Why Are We Here?  Why This Meeting?

 

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Topic # 1533

Introduction:

A.       Thanks for the opportunity to be able to be here for this gospel meeting.  I have looked forward to this for months - and I hope that you have as well.

1.    Take time this wk to invite your friends & neighbors & family to the gospel meeting

2.    We want to do our best in this special effort to show everyone the simplicity of the gospel of Christ.

3.    If you visiting today, let me welcome you & encourage you to open your bible & follow along w/each lesson.  If you have any question - please feel free to talk to Bro. Gatlin or me.

B.       Well…..why are we here?  Why this gospel meeting?

1.    Why the special effort w/all the advertising, WOM, and visiting?

2.    Why are the members here going to be back night after night this week - when they could be at home or out n about?

3.    In the minutes we have remaining today - we will discuss why we are here.

 

I.  We are here to: Encourage each other.

A.    All Christians need encouragement from time to time.

1.    Doesn't matter how long one been in Christ.

2.    It good to get away from everyday problems - take refuge in fellow brethren.

a)    can help us bear burdens.

b)    Build us up.  Brethren r e a l l y need to care about each other.

c)    Seek strength in God's word.

3.    Christians have the responsibility to encourage one another.

B.    edification defined:  to encourage intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement.  "To build up."

1.    Rom. 14:19; 1 Thess. 5:11 - edification necessary.

2.    Are you fulfilling your God given resp to edify your brethren?  One way you can do this is by your presence this week - and every week for that matter.

C.   Heb. 10:24-25 - this thought is continued here.

1.       This should be a time that we look forward to with great anticipation.

2.       Our attitude needs to be focused upon others.

a)    Heb. 10:24 - consider one another.  NAS - consider how to stimulate one another to love/good deeds. 

b)    This is the context of 10:25 - an often-quoted passage.

1)    some brethren forget the context of 10:25.

c)    What one of the main reasons we come to services?  Why should we want to be here this week?

1)    to fulfill some attendance requirement?

2)    Just b/c the elders/preacher expects me to be here?

3)    To satisfy my girlfriend/boyfriend, hus/wife, etc.

4)    If you here for that reason, you need an attitude adjustment!

3.       10:25 - we're here to encourage each other - to build one another up. 

4.       Do your part by being here every night to encourage your brethren.

 

II.  We are Here to: Strengthen Our Faith.

A.    Rom. 10:17 - faith comes through hearing the word of God.

1.    This week we will have opportunity to open our bibles and study together.

2.    You'll get to hear the gospel preached from a different perspective.

3.    Here = the opportunity to learn & relearn the principles of the gospel & faithful Christian living.

a)    1 Pet. 3:18 - the admonition to grow.

b)    1 Cor. 15:58 - this wk will give us opportunity to learn how to abound in the Lord's work.

B.    This will help us to fortify our defenses against the devil.

1.    Christians are in a war against the devil!  A spiritual battle!

2.    Christian must know the enemy & the weapons of his warfare.

a)    1 Pet. 5:8-9 - he will come after you w/all his might!

b)    Eph. 6:10-18 - must clothe ourselves with spiritual armor.

c)    Js. 4:7 - must resist him!

3.    1 Cor. 15:57; 1 Jhn. 5:4 - victory can be obtained through Christ!

C.   As we strengthen ourselves - this week will give us opportunity to sing hymns of praise to God.

1.    We can teach/admonish one another in this way!

2.    Eph. 5:19; 1 Cor. 14:15

D.   Have a bad day/wk etc.  Can be picked up by singing praises to God/being reminded of our spiritual hope!

E.    Are you looking forward to growing up in Christ?

 

III.  Where are here to: Stimulate ourselves toward greater service!

A.    If I do my job this week - your heart will be stirred.

1.       I will do my best to preach the gospel with simplicity and humility.

2.       I'm sure that many of you have spent extra effort in preparing for this meeting.

3.       Hope you’ll leave here  zealous, filled w/enthusiasm - just as the Thessalonians in 1 Thess. 1:2-10.

4.       Keep it going!  Continue to be involved in the work here!

B.    Let this be a time to take our Christian lives to the next level.

1.    Lk. 6:40 – be more like Jesus!

2.    Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 1:22-23; 2:6-7

3.    want others to see Christ living in me.

4.    make it where my Christianity means something to me!

 

IV.  We are here to: REACH THE LOST!

A.      We are here to answer religious questions that the world wants to know!

1.    Christians to be outward focused in their approach!

2.    Too many:  just the opposite!  Inward focused on brethren, problems w/them.  Content to carp at; complain about; and divide.

3.    Some: no longer time to spread gospel - teach lost - too busy hold magnifying glass over brethren.  Search for:

a)    differing opinion.

b)    Sense of bad judgment

c)    Sinful behavior.

4.    Could this be why many congregations are NOT GROWING as they should?

B.      We MUST learn once again to be focused upon the great commission in Mt. 28:18-20.

C.     A key to an outward focus is to make sure that we are seeking to answer religious questions people are asking today.

1.      for far too long - preachers have been trying to answer questions that no one is asking!

2.      Today, people are asking:

a)    Why do some people succeed in having their prayers answered?  Reach a greater understanding of the Bible; Reach more people w/the gospel?

b)    Why do we get so little out of what we do?  And, how can I correct that?

c)    How involved is God in our world?  Is he working now?  If so, why does he allow certain evil men to live ….perpetrate evil acts?

d)    What is my purpose in life?  Why am I here?  Where am I headed?

e)    How can I be a better example for Christ?

3.      If we will seek to answer these questions - perhaps we can get a "toehold"  & have an increased opportunity to teach the simple gospel of Christ!

D.     Heard of brethren who reluctant to invite lost - b/c the preacher too caught up in preaching on some "brotherhood issue" wk after wk that has NO PRACTICAL RELEVANCE to the alien sinner!

1.    Result?  Only impression some have of the Lord's church is one of a:

2.    NEGATIVE, DIVIDED, AND UNHAPPY GROUP OF BELIEVERS!

3.    This not to say that "brotherhood issues" are not important and should not be addressed.

4.    But need to be careful & remember that our primary focus needs to be set upon seeking & saving the lost!

E.      Lk. 19:9-10

 

Conclusion

A.      Looking forward to this week.  Aren't you?  Thanks again for the opportunity to be here.

B.      Questions?  Talk to me.

C.     Got someone you would like Bro. _____ & myself to visit?  Get with us. 

1.    We want to do everything possible to reach someone this week and share w/them the need to get their soul right before God.

2.    I encourage all of us to evaluate our souls.

D.  Thanks again, the lesson is yours.