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A Note from the Preacher…Larry Sweeney
THE CHALLENGE OF OUR GOSPEL MEETING
Our Gospel Meeting begins Friday evening, April 28th, and will continue through Sunday, evening April 30th. Bro. Ben Flatt will be doing the preaching. Ben will do his part, but what about us? Let's list some of the ways that our Gospel Meeting will challenge us:
1. Our meeting will challenge our faith in the power of the gospel. The Bible teaches that the gospel is the “power of God to salvation” (Romans 1:16). Do we really believe that it has the power to save? Let's give the gospel an opportunity to work by inviting friends and family to our meeting.
2. Our meeting will challenge us to work. Not only are there privileges corresponding to our meeting, but there are also many responsibilities. Those of us who do not fulfill our part will be guilty of shirking an opportunity to serve.
3. Our meeting will challenge our interest. It will determine the priority we place on spiritual matters. It will be a measure of our heart condition. It will separate the sheep from the goats. Can you be a faithful Christian and not be interested in a Gospel Meeting?
4. Our meeting will be a challenge to religious error. The gospel will be preached and error will be exposed and opposed. The devil will not have his way during our meeting.
5. Our meeting will be a challenge to the unfaithful. It will challenge the worldly, the indifferent, and the careless Christian to come home.
Will you rise to the challenge of our meeting? Remember: THE SUCCESS OF OUR GOSPEL MEETING DEPENDS ON ALL OF US!
Shopping for a box of Kleenex…
GOD WAS ANGRY with their careless, shoddy methods of worship. The animals they brought for sacrifice were not acceptable to Him because they were not the best of the herds and flocks. Instead, they offered stolen, lame, and sick animals (Malachi 1:13).
While we may not be showing this degree of contempt toward God, sometimes we are too casual in our worship. A friend of mine made this observation about herself: “When I shop for simple things like soap or butter, I hardly think about it. But when I'm looking for a blouse to match a skirt, I shop very carefully. I go from store to store until I find exactly what I'm looking for.” Then she added thoughtfully, “I should pay that same attention when I am worshiping God. But sometimes I approach Him as casually as if I were shopping for a box of Kleenex.”
During our worship assemblies, we may fail to give God our full attention. We rush in late. Our thoughts wander. We need to discipline our minds so that we are not focusing on yesterday's cares or tomorrow's responsibilities. When we worship the Lord with all our heart, He will be pleased with us. –Dave Egner