler whereas �He RECEIVED it� is French and is more complex. Understanding this will change the way you write a lot. If instead of a lot I said frequently, it would staight away make it complex because its French. Anglo-Dutch words tend to be one and two syllable words, whereas French words tend to be 3 and 4 syllable words.

So USE Anglo-Dutch words, when you have a choice between the two. Do not try to be eloquent and flambouyant. Although it may seem that language is now being made too basic, it ends up better because the language is more direct if Anglo-Dutch words are used (or should I say, When we use Anglo-Dutch words, the language is more direct).

For example, when I started this page, I could have said �There are a few basic tips I would like to mention�. This is a French word, and it is more aloof. Normally two or more syllable words ending in 'ion' or 'ive' or even 'ice' are french (example commotion, relative, practice). Instead I started this page saying �There are a few basic tips I would like to tell you about � which is far more direct and personal, because we know I am telling YOU and not just mentioning. It is also more dynamic.

Also � logical pieces � the word �pieces� has two syllables. And its French. Why not say � logical chunks? Also � we know immediately � the word �immediately� is french, and has FIVE (!) syllables. Why not say - we know straight away?

Think of what I said about your sentence length - Keep them short to retain the attention of your readers � here, I used 'retain' and 'attention' both French words. I could have easily said � Keep them short to keep your readers.

RULE 6: � Do not interchange words which have the same meaning ('interchange' is another long word - I could have said - do not use and swap words which have the same meaning) For example - Keep the words the same to retain the same meaning - I have just used two words that mean the same thing, KEEP and RETAIN. If you do this, your readers will use twice as much energy to read your sentence - Keep the words the same to keep the same meaning. Not just in one sentence, but throughout.

RULE 7:- Avoid unecessary repetition, or unecessary words, for example � I went travelling away to London. Any suggestions for this? I travelled away to London, or I went away to London, or better still, I went to London. Another example � 'it sometimes means we have to change the whole structure of the sentence' � suggestions? It could be shortened to 'we sometimes have to change the whole structure of the sentence'. Which is perfectly PLAIN ENGLISH. For example, 'What this will tell you is that...' can be shortened to 'This will tell you that...'

RULE 8: � Leave aside classical grammatical rules. Begin some sentences with BECAUSE, FOR, AND, ALSO and SO - it carries force to do it� Like in the RULE 9 paragraph:

RULE 9: - Because you want to be understood (correction: Because you want people to understand you), do not abbreviate (a french word!). For getting your point across (correction: for you to get your point across), avoid slang words. And it goes without saying that you ought to avoid swearing. Also spell out numbers and avoid jargon (specialist or technical words). So these are the basic rules of PLAIN ENGLISH.

'Because you want people to understand you, do not abbreviate. For you to get your point across, avoid slang words. And it goes without saying that you should avoid swearing. Also SPELL OUT numbers and avoid jargon. So these are the basic rules of PLAIN ENGLISH.'

FINALLY, CHECK IT WITH MICROSOFT WORD

Microsoft Word has a very hepful feature which can check whether you have followed these rules! Click on TOOLS > OPTIONS and then click on the Spelling & Grammar TAB:

Towards the bottom, make sure the Show Readability Statistics is checked.

Once you have done so, insert your text in a Word document, and do a spelling and grammar check. TOOLS > SPELLING AND GRAMMAR. It will check spelling but keep clicking IGNORE until the readability statistics come up:

FOR EXAMPLE:
This could tell you that the average words per sentence is 14.9 which should be around 15 (RULE 1).

Secondly, the number of sentences per paragraph is 5.8 so the paragraphs are not too long. We should limit each paragraph to less than 5 sentences on average (RULE 2).

Number of passive sentences used is 7% which is less than 10% (RULE 3).

Flesch Reading Ease is formula to measure everything, including the use of Nominalisation and Anglo-Dutch words. (If you were sharp you would have realised that when I said 'the use of' it was nominalisation!) If the Flesch Reading Ease is greater than 70 (as in this case it was 77.6) then you have eliminated most nominalisation. You have also used enough Anglo-Dutch words, eliminated many French words, and generally have used simple one- and two- syllable words without much jargon.

Flesch-Kincaid Grade level also checks everything. Grade level 6 is an absolute maximum. This means that whatever you write should be understood by a 6th grader! The results show a grade level of 6.1 � a little too high. The best to aim for is grade level 5.

You may be shocked when you check some of your answers and find that they are grade level 12. This is the highest possible, but way too high for the average person reading through your answers!

OBJECTIVES: The Influences of the Holy Spirit
1. To understand whether we are naturally able or unable to obey God
2. To know what the work of the Spirit is.
3. To know whether to use the 'sinner's prayer'

REQUIRED STUDY: 1 HOUR
STUDY 1 - REVIVAL AT WESTERN T12 #33:
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=344#33
33 The doctrine upon which I insisted, that the command to obey God implied the power to do so, created in some places considerable opposition at first. Denying also, as I did, that moral depravity is physical, or the depravity of the nature, and maintaining, as I did, that it is altogether voluntary, and therefore that the Spirit's influences are those of teaching, persuading, convicting, and, of course, a moral influence, I was regarded by many as teaching new and strange doctrines. Indeed, as late as 1832, when I was laboring in Boston for the first time, Dr. Beecher said that he never had heard the doctrine preached before, that the Spirit's influences are moral, as opposed to physical. Therefore, to a considerable extent, ministers and Christians regarded that doctrine as virtually a denial of the Spirit's influence altogether; and hence, although I ever insisted very much, and incessantly, upon the divine agency in conviction and regeneration, and in every Christian exercise; yet it was a long time before the cry ceased to be heard that I denied the agency of the Holy Ghost, in regeneration and conversion. It was said that I taught self-conversion, self-regeneration; and not unfrequently was I rebuked for addressing the sinner, as if the blame of his impenitence all belonged to himself, and for urging him to immediate submission. However, I persisted in this course, and it was seen by ministers and Christians that God owned it as His truth, and blessed it to the salvation of thousands of souls.

STUDY 2 - REVIVAL AT EVANS' MILLS T06 #23
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=338#23
23 I have spoken of the doctrines preached. I should add, that I was obliged to take much pains in giving instruction to inquirers. The practice had been, I believe, universal, to set anxious sinners to praying for a new heart, and to using means for their own conversion. The directions they received either assumed or implied that they were very willing to be Christians, and were taking much pains to persuade God to convert them. I tried to make them understand that God was using the means with them, and not they with Him; that God was willing, and they were unwilling; that God was ready, and they were not ready. In short, I tried to shut them up to present faith and repentance, as the thing which God required of them, present and instant submission to His will, present and instant acceptance of Christ. I tried to show them that all delay was only an evasion of present duty; that all praying for a new heart, was only trying to throw the responsibility of their conversion upon God; and that all efforts to do duty, while they did not give their hearts to God, were hypocritical and delusive.

STUDY 3 - POWER OF TRUE SANCTIFICATION D09 #52
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=67#52
THE SINNER'S PRAYER
52 Where such a church has been found, that had been fed on dry doctrine till they were about as stupid as the seats they sat on, the first thing has been to rouse them up to do something, and that very fact perhaps would bring such a church under conviction, and lead them to repentance. It is not because there is any religion in these doings of professors in such a state; but it shows them their deficiencies, and their unfitness to be members of the church, and awakens their consciences. So it is, sometimes, when a careless sinner has been set to praying. Everybody knows there is no piety in such prayers, but it calls his attention to the subject of religion, and gives the Holy Spirit an opportunity to bring the truth full upon his conscience. But if you take a man who has been in the habit of praying from his childhood, and whose formal prayers have made him as cold as a stone, praying will never bring that man under conviction, till you show him what is the true character of his prayers, and STOP his ungodly and heaven-daring praying.

IMPORTANCE: Misinterpretations, accusations and great harm is done to the work of revival when one does not correctly understand the work of the Holy Spirit in conversion and in every other Christian exercise. People have been set to praying for a new heart. In some cases this will not bring salvation, but in other cases it will. How are we to distinguish? We will learn what those cases are where it is very much needed to use the 'sinner's prayer', and those where it is not.

QUESTIONS:
I. REVIVAL AT WESTERN
1. What caused opposition to the revivals at Western?
2. If God commands us to repent, what does it imply?
3. What is moral depravity or sin? What is its nature?
4. What is the nature of the influences of the Holy Spirit?
5. What did ministers and Christians mistakenly assume immediately, when presented with Finney's views?
6. What work is the Holy Spirit involved in?
7. What was it said that Finney taught?
8. What was he rebuked for?
9. What higher evidence did Finney have to support his views?
10. How many souls were saved through Finney's views?

II. REVIVAL AT EVANS' MILLS
1. What did Finney take much pains to do?
2. What had been the practice in the church?
3. How widespread was this practice?
4. What directions did sinners receive?
5. What did these directions imply?
6. What did Finney try to shut them up to?
7. What did God require of them?
8. What did every delay on their part mean?
9. What were they trying to do, by praying for a new heart?
10. What were all their duties of prayer, and evangelism to them after all?

III. POWER OF TRUE SANCTIFICATION
1. What type of churches need to be told to do things, such as duties of prayer, and evangelism?
2. What does the church DOING SOMETHING in this case acheive?
3. What is the goal?
4. Is there anything in the DOINGS which is of any value to God?
5. How, then, does this encouragement to DO THINGS help them?
6. Why should we set a careless sinner to praying?
7. Is there any piety in those prayers?
8. So what is the value of getting him to pray?
9. Which type of sinner should you NOT set to praying?
10. What should you say to a sinner who is already in the habit of praying?

FURTHER STUDY:
FOR ONE IN THE HABIT OF PRAYING - FALSE COMFORTS FOR SINNERS B17 #100
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=29#100
100 6. 'Lord, have mercy on these penitent souls'; calling anxious sinners 'penitent souls'! If they are truly penitent, they are Christians. To make the impression on an unconverted sinner that he is penitent, is to make him believe a lie. But it is very comforting to the sinner, and he likes to take it up, and pray it over again: 'O Lord, I am a poor penitent soul, I am very penitent, I am so distressed, Lord, have mercy on a poor penitent.'

FOR ONE NOT IN THE HABIT OF PRAYING - FOLLOWING CHRIST A20 #46
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=326#46
46 A case in point to show the force of truth on even hardened hearts came lately to my knowledge. A Christian lady, being on a visit to one of the towns in Canada, was called on by a gentleman of high standing in society, but who had always lived a prayerless, ungodly life. A man of strong will and nerves, professedly a sceptic, he yet took the ground before this Christian lady that he was ready, as a means of becoming a Christian, to do anything that she should say. 'Well, then,' said she, 'kneel down here, and cry out, 'God, be merciful to me, a, sinner.'' 'What!' replied he, 'do this when I don't believe myself a sinner.' 'You need not excuse yourself on that ground,' said she, 'for you know you are a sinner.' Having passed his word of honor to a lady, he could not draw back, and therefore kneeled and repeated the proposed words. Arising, he asked, 'What next?' 'Do so again, and say the same words.' He raised the old objection, 'I don't believe myself a sinner.' She made the same answer as before, and a second time he repeated the words of that prayer. The same things were said -- the same things done, the third time, and then, hardened as he was, his heart felt the force of those words, and he began to cry in earnest, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' His heart broke, and he prayed till mercy came!

Paper 311. [ANSWER IT] [PRINT] Monday July 6 2009 :
Devotions, Evangelism, Home Meetings, Bible School

OBJECTIVES: The Basics of the Christian Life
To Learn to pray and to have a Devotion time.
To know the basic structure of the Church and how to lead.
To exercise preaching in the way shown in the Bible (preaching to every creature)
To understand the reasons for Bible School

IMPORTANCE: Many people question, what should I do for the Lord, now that I am saved? I would like to know God's will for me. Here we cover the basics which every Christian needs to do. Practical instructions and tips have been drawn from many years of experience. These are the very first things to grasp in this course of study, which should remain with you throughout your whole life.

We will also learn how to win souls. Winning souls happens through means. Prayer is made for the means used. Outreach is the means. Without means, there is nothing to pray for. We have to separate ourselves from the world, and go out into the all world as described in the Scripture - meaning, in public.

QUESTIONS:
I. BIBLE SCHOOL
1. What is the purpose of Bible School?
2. What are the 5 steps of knowledge to attain in this Bible School?
3. What is the Bible School web address?
4. How do we discuss the topics?
5. What must each student do in preparation?
6. What submission is required before the class times?
7. The class sometimes meets online. What does the student do in the class?
8. What happens to the statements of each student?
9. How is the lesson concluded?

II. EVANGELISM
1. Which scriptures tell us to be Evangelists?
2. What are the two ways of evangelizing to the public?
3. How do you find new people to preach to?
4. Where do you go to wait for people to come to you?
5. How big is the table you should use?
6. What is important to draw people's attention?
7. What must you avoid on the street?
8. What must you place on the table?
9. What should you offer to people?
10. What should you make people aware of?
11. What is the most important step to take before you pray with the individual?
12. How do you follow up, what do you need from them?
13. How do you prepare spiritually?
14. What should you watch out for among the group (if you go with others?
15. What personal qualities do you need?

III. MEETING IN THE HOME
1. How does a church begin?
2. How do you ensure the meeting will continue in your absence?
3. What is the purpose of training one person specially?
4. What does that person need, to be able to lead?
5. What is the order of service and length of the meeting?
6. What guidelines do you need to follow?
7. What can be said about food?
8. How do you handle outside speakers?
9. What is the offering for?
10. How do you manage money and business matters in the group?
11. When do you divide the group?
12. How do you insure the person you train is not limited?
13. What are the rules for the offering?
14. How do you record the collection and keep the money?
15. What else do you record?

IV. REPORT ON PROGRESS
1. Where did you set up your table? How long were you there?
2. How many people came to your table?
3. Did you give them a leaflet?
4. Were you able to talk to them?
5. What questions did you ask them?
6. What do they believe?

V. DEVOTION
1. What is devotion? Does it come naturally, or does it have to be cultivated? How frequent should the ordinary private devotion be?
2. How should you begin? What is the order of prayer? What is Thanksgiving? What is Confession? What is Supplication? What is Praise and Adoration? How long should you persist? What is 'conscious' communion?
3. What should you do once you have prayed? What is the important step to achieve with the Bible? What should you do if the Bible does not 'open' to you? What are some reasons why the Bible could be 'sealed' from you? What happens if you run out of time?
4. What happens if communion is lost? What do you tell God if communion is lost? What passages of scripture can you lay your faith on, to secure communion?
5. What must you do to make the promise sure? What must you be willing to surrender to maintain communion? Where does your strength lie, every day of your life?
6. What mistakes do some students make? What use is study without communion? Can study make up for communion? What must you maintain? How do you maintain a prevailing spirit of prayer? Why is this never lost time? Can you study faster if you maintain communion? How much faster?
7. Who should you pray for, principally? How does a person gain access to the throne of grace? What should a home group leader or pastor commune with God about, principally? What should occupy you in prayer? What should you beware of? What does 'lose and you will find' mean?
8. How should you pray for yourself? How does communion develop with practice? What can this be compared with? What happens to communion over time?
9. List the 20 things which you need to possess (or avoid) to maintain the spirit of devotion. Briefly explain what each of these means to you.

OBJECTIVES: The Altar Call and Salvation
To understand the importance of the Altar Call
To observe How a person is saved
To practice the Altar call in all gatherings

IMPORTANCE: The ultimate end of every missionary is to save souls. When a person is saved, the rest of their life is changed. It is the most important decision of their lives. It is therefore most important to know how it happens.

A person is saved by responding to an open altar call. Normally, the leader of the meeting will say at the end of his message, 'WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE BOW YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER.' Then he asks, 'Is there anyone here who would like to give their hearts to Jesus?' he cautions, 'Please, no one looking around.' and continues, 'IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.' At this point, the person who God has been speaking to will raise the hand while seated. There may be more than one person. The leader will wait a few moments, with the words 'Is there anyone else?' and a final encouragement, since it is a very important moment, 'This is the most important decision of your life'. Finally the leader will say 'REPEAT THIS PRAYER OUT LOUD AFTER ME, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE JESUS' The leader then prays a short prayer to invite Jesus into the heart, at intervals, allowing the persons to follow and repeat the prayer out loud. This normally lasts no longer than 1 or 2 minutes.

After the meeting, the persons who prayed are asked to remain behind, where the gift of salvation is explained, and 'Beginning With Christ' literature given, and arrangements to deliver a bible at a later time.

QUESTIONS:
1. How were you saved?
2. How did it change your life?
3. How long does it take to be saved?
4. What are the necessary steps to take?
5. What is the role of the Leader?
6. Has the Altar Call sometimes been omitted?
7. What has been the result?
8. What do some leaders do, instead of having an altar call? Are people saved that way?
9. Why does a person respond by raising his or her hand?
10. If God is working in a person, will it always bear fruit? Will they ever fall away, or forget about God?
11. What is the importance of having an Altar Call in an open meeting?
12. If people willingly come forward, what does that show?
13. Which is the place to get saved, in an open meeting or at home?
14. What prayer should the leader pray? Give an example.
15. What is the source of their faith?
16. What scriptures should be given to new born Christians? Explain what you would say to them.
17. What type of difficulties are likely to face them at the beginning? How do you prepare them?
18. When should you do this?
19. How will they remember what you have said? How will they remember the scriptures?
20. When will you give them a Bible?

Paper 243. [ANSWER IT] [PRINT] Monday July 13 2009 :
Conversion, Spirit of Prayer, Salvation

OBJECTIVES: To Understand Conversion
To understand the work of God in the midst of a revival to convert men, instantly, on the spot, and spontaneousely throughout a meeting house during the space of a few hours.
To understand what a REACTION is - false conversion

IMPORTANCE: In the revival at De Kalb we see people converted on the spot, and spontaneously during a service. People instantly saved. People do not have to wait to be saved. At the same time, God does a special work through the faith of Christians through the spirit of prayer, to convert men on the spot. Here we see on the spot conversions because of that very thing - the spirit of prayer was wonderfully in operation in the Christians.

On the other hand, false conversions need to be prevented, which is what is called a REACTION: Revival At Utica T14
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=346#38
38 Such teaching as this was of course opposed by many; nevertheless it was greatly blessed by the Spirit of God. Formerly it had been supposed necessary that a sinner should remain under conviction a long time; and it was not uncommon to hear old professors of religion, say that they were under conviction many months, or years, before they found relief; and they evidently had the impression that the longer they were under conviction, the greater was the evidence that they were truly converted. We taught the opposite of this. I insisted that if they remained long under conviction, they were in danger of becoming self-righteous, in the sense that they would think that they had prayed a great deal, and done a great deal to persuade God to save them; and that finally they would settle down with a false hope. We told them that under this protracted conviction, they were in danger of grieving the Spirit of God away, and when their distress of mind ceased, a REACTION would naturally take place; they would feel less distress, and perhaps obtain a degree of comfort, from which they were in danger of inferring that they were converted; that the bare thought that they were possibly converted, might create a degree of joy, which they might mistake for Christian joy and peace; and that this state of mind might still farther delude them, by being taken as evidence that they were converted.

QUESTIONS:
What is the spirit of prayer?
What does it do?
Gives examples of the manifestations of this spirit.
Describe the scene of the conversions in the meeting house.
Have you ever seen people saved this way?
Do you expect people to be saved this way in your church?

FURTHER STUDY:
B06 The Spirit of Prayer.
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=18

Revival At Utica T14 #39 - Sudden Conversions
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=346#39
39 We tried thoroughly to dispose of this false teaching. We insisted then, as I have ever done since, on immediate submission, as the only thing that God could accept at their hands; and that all delay, under any pretext whatever, was rebellion against God. It became very common under this teaching, for persons to be convicted and converted, in the course of a few hours, and sometimes in the course of a few minutes. Such sudden conversions were alarming to many good people; and of course they predicted that the converts would fall away, and prove not to be soundly converted. But the event proved, that among those sudden conversions, were some of the most influential Christians that ever have been known in that region of country; and this has been in accordance with my own experience, through all my ministry.

Paper 225. [ANSWER IT] [PRINT] Monday July 6 2009 :
Salvation, True Christianity

OBJECTIVES: Overcoming the World - Becoming a Christian
Level One.
1. What it is to overcome the world
2. To know that Christians overcome the world - the proof of a Christian
3. Why Christians overcome - explaining the spiritual birth
4. How Christians overcome - How to become a Christian.

IMPORTANCE: Very few people actually know what it means to overcome the world. To start with, they do not know what the 'world' is. In the words of Jesus, 'In the WORLD ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the WORLD.' People have thought it to mean Jesus will return and destroy the physical world. Some believe it means we will be raptured, while others believe it means we will not fear death. Some feel they have to overcome the world by enduring sufferings, while others believe it means we will just about 'make it' through life. Many say it means we will take over the politics and money of the world. The result of these wide and varying views is that most people are really in a fog as to what overcoming the world really means, and so DO NOT OVERCOME. This is what makes this study important. Once we know WHAT it is, we shall answer the next natural questions - Who overcomes the world, is it Christians? Is this the proof of a Christian - someone who overcomes the world? If you have not overcome the world, do you have any right to call yourself a Christian? No matter how long you have belonged to a church or even preached the gospel - do you overcome the world? Ask yourself, Am I a Christian? and Why, and HOW do Christians do it?

SCRIPTURES: 'For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.' -- 1 John 5:4.

QUESTIONS:
I. What it is to overcome the world

1. What is the spirit of the world? What spirit possesses the men of the world? What is covetousness? Who is it that covets? What do they covet? How common is covetousness in worldly men? What happens to their minds? What is the first thing in overcoming the world? What does covetousness scramble after? If a man has not gotten over this scrambling, has he overcome the world at all?

2. What does it mean to be 'engrossed'? What is the condition of a worldly man? What is the condition of a man who has overcome the world? What forms of worldly good are worldly men concerned with? What is common to them all? Which forms of the world's pursuits must a man gain the victory over, to overcome the world? Which part of us does the world try to allure?

3. What is the fear of the world? The conscience sometimes opposes what is publically acceptable, true or false? What is the worldly businessman afraid of? What does love of reputation cause a person to do, if truth is unpopular? What does he fear it will do to his influence? Is it possible to maintain a good influence with lies? What influences are great multitudes under? Are they aware of it? What is the chief reason for backwardness in religion? Whose displeasure do the worldly fear more: the world's displeasure or God's displeasure? What is the result? Are they enslaved? What effect does this have on a minister? What do they fear? The church or christian society is weak - who does that minister fear in his church when he preaches? How many gospel ministers are troubled by this bondage to man? What is their policy, virtually? What, then, is overcoming the world?

4. What else does overcoming the world imply? What is 'worldly anxiety'? How common is it? What causes worldly anxiety? What are they afraid of? Who is the worldly man's enemy? What does a true child of God possess in his soul? What are worldly men incessantly in fever about? Do they ever get relief? How long does the relief last? What is sure to befall them at some point? How often do they have some corroding anxiety? How are their bosoms? What can be said then, of the man that overcomes the world?

5. If we are enslaved and in bondage to the world, in ANY of its forms, what does this imply? Can we have both a 'worldly spirit' and a 'heavenly spirit' at the same time? How can a man overcome the worldly spirit? What are the forms of the world we must overcome? How is fashion a 'goddess'? Where in the world is this goddess worshipped? What, then, does overcoming the world imply? What are the characteristics of one who has overcome the world? What does this person think of the good opinion of men, or the ill opinion of men? What did Paul say? What is the chief concern of every real Christian? Has anyone, who has NOT overcome the good opinion of men, overcome the world? What is the most striking and decisive feature of Christian character? Can this quality of christian character exist in the ministry? Do you know anyone of this character? Are there any ministers you know who do not seek to secure the applause of men, and who are not afraid of the censure of men? What is THIS minister at war against? Sin is popular, entrenched by custom, sustained by wealth and supported by public opinion - what does a minister who has overcome the world therefore have to do? The approach:- inflexible decision, mixed with mellowness and tenderness - would such an approach be complained about? What would the people dread about such a minister? What would they have to say about his spirit? What does it mean to be dead to the world? What state is the victorious Christian in? Who is he bound to?

II. Christians overcome the world - the proof of a Christian

If someone is born of God, what is the result? Is this true of ALL people who are born of God? Does anyone else, who is NOT born of God, overcome the world? What characteristic proves that someone is born of God?

III. Why Christians overcome - explaining the spiritual birth

What state do we come into through the natural birth? What state do we come into through the spiritual birth? How does coming into the world through natural birth result in bondage to the world? What does natural birth reveal to the mind? What does the mind naturally do? When the mind takes an interest in these objects of sense, what does it hope to acheive? Affections are choices of the will. What does our will become entwined around, objects of sense, or spiritual objects? What, then, do we become lovers of? How long does this take - months or years? Alongside this and to counteract this, how long does our moral nature (our reason and conscience) take to develop - days, months or years? Our reason and conscience develops ten times slower - the soul therefore comes so entirely under the control of what? When the reason and conscience DOES speak, what almost inevitably happens? What then become universally true, of all men? Is the bondage to the world ever broken in any other way than divine power, interposing? The physical and mental development of natural birth becomes the result of what?

The birth into the kingdom of God by the spirit works the same as the natural birth , to get our attention to spiritual things - true or false? Through the spiritual birth what are we brought into contact with? What two natures do we have? Is the spiritual world analagous to the physical world in the influences that act upon us? What become open to our view through the spiritual birth? How does this happen? What sort of eyes do we use? Is it a new world? Is it a different world to the natural? Is it a REAL world? When God reveals himself to the mind, what happens? When spiritual things are revealed and apprehended, what does the mind do? When the mind takes interest in these truths of God, what happens in a wicked man? What is characteristic of these truths that makes them so interesting, even to the wicked? What remains to be done in a sinner's heart for him to be converted? What sometimes happens to sinners deeply convicted of sin? Are convicted sinners aware of hell? Does this necessarily convert the sinner? What two things happen in real conversion? What is ardent LOVE for these truths? What is the 'warmth' that is spoken of? What was it, that drew that person before? But now what happens? What is his new state in his spirit? What remains in him? What does he continue to be? What is his tendency towards sin? What is the fruit of the seed of God?

What are the main differences between the first birth and the second birth? What can be said of the things connected with our spiritual nature? What do they enable us to overcome? What temper do each of the births produce? List more differences between the first and second birth.

IV. How Christians overcome - How to become a Christian.

Who is the great agent in us overcoming the world? What does faith of itself do? Do we overcome without faith? What is faith? Who do we believe? What do we need to have? Who is the Holy Ghost given to? What 3 things does faith imply? Why do we first need to perceive truth? Why does there need to be an INTEREST in truth? What does a 'voluntary committal of the mind' mean? What does one commit the mind to?

What 3 things does faith do with Christ? What does receiving Christ NOT involve? What DOES receiving Christ involve? What does this committal of the soul become? How do we receive Christ? Christ as 'King' - what does this mean? Where do we receive Christ to live? Where do some people stop short? What mistakes do people make so that they don't receive Christ? Do any of them result in giving the victory over the world? What is the true Bible doctrine of faith? Which scripture speaks of this? Some people are in a purblind state with respect to faith - explain. How frequent in the bible is the truth of 'God as Christ, dwelling in us'? Give examples of scriptures. If he is in our hearts, is there any place nearer to us than that? Whose power gives us victory over the world? Where is that power? What is the plan of sanctification? What should every Christian never fail to understand to have the victory over the world and to live in communion with the creator of our souls?

REMARKS

1. What is the inevitable result of faith receiving Christ into the soul? If a person has not overcome the world, what does this imply? Are there any exceptions to this rule? What does the new birth do? If Christ is in a soul, then what will happen? What will happen to the supreme affections (choices of will)? What will happen to the power of the world over that mind? What does Christ dwelling in a soul do? What is this equivalent to?

2. What is the definition of someone who is not born of God? Can a true Christian sometimes be overcome by sin? How often? Does a Christian sin, generally? Give an example of a scripture which affirms this. What does this scripture mean? Does the Christian sin uniformally? Does he make sin his business? Does he sin frequently, or occasionally? What is the general current of his life? Can we say about a Christian, that he is not a sinner? If a man only occassionaly slips and tells a lie, is it true to say, in general, that he is a liar? What is the general fact respecting the new born soul? Is it in bondage to Satan?

3. What is the thing which gives religion its value? What is the meaning of new birth? Is there any meaning in new birth if it fails to bring us into likeness with God? Does the new birth have any meaning if it still leaves us in bondage to the world and sin and Satan? Can any other religion, except one that purifies our hearts, make us fit for heaven?

4. Why have infidels proclaimed the gospel of Christ to be a failure? What does the Bible truly affirm? What does the infidel assume about the current Christianity of the age? What does the infidel prove in his estimation? What does the religion of the mass of nominal professors show? What is the evidence that religion comes from God? If it does not come from God, what is its value? Do the great mass of professed Christians overcome the world? Do they know this themselves? What do they testify? What do some ministers do to try and persuade their churches? Is this effort likely to succeed? What can be said of the ministers themselves? What did the prophet Jeremiah say? How do the great mass of professed Christians see the things of the world? How do they see the things of God? What are the things that set the people in YOUR church on fire and alive, the things of earth, or the things of heaven? What are the two extremes? When you go into your private prayer closet, do you hold communion with a real God, or is it just a theory? Can we really call you spiritually minded? Do you call yourself spiritual? What proof do you have?

5. What do we first need to do to make progress in converting the world? What is the first reason - to do with the church? What is the second reason, when dealing with intelligent men of the world? What does the gospel bring a remedy for? How can we make thinking men prize the gospel as of great value?

6. Are infidels really honest in their assertion that the gospel is a failure? Do they know any true Christian? What do infidels do when trying to prove the gospel is a failure, and the Bible a fabrication? What conviction lies deep in their hearts? What does God do in his providence to rebuke those wicked men of their sin and skepticism? Describe the wicked man of the south in Finney's example. What must always come upon wicked men? When in trouble, who did he call in? Why did he not call his minister? What did his minister do with him? Where does the skeptic need to be, to learn to be honest all at once? What cured him of his skepticism? What will he say, as to whether he knows a real Christian? Did he know this before? Why didn't he say so before?

7. What do the great mass of professing Christians try to do? What do they lack? Describe their religion. Do they love the truth they profess to believe? What does love of the truth prove? What do they think? What do they lack in their soul? To what extent could their zeal lead them, without a care for souls? What do their hearts lack? What do their nerves lack? What can be said of the faces of true Christians? Are they at the prayer meeting? What do divine things do to them? What is a living Christian? What is the decisive characteristic of true religion? What is its vital essence?

OBJECTIVES: True Saints - What Is A True Christian?
Level One
To clearly identify and define what a true Christian is
To separate the wheat from the chaff
To really discern who is true and who is false
To know ourselves - to be encouraged if we are true, to be discouraged if not
To know who to instruct and how

IMPORTANCE: Very little preaching clearly defines what a Christian is, or what a Christian distinctly feels or behaves. Some people do not think there is any differnce between true and false - others do not believe there is such a thing as a 'True Saint'. We need to know, as we would divide between soul and spirit. The reason why will be revealed below, as we get light into the real differences between true and false - above mere excitement or church attendance. Secondly, there is a natural resistance in professing Christians to be honest about themselves. We need to recognise their retorts, especially when we reprove them.

QUESTIONS:
INTRODUCTION
How many classes of professing Christians exist? List them. How may these classes be known? What is the real difference? What do they all profess? When observing some of them, what becomes manifest? May we observe them? What is the leading aim and object of those who wish to make God their servant? Why do they wish to have the favour of God?

I. Is there a certain class of persons who are true saints? Whose true friends are they? How may we know?

1. What is the attitude in a true saint towards sin? Will a true servant of God cover up his sins? What is his attitude towards the sins of others? What does he aim at? Is every true saint perfect? What if he fails, what does he do? Does he blame God? How do some people blame God?

2. How do true saints view the sins of others? How do some people view the sins of others? Why are true sains indignant at sin?

3. In what other thing does the true saint reveal himself? Whose honour and interest is he promoting? What can this be compared with? What happens when a true child sees his father disobeyed and abused? Many who profess Christianity are zealous for their own character. How does this show itself? What is the difference between them and a true saint? What is the true saint more engaged in?

4. What are God's feelings towards man? What are the feelings of the true saint? What do they have in common? Describe this feeling. How is this feeling different to 'constitutional' sympathy? What is 'constitutional' sympathy? Give an example of this natural sympathy. What is the type of sympathy that the true saint feels? How is it mixed? Why does he feel this way? What are the two kinds of love? Which kind of love does God feel towards sinners? Do Christians have the same feelings? When do Christians feel right? What will the true saint manifest? What did Jesus manifest? Do true saints feel sorry for sinners? Why, or why not? What accompanies their feelings at the same time?

5. What is the aim of true saints towards sinners? What is their natural aim when with them, or praying for them? How is this natural? What would a true patriot do? What would a true child do? What would they do if anyone was in enmity with their father? What is the PROMINENT feature of the life of the true saint? What is the leading feature of YOUR character? What is the fundamental characteristic of true piety? Can appearances of religion make up for this? What can be said of the apostles of Jesus Christ? What is the leading feature of your life as it appears in your daily walk? Do you have the true love of God in you? What is the proof?

6. True saints avoid everything that prevents what? Are they questioning whether God forbids, or are their eyes on higher things? What are their eyes always on? What governs true saints, fear of the commands of God, or desire for the salvation of men? What criteria do they use to judge a thing? Give an illustration of where some people would object to change because 'God does not expressly forbid it'. What would be the right course to take, in your illustration? Would there be any danger in true saints doing anything to hinder salvation?

7. What distresses true saints most of all? What do they expect of the church? Give some examples of distracting things. What are true saints unsatisfied with? What makes their hearts uneasy? What is the only thing of importance? What effect will everything else have, without salvation? How do other people in the church view these true saints? What will the minister feel? What do true saints reprove the church of? How does the church reply? But WHY are the hearts and souls of true saints grieved and in agony?

8. Who do true saints pray mostly for? What can be said of someone who prays mainly for himself? What will that selfish person pray mainly for? What is the burden of prayers in the true saint? What is his favorite topic? What are the different types of prayer meeting? When true saints DO pray for themselves, what do they pray for? How is it with YOUR prayers? Do you pray mostly for yourself, or for sinners? What is the spirit of Christ? What sort of prayers do some people do? Are these prayers acceptable to God? Is that man a true friend of God and man?

9. Do true saints continually ask what they are required to do to convert sinners? What do they need to get them going? What is their leading motive, fear of the commands of God, or desire for the salvation of sinners? What sort of enterprises save souls?

10. What does 'giving' mean? What is the aim of self-denial? What is the spirit of Christ? How does the true saint find happiness? In doing good to others, what things are we often called to deny ourselves from?

11. What are true saints busy devising all the time? What, on the other hand, are other people satisfied with? What is the aim of other people? When are they satisfied? What is the leading object of true saints? When is the true saint able to rest?

12. What condition of the church grieves the true saint? Why does this grieve him? How may other people be deceived? What things do people in the church go after, which proves the church is asleep?

13. What type of preaching occurs where the church is asleep? What type of preaching is needed? What does the true saint feel? What type of preaching do other people like? What is the only type of preaching the true saint likes?

14. What is the response of a true saint to a pointed, cutting minister who cuts across the worldliness of a backslidden church in his sermons? How is the soul of the true saint fed? How does the true saint pray for such a minister? What do other people say towards such a minister? Why would the true saint stand with this minister?

15. How can people be deceived about the effectiveness of a sermon? What type of sermon suits the true saint? What effect should it have on the church to satisfy the true saint? What is the best test to see someone's character? In the judgment they pass upon preaching, what can we learn? What are the characteristics of the sermon which pleases the true saint?

16. Are true saints really ever satisfied with themselves? Why, or why not? Is there any end to their longing for the conversion of sinners? What is sometimes the result of their praying so often and so frequently? What do true saints need strength for?

17. How do you motivate a true saint? What is it about sinners that moves a true saint? What, on the other hand, would be an appeal to his 'hopes and fears'? What object should you roll onto the true saint to get his attention? What will be the result?

FINALLY
Now I ask you before God, what is your character? Are you a true saint? Can you honestly say that you have these characteristics? If not, what right do you have to claim that you are a Christian? Which of these 17 characteristics belong to you? Are these evidences against you? Can you say before God, that these are the features of your character?

Paper 212. [ANSWER IT] [PRINT] Tuesday July 7 2009 :
Evangelism, Preaching, Revival Means

OBJECTIVES: Practicals - Preaching as an Evangelist
To learn what we must do to spread the gospel in the country.
To see how a revival develops and to have faith for one in our evangelism.

REQUIRED STUDY: 1 HOUR
T08 Revival at Antwerp
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=340

MEANS TO PROMOTE REVIVAL T13 #5
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=345#5
I have said before, that the means that I had all along used, thus far, in promoting revivals, were much prayer, secret and social, public preaching, personal conversation, and visitation from house to house; and when inquirers became multiplied, I appointed meetings for them, and invited those that were inquiring to meet for instruction, suited to their necessities. These were the means and the only means, that I had thus far used, in attempting to secure the conversion of souls.

IMPORTANCE: Very few people know what to do, when coming to a new place as a preacher, where there are no meeting held and very little knowledge of the Lord. This will teach how to start missionary work, especially in the country.

QUESTIONS:
I.
1. What inquiries should we make as soon as we enter a neighbourhood?
2. What should our aims be respecting the existing meetings?
3. Where does the glory of God reside?
4. What does the state of God's house tell us about a neighbourhood?
5. How should we call people to come to meeting? What should our aim be?
6. In establishing meeings, what preparation should we make?
7. What should we do if the atmosphere is 'poison'?
8. How does God speak to us?
9. What is the effect on us when God talks?
10. Why are Christians sometimes afraid?
11. What is the effect of God's word on a community, for example, circulating an invitation to meeting?
12. When praying, do we always get an answer at once? If not, what should we do?
13. When preaching, how should we address the people? What should we preach? What should we do?
14. When pouring out our soul to the people, how will it effect them?
15. What are the signs of revival?
16. How does news of revival spread?
17. What is the distinct characteristic of revival preaching?
18. How does a preacher sometimes feel? Should we be afraid to speak the truth?
19. What is key to revival?
20. When we secure a general conviction in a neighbourhood, what is the result?

II.
1. How should an evangelist appoint his meeting?
2. How should evangelists invite people? To what should people be invited?
3. If God is with us, what will happen to the meeting houses?
4. What is the spirit of prayer? When we receive it, what is the result in our praying?
5. What can sometimes happen when preaching is direct? How do people respond?
6. What change in a meeting happens when the spirit of God descends?
7. What physical manifestation could happen when the shock of the Holy Spirit happens?
8. What is proof that such is a move of God?
9. What sort of conviction to people have?
10. What makes a true minister joyful?
11. How does one direct the excitement towards salvation?
12. What effect could the Holy Spirit have on a meeting, in terms of when the meeting ends?
13. What is the effect on the souls?
14. How does God make the sermon meet the circumstances? What coincidence happened with Finney?
15. If it is a move of God, what will the long-term result be?
16. What creates sound converts and a permanent and genuine work?

III.
1. What level of opposition did the universalists show? Why do men do so?
2. How did Finney deal with the universalists?
3. What did the deacon do when he heard how plainly Finney would deal with them?
4. How did Finney overcome the opposition?
5. How are converts admitted into the church?
6. Is the mode of baptism important? How did Finney baptize the people?

IV.
1. Methodists have a different emphasis to Presbyterians. What do Presbyterians emphasize?
2. What are the 8 points to bring out when teaching the doctrine of Election?
3. What would the natural result be in the minds of the people when this course is taken?
4. How was the Methodist sister convicted? Did she have a prejudice? What objection did she have to the doctrine of Election?

V.
1. What is the result of revival on the unconverted? What can sometimes happen with those who are in despair over false doctrine?
2. What led the insane woman into despair and insanity? What was her lamentation about?
3. How did the spirit of prayer come to Finney's aid?
4. What did Finney see to be the necessary course to take with the people?
5. How did Finney build up their faith for this insane woman?
6. What happened to the insane woman? What restored her sanity?
7. How was she converted? What did she manifest? What was her testimony? How long did her conversion last?
8. How was the second woman's sanity restored?
9. What have revivals been accused of doing? In reality, what do revivals do for men?

FURTHER STUDY:
http://www.charlesfinney.com/basics.htm
Read through the section on EVANGELISM

Practical Work of a Pastor #7 - Visiting
http://www.box.net/shared/fz4ibz5a51
Often people do not realise the work of a pastor also involves visiting. To a great extent, the success of the ministy of the pulpit depends on visiting. An evangelist does not just walk up to the pulpit and preach. Much preparation in the neighbourhood is required first.

OBJECTIVES: The Real Bible
To learn the history of the Bible
And to know why this is important

IMPORTANCE: Very few people actually know where the bible came from, and hence they can easily be told ANYTHING by every wayward teacher. There is indeed an enemy to beware of, and he will take every advantage of our ignorance that he can.

This study is made even more important by the fact that false stories have already been circulated, and have entered the higher institute of ministerial training. So people may trust in authority without actually looking into it themselves.

Futhermore, accurate information on this topic is amazingly scarce, and the enemies of the word will obviously make little effort to preserve the knowledge of this history.

It therefore becomes us to learn this history for ourselves, to preserve it, and to pass it on.

QUESTIONS:
I. Conspiracy During the Reformation
1. Why do we use the King James Bible?
2. List the 16 verses which modern bibles have removed.
3. Why is it not possible that additions were made to the King James Bible?
4. Who created the manuscripts of the King James Bible, according to publishers of modern bibles?
5. Who was the real editor of the text of the bible, known as the 'Received Text'?
6. What did Erasmus alledgedly do? When did he die?
7. Why do they say it was Erasmus?
8. What is the main stumbling block to the idea that Erasmus created additional verses?
9. How many years after Erasmus' death were the verse divisions of the bible created?
10. If verses were added by accident by Erasmus, how easily would Stephens have identified those? How probable would it be? Is it a coincidence that he did in fact identify the additions?
11. Is this idea that Erasmus added verses before verse divisions were created confirmed by any modern publication? Which one?
12. If verses were already numbered in sequence in 1551, ie. 1, 2, 3, 4... could anyone easily insert a verse without it being noticed after 1551? What does this say as to when verses were added (if any)?
13. Verse divisions are confirmed not to correspond to any logical sentence or paragraph. Whatever logic WAS used in creating the verse divisions must have been shared by Erasmus and Stephens. True or false? What does this imply, mistake or conspiracy?
14. Either there was a conspiracy between Erasmus and Stephens, or there were no verses removed from the Bible. True or false?
15. What circumstances of Stephens makes the conspiracy between Erasmus and Stephens even less likely?

II. Modern Bibles
1. Why does every modern bible have the same verses removed? What is a 'modern bible'?
2. Which bible relies on the original greek source?
3. What logical consequence is there, if a manuscript has not all the verses intact? Are the manuscripts forged?
4. Can a forged document be relied on for anything?
5. List the 19 verses from which the name of Jesus is removed.
6. What would be God's view of us, if we knowingly used a bible which has been intentionally altered?

III. The Importance of the Bible
1. Why is the King James Version known as the 'Authorised' Version?
2. What do translators of other bible base their work on?
3. What is the name of the true manuscript?
4. For how many years has the King James bible survived on its own to the English speaking world?
5. Where do the false manuscripts come from?
6. Who first used them? What are the two false manuscripts called?
7. How important is it that not even one word of the Bible gets changed? Why is this important?
8. What is the Bible? Is it God's word? If so, what does this mean about the text being changed?
9. What do modern bible publishers attack?
10. What is the logic used by modern bible publishers? Why is this logic defective?
11. What does the statement of faith of any church invariably say first of all?
12. Now that you know that there is a true manuscript and a false manuscript, do the statements of faith that you have seen clearly state which of these two is the correct manuscript to use?
13. Does it state which of the two is the original bible? Does it state that there is an original bible in existence today?
14. What is the result of this implication that there is no original bible?
15. Name at least three well-known bible versions which have the 16 verses removed. How do some of these versions then develop further, using the King James Bible?

IV. Bible Societies
1. What happened to the Bible Societies in 1946? What was the reason given to unite all the bible societies together under one head?
2. Which were the two main Bible Societies which joined this movement? When were they originally founded?
3. The United Bible Societies now has a global alliance of at least how many bible societies?
4. How are bible societies organised? Does each country have one bible society? Who do they answer to?
5. How many languages has the United Bible Societies translated their bibles into? How many bibles have been distributed worldwide?
6. What is the name of the United Bible Societies bible text?
7. What is the problem with this text?

V. The Modern Age
1. What effect has modern or 'new-age' thought had on the way bibles are being translated today?
2. What is the name of one of these bibles?
3. At least how many modern English versions of the bible exist today - 4, 10 or 30?
4. What is the result of having so many bible translations to choose from?
5. What do bible publishers do to make the variety of bibles even more extensive?
6. What are some of the names of these bibles with commentaries? Why do they make them?

PART 2

I. What are the two factions that oppose the truth? Who are they? What will they do? What will be their final destiny? Which prophecies tell us about them?

II. The Old Testament
1. Who first published a printed edition of the Hebrew Old Testament? When was it published? What was it based on? What was it called?
2. What was this manuscript used to produce?
3. What does 'masorete' mean?
4. How was the meaning and integrity of the scriptures preserved? When was this?
5. What do modern translations base their Old Testaments on?
6. Who was Ben Asher? When did he produce his system of vowel marking?
7. What does Tyndale House Cambridge Bible faculty say regarding Ben Asher and Ben Chayyim?
8. Give the name of one bible translation which Tyndale House supports. Which church uses this translation?
9. When was the Ben Asher manuscript said to have been created? What is its full name?

III. The German Bible Society
1. What is the United Bible Societies text also known as?
2. Who owns the copyright of this text, which is used to translate bibles worldwide today?
3. When was it accepted worldwide? World War II was a war over the bible - how true is this?
4. Where did the United Bible Societies come from?
5. What happened to the Old Testament in 1937 just before the war? Who was responsible? What was his name?
6. Who controls the United Bible Societies text, which dictates which text is to be used in every national bible society globally?
7. What is name of the latest production of the German Bible Society?
8. How is the extermination of the Jews of World War II so related to the replacing of the Old Testament?

IV. The Jesuits
1. Who did the United Bible Societies hire after World War II to oversee their text? What position does he hold in the Roman Catholic Church? What is the name of the order he belongs to within the Roman Catholic Church?
2. What are the fundamentals of Roman Catholic Theology?
3. What bad things have Catholics done to Jews in the past? Who made the Jews wear yellow badges during the Spanish Inquisition? Who else made Jews wear yellow badges in World War II?
4. Was World War II a modern inquisition? What fruits did it bear respecting the Old Testament?

V. King James
1. Was King James the king of England when the King James bible was produced?
2. Apart from the King James Bible, what well-known plot was uncovered which involved the British parliament? When?
3. Who was Guy Fawkes acting under? What order did Henry Garnet belong to, within the Roman Catholic Church?
4. Who would have been the victim of this plot? What would have happened to the King James Bible if the plot succeeded?
5. What happened to Guy Fawkes and his conspirators?

VI. Biblia Hebraica
1. Which was the first printed edition of the Hebrew Old Testament, Ben Asher or Ben Chayyim?
2. Since which year has every bible translator used Ben Chayyim? And until When?
3. What manuscripts did Biblia Hebraica promote in 1937? Who was it by? In 1906 and 1912 Biblia Hebraica had used which manuscript?
4. What does Biblia Hebraica now do with its footnotes? Is this the basis of the modern translations?
5. At least how many changes to the Old Testament do the footnotes in Biblia Hebraica suggest - 100, 1000 or 20,000?
6. What are the names of more recent editions of Biblia Hebraica? What years were they produced?
7. What are the false New Testament variants of the United Bible Societies NU-Text called?
8. In What forms does the Ben Asher text come to us? What are the several editions of the same text? Who backs these editions?

VII. The Manuscripts
1. What is the original manuscript of Ben Asher called? When was it dated? When did it begin to be used?
2. What had been used before this? For how long?
3. Who discovered it? Where was it discovered? When? When did he receive permission to reproduce it? What happened since that time?
4. When was the New Testament manuscript discovered which was used to make the Modern Bibles? What was it called? Where was it discovered? Who claimed to discover it?
5. What evidence seems to contradict this? How?
6. Whose word do we have to rely upon for the authenticity of Vaticanus?
7. Who first used this manuscript in 1881?
8. If it is not authentic then it must have been forged. True or False?
9. How is Vaticanus said to be from Egypt? What is the connection with Egypt? What happened in 1844?
10. Where was the second New Testament manuscript discovered? What is it called?

VIII. What is preventing people from staying with the original manuscripts used for centuries? What will be the result of unbelief?

Paper 179. [ANSWER IT] [PRINT] Monday July 6 2009 :
True Christianity, Evangelism

OBJECTIVES: Warn Sinners Faithfully
Level One - True Christianity
To learn the personal responsibility to warn sinners
To have a conscience void of offence before God and man
To avoid backbiting and criticism
To temper harsh rebukes

IMPORTANCE: There is one responsibility which everyone tends to forget, including Christians. And yet is is the one responsibility which will keep our consciences void of offence. It is the responsibility to warn sinners who we see sinning.
1. Why should we warn sinners?
2. Who is required to warn sinners?
3. Are there any cases where we should not warn sinners?
4. How should we warn sinners?
5. Which are the particularly important sins to warn against?

SCRIPTURES: 'Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him.'---Leviticus 19:17

QUESTIONS:
I. Why should we warn sinners?
1. What is the leading motive for us warning sinners? Who do we come in defence of?
2. Love to the universe entails seeking its happiness. How are we promoting everyone's happiness by warning sinners? What makes it natural for Christians to warn sinners?
3. What is our responsibility to the community? What does love to our community naturally lead us to do? What is the 'good' of society?
4. Who is your neighbour? What does sin do to any sinner? Should we love our neighbour? How do we show that we love him? Would it be natural to warn a man to escape for his life from a burning house? What is even more important than this?
5. If we do not warn sinners, what can be said of us? What can this be compared with? What will the sinner lose if he continues to sin?
6. Who do we rebel against when we refuse to warn sinners? How is this so?
7. Are we responsible for what the sinner will lose if we do not warn him? How do we show that we consent with his sins? What is the common law respecting someone who is silent when he knows someone is about to commit murder? What did God say to Ezekiel if he did not warn sinners? Is the same applicable today?
8. What does our silence encourage? What does the sinner infer from our silence?
9. What good result may occur through our warning of a sinner? To speak, reprove and pray may have what effect?
10. What if there are no prospects of saving the individual sinner we are to warn - should we still warn him? Why, or why not?
11. How strong is God's instruction for us to warn sinners? How can we tell? What does God TELL us would be our part in the sin, if we do not warn the sinner? What is the maxim of common law regarding an 'accessory'?
12. What does it imply to live conscientiously toward God and man? How does the need for warning sinners impact on the life of the Church? What does their conscience tell them? And yet what do multitudes do? What is the effect? Is it true that they have double guilt?
13. What is the coming reality for all sinners and Christians in the judgment? How are Christians to prepare for judgment? If Christians have not warned sinners, will they be prepared for judgment? Can you mention cases you have NOT warned, and now it is too late?
14. If you say you love God and yet you don't really mean it, would you be ready to spend eternity with him? Would you be able to honestly say to him that you have faithfully warned your neighbour of his sin by all means?

II. Who is required to warn sinners?

III. Are there exceptions as to who we should warn?
1. What is a scorner? What would be the result of warning him?
2. To some people, talking to them about their sins would be at once irrational and dangerous. Why is this the case? How should we judge? How many people fall into this catagory?
3. What do we mean by 'people in a settled state of self-righteousnenss?' How can we tell people are in this state? Are ALL the people in your acquaintence of this character?

IV. How should we warn sinners?
1. What does it mean to warn sinners 'in the name of the Lord'? Whose law has the sinner broken? Who has the sinner offended? What could the sinner mistake your warning to mean? What would be the result from him, if he thinks you have a personal quarrel with him?
2. How do you make the sinner feel it is a serious thing?
3. How could the warning vary from case to case?
(i) How would a child warn a parent? an Elder? Should servants warn their masters? In what manner? Is any servant excused from warning a superior? Whose law makes it imperative that ALL are warned?
(ii) In what cases should warning be more severe? What are the different methods of warning sinners?
(iii) If a sinner has sinned several times, how should the warning be, compared to a first offence?
(iv) If a sinner has been WARNED several times, how should the warning be? What happens every time a sinner resists a warning? What does this case call for?
4. What can be said about our TEMPER when we warn sinners? Should we express our displeasure? How?
5. What other help do we need when warning sinners? How will the Holy Spirit help?
6. What are the different WAYS of warning sinners? There are difficult cases. Using Finney's example of the sea captain, what is the best way to deal with hard cases?
7. What are bigger ways to warn sinners against particular sins in society? Give examples.

V. Give examples of particular sins where widespread warning is needed.
1. Is 'sabbath breaking' when people do not go to church? How quickly would it take to root out such sins if the church were united?
2. How does 'rum selling' or alcohol vending ruin society? Is it a 'trade of death'?
3. Give examples of lewdness in society. What should Christians do in these cases? What means can be used?
4. What forms of slavery exist today? What other sins in society need to be warned against by Christians? What can you say about Christian Education and Bible instruction and prayer in Schools?

VI. What are some of the difficulties in warning sinners?
1. Should we warn against sin when there is no prospect of doing good? Explain.
2. Should we warn strangers of their sins?
3. Should we warn someone who is drunk? In what cases would it be proper?
4. Should we warn Great people and superiors in society?

REMARKS
1. What is the common mistake made when aware of other people's sins?
2. How many Christans are conscientious to warn sinners? What is the result in Christians who do not?
3. What is another result of living in habitual neglect to this express command of God to warn sinners?
4. What PREVENTS people from warning sinners?
5. How is it our business to warn other people? Are we meddling in other people's business unrightfully? Why is it our right to get involved? Why is it our concern in the case of a 'rum seller'?
6. What is preventing many people from being converted? What is YOUR commitment?

OBJECTIVES: Slaying in the Spirit
To understand the true 'slaying in the spirit'
Level One - True Christianity

IMPORTANCE: Being slain in the Spirit is a term used within charismatic Christianity. It describes a religious behaviour in which an individual falls to the floor. This usually happens during an event they perceive as a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit, often associated with the practice of laying on of hands.
There are cases in the Bible of being physically prostrated to the ground. These biblical examples have been used by some people to wholly defend the practice, without discerning individual cases. Others have totally rejected the practice in view of the results of some objectionable cases.
How are we to discern between the true and the false?
Should we wholly defend the practice?
Should we wholly REJECT the practice?
How shall we know which are those genuine cases and which are not?
And what is the importance of knowing the difference?

SCRIPTURES: There are 5 different cases in the Scriptures:
1. VOLUNTARY FALLING TO PRAY AND WORSHIP - Genesis 17:3, Joshua 5:14
2. VOLUNTARILY IN AWE BY DIVINE PRESENCE - Numbers 22:31, Judges 13:20, Ezekiel 1:28, Ezekiel 3:23, Ezekiel 43:3, Ezekiel 44:4, Daniel 8:17 and Matthew 17:6
3. INVOLUNTARY FALLING - John 18:4-6
4. OVERWHELMED BY DIVINE PRESENCE - 1 Kings 8:10-11, Daniel 8:27, Daniel 10:8-11 (possibly implied), Acts 9:3-4 (also Acts 26:14) and Revelation 1:17
5. FALLING FROM AN ENCOUNTER OF DEVILS BEING CAST OUT - Mark 3:11, Mark 9:20 and Luke 8:28

QUESTIONS:
1. Give examples of people who were physically prostrated in the Bible.
2. What are the characteristics of the true 'slaying in the spirit'? What are the manifestations of the false? What are the results on the mind of the false? How can you verify that a slaying is not counterfeit?
3. What is the CAUSE of the true manifestation? What do you suppose would happen in the departed spirits of the just? What would be the cause?
4. But what would be disastrous?
5. Are external means used to cause people to be slain? Under what circumstances did they occur in the Biblical accounts?
6. But what would boistrous, vociferous preaching produce?
7. How would the excitement produced by the Holy Ghost differ?
8. What is the kind of excitement that we need?
9. How easy is it to discriminate between types of excitement?
10. Is it possible to confuse the two different types of excitement?
11. What are the two extremes that people take in response to the difficulty of discerning?
12. How important is it to distinguish, between things of this nature that differ?
13. How should we ENQUIRE into cases of extraordinary excitement?
14. How can we immediately tell whether it is true or false?
15. Which type of excitement is to be feared?
16. If people profess to be converted under this type of excitement, what will be the result?

ILLUSTRATION

1. Have you personally witnessed a case of objectionable excitement similar to Finney's illustration? Give your experience. How did Finney discern that this was highly objectionable?
2. Is this to be sometimes expected in revivals? What are some reasons that may prompt this wrong type of excitement?
3. What should our response be? Should we publically reject it, or go in private and speak to the individuals?

Paper 129. [ANSWER IT] [PRINT] Friday July 17 2009 :
Doctrine, Spirit of Prayer, Revival Means

OBJECTIVES: Revival Practicals - Preaching the Doctrine of Salvation
i. To understand the doctrines we must preach to promote salvation and a revival
ii. To understand that the Lord always pours out his spirit in response to this doctrine.
iii. To understand the Justice of Endless Punishment and the Atonement, and how these two go hand in hand.
We will begin by answering:
1. Why do people believe in the limited view of the Atonement?
2. What exactly IS the limited view of the Atonement?
3. What is the problem with this view?
4. How do the ungodly (Universalists) take advantage of this view?
5. Does Jesus Christ obey the law for us?
6. In the Gospel, is the necessity of personal holiness set aside?
7. Which doctrines logically flow from a nature sinful in itself?
8. Finney blamed sinners for their sins. Why did this shock people?
9. Should people pray for a new heart?
10. What is stopping people from having a new heart?
11. Sinners are to leave the question of their salvation up to God. What are they to do in the meantime: (1) Pray, or (2) Repent?

IMPORTANCE: Few people realize that the repeated revivals in Finney's day were a direct result of the doctrines he consistently preached, which were different to those commonly preached at the time. The same situation exists today. In this exercise, we understand exactly what those doctrines are which God blessed by pouring out the spirit of prayer, allowing Finney to experience repeated revivals. We must never get the idea that the revivals were a sovereign act of God which had nothing to do with the doctrines. A few revivals perhaps may happen by chance, but with Finney, revivals happened one after the other, over and over again, throughout his whole life.

Quoting Finney from one of his earlier Testimonials of Revival T06:
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=338#16
'16 The doctrines preached were those which I have always preached as the Gospel of Christ. I insisted upon the voluntary total moral depravity of the unregenerate; and the unalterable necessity of a radical change of heart by the Holy Ghost, and by means of the truth.
17 I laid great stress upon prayer as an indispensable condition of promoting the revival. The atonement of Jesus Christ, His divinity, His divine mission, His perfect life, His vicarious death, His resurrection, repentance, faith, justification by faith, and all the kindred doctrines, were discussed as thoroughly as I was able, and pressed home, and were manifestly made efficacious by the power of the Holy Ghost.
18 The means used were simply preaching, prayer and conference meetings, much private prayer, much personal conversation, and meetings for the instruction of earnest inquirers. These, and no other means, were used for the promotion of that work. '

The ERRORS into which the inquirers fell in the same Testimonial:
'23 I have spoken of the doctrines preached. I should add, that I was obliged to take much pains in giving instruction to inquirers. The practice had been, I believe, universal, to set anxious sinners to praying for a new heart, and to using means for their own conversion. The directions they received either assumed or implied that they were very willing to be Christians, and were taking much pains to persuade God to convert them. I tried to make them understand that God was using the means with them, and not they with Him; that God was willing, and they were unwilling; that God was ready, and they were not ready. In short, I tried to shut them up to present faith and repentance, as the thing which God required of them, present and instant submission to His will, present and instant acceptance of Christ. I tried to show them that all delay was only an evasion of present duty; that all praying for a new heart, was only trying to throw the responsibility of their conversion upon God; and that all efforts to do duty, while they did not give their hearts to God, were hypocritical and delusive.'

From another Testimonial of Revival T10:
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=342#49
'49 The doctrines preached in promoting that revival, were those that I have preached everywhere. The total moral, voluntary depravity of unregenerate man; the necessity of a radical change of heart, through the truth, by the agency of the Holy Ghost; the divinity and humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ; His vicarious atonement, equal to the wants of all mankind; the gift, divinity and agency of the Holy Ghost: repentance, faith, justification by faith, sanctification by faith; persistence in holiness as a condition of salvation; indeed all the distinctive doctrines of the Gospel, were stated and set forth with as much clearness, and point, and power, as were possible to me under the circumstances. A great spirit of prayer prevailed; ...'

God pours out his spirit by giving the spirit of prayer to Christians. This is described in Testimonial 11 (T11):
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=343#23
'23 I have said, more than once, that the spirit of prayer that prevailed in those revivals was a very marked feature of them. It was common for young converts to be greatly exercised in prayer; and in some instances, so much so, that they were constrained to pray whole nights, and until their bodily strength was quite exhausted, for the conversion of souls around them. There was a great pressure of the Holy Spirit upon the minds of Christians; and they seemed to bear about with them the burden of immortal souls. They manifested the greatest solemnity of mind, and the greatest watchfulness in all their words and actions. It was very common to find Christians, whenever they met in any place, instead of engaging in conversation, to fall on their knees in prayer.'

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF REVIVAL T17 #21
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=349#21
21 As elsewhere, the striking characteristics of this revival, were a mighty spirit of prevailing prayer; overwhelming conviction of sin; sudden and powerful conversions to Christ; great love and abounding joy of the converts, and their great earnestness, activity, and usefulness in their prayers and labors for others.

QUESTIONS:
I. THE ATONEMENT
1. What was the topic of the long conversation Finney had with his pastor? What view did his pastor have of the Atonement? Who was the atonement made for, according to his Pastor? How long did this conversation last?
2. What did his pastor say Jesus suffered for? What was this suffering for? On what score did Jesus thus suffer? What was Finney's objection? What was Finney's reasoning? Why did it seem impossible to Finney?
3. What did his pastor insist was true? According to his pastor, what debt did Jesus pay? What, according to him, did Jesus satisfy? To Finney, what did Jesus satisfy? Why?
4. Was Finney experienced in Theology at the time? How could Finney rightly make such objections then? What method of bible interpretation did Finney use? Is the 'common sense' method acceptable? What was Finney's view of the way his pastor interpreted the bible?
5. What was his pastor's response to Finney? What did Finney appear to be to him? Who did Finney assert the atonement was made for? Who did his pastor limit the atonement to? Why did Finney not accept this view? What was the problem?
6. When Finney urged his objections, did his pastor reply satisfactorily? What was Finney's first objection, to do with God's requirement to repent, believe the gospel and be saved? How did his pastor answer? What was the problem with this answer?
7. Which two schools of thought did they discuss, upon the subject of the Atonement? What preparation did Finney have to enter upon this discussion?
8. What concern did his pastor express through this discussion being renewed over and over again? Did his pastor believe Finney was truly converted? But what was his pastor's greatest desire?
9. What did his pastor say God would do to Finney if he continued to resist his views? What higher evidence does God give that someone is preaching the truth? What higher evidence did Finney have that God did not support his pastor's doctrines?
10. Why did his pastor never preach on the atonement in his church? What did his church not embrace? Did Finney and his pastor discuss other theological questions additional to the atonement?

II. THE SPIRIT OF PRAYER
Describe the experiences of the spirit of prayer in the young converts when they agreed to pray. What is a sign that revival is at hand?

III. THEOLOGICAL STUDIES WITH FINNEY'S TEACHER
1. What was the Old School doctrine that Finney's teacher held to? What did this doctrine assert? What did his teacher say men were utterly unable to do? What did his teacher say men COULD freely do? What did his teacher say men COULD NOT freely do? What had God condemned men for? What else did he say men were guilty of? Because of this, what did he say they deserved?
2. What did Finney's teacher say about the nature of the influences of the spirit of God? What role do men play in regeneration according to him? What idea do all these doctrines logically flow from?
3. Could Finney receive all these views? Which views could he not receive? How strongly did his teacher hold to these views? What attitude did he have towards Finney? What did his teacher repeatedly warn him about receiving the 'truth'? What 'truth' was this? What was Finney willing to believe?
4. How did Finney often feel when he came out from these discussions? What would he often say to himself? Did he ever think of giving up his studies? How did Finney overcome his difficulties? What background did the Elder who supported Finney have? How did Finney and this Elder overcome their differences? In spite of these original differences, what was the result? How did this Elder strengthen Finney? What did Finney decide out of this? What temptations and struggles did Finney face? What support did the Elder give? What did they cry out to God for? What sacrifice did the Elder make? What support could YOU give to someone you know? How did the Elder help Finney later on when Finney was in the ministry? What battles did Finney face? How did the Elder support him?
5. How did the subject of the atonement interest the people of the church? How long did Finney and his teacher discuss the atonement in front of the church? What was the result?

IV. ANSWERING THE UNIVERSALIST
1. How long was it into Finney's studies when the universalist came into the village? What did the universalist come into the village to do? What sort of people did he attract? How many people became 'shaken in their minds'? What were they shaken in mind about?
2. The pastor was too ill to reply anything to the universalist, so what did he and the church elders decide to do? What did they ask Finney to do? What was the great effort of the universalist? What did the universalist say about endless punishment? What was his reason? What was Finney's challenge? What was new to Finney? How did the Christian people respond to Finney's boldness? What was Finney confident about?
3. How many people attended Finney's lecture? What was the topic? How many evenings did Finney discuss this? What was the response to his presentation? What happened to the universalist's influence over the people as a result of the presentation?
4. What was the view of Finney's pastor again (Mr Gale)? According to this view, was the Atonement the LITERAL payment of debt? What are the principles upon which the elect are saved, according to this view? What had Christ fully answered, so far as they were concerned?
5. What did the universalist therefore do? What did he assume? What did he have to prove in order to show that all men would be saved? Why? What is the natural consequence of a LITERAL debt being paid? God cannot JUSTLY punish those whose debt was paid - does univeralism therefore rely on justice?
6. What was the response of the people to this approach of the universalist? What was easy for the universalist to prove? What assumption would make universal salvation the inevitable result? What happened to the people when they heard this from the universalist? What did Finney's pastor (Mr Gale) request?
7. What two grounds have to be settled for a complete view of salvation? What dilemma was Finney's pastor in? What did his pastor have to allow Finney to do? What did Finney and his pastor agree?
8. What was the subject of Finney's second set of lectures? How many lectures did he deliver? What did Finney succeed in showing? What is the differenct between (1) securing salvation by paying a LITERAL debt, and (2) making salvation POSSIBLE by a voluntary sacrifice? Does the atonement lay God under any OBLIGATION to save anybody? What did Finney show was NOT true about the sufferings of Christ? Is this consistent with the Bible? What DID Christ remove which was in the way? Did Christ make universal amnesty (1) obligatory, or (2) possible? What does Christ invite all men to do? What did Christ NOT satisfy? Meaning? What DID Christ satisfy? How did Christ honour the law, (1) by paying the debt, or (2) by his own obedience and sacrificial death? What is the basis of God pardoning sin? How is it 'safe' to forgive a sinner? What are the two conditions IN THE SINNER, to receive this forgiveness? What is the pre-required condition for forgiveness? Is Christ a CONDITION for forgiveness? Does Christ cancel sin? Does Christ pay the indebtedness of sinners?
9. Was this a satisfactory answer to the universalist? What was the result among the people? Who in particular was converted through these lectures of Finney? What was the response of Finney's pastor (Mr Gale)? What evidence was on Finney's side? What was Finney's pastor 'staggered' about? What surprised him? Why did his pastor re-evalue his views?

FURTHER STUDY:
Revival in Gouverneur (T10) - 1. Encounter with a Universalist doctor (#7) and 2. Discussion with a Deist (#18)

Justification By Faith (D05) - respecting the imputation of the obedience of Christ (#36)

Answers to Sinners (G06) #11 - to understand in what sense the sins of Adam are passed down to us:
11 '...children must be implicated in the good or ill conduct of their parents; their relation as children makes this absolutely unavoidable. Is it not wise and good that the happiness or misery of children should depend on their parents, and thus become one of the strongest possible motives to them to train them up in virtue? Yet it is true that the son is never rewarded or punished punitively for his parents' sins. The evil that befalls him through his connection with his parents is always disciplinary -- never punitive.'

The Scripture Revelation (G14) #25
25 You can never infer from the goodness of God that He can forgive; much less, that He must. One of the first Universalist preachers I ever heard announced in the outset that he should infer from the goodness of God that He would save all men. I can well remember how perfectly shallow his sophistry appeared to me and how absurd his assumptions. I was no Christian then, but I saw at a glance that he might far better infer from the goodness of God that He would forgive none than that He would forgive all. It seemed to me most clear that if God were good and had made a good law, He would sustain it. Why not? I must suppose that His law is a good one; how could a Being of infinite wisdom and love impose any other than a good law? And if it were a good law, it had a good end to answer; and a good God could not suffer it to fail of answering those ends by letting it come to naught through inefficiency in its administration. I knew enough about law and government then to see that a firm hand in administration is essential to any good results from ever so good a law. Of course I knew that if law were left to be trampled under foot by hardened, blasphemous transgressors, and then to cap the climax, an indiscriminate pardon were given, and nothing done to sustain law, there would be an end of all authority and a positive annihilation of all the good hoped for under its administration.

Taken From Our STATEMENT OF FAITH: The Justice of Endless Punishment:
6. ETERNAL PUNISHMENT is the result of this disobedience to God. It is no use for a murderer to say 'I have not murdered most of the time' - by doing the crime once, such a person is guilty of death. Is endless punishment just? Well, this punishment corresponds to the death penalty in human governments. The hanged man can never come back to life again - his punishment is endless - he can never enjoy life again (neither can the man imprisoned for life). We could just as well ask, does a murderer deserve death? Yes. Does capital offence like treason or REVOLUTION against the state deserve death? Yes. But some ask, surely God would give punishment less than eternal for fewer sins? But Capital punishment is the ultimate punishment for the ultimate crime, it does not have different degrees of punishment. It is total banishment from the state and endless death. If a man murders one person, he is not punished any more or less than a man that murders 1000 people! A man that murders multitudes in the death camps of World War II in the eyes of human law would not be punished any different, or any lesser or greater than a man that murders JUST ONE PERSON! Sinful man, commits the ultimate crime by his very act of betraying his father God, by doing it JUST ONCE becomes worthy of eternal punishment, makes God appear unworthy of obedience in the highest sense. It is the very highest act of treason and revolution, as it steals all confidence of others in God. The sin of one man produces in others an absolute recklessness towards God's government. If a man permanently takes life from this world and good, his own is gone. And If a man permanently takes a soul from God our protector and happiness, his own soul is gone. He does this through his influence. Suppose I influence a man to commit murder; the deed is as absolutely my own as if I had done it with my own hand. The crime is not in the hand which struck the blow, any more than it is in the sword, that stabs the victim. The crime is in my mind. If I use another's hand, if my mind, as the moving cause, influenced him, it is my act still. And at the point of death, everyone, just as if they themselves had committed all the sins of recklessness to God which they influenced by their example, are guilty of endless punishment; are carried away to an everlasting and conscious place of suffering in hell as their punishment.

FURTHER COMMENTS ON FINNEY'S DOCTRINAL EDUCATION (T12 #23)
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=344#23
23 I have already said that I was ordained to the ministry by a presbytery. This was years before the division of the Presbyterian church into what is known as the Old and New School Assemblies. The well known doctrine of natural and moral ability and inability, was held by the Presbyterian church, almost universally, in the region where I commenced my ministry. I must here repeat also that Mr. Gale, who, by direction of the presbytery, had attended somewhat to my theological studies, held firmly to the doctrine of the sinner's inability to obey God; and the subject as he presented it in his preaching, as was the case with most of the Presbyterian ministers of that day, left the impression upon the people that they must wait God's time. If they were elect, in due time the Spirit would convert them; if they were non-elect, nothing that they could do for themselves, or that anybody else could do for them, would ever savingly benefit them.

24 They held the doctrine that moral depravity was constitutional, and belonged to the very nature; that the will, though free to do evil, was utterly impotent to all good; that the work of the Holy Spirit in changing the heart, was a physical operation on the substance or essence of the soul; that the sinner was passive in regeneration, till the Holy Spirit had implanted a new principle in his nature, and that all efforts on his part vere utterly unavailing; that properly speaking there were no means of regeneration, this being a physical recreation of the soul by the direct agency of the Holy Ghost; that the atonement was limited to the elect, and that for the non-elect to be saved was an utter impossibility.

25 In my studies and controversies with Mr. Gale, I had maintained the opposite of this. I assumed that moral depravity is, and must be, a voluntary attitude of the mind; that it does, and must, consist in the committal of the will to the gratification of the desires, or as the Bible expresses it, of the lusts of the flesh, as opposed to that which the law of God requires. In consistency with this I maintained that the influence of the Spirit of God upon the soul of man is moral, that is persuasive; that Christ represented Him as a teacher; that His work is to convict and convert the sinner, by divine teaching and persuasion.

26 I held also that there are means of regeneration, and that the truths of the Bible are, in their nature, calculated to lead the sinner to abandon his wickedness and turn to God. I held also that there must be an adaptation of means to the end to be secured; that is, that the intelligence must be enlightened, the unreasonableness of moral depravity must be set before the sinner, and its wickedness and ill-desert clearly revealed to him; that when this was done the mission of Christ could be strongly presented, and could be understood by him; that taking this course with the sinner, had a tendency to convert him to Christ; and that when this was faithfully and prayerfully done, we had a right to expect the Holy Spirit to cooperate with us, giving effect to our feeble effort.

27 Furthermore, I held that the Holy Spirit operates in the preacher, clearly revealing these truths in their proper order to him, and enabling him to set them before the people, in such proportion, and in such order as is calculated to convert them. I understood then, as I do now, the charge and promise which Christ gave to the apostles and to the church, to be applicable in the present day: 'Go and disciple all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.'

28 This I regarded as a charge committed to me, to all ministers, and to the church; with the express promise that when we go forth to this work, with a single eye, and with a prayerful heart, Christ will be with us by His Spirit, giving efficiency to our efforts to save souls. It appeared to me then, as it ever has since, that the great failure of the ministry and of the church, in promoting religion, consisted, in great measure, in the want of a suitable adaptation of means to that end. I had sat under Mr. Gale's preaching for years, and could never see any adaptation in his preaching to convert anybody. It did not appear to me as if that could have been his design. I found the same was true of all the sermons that I heard, anywhere. I had on one occasion spoken to Mr. Gale on this subject, and said to him, that of all the causes that were ever plead, the cause of religion, I thought, had the fewest able advocates; and that if advocates at the bar should pursue the same course in pleading the cause of their clients, that ministers do in pleading the cause of Christ with sinners, they would not gain a single case.

DOCTRINES IN WILMINGTON T18 #8
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=350#8
8 I endeavored to show that if man were as helpless as their views represented him to be, he was not to blame for his sins. If he had lost in Adam all power of obedience, so that obedience had become impossible to him, and that not by his own act or consent, but by the act of Adam, it was mere nonsense to say that he could be blamed for what he could not help. I had endeavored also to show that, in that case, the atonement was no grace, but really a debt due to mankind, on the part of God, for having placed them in a condition so deplorable and so unfortunate. Indeed, the Lord helped me to show up I think, with irresistible clearness the peculiar dogmas of old schoolism and their inevitable results.

IMPORTANCE: This Lecture covers the very basics of the gospel. Everything is covered here to explain what the gospel is about.

SCRIPTURES: 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' -- John 3:16.

QUESTIONS:
1. What is crime?
2. How important are the laws of any country?
3. Who do they serve?
4. Is the Law of God the same?
5. Why does it exist?
6. What is sin? Is it the same as crime?
7. What decision does God have to take towards a sinner? Why?
9. What is the Atonement?
10. Who was the Atonement made for?
11. Why did God give the Atonement?
12. Describe God's Love.
13. How does the Spirit of God work? How are we to receive Christ?
14. Is 'Faith' simply to believe the historical facts of Jesus? What more is needed?
15. How does a person put themselves beyond mercy?
16. Is salvation complete? Explain how full and ready it is.
17. How expensive is sin? Explain how selfish it is.

OBJECTIVES: Interview and Guidance
To assess the suitability of the Candidate for Charles Finney Bible School.
To provide some guidance in answering questions, especially in using plain English.

REQUIRED STUDY: 1 HOUR GUIDANCE ENTRANCE
Refer to Further study for Plain English

IMPORTANCE: This Interview covers seven areas:
1.PERSONAL QUALITIES 2.THE GOSPEL 3.PRACTICAL WORK 4.CHARLES FINNEY 5.DOCTRINES 6.REVIVAL 7.THE CHURCH

OBJECTIVES: Communion With God
Level One: True Christianity
To understand the secret of ministerial success
To know what to do to promote a revival

IMPORTANCE: We need to overcome our unbelief and sloth and break through, away from it's bondage. This is the one thing that will determine our success in ministry. To learn how to secure and continue and strengthen our communion with God. To cultivate the habit of coming straight up to God and filling our mouths with thanksgiving, confession, supplication, praise and adoration - in that order.
1. Why are professing Christians sometimes the greatest thing preventing people from being saved?
2. Finney says it would be better for some people not to have a pastor. Is this true? What are we to do in the meantime?
3. Therefore what is the greatest obstacle in the way of revival?
4. How can Pastors and Christians work together in promoting the work?
Do not be afraid then to ask and expect great things. The greater things the better. 'Open your mouth wide,' He says, 'and I will fill it. Call unto me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.' And remember that He is able to do 'exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.' He has told you, that 'it is more blessed to give than to receive.' so God is Blessed in giving to you!

SCRIPTURES: Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

QUESTIONS:
(The questions below correspond to the same numbers in the Lecture)

IV. Go through 8 reasons why communion with God is valuable and important:
1. Can we get to know God by reading the Bible alone? What more is needed? What is Eternal life? Do all people who read and study the Bible have Eternal life? Who reveals God and Jesus Christ to us?
2. Who knows us better that ourselves? How do we get to know ourselves? Why is it important to know ourselves? What is it about ourselves we need to know?
3. What do we need to know to be saved? What does sanctification mean? Sanctification is salvation from what?
4. What does it mean to be 'useful'? Describe an inefficient minister. Describe a spiritually minded man. What is the difference between a minister of the New and a minister of the Old Testament?
5. How do some professing Christians ruin the souls of those around them? What is the result of ministers who have no communion with God?
6. How are the prejudices of the world against God continued and increased?
7. What is the effect of the peace of mind we obtain through communion with God? What do we overcome?
8. Describe the difference between true and false religion.

V. Go through 14 things which will allow us to have communion with God:
1. 'Prize communion above all price' explain.
2. How is our heart drawn off from this communion?
3. What does God show you in communion? What sacrifices should you be willing to make? Whose advice should you seek?
4. Why do some people sin easily in secret?
5. What things can interrupt our communion with God?
6. Why does God not come in to some people's hearts?
7. What does God's guidance involve?
8. How do people grieve the Holy Spirit? How do we know when this happens?
9. How do some people limit their spiritual attainments?
10. Where do you place communion with God in comparision with other things? What things could get in the way of communion?
11. The heart can be given wholly to God - explain what this means. What is the importance of the heart?
12. What does it mean to be wholly consecrated to God?
13. How are we to avoid temptation? What is the wrong attitude some people have towards sin? How would this attitude prevent communion with God?
14. Many people pray in tongues as if that is praying in the Holy Ghost - while they hold the wrong attitude towards sin. What is the real meaning of praying in the Holy Ghost? How should we pray? How does the Bible instruct us to do it?

REMARKS
1. How many people keep communion with God?
2. What could cut off our souls from communion with God forever?
3. How are some ministers deceived as to their own usefulness?
4. What does the passage about Jesus the Vine teach about some ministers?
5. How do good students fail in ministry?
6. What is the priviledge of Christians today?

OBJECTIVES: Preparation for Preaching
To discover the importance of practice and exercise in training for ministry.

IMPORTANCE: People are often trained in ministry intellectually - but not practically. We are to discover the results of theoretical training without any practical exercise.

QUESTIONS:
1. What is the problem with a loose style of preaching?
2. Should we use written sermons or not?
3. What are the benefits of preaching without reading?
4. How should we prepare to preach the gospel?
5. How should we practically get the subject to preach?
6. What is the inspiration promised by Christ? Who is it made to?

FURTHER STUDY:
B12 How to Preach the Gospel - paragraph 29 'A loose, exhortatory style of preaching may affect the passions, and may produce excitement, but will never sufficiently instruct the people to secure sound conversions.'
http://www.charlesfinney.com/finney/finney.php?op=24#29

CHARLES FINNEY COURSEBOOK

All Topics