Our Gospel Meeting
The Lord willing, April 12 begins our gospel meeting. We have scheduled six different speakers in as many days to present to us God’s truth. Each of these men has proven their love for the gospel of Christ by devoting years to the work of evangelism. Their love for preaching this gospel of Christ is exceeded only by their faithfulness to the study of that power of God (Romans 1:16-17). As Christians, we are to hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6), and from this gospel meeting, we expect to feast bountifully that we might be filled!
This is our gospel meeting. While we have invited others to attend, including Christians from other congregations, the meeting is primarily for our benefit. The common phrase is, “Preacher So-And-So is holding a meeting …” but this truthfully is not the case, at least not here! These six men are preaching the lessons within this meeting, but it is our meeting. We are holding it for our spiritual benefit, and therefore our members must attend it, pray for it, and gain from it!
Granted, we desire souls that are not Christians to attend the proclamation of the gospel, so they can learn what they must do to be saved. But unless we invite them, and in some cases, insist on their attendance, those souls won’t be here. Worse, they most certainly won’t attend if our own members fail to attend! So again, it is our meeting, and the good results we expect are entirely contingent on our involvement in this effort! (Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 5:16)
Gospel meetings are marvelous events! They are concentrated opportunities of uniting our hearts in prayer to our Father in Heaven. We know the power of prayer, and during these meetings, prayers are wont to be made! We blend our voices in songs of praise to our Father, and in doing so, teach and admonish all that are gathered (Colossians 3L16). The beauty of these psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs may impress us in both the words and melody, but they also declare our praise to God. Imagine the symphonic harmony it must be when all of God’s singers get home! And the uniting of our minds in the study of God’s word is of immeasurable benefit for our souls! Think of what a marvel it would have been to hear God’s word presented by six different apostles, or six gospel preachers like Luke, Mark, Silas, Apollos, Barnabas, and Timothy. The source of the subjects would be the same, but the subject and delivery would differ from man to man. We’d be alert to their speaking, and like the Bereans, take our Bibles in hand to search the scriptures, seeing if their messages are true. So it is with this gospel meeting. None of these six men will object to your trying of the spirits (1 John 4:1).
During gospel meetings, we often have the opportunity to greet and meet brethren we would otherwise never know. We need to be friendly with all of our visitors, for we might be greeting angels (Hebrews 13:2). Visitors to gospel meetings might be coming primarily to hear the speaker, but while here, we need to make them welcome. After all, we’re planning on being together eternally, aren’t we? Tell them your name. Be sincere in thanking them for coming. Spend some time visiting with them and encourage their return.
Above all, let souls know we’re trying to grow in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (2 Peter 3:18). Gospel meetings are a pleasant way to grow spiritually. Let’s enjoy it and take advantage of God’s blessings in doing so!
