Signs Of The Times: 11 - What's The Plan?

It’s early morning, and I’m in the kitchen. I’ve just made a cup of tea. My wife appears in the doorway as I’m looking out of the window to see what the weather is like. I greet her.

"It seems to be set fair for today. What’s the plan?”

"Plan? There is no plan. Why do we need to have a plan?”

"Well, if we don’t have a plan, we won’t know what we’re going to be doing, and we probably won’t get anything done, so...”

"Well, there is no plan, so just put the kettle on and make me a cup of coffee!”

This oft-repeated exchange came into my mind as I was looking at the last few paragraphs of Mr John Ritchie’s “500 Gospel Sermon Outlines”, first published in 1910. We’ve been considering his introduction to that slim volume, and how it points up the contrast between what was expected of believers in that bygone age, especially of “all those who go forth in the service of the Lord”, and what we see in the so-called Christian world today.

Last time his topic was open air preaching. Did you spot the statement that I invented, by the way? It was number 10, of course - though I like to think that it was in the spirit of what had gone before. Today his topic is “Personal dealing”. What does he mean by that?

Here is how he begins.

Personal dealing should follow public preaching, and an opportunity given for seeking souls and those in difficulty to express their thoughts. Here is the true soul-winner’s opportunity and here the sphere for many who never speak in public, true fellow-labourers and fellow-helpers in the Gospel all the same, whose praises are in all the churches.

He makes a fair point. No matter how good the preacher, in or out of doors, no matter how effective the evangelistic event, it’s not much use if the hearers are allowed to wander away, wondering what to do next. It’s interesting that he assumes that ‘true soul winners’ will be out and about and doing their job. He offers them this advice.

Never unduly press any to say they believe; never extort a confession of their faith.

He’s right. I’ve seen it done. It’s not a pretty sight, and the results are often unfortunate, to say the least. But for now, let me focus on the final part of his suggestions for soul winners.

Seek from God the right text, the fitting word, the special presentation of Christ and the Gospel, to meet their special need. Lead them gently, and, as you bring Christ before them in the Gospel, bring them to God and Christ in prayer: lay hold on God for the sinner in faith as you lay hold on the sinner for God in earnest, loving effort.

I wonder: have you seen this done? More to the point, could you do it yourself? You could? Good! It’s something I’d like to know more about. So...

"What’s the plan?”

"Plan? There is no plan. Why do we need to have a plan?”

"Well, if we don’t have a plan, we won’t know what we’re going to be doing, and we probably won’t get anything done, so...”

"Surely we can trust God to supply all our needs, can’t we? It’s in Luke 12 or somewhere, isn’t it? ‘Don’t be anxious about what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour’?”

Oh dear. Garbled and completely out of context. You haven’t got a clue, have you? Well, I don’t have much of one, either. But at least I know we need one.

Let me make you a coffee.

Then we can sit down and make plans.

To be continued.