- Are Gospel Meetings a thing of the past? I know that they have been shortened. Meeting at one time lasted at least three weeks, then it went to two weeks, then the Gospel meetings went from Sunday to Sunday. The next change was from Sunday to Saturday. Folks got where they were not coming on Saturdays so that length stopped. Now most Gospel Meetings are from Sunday to Wednesday. I have heard of a few starting on Wednesday and going until Sunday. For whatever reason, the Gospel Meeting seems to be losing days. Let us think about somethings that will promote the Gospel Meeting
Only through the Gospel will someone will be saved. Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” You and I have the responsibility to ask others to come and hear it. Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Mark records it this way, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” Mark 16:15-16. Someone then rightly observers and says, “That only applies to the 11 apostles.” To which one who correctly studies his Bible says yes, but there is more than just these two passages that have to deal with the subject of preaching the Gospel to the whole world.
First, there were only 11 apostles at the time. Judas had killed himself. So one from twelve equals eleven. Matthias was added days later getting the number back to twelve.
Also dealing with us taking the Gospel to all the world. We find located in the book of first Timothy these words, “Who would have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). How are all men going to be saved? “By the preaching of the Gospel,” someone answers. How is the Gospel going to be preached, There are no apostles to go so who responsibility is it to go into all the world? Good question and as Isaiah said, “to the law and to the testimony.” The New Testament does not leave us in the dark, but we must make proper application of some passages of scriptures. Acts 8:4 is one; notice what this passage says, “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” The “they” in this passage was/is the church verse 3. “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and hailing men and women committed them to prison.” The “them” “men” “women” and the “church” all refer to the same group of people. Therefore the church was scattered and when she was she went preaching everywhere.
The other passage in Timothy is found in second Timothy. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). So a person is to teach others to teach other so that person can teach others. Therefore we are all to be going into all the world and preaching or teaching others the saving message of God.
Overheard one Sunday was this statement, “Other people are not qualified to go into all the world.” There are several things wrong with this statement. One, are there only a few who are qualified to go? If that is the case then each person not qualified to go, needs to be! Not just a select few, this allows for a special class of folks and separates folks in the church. The Bible does not allow for this! For as we have seen “all” are to go. Another passage, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15). That is talking about every Christian! Each and every Christian ought to be able to tell others what they need to do to be saved. It is your responsibility to train yourself to do that.
If by the statement above that this person means that only a select few (like only the preacher) needs to be going and doing this work then, that person needs to restudy their Bible. As we have pointed out in the first century everyone in the church went preaching the word and Paul told Timothy to teach others to go into all the world. Therefore we all are to have enough Bible knowledge to teach someone else what they must do to be saved. This is the purpose of the Gospel Meeting. Will you do your part? I know you will!
Love, Keith
