"GOSPEL MEETINGS"
Keys To A Successful Meeting
INTRODUCTION
- The time for our gospel meeting is near!
- In view of the Lord's money and the time we will spend...
- ...we ought to be vitally interested in its success
- For it to be a success, we must realize our responsibility and accept
it!
- The effort of the one(s) who will preach is important
- Yet such effort can be greatly hindered if we fail to do our part
[What is required for a successful gospel meeting? Several keys are
necessary, beginning with purpose: Why have a gospel meeting...?]
- PURPOSE
- ONE PURPOSE IS TO EVANGELIZE...
- To seek and save the lost through proclaiming the gospel - cf.
Ro 1:14-17
- To provide opportunity for friends and neighbors to hear the
gospel - cf. Ro 10:17
- ANOTHER PURPOSE IS TO EDIFY...
- To exhort one another to love and good works - cf. He 10:24-25
- To revive our first love - cf. Re 2:4-5
- To remove any lukewarmness that may have crept in - cf. Re
3:15-19
[Some meetings may be designed for one purpose or another, perhaps both.
Once we have established our purpose, another key to a successful
meeting is...]
- PREPARATION
- LACK OF PREPARATION CAN KILL A MEETING...
- What would you think of a preacher who came unprepared?
- Yet many members are often unprepared for a meeting...
- Unprepared to attend each and every service if possible
- Unprepared to encourage other members to attend
- Unprepared to exhort the members at the services
- Unprepared to invite those for whom the meeting is intended
- Unprepared to visit and welcome those who come
- PREPARATION INVOLVES EFFORT BY ALL...
- Resolving to attend every service
- Resolving to invite others to come
- Resolving to be friendly to all who come
- Resolving to pray for God to bless this effort
[Successful preparation means working as though it depends upon us,
while praying as though it depends upon God! Another key to a
successful meeting are...]
- PROSPECTS
- WHO ARE THE PROSPECTS...?
- For a meeting designed to evangelize, the prospects are the
unsaved
- Including friends, relatives, neighbors
- Anyone who has yet to come to the Lord
- For a meeting designed to edify, the prospects are ourselves!
- Every member of this congregation is a prospect
- Every member needs to be encouraged, uplifted
- WHAT SHOULD BE DONE FOR THE PROSPECTS...?
- They should be invited (before and during the meeting)
- Transportation should be offered if needed
- One might invite them to dinner, and then attend the meeting
together
[There are plenty of prospects (cf. Jn 4:35). With preparation the
purpose of the meeting will likely be fulfilled. But there are two more
keys to a successful meeting, one being...]
- PRESENCE
- PRESENCE MAKES OR BREAKS A MEETING...
- Your presence is edifying, while your absence is demoralizing!
- Just as the absence of Titus depressed Paul - cf. 2Co
2:12-13
- Just as the absence of two and a half tribes would have
discouraged the rest of the tribes of Israel - cf. Num
32:6-7
- We might think our absence is not important, but it is
- Empty seats have an affect on those who are present
- Affecting the morale of the members, and the impact of the
meeting upon visitors
- MEMBERS CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE...
- Most meetings enjoy the presence of visitors, yet the overall
attendance is often below the normal attendance on Sunday mornings
- Why? Because the meeting is poorly attended by the own members
of the congregation!
- If all the members would just attend, most buildings would be
filled!
- Sadly, sometimes there are more visitors than members!
- EXCUSES, EXCUSES...
- Invariably, members will offer excuses to explain their absence
- Like those in the parable of the great supper - cf. Lk
14:15-24
- Unless it is sickness or unavoidable work, I have little
sympathy
- Don't tell me your excuses...
- Tell it to your brethren who are discouraged by your absence
- Tell it to the visitors who wonder why the members don't
support their own meeting
- Tell it to the lost who wonder if the gospel or Christ's
church is worth it
- Tell it to those who have the same reasons not to attend,
but come anyway!
- Tell it to the Lord, who came to this earth and died for
you!
[Finally, an important key to a successful meeting is...]
- PARTICIPATION
- PARTICIPATE BEFORE AND AFTER THE SERVICE...
- Arrive early to greet and welcome visitors
- Sit up front, leaving the back for visitors who come late
- Stick around afterward, greet the visitors, invite them back
- Extend hospitality by inviting them home or to a restaurant for
a snack - cf. 1Pe 4:9
- PARTICIPATE DURING THE SERVICE...
- Sing in a spirited manner, with grace in your hearts
- Give a hearty amen to the prayers offered
- Those who lead in prayer and song, do so audibly and with
enthusiasm!
- Give close attention to the sermon - cf. Ac 17:11
CONCLUSION
- If a congregation approaches a gospel meeting with the right measure
of...
- Purpose
- Preparation
- Prospects
- Presence
- Participation
...they will have an excellent and successful meeting!
- Of course, presumed throughout this lesson is another key to success:
Prayer!
- Prayer before, during, and after the meeting
- Praying for laborers, and for free course for the Word - cf. Mt
9:37-38; 2Th 3:1
With the help of God, then, our meetings will accomplish the purpose for
which they are intended, glorying God by saving souls and edifying the
saved!