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“What A Gospel Meeting Does – Part 1”
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).
