These "Gospel Dialogues" became a popular method of evangelism during the Moody campaigns. We publish here a selection of questions and answers. This selection will be added to in the future.
© 1950, 1978 by Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL. (Used by permission)

Rev. Marcus Rainsford (1820-1897) was born in Ireland and graduated from Trinity College (Dublin) in 1843. He was a pastor for many years in Hilltown, Co. Down (Northern Ireland) and later became secretary of the Irish Society For Promoting Christianity Among The Jews. Crowds thronged to hear him preach in England and Ireland. He worked closely with D. L. Moody in the famous "Gospel Dialogues" held in connection with the evangelistic campaigns in London in 1875 and 1883-1884.

Mr. D. L. Moody (1837-1899) was a powerful evangelist and founder of the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Moody travelled extensively with his ministry partner, Ira D. Sankey in the United Kingdom and preached to crowds of up to 30,000. He was helped in England and Scotland by men like Andrew Bonar and C. H. Spurgeon.

Mr. M. - What is it to be a child of God? What is the first step?
Mr. R. - Well, sir, I am a child of God when I become united to the Son of God. He Son of God prayed (John 17:20,21) that all who believed upon Him should be one with Him, as He was one with the Father. Believing on Jesus, I receive Him, and become united to Him (John 1:12,13); I become, as it were, a member of His Body. I am an heir of God, a joint-heir with Christ (Eph. 5:30; 1 John 5:1; Gal. 3:26).

Mr. M. - What is the best definition of faith?
Mr. R. - Trust in the Son of God as the Saviour He has given to us. Simple trust, not only in a creed, but in a Person. I trust my soul to Him. I trust the keeping of my soul to Him. God has promised that whosoever trusts Him, mercy shall compass him on every side (Ps. 32:10).

Mr. M. - Does not the Scripture say that the devils believe? (James 2:19)
Mr. R - They believe the truth, do they not? They believe that Jesus was manifested to destroy them and they "tremble." I wish we believed as truly and as fully that God sent His Son into the world o save us.

Mr. M. - What is it to "trust"?
Mr. R. -I take it to mean four things:

Believing on Christ: that is taking Him at His Word.
Hoping in Christ: that is, expecting help from Him, according to His Word.
Relying on Christ: that is, resting on Him for the times and ways, and circumstances in which He may be pleased to fulfil His promises according to His Word.
Waiting on Christ: that is, continuing to do so, notwithstanding delay, darkness, barrenness, perplexing experiences, and the sentence of death in myself (II Corinthians 1:9). He may keep me waiting a while (I have kept Him a long time waiting); but He will not keep me waiting always. Believing in Him hoping in Him; relying upon Him; and waiting for Him - I understand to be trusting in Him.

Mr. M. - Can all these friends here believe the promises?
Mr. R. - The promises are true whether we believe them or not. We do not make them true by believing in them. God could not charge me with being an unbeliever, or condemn me for unbelief, if the promises were not true for me. I could in that case turn round and say: "Great God, why did you expect me to believe a promise that was not true for me?" And yet the Scriptures set forth unbelief as the greatest sin I can continue to commit.