Three Steps to a Successful Gospel Meeting

Wade Webster

Our Gospel Meeting is almost here.  I am confident that our scheduled speaker will do his best to make the meeting a success.  He will prepare and present lessons that will encourage and enlighten us.  What can we do on our side to make our meeting successful?

Supplication

Jesus taught His disciples to ask that they might receive.  He declared, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Mat. 7:7-11).  Sadly, we often do not have because we do not ask. James declared, “You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask” (Jam. 4:2).  We serve a great God who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph. 3:20).  Let’s make sure that we do not fail to ask for His blessings upon our gospel meeting.  Let’s pray for the preacher and the hearers.  Let’s pray for the members and the visitors who will come. Let’s pray for the those who need to be baptized and for those who need to be restored.

Invitation

Isaiah prophesied the establishment and the evangelism of the church.  He noted that the church was going to go out and invite men to go up with them to worship.  We read, “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.  Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:1-3).  Sadly, many Christians today have ceased to be evangelistic.  They have stopped inviting others to come. In addition to hanging invitations on doors in the immediate vicinity of our building, we need to invite our families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to come and to worship with us.  Often, these individuals cannot come when we invite them to our regular services because they have their own religious services at the same time.  However, a gospel meeting affords times for them to come that are not in conflict.

Participation

Luke recorded the actions of the apostles and disciples in the book of Acts.  They each did their part in the work of the church.  On one occasion, Luke recorded, “Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea” (Acts 11:29).  For sure, the apostles and disciples had different levels of ability.  To their credit, they used the abilities that they had, whether big or small.  We need to do the same.  In addition to praying for the success of the meeting and inviting others to come to the meeting, we need to make sure that we participate in it ourselves.  We need to come to all the services.  Sadly, congregations today often struggle to get their own members to come to their own events.  This should not be the case.  In addition to coming to the meeting, each member should strive to greet any visitors that are present.  They should also get the visitors to fill out a visitor card so that follow-up contact is possible.  Members should also make sure that they thank the preacher each night for his lessons.  Much study and sacrifice are involved in holding a gospel meeting for someone. 

Supplication, invitation, and participation are three simple things that every member can do to help us to have a successful meeting.  Can we count on you?

What A Gospel Meeting Does – Part 2

Victor Eskew

#5:  A gospel meeting confronts false doctrine.  “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:  to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Gal. 2:4-5).  “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 3-4).

 #6:  A gospel meeting brings salvation.  “For whosover shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  and how shall they hear without a preacher?  and how shall they preach, except they be sent?  As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:13-15).  “…it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (I Cor. 1:212b).

#7:  A gospel meeting increases our faith.  So then cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17).  “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation…” (Eph. 1:13).

#8:  A gospel meeting strengths the inner man.  “”For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness” (Col. 1:9-11).

 #9:  A gospel meeting reminds us of what is important.  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).  “And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word…But one thing is needful:  and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:39, 42).

 #10:  A gospel meeting prepares us for eternity.  “And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).  “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:17-18).

If gospel meetings can accomplish these ten things, how can anyone believe they are useless today.  Our problem is two-fold when it comes to gospel meetings.  First, we just refuse to get excited about them as the church.  We do not want to attend.  Therefore, we can not enthusiastically invite others to attend.  Second, we have lost our faith in the power of the Word of God.  Even for many Christians, the message has become dull and boring.  Dear readers, when we are excited about the salvation of the lost, gospel meetings will be one vehicle we can use to teach others.  And, when we are convinced of the power of God’s Word (Heb. 4:12), we will use every available means to hear it for ourselves and get others to hear it as well.  The reality is that the gospel meeting is not ineffective; we have become unfaithful and ineffective.

What A Gospel Meeting Does – Part 1

Victor Eskew

“The day of the gospel meeting is over.”  “Gospel meetings are no longer effective.”  “We need to find alternatives to our gospel meeting.”  “Gospel meetings are just not what they used to be.”  These are some of the statements that are made by elders, preachers, and members regarding gospel meetings in our 21st-century society.  These feelings have led many churches to quit having gospel meetings altogether.  Some churches have not had a gospel meeting in years.

In this article, we want to look at the subject:  “What A Gospel Meeting Should Do.”  By the end of this article, it is hoped that we will come to understand that a gospel meeting has many, many noble purposes.  These purposes are Scriptural.  They should cause us to be eager in our efforts to promote and support the gospel meeting being held by our local congregation.  We will consider ten things a gospel meeting does.

#1:  A gospel meeting obeys God’s command to preach the gospel.  “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).  “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (II Tim. 4:2).

#2:  A gospel meeting sows the seed of God’s Word into the hearts of men and women.  “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:5-6).  “But that on good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).

#3:  A gospel meeting enlightens the mind. “The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:  the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Ps. 19:8).  “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple” (Ps. 119:130).

#4:  A gospel meeting warns the wicked.  “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31).  “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ” (Col. 1:28).

#5:  A gospel meeting confronts false doctrine.  “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:  to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you” (Gal. 2:4-5).  “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 3-4).

The Christian: A Priest At God’s Altar – Part 3

Wade Webster

In the last two installments of this study, we looked at the Christian as a priest.  We noted three words in connection with being a priest- honor, holiness, and hopefulness.  In this last installment we are examining hopefulness. 

Hopefulness

The tribe of Levi, from which the priests came, was unique among the tribes of Israel.  One of the ways that they were unique was in their inheritance.  As you recall, the other tribes inherited a certain parcel of ground.  The Levites did not.  They were going to dwell among the tribes.  Their inheritance was the Lord.  We read, ““The priests, the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and His portion. Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the LORD is their inheritance, as He said to them” (Deuteronomy 18:1-2).  The Lord was their hope.  They were trusting in Him to provide for them. 

Today, our hope as New Testament priests is in the Lord.  To the Colossian Christians, Paul wrote, “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:24-27).  Christ is the hope within us.  Later, Peter would write, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).  Because of Christ’s resurrection, we have a living hope.  Again, Peter wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3). We have a living hope because we have a living Lord.  Jesus declared, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Rev. 1:18).  As priests today, our hope is not in a parcel of land here.  It is in Christ. 

In the three installments of this study, we have seen that it is a great honor to be a priest, that it requires great holiness to be a priest, and that there is great hope in being a priest.  Let’s serve at God’s altar with great favor, great fear, and great fervent fervor.

The Christian: A Priest At God’s Altar – Part 2

Wade Webster

In the last installment of this study, we began considering the Christian as a priest.  We noted three words in connection with being a priest - honor, holiness, and hopefulness.  In this installment we are examining holiness. 

Holiness

I suppose that no concept is as closely connected with being a priest as holiness.  Obviously, when we think of priests in the Old Testament, the book of Leviticus comes to mind.  Consider the holiness that it associated with this work: “They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God, for they offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy…Therefore you shall consecrate him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I the LORD, who sanctify you, am holy” (Lev. 21:6, 8).  To prepare them for the holy work that God had for them to do, blood was shed for them and applied to them.  We read, “You shall also take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands on the head of the ram. Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood all around on the altar. And you shall take some of the blood that is on the altar, and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and on his garments, on his sons and on the garments of his sons with him; and he and his garments shall be hallowed, and his sons and his sons’ garments with him” (Exod. 29:19-21).  The garments of the priests were to be kept spotless.  A scene from the book of Zechariah pictures this for us.  We read, “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the LORD stood by” (Zech. 3:1-5).

We see these same characteristics in New Testament priests (Christians).  We read, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:13-16).  Again, Peter wrote, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5).  Like Old Testament priests, New Testament priests are consecrated by blood.  However, it is better blood than that of bulls and goats - the blood of Christ.  We read, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied” (1 Pet. 1:1-2; cf. 1:18-19).  Our garments also are to be unspotted by the world.  James wrote, “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:  to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (Jam. 1:27).