TEN WAYS YOU CAN HELP YOUR GOSPEL MEETING

In the Sept., 20, 2001, issue of Truth Magazine, Kevin Maxey had an article with this title. He began, "The success of your upcoming gospel meeting depends on you. It depends upon your involvement, your excitement, and your participation. What can you do to help make your upcoming meeting a success?" I do not have room in this bulletin to include the entire article, but I would like to share with you his main points.

1. "Remember its purpose." The main purpose is to preach the gospel so that those who are lost might be saved (Mark 16:15-16). It should be our aim to have as many lost souls present as possible. Another purpose of a gospel meeting is for saints to be edified (1 Corinthians 14:26). It goes without saying that we cannot be edified if we are not present!

2. "Invite others." Andrew invited Peter to follow Christ (John 1:41-42). The Samaritan woman invited her whole city to come and hear Christ (John 4:28-29). It stands to reason that if people do not know about our meeting they certainly will not come. We have fliers available. Take a few to pass out in your block to let your neighborhood know about the meeting.

3. "Pray diligently." Peter said, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers..." (1 Peter 3:12). Pray for the meeting, that the speakers will teach what is needed and that the lost will come and hear.

4. "Attend faithfully." The early disciples "continued daily with one accord," and this is an opportunity for us to do likewise for a week (Acts 2:46). If the meeting is not important enough for the members to support, why should anyone else come?

5. "Arrive early." When you invite someone to your house to eat at 6:00, do you appreciate it if they come at 6:15? You would prefer them to be a little early. When we are late, we can disrupt the worship. When we are early, we can greet visitors.

6. "Help prepare the building." I know that we have those who are on the list to clean the building, but during a gospel meeting there is more work to do. Each one can help out by picking up paper, putting song books in the rack, etc. Why would visitors want to come back if the members do not care enough to keep the building attractive?

7. "Sing fervently." We are told, "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). Good singing helps to make a good meeting. We should follow the leader, concentrate on the words, and sing with heartfelt zeal.

8. "Welcome visitors." We should appreciate the presence of each visitor, whether a member of the Lord's church in another place or someone who is not a child of God. Visitors may well determine whether they will return or not based on how they are received. The more people who greet them, the more appreciated visitors will feel.

9. "Sit up front." We realize that some need to sit in the back for health reasons. But when most of the members sit in the back of the building, it sends a negative message. Leave the back pews for visitors who may be shy or late in coming. Also, sitting together up front will make the singing sound better.

10. "Listen carefully." Remember that faith comes by hearing the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Be a good example of how to pay attention to the preaching.

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