Gospel Meeting
A week from today, our gospel meeting with Jim Mickells begins. As we anticipate that event, consider a few thoughts on what makes for a successful gospel meeting.
INVITING FOLKS
We have several postcard invitations to be handed out to friends, family members, neighbours and strangers alike. Don't be shy about inviting people to come hear God's word. What is the worst that could happen? The apostle Peter wrote:
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. (1 Peter 4:14)
For our brethren in the first century, and for some in other lands, physical harm is a reality when it comes to the work of sharing the gospel message. For us, we may be spoken against or made fun or, but anything more is extremely rare. Are you willing to possibly be reproached for Christ?
But, consider also, what good might come from your invitation? Several times in Scripture we see those who were invited to follow Christ or at least to "come and see" (Matthew 4:19; 8:22; 9:9; Luke 18:22; John 1:39-43, 45-46). Some came and followed, others did not. Our responsibility is to invite.
Keep in mind that you were invited at some point in the past, and accepted the invitation. Will you not be the one who now extends the invitation to another? Hand an invite to someone in person, go around door to door in your community, either knocking and talking with folks, or simply dropping invitations off at folks front doors. Whatever you do, be sure to invite people to come and hear the gospel being preached. In so doing, we become fellow workers with the Lord (1 Corinthians 3:6-9) and participate in the commission which the Lord extended to all who would become His disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
BE THERE YOURSELF!
Such a statement shouldn't need to be made, and yet it will be made. There is no spiritual benefit for the one who is absent from the assemblies of the local church. In fact, by not being at the assembly of the saints, an individual becomes a discouragement to others. And even more serious, God receives no glory when we have chosen something or someone else before Him. Jesus told His disciples:
“Keep in mind that you were invited at some point in the past, and accepted the invitation.”
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:37-39)
Let us not set other people or events above assembling with God's people. We all ought to have had the dates and times of our meeting set aside in our calendars for some time now, as the gospel meeting has been planned now for some time. Let us show the due respect for a speaker who is taking time from his schedule, away from his loved ones, and has travelled a great distance to share God's word with us. But more importantly, let us render the respect due to the Lord - it is right that we be at every assembly.
Also, we need to consider what affect our example is having on others. If we choose not to be at the assemblies throughout the week of our gospel meeting, are we not telling others that it is not important? How can we emphasize the importance of studying God's word to those who are young in the faith or to those who have not yet obeyed the gospel if we ourselves fail to assemble with the saints as we ought?
Many Christians in the first century, under threats of persecution, met daily with one another (Acts 2:46-47; 5:42; 17:11; 19:9; Hebrews 3:13). What keeps us from assembling together dialy through a week of pre-planned Bible study opportunities?
TO GOD BE THE GLORY
As we work in the community inviting folks out; as we assemble ourselves and listen to excellent Bible lessons; as we take those lessons and make application in our own lives, let us be sure that we express our thanksgiving to God for such an oppportunity. We are His people, engaging in His work, and studying His word.
Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that you may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. (Psalm 130:1-5)
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Answering The Atheist
Complaint:
How many officers did Solomon have? 1 Kings 9:23 says he had 550 officers, but 2 Chronicles 8:10 says he had 250. Is there a contradiction?
Response:
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown's commentary states that "...it is generally agreed that the text of one of these passages is corrupt." It is possible that through the process of time, a copyist error has entered one of the texts. Despite the care taken by scribes in transcription, transcribing holds the potential for errors.
The marginal notes of the Geneva Bible (1599), state of 1 Kings 9:23:
The overseers of Solomon's works were divided into three parts: the first contained 3300, the second 300, and the third 250 who were Israelites. Here are the two last parts, which makes 550.
Of 2 Chronicles 8:10, the Geneva Notes says:
For in all there were 3300 but here he means of them who had the principle charge.
3300 "chiefs of Solomon's deputies" are mentioned in 1 Kings 5:16. However, the Geneva Bible gives no source for the supposed 300 officers. Neither 1 Kings nor 2 Chronicles mention them. If there is another explanation of why 1 Kings 9:23 and 2 Chronicles 8:10 differ, I do not know what it is. I agree with JFB, that the number in one of these passages has been corrupted.
Does this mean we cannot trust the Bible? If we were talking about any other book, no issue would be raised. It is not uncommon to find textbooks and other writings which, after they have left the press, errors are found (typos, spelling, grammar, etc.). Do we discount the entire composition, or simply note the error and move on?
The existence and origin of errors is the same, whether it be in the Bible or some other writing. Man is the source of errors. What makes the Bible different is when the errors appeared. The Bible, in its original autograph, was without error. Any errors found therein have resulted from the copying process. However, the number of such errors are very few, and the affect of such errors are inconsequential (ie. does it really matter whether Solomon had 250 or 550 officers?).
The discrepancy exists, but can be adequately explained as a copyist error.
This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible