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A lot has to be done to have a successful gospel meeting.
Most importantly, each person has to be ready for the meeting,
or success will be minimized.
In this article, I want to throw out some ideas that might
help us get ready for our upcoming meeting.
Have The Right Attitude
With most things, having the right attitude is one of the
most important things we can do to guarantee success.
Here are some things I try to remember during a gospel
meeting:
- We are worshiping God. Normally, we don't get
to assemble eight times in one week to worship God and
learn from His word. During our gospel meeting, we'll
concentrate our time and energy in worship, which is a
little taste of heaven.
- Worshiping God is more important than watching TV.
Try to keep everything in perspective. Assembling with
the saints to worship God and learn His word is more important
than anything else. Ask yourself, "What would I be doing
if I wasn't at the gospel meeting? Which is more important?"
- It's a great way to encourage our brethren.
During the meeting, we'll encourage the brethren in our
congregation, and probably brethren in other congregations.
We have a special chance to help people get to heaven
during the week!
- We'll enjoy spending time with people we love ---
Christians! It's fun to be a Christian, doing all
the things we do at a gospel meeting: sing, pray, study,
greet one another.
- After the gospel meeting is over, we'll be glad
we went. Although it takes a lot of effort to attend
a gospel meeting, it's always worth it. We feel stronger
after the meeting is over, and we'll be stimulated spiritually.
Determine to Put Forth The Effort
It's not easy to work all day, then go to church at night
for several consecutive days.
It's especially hard for people who have to give up sleep
to get all their work done, so they can be at the meeting.
And it's hard for children who don't get to bed on time,
because they're not home. And it's hard for the teenagers
who have to stay up till midnight doing homework because
they went to the meeting.
But it's times like these that help us develop character.
Paul tells us perseverance produces a proven character,
that produces hope, and hope does not disappoint. So, it's
good for us to challenge ourselves, going beyond the norm
to excel.
In the end, with a strong determination of will, you'll
keep up the week's challenging schedule. And at the end
of the week, you'll be glad you did.
Try To Arrange Your Schedule
It's not possible for everyone to arrange their schedule.
We have gospel meetings when it's convenient for most people
to attend, but some people have to work, and some will have
obligations they can't get out of.
Each of us should honestly evaluate our schedules, and
see how we can change them to get the most out of our meeting.
The young people who normally work in the evenings, can
often change their schedules. And optional activities at
school, such as clubs, can be missed or rescheduled. Some
people in our congregation have even taken vacation days,
so they can attend some of the evenings.
Just remember, God will judge us one day. And part of
that judgment will be whether we were diligent in our assembly
with the saints.
Do Some Work In Advance
Sometimes it's possible to do work in advance, which lightens
our load during the week of the meeting. Just like getting
ready to go on vacation, we can get ahead of our work before
the meeting starts.
For example:
- You might have a special project at work you can do
in advance, so you don't have to stay late during the
meeting.
- The young people might have homework they can do early,
or might be able to study early for tests.
- You can prepare for meals in advance, and even precook
some items.
- You can do chores the weekend before the meeting to
free up a little time during the week.
- Anything you do before the meeting starts, to take
some of the load off during the week of the meeting, is
helpful.
Manage Your Sleep
As with most things, managing to get enough sleep is very
important. Just like taking a test, sleep is one of the
most important factors for success.
Although you may not get a normal amount of sleep during
the week of the meeting, you can manage your overall sleep,
so you'll be edified and encouraged during the week.
Here are some tips:
- Get some extra sleep the weekend before the meeting.
Don't stay out as late, and try to get a nap Sunday afternoon.
- During the meeting, try to get a brief five to ten
minute nap before or after dinner. It's not much rest,
but it will help.
- When you get home from the meeting, get in bed at a
decent time rather than getting in the "normal" amount
of recreation.
- Expect to be tired on Friday at the conclusion of the
meeting, and schedule extra time to sleep that weekend.
Summary
There are many more things we could mention about preparing
for a successful gospel meeting. But the most important
factor is attendance. We need each person to do their best,
in their particular situation, to be at every possible assembly.
If this happens, we'll have a great gospel meeting!
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