Billy Graham Christian Worker's Handbook

238 Pages·2000·1.33 MB·English

T H E
BI L LY GRAHAM
C H R I S T I A N
W O R K E R ’ S
H A N D B O O K
A Topical Guide with Biblical Answers
to the Urgent Concerns of Our Day
Edited by Charles G. Ward
Original material compiled by the Christian Guidance
Department of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in
conjunction with the Counseling and Follow-Up Department
WORLD WIDE PUBLICATIONS
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403
The Billy Graham Christian Worker’s Handbook
© 1984, 1996, 2000 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
All rights reserved: No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission
from the publishers, except for brief passages for purpose of review in a periodical.
Published by World Wide Publications
1303 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise marked, are taken by permission from The Holy Bible,
New King James Version, © 1979, 1980, 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc., Thomas Nelson Publishers,
Nashville, Tennessee.
Scripture quotations marked NIVare taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, © 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations marked TLBare taken from The Living Bible, © 1971 Tyndale House Publishers,
Carol Stream, Illinois.
Scripture quotations marked PHILLIPSare taken from The New Testament in Modern English by J. B.
Phillips, translator, © J. B. Phillips, 1958, 1960, 1972 Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, New
York, and Collins Publishers, London, England.
Scripture quotations marked KJVare taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Quotations from Billy Graham are from many sources, including:
Blow, Wind of God, © 1975 Baker Book House
The Challenge, © 1969 Billy Graham
The Holy Spirit, © 1988 Billy Graham
How to Be Born Again, © 1989 Billy Graham
The Jesus Generation, © 1971 Billy Graham
Answers to Life’s Problems, © 1988 Doubleday
The Quotable Billy Graham © 1966 Droke House
Till Armageddon, © 1981 Billy Graham
World Aflame, © 1965 Billy Graham
ISBN 0–89066–272–X
Printed in U.S.A.
00 01 02 03 — 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
CONTENTS
Steps to Peace with God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Confirming the Decision to Receive Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Finding Assurance of Salvation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Seeking Forgiveness and Restoration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Uncertainty about One’s Relationship with Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
RESOURCE CHAPTERS:
Adultery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Alcoholism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Anger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Anxiety, Worry, and Tension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Assurance of Salvation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Backsliding, Spiritual Indifference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Bad Habits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Bible, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Bitterness and Resentment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Church, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Cults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Death . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Demons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Depression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Discipline from God . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Divorce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Divorce, Contemplating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Divorce After Years of Marriage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77
Doubt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Drug Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82
Enemies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Envy, Jealousy, and Covetousness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
Faith, Lack of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
False Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
Fear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Forgiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Grief and Bereavement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105
Guilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Healing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Heaven . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Hell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Holy Spirit, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Holy Spirit, Fruit of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
Holy Spirit, Gifts of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Jesus Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
Judgment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
Loneliness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .140
Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .144
Marriage, Anticipating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .148
Marriage (Pressure to Do Wrong from an Unbelieving Spouse) . . . . . . . .151
Marriage Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .153
Marriage (Winning One’s Mate to Christ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156
Obedience, Desire for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .158
Occult, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .160
Patience, Lack of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
Peace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .167
Pornography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .170
Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175
Prophecy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180
Rededication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186
Salvation of Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .188
Satan, Origin and Work of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
Satan, Resisting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .193
Sexual Immorality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .196
Suffering and Adversity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
Suicide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204
Temptation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .208
Thoughts, Controlling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .212
Trinity, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214
Unpardonable Sin, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217
Will of God, Knowing the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .220
Witnessing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .223
Worldliness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .227
Seven Common Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .231
Subject Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .237
STEPS TO PEACE WITH GOD
NOTE: If the individual is immediately ready to receive Christ, skip the
four steps and go directly to the section titled, “To receive Christ you need
to do four things.”
1. God’s Plan—Peace and Life CHRIST
God loves you and wants you to experience His peace and life.
The BIBLE says: “For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life”(John 3:16).
2. Our Problem—Separation
Being at peace with God is not automatic, because by Good Works
nature you are separated from God. People RReelligigioinon God
(Sinful) Philosophy (Holy)
The BIBLE says: “For all have sinned and fall short of the Morality
glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
3. God’s Remedy—The Cross
God’s love bridges the gap of separation between
Christ
God and you. When Jesus Christ died on the cross
People God
and rose from the grave, He paid the penalty for your (Sinful) (Holy)
sins.
The BIBLE says: “He personally carried the load of our
sins in his own body when he died on the cross” (1 Peter
2:24, TLB).
4. Our Response—Receive Christ
Christ
People God
You cross the bridge into God’s family when you Peace
Sin Forgiveness
receive Christ by personal invitation. Rebellion Abundant Life
Separation Eternal Life
The BIBLE says: “But as many as received Him, to them
He gave the right to become children of God, even to those
who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
* To receive Christ you need to do four things:
1. ADMIT your spiritual need. “I am a sinner.”
2. REPENT and be willing to turn from your sin.
3. BELIEVE that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross.
4. RECEIVE, through prayer, Jesus Christ into your heart and life.
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CHRIST says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My
voice and opens the door, I will come in” (Revelation 3:20).
The BIBLE says, “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved”
(Romans 10:13).
What to Pray:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I
believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite
You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord
and Savior. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
* After leading the inquirer in this prayer, discuss with him or her the fol-
lowing pages, “Confirming the Decision to Receive Christ.”
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CONFIRMING THE DECISION TO
RECEIVE CHRIST
You prayed, committing your life to Christ. What does the Bible say
happened?
1. You are saved.
JESUS said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me,
he will be saved” (John 10:9). H e a v e n
What did Jesus say about Himself? Ete r n al Life
I am _____ __________ (to eternal life). S alv atio n
What will happen when a person enters through
the door (receives Christ)?
He or she will _____ _________.
The BIBLE says: ”Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me”
(Revelation 3:20).
The BIBLE says: “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved”
(Romans 10:13).
2. You are a child of God.
The BIBLE says: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, to those who believe in His name”(John 1:12).
What happened when you received Christ?
I became a ________ ____ _______.
3. You have everlasting life.
The BIBLE says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”
(John 3:16).
Now that you believe in Jesus Christ, what can you be certain of?
I have _________ _______.
To summarize, emphasize the following questions and answers:
How do you know . . . I know because . . .
you are saved? God said it . . . in His Word.
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you are a child of God? I believe it . . . in my heart.
you have eternal life? That settles it . . . in my mind.
Follow-Up Steps
After presenting the Gospel and confirming the decision, suggest these
follow-up steps:
1. Take a firm stand for Jesus Christ; make your life count. Tell someone
about your decision.
2. Read and study God’s Word.
3. Pray every day.
4. Identify with a Bible-teaching church for worship, instruction,
fellowship, and service.
5. We would like to send you our Bible study booklet,Living in Christ,
which will help you in your Christian life and future witness. What is
your name and address?
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FINDING ASSURANCE OF SALVATION
(For a person who has received Christ, but has doubts.)
CLAIM THESE PROMISES
1. The BIBLE says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”
(John 3:16).
What did God give to make everlasting life possible? ________ ________.
What must you do to possess everlasting life? __________ ______ ________.
What does God promise you? ____________ ________.
2. The BIBLE says: “Whoever has God’s Son has life. . . . I have written this to
you who believe in the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal
life” (1 John 5:12–13, TLB).
If you believe in Christ, what can you know with certainty?
I have ___________ ________.
3. The BIBLE says: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and
they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never
perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My
Father, who gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able
to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:27–29).
What are you promised?
• “And I give them _________ _______.”
• “And they shall _______ ________.”
• “Neither shall anyone _______ them out of My _______.”
• “No one is able to ________ them out of My Father’s _______.”
To summarize, emphasize the following questions and answers:
How do you know . . . I know because . . .
you have eternal life? God said it . . . in His Word.
you will never perish? I believe it . . . in my heart.
you are safe in God’s hand? That settles it . . . in my mind.
Follow-Up Steps
After discussing assurance of salvation, suggest these follow-up steps:
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