Gospel Meetings: Why should we attend them?

The time for our gospel meeting is here; what is your reaction? Delight, Dismay, Disinterest, Disgust.

Some look forward to gospel meetings, and attend every service possible, they even visit gospel meetings conducted by other churches in the area.

            Others appear not to care, and make little effort to attend at all.

Perhaps the difference is due to a failure to appreciate why it is good to attend gospel meetings, and especially why we should try to attend every service during our own gospel meeting.

We should attend TO SUPPORT A GREAT MESSAGE.

            Gospel meetings proclaim the word of God which is living and powerful –He 4:12 andis able to produce faith - Ro 10:17.

Isn't God's Word worthy of our support?

            Gospel meetings proclaim the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God unto salvation -Ro 1:16, and the message Jesus wants everyone to hear - Mk 16:15-16

Isn't the gospel of Christ worthy of our support?

We should attend TO RECEIVE A GREAT MESSAGE.

            Gospel meetings have a two-fold purpose...

One purpose is to evangelize. It is to seek and save the lost by proclaiming the gospel and to provide opportunity for friends, neighbors, and strangers to hear the gospel.

            Another purpose is to edify, to exhort one another to love and good works - He 10:24-25. And to revive those who have lost their first love

            Gospel meetings offer something for everyone.

For sinners the gospel of Christ tells of God's love for them –Jn 3:16; 1Jn 4:10 and the plan of salvation which tells how to respond to God's love. - Mk 16:16;Ac 2:37-38

For the saved it is Apostolic doctrine to grow in grace - Ac 2:42; 2Pe 3:18 and teaching to prepare for the grace to come.1Pe1:132Pe 1:10-11Gospel meetings are designed for sinner and saved alike.

We should attend gospel meetings TO SEND A GREAT MESSAGE

            Gospel meetings allow you to demonstrate your priorities in life (the kingdom of God comes first) -Mt 6:33. Your attitude toward the gospel (you are not ashamed of it)Ro 1:16,your concern for the lost (you have compassion for them) - Mt 9:35-38,and your support for your brethren (you want to encourage them)- Ro 15:1-2can be shown. Gospel meetings reveal a lot about ourselves.

            Gospel meetings allow you to influence your family, friends, neighbors, and brethren, for good, by the example of your presence, for ill, by the example of your absence.  Gospel meetings impact a lot of people in various ways.

            In review, we should attend gospel meetings

to SUPPORT A GREAT MESSAGE, to RECEIVE A GREAT MESSAGE, and to SEND A GREAT MESSAGE.

            Let us all support our gospel meeting to the best of our ability.

From a sermon outline by Mark Copeland

- Dewey Stidham, Jr.