It is with considerable hesitancy that one undertakes to answer the question “How?” Sometimes the question is even put as “What is the one best method for doing this?” That question in that specific form has been put to me many times over a period of twenty-five years of teaching methods courses in pastoral work and evangelism. My stock answer, and it is not in order to dodge the issue, is “It all depends.”
“It all depends upon,” and that blank can be run out a long way. This study book, it is hoped, will help local congregations of the church to see how many things determine the means and methods to be used. This book, so small in compass, does not pretend to give the answers. It is hoped, however, that it may help many churches to be continuously finding the answers by self-study down through the years.
