Why Have A Gospel Meeting?

It's getting that time of year when Gospel Meetings are announced and conducted.  Our meeting with Mark McCrary will begin next Sunday, June 3rd.  Some may question "Why have Gospel Meetings?" and many may question whether or not such meetings are still effective.  Let's notice some things sought to accomplish in a Gospel Meeting.

The Lost Hear The Gospel

            Make no mistake about it, the gospel of Christ continues to save today.  Paul, writing to the Christians at Rome, penned:  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Ro. 1:16).  People cannot obey what they do not know.  A Gospel Meeting provides them with the opportunity to hear the truth in the hopes they will believe and obey it.

Members Are Edified

            There's a lot of false thinking about what constitutes edification in the religious world.  As Christians we are instructed to grow (2 Pt. 3:18).  What enables or promotes that growth?  Pick 10 people out and ask them this question and you may receive 10 different answers.  God's Word prompts growth in the life of a Christian.  In 1 Peter 2:2 the Bible says:  "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."  Don't desire just anything.  Just because something tastes good does not necessarily mean it's good for the body.  Desire truth.  Paul, in speaking to a group of elders, stated:  "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" (Ac. 20:32).

Members Get Involved

            Having a Gospel Meeting also provides an opportunity for all the members to get involved.  There is something for everyone to do.  The working of each member contributes to the overall functioning of the body, whether good or bad.  Read 1 Corinthians 12 and see if that's the case.  When a Gospel Meeting approaches, participate.  You can give out flyers, make phone calls, do some personal inviting in the community from door to door.  Set-up outside a local department store and hand out material.  What's the point?  Get involved.  Souls depend on it!

People Soon Get Word

            Understand that our labor is not to get a pat on the back.  We are not to conduct matters so that we can be seen of others.  The doing of such is condemned by the Lord (Mt. 6:1-8).  Yet, when a congregation is busy doing the Lord's work others are bound to hear about it and many will take notice.  Listen to what Paul wrote the church of the Thessalonians: "For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing" (1 Th. 1:8).  Again, to those in Rome Paul wrote:  "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole word" (Ro. 1:8).

"So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase" (1 Cor. 3:7).

REMINDERS

1.  Our 2nd Annual Singing will be this Friday, June 2nd, beginning at 7PM.

2.  In preparation for our upcoming Singing and Gospel Meeting, those who are able are welcome to meet this Thursday evening at 6PM to clean and get our building and grounds ready!

3.  Flyers for the Singing and Meeting are available in the back of the Auditorium.  Please take them and invite someone to services.

4.  Also, don't forget about the Meal Schedule for the visiting preacher.  It is on the back bulletin board.  Let's purpose to have it completed before he arrives.  What might empty blanks on a Meal Schedule indicate?

-Donnie Oliver