Was Our Gospel Meeting A Success?

by Chris Simmons

Success or failure in any endeavor is normally dependent on several factors. In a gospel meeting, degrees of success or failure are dependent on a number of important factors. Was our gospel meeting a success?

Many might suggest that the success of a gospel meeting is primarily dependent on how many came forward to obey the gospel or confess sins. There is no question that a gospel meeting that convicts sinners and moves them to obedience is a success. We can read of the success of the preaching of Philip in Acts 8:12 which resulted in the baptism and salvation of the hearers; “But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike.” Yet in other accounts, we can read of the word being taught without the results we should be yearning for. In Acts 26:27-28 we read that King Agrippa was not willing to commit to becoming a Christian after being taught by Paul as he said, “…Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Was Paul’s effort therefore a failure? No, because Paul understood it was simply his objective to preach the gospel and leave the results to the hand of God. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building” (I Corinthians 3:6-9). A gospel meeting can be a success regardless of whether there were baptisms or not.

Perhaps the most important factor is simply whether or not the truth of God’s word was proclaimed and false doctrine exposed. Brother John Robertson fulfilled his responsibilities in that regard and spoke as it were the utterances of God (I Peter 4:11). He presented his lessons without the need for “clever” or “persuasive” speech. This is what Paul practiced in his preaching as he said in I Corinthians 1:17, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, that the cross of Christ should not be made void.” Also in I Corinthians 2:1-4, “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” In addition, Brother Robertson exposed the deceptions spread by the father of all lies and the false doctrine that is rampantly spreading. Those in attendance this past week could not help but be better equipped to identify and refute false doctrine which is by its very nature both deceptive (Matthew 7:15) and destructive (II Peter 2:1-2). Brother Robertson’ preaching abided in the teaching of Christ (II John 9) and thus he did his job in making this meeting a success.

All the truthful preaching in the world will not produce any success if there wasn’t anybody present to hear it spoken. This should be a self-evident truth: attendance is critical to any gospel meeting’s success. This meeting was planned for some time and we all had plenty of opportunity to “…consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” The question is; did we make every effort to come at each opportunity, to edify our brethren and be edified ourselves? Peter’s efforts to preach to the household of Cornelius would not have had any chance of success unless his family had been “…all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord” (Acts 10:33). We enjoyed good attendance at many of the services this past week including our brethren of our local congregation, visitors who are outside the body of Christ and visitors from other congregations. Could the attendance have been better? Each one of us must individually answer that question seriously and soberly.

A gospel meeting is a success when each member makes application of what was taught. Little good is done when the “whole counsel of God” is preached and each member is more concerned if his brother or sister in Christ makes application rather than examining self. When Peter became preoccupied about the fate of John rather than his own faithful obedience, Jesus said to him, “if I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!" (John 21:22) Thus, this gospel meeting will be successful if each of us is personally committed to “test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” (II Corinthians 13:5).

Brother Robertson is on his way home and our gospel meeting has concluded. Yet, the book on the success or failure of the meeting has yet to be closed. Success or failure of any gospel meeting is affected by what happens long after the final AMEN is said. The question is; will we continue to meditate on the Bible truths spoken by Brother Robertson (cf., Joshua 1:8; Psalms 1:2)? Will we be able to call the things he taught to our remembrance after he is gone? It was Peter’s goal that we commit Bible teaching to our memory. “And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you may be able to call these things to mind” (II Peter 1:15; cf., 1:12-15). Also, are we prepared to water the seed that Brother Robertson planted in the hearts of those both inside and outside of the body of Christ? These things ultimately will affect our gospel meeting’s success.

When it comes down to it, a gospel meeting’s success or failure is based on what we all put into it and how we continue to respond to it. So, was our gospel meeting a success?