Gospel meetings require a lot of expense and effort. Critics say they are a waste of time and money, an outdated tradition that doesn’t produce much of a return. Granted, many churches remain unchanged after their meetings. Like buckets of water, they become different when something new is introduced into them, but return to their former shape after it is gone. The plan, though, is not the problem. The problem is that so often churches fail to put much thought into what they ought to do after the meeting in order to ensure its success. Here are some suggestions:
Take notes and use them. Many church goers are note takers. I know that a lot of people are like me: I like to take notes when I am in an audience because it keeps my mind from wandering and helps me follow the speaker’s stream of thought. This in itself is a good reason to take notes, but we can do so much more with our notes than this. Learn to use your notes after the meeting. Take them out several times in the weeks following to ponder important points that you learned. Soak these ideas in until they become a part of you. Maybe there are some quotations or Scripture references that really made an impact on you. File these away so you can return to them again.
Make commitments. Have you ever been hit between the eyes by something the preacher said during a gospel meeting? What did you do after you got over the initial shock of being confronted with your sin? Too many folks allow the moment to pass without making a commitment to the Lord. Follow the example of David. After Nathan confronted his sin with Bathsheba, David prayed to the Lord,
Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise” (Ps. 51:12-15).
By my count, David made at least three commitments to God in those four verses. A fourth commitment of repentance may be implied in verse 16-17: “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Serious commitments like these can really make a difference in a congregation after the meeting.
Follow up with visitors. A gospel meeting is a great time to invite friends, family members, coworkers, and neighbors to church. Your congregation is at its best during a gospel meeting, so the hope is to make a good first impression. In the old days, one invitation to church may have been all that was needed to lead someone to Christ. But times have changed. If someone comes to a gospel meeting because of your invitation and shows interest, he must be contacted again or the opportunity to assist him in responding to the gospel may disappear. Invite your friends to the meeting, and then invite them again. This is the way gospel meetings can make an everlasting impression on a person’s life.
Published in Seeking Things Above.