The Encourager
“A Return to Gospel Meetings”
By Ken Weliever
COVID-19 has altered our lives in so many ways. And none more profoundly for pastors, preachers, and churches than the impact on our worship services.
All of my spring and summer meetings were canceled. In fact, most churches did not even assemble in their meeting houses for several weeks. During our travels to Montana and back to Florida, we were privileged to preach several Sundays at various congregations. Yet, it wasn’t quite the same.
Today, we’re beginning a meeting at the Manslick Road church in Louisville, Kentucky. The brethren have put a lot of thought and planning into making this meeting work. Not just in terms of the protocols concerning the health and safety of those attending, but presenting topics that meet their members’ spiritual needs.
Lord willing, we will be with 5-6 other churches this Fall doing what we love to do. Preaching. While COVID-19 will no doubt influence our personal interactions, it feels like a step to the return of some semblance of normalcy.
In the minds of many people, and sadly even some Christians, preaching and meetings focused on preaching are outdated and old fashioned. The opposite is true. We are in need of hearing gospel preaching more than ever.
Preaching has been a part of collective worship since the church began on Pentecost Sunday in Acts 2. Peter preached. He preached Jesus. His death. Burial. Resurrection. And ascension. He preached God’s plan for salvation. His preaching was plain. Understandable. Relevant. And directed to people who needed it.
Gospel preaching is, of course, Bible-based. It calls people to repentance. Obedience. And a personal realization of their standing before God.
Good preaching meets the spiritual needs of the hearers. Preaching should encourage. Edify. Exhort. And embolden. Preaching should inspire. Motivate. And challenge. At times it must reprove and rebuke. Dee Bowman is fond of saying that good preaching should storm the will.
Today around the world where Christians meet there will be preaching. May it be Biblical. Unmistakable. Uncompromising. And unadulterated by the philosophy of the world.
Preaching. Let it be presented with power. Spoken with love. And communicated with care, concern, and compassion for struggling saints and unsaved sinners.
Today, I’m thankful for the opportunity to be preaching. May God bless all of my colleagues who preach the Word. And may we all receive the Divine message with a willingness to learn. To change. To grow. And to be all that God created us to be.
