GRANT COUNTY CHURCH OF CHRIST
February 8,2009

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EVANGELISTIC GOSPEL MEETINGS
By
Jerry Carmichael

In years passed, revival-type gospel meetings were common place in most churches of Christ. Many churches no longer have them and many of the ones that still do have them don't have very good ones. In the past, gospel meetings were a very effective way to reach the lost. What is needed to revitalize evangelistic gospel Meetings?
We know that preaching the gospel will still save the lost. We learn this by the fact that most people who attend the assemblies regularly, obey eventually. The gospel is the power of God unto (leading toward) salvation. It saved people on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). It saved people down in Samaria and on the Gaza road (Acts 8). In the pagan darkness of the Philippian jail, the jailer and his household found salvation in Christ by being taught the Word of God (Acts 16).
A gospel meeting is nothing more or nothing less than the proclamation of the gospel. There are undeniable benefits in the public proclamation of the word. The meeting should be prepared and planned for the benefit of lost friends and loved ones who will honor us with their attendance.
Gospel meetings are not a good time to tell how bad denominational people are and how bad our brethren are. This does not result in salvation. Not one man will go to heaven just because another man is bad. This is a fruitless waste of time in a gospel meeting setting.
The people to whom we preach in a gospel meeting are people whose wills need to be changed so they desire to live for Jesus. They are people made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28). They are people in whom faith will grow if they hear the word of God and accept it (Romans 10:17). It is the preaching and teaching of the gospel that brings about an informed intellect, a loving heart and a submissive will. This is what we are trying to achieve in a gospel meeting.
I am not sure that meetings ever fail. Good is always accomplished when God's word is taught in love. However, some meetings are less effective than others. Perhaps the number one cause of ineffective gospel meetings is the failure of the local church to prepare.
If the whole membership is involved, transportation arranged, subjects assigned to the speaker, an all out community effort to invite the lost of the community is in place, and a follow up plan is engaged, the meeting will often achieve its desired purpose.
Gospel meetings can work. If we are willing to put forth the necessary effort, some will obey the gospel as a result of having attended our meeting.


HAVING THE RIGHT MOTIVATION IN  EVANGELISM

With the right motivation behind our efforts in evangelism, the job will get done. Whenever evangelism does not occur, lack of motivation (or in some cases, improper motivation) is always at the root of the problem!
What Is "motivation?"
. "Motivation is an inner drive, an idea captured in the imagination."
. "Motivation can be harnessed to an intense drive toward a goal."
. "Men and women who are motivated push themselves forward, plow through the inevitable setbacks, heading ever onward to their dreams."
Motivation is like "steam." Properly channeled it can move large objects, like a steam powered train. But without it, the train remains motionless. All the careful construction in preparation for travel is for nothing if there is no steam to propel the train.
So it is with us. If motivated and properly channeled, great things can be done in the area of evangelism. Unfortunately, many people, despite all of the spiritual education they have received on the subject of evangelism, still do very little with what they know. The reason? Lack of proper motivation!
WHAT SHOULD BE OUR MOTIVATION IN EVANGELISM? Well, what motivated Jesus? Certainly He was successful in reaching His goals. Since He is to be our example (1Pe 2:21), whatever motivated Him should be the motivating force driving His disciples.
I can identify at least five things which moved our Lord. The first was...
COMPASSION FOR LOST SOULS: Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw the mass of lost souls (Mt 9:35-36; 14:14; 15:32).
A SENSE OF PURPOSE: This motivating force is seen in our Lord's conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. While speaking with her, his disciples marveled at what His motive might be (Jn 4:27). Jesus explained: "To do the will of Him who sent Me...to accomplish His work" (Jn 4:34).
THE LOVE OF THE FATHER: Jesus had experienced "the love of the Father", which prompted Him to love others (Jn 15:9). But it went beyond that. This "love" was such that He wanted to share it with others (Jn 17:26), even if it was necessary for Him to go the cross to make it possible!
THE TERROR OF THE LORD: Jesus was very much aware of God's "righteous indignation". He taught that we should "fear" God (Mt 10:28). He warned of the judgment to come (Mk 9:43-48). Knowing the "terror of the Lord", Jesus was willing to go to the cross that man might be saved. He even prayed for those crucifying Him (Lk 23:34).
THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM : As expressed by the writer of Hebrews (He 12:2), Jesus was motivated by the joyful prospect of being with His Father, at His Right Hand.
Since Jesus is the "AUTHOR" and "FINISHER" of our faith (He 12:2), we should be "looking unto Jesus" for the motivation we need to do His will. We should "consider Him" (He 12:3), lest we become weary and discouraged in doing God's will.
I am convinced the early church looked to Jesus, and found the motivation necessary to grow as they did. I believe that we can do the same today!
It should be apparent by now that the "KEY" to developing and strengthening the proper motivation is to let the Word of God have its intended effect upon us. But if Christians are not daily reading, studying, and meditating upon the Word of God, THEN HOW CAN WE EVER HOPE TO STAY MOTIVATED LIKE JESUS, PAUL AND THE EARLY CHURCH WAS?
May we also allow God's Word and the example of Jesus to motivate us in evangelizing the lost!