Elements of a Successful Gospel Meeting
Our Gospel Meeting with L.A. Stauffer of Kirkwood, MO begins in just two weeks. Knowing this, two questions come to mind. First, what have you done to prepare for the meeting? Second, what can we do as a congregation to ensure that this meeting is successful?
After all, if we are going to make the effort to have a Gospel Meeting, we ought to put forth the effort to ensure it is a success. It certainly makes no sense to do otherwise. Therefore, let this bulletin serve as an aid to preparing us for the week that is quickly approaching.
The Word is Preached
It is not uncommon today to see churches have special meetings for a wide variety of things such as self-improvement seminars, financial security, and how to raise money for the church. Hardly a week goes by that a receive a phone call from a “specialist” in this field hoping to “enlighten” our congregation. However, not once have I received a phone call from someone hoping to edify the brethren with the word of God. The fact is none of these specialists specialize in spiritual things. They present a materialistic, worldly concept of the church and religion. The church is a spiritual house designed for spiritual purposes that are accomplished by preaching a spiritual gospel. A meeting that preaches the word of God is a meeting that can save souls (Acts 11:10; I Cor. 1:18; Rom. 10:14-17).
The Local Members Attend
There is nothing more detrimental to the success of a Gospel Meeting than a lack of attendance by the local members (Save a lack of preaching the word of course). We must make it our ambition to be here every night of the meeting. Let me repeat that, we MUST make it our ambition to be here EVERY night of our meeting. This is my first Gospel Meeting with the saints here. I do not know your attendance habits during Gospel Meetings, but I will tell you what both the visiting and the local preachers see as encouraging. We both are edified when the members of the local church make it each night. At the church in Mattoon the parents with young children were there every night. They understood that both the parent and the child benefit from sound Gospel preaching. The elderly made it out in the evenings. They even had men who worked nights that would take vacation that week.
This type of attendance shows that God is a priority in their life. Any visitors could see how important learning God’s word was to the local members.
One last little bit on this point, how can we expect the visitors to come if we ourselves will not make the effort?
Encourage Others
We need to encourage our friends, families, neighbors and co-workers to attend the meeting. Although we cannot hog tie them and make them come, we can invite them to come. Too many churches today do not have a evangelistic focus and let golden opportunities pass them by. Inviting someone to a meeting is easy. Honestly, what is the worse that could happen? They say no. This is easier to contend with than standing before God on the last day and explaining to him why you never mentioned Christ to anyone. If you want visitors to come, you have to invite them.
We also need to encourage those who do make the effort to be here. Actually, this needs to be done every time we assemble. Encourage the young mother that struggles with her children, encourage the elderly that make it out despite their health. Encourage the worker who loses sleep to be at services. Encourage the visitor to stick around so that we can get to know them. Encourage the visitor to come again.
Speaking of visitors, if you desire to hinder the growth of the congregation, do not invite them to come. Do not speak to them when they do. Show them you don’t care and they will not bother to return.
Obedience to the Gospel
Although we all would love to see 3 or 4 people come forward each night of a meeting, the success of a gospel meeting should not be judged by such numbers.
If one person came forward, it would be a success. We should not look at Acts 2 as the only example of someone obeying the gospel. The story of Paul’s conversion should teach us much. Ananias saved one person that day. Nothing is ever said of those whom Paul traveled with to Damascus. Did Ananias get upset cause only one obeyed? Furthermore, Paul’s one conversion resulted in the baptism of thousands.
I think we often get discouraged because we do not even see one person come forward. What we do need to remember though is that not every time a person obeys the gospel will it be visible. Perhaps someone with a secret sin is encouraged to repent in the privacy of their own home? Would that make the Gospel Meeting any less of a success?
Prayer
We must never forget to include God in any work which we do. We must remember that unless the Lord adds them to the church, a new convert can never be in Christ (Acts 2:47; I Cor. 3:6). Over the next three weeks let us take the time to pray for the meeting. Let us pray that the meeting will reach a lost soul. Let us pray that the meeting will open doors of opportunity. Let us pray that we will make the most of those opportunities. And finally, let us do our part to help this meeting be a success.
-WTK