Gospel Meetings
In the late 1800s, the Lord’s church in Bloomington, IN conducted a gospel meeting. Though announced to continue through three Lord’s Days, (for such was the customary length of protracted meetings in those days), the effort continued for over three months. Moreover, the same preacher presented no less than three sermons daily, seven days a week! Several religions that are never named in the New Testament endeavored to conduct similar gatherings, but the zeal and interest toward the simple preaching of Christ and Him crucified continued to have a positive effect upon the hearers. More than two hundred souls were immersed into Christ for the remission of their sins; more than three hundred were restored to Christ and His church; several congregations were formed because of this effort. Brethren, it isn’t the effectiveness of the gospel that has changed!
Within the past seven decades, gospel meetings have taken on many changes. First, they used to seek the lost souls of the area and concentrate their efforts on teaching and preaching their need to hear, believe, repent, confess, and be immersed by the authority of Christ for the remission of their sins. With this, they included in such teaching the need for the wayward to return to Christ and His church. Converting lost souls was paramount!
Second, the brethren hosting the meeting made sure to clear their calendars and reserve the time for nothing more important than gathering for each assembly. They endeavored to have their families, friends, and neighbors attend with them, and often came early, sitting up front and allowing the pews and chairs in the back to be for those visiting and/or arriving later. Children sat on the pulpit. “Funeral chairs” were placed in empty spaces to accommodate more attendees, and no one complained about the length of the services! Singing often began early; prayers were plentiful and fervent; bibles were opened and attention to the lessons was uncompromised. They would speak of gospel meetings as “revivals” because that is precisely what they did for those already converted to God’s truth, but who needed exhortation.
Third, these efforts were usually at least ten days long (within the last seventy years) and most congregations would host at least two such efforts every year. Surrounding congregations shared the dates of their planned efforts, and therefore refused to conflict with each other, resulting in the preaching of the gospel every night for weeks within a short driving distance from any of those area churches of Christ. Further, brethren never tired of going to these efforts, and rarely would they hear the same sermon twice, regardless of who was preaching or where the preaching was done.
Nowadays, it would seem preachers preach to the already converted far more often than to the lost of this world. Our efforts, if done twice in a year, rarely last more than a Sunday through Friday night (though a few congregations continue having Monday through Sunday night meetings, allowing one more sermon in the effort.) Rarely do congregations need to set out extra seating, and it’s been years since children had the “honor” of sitting on the pulpit! Again, it isn’t the preaching of the gospel that has changed!
Having reminisced, let’s now examine some scripture about this matter. The whole sentence of Hebrews 10: 23 – 25 should be examined: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
The example of “holding fast the profession our faith” is shown in the next phrase: “for He is faithful that promised.” Is God “unfaithful?” Certainly not!! Therefore, to hold fast the profession (pronouncement with proof” of our faith is to regard it in the same manner as God’s continued, uncompromised faithfulness. Would He miss the services in favor of some secular entertainment, regardless of how “important” it might be? Remember: we hold it fast without wavering!
When we consider one another, is it to provoke (urge them toward) love and good works? If not, why not? Our Lord’s commandment is that we love one another (John 15:12; 1 John 3:23). What better way to prove this than exhorting one another with singing, prayer, and study of God’s word?
To forsake the assembling of ourselves together is forsake our time of fellowship! When fellowship is discussed in the New Testament, it always speaks of the building up of our faith: never a common meal combined with social events. Thus, the manner of some is to forsake God’s pattern of fellowship (assembling for worship) instead of gathering to serve Him while exhorting souls to greater obedience!
Further, the inspired writer tells us to do this “so much the more as we see the day approaching.” Some argue this “day” to be the Lord’s Day (each first day of the week) while others argue it is the day of judgment. Whichever it might be, both are approaching us with each passing minute! How can “less” be “more” and remain in compliance with this passage? Therefore, brethren, gospel meetings are enabling us to fulfill not only this passage (Hebrews 10:23 – 25) but the commandment to seek and save the lost! Let’s not forsake the opportunity to please God!