A Young People's Meeting: The Question Box: No.4 The Gospel Meeting and Open Meeting

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The Question Box
No. 4
The gospel meeting, and meeting for open ministry remain for consideration.
The gospel meeting is exactly what its name implies, that is, a meeting for the preaching or proclaiming of the gospel. “Gospel” means “good news,” or “glad tidings” (Luke 2:1010And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10); Rom. 10:1515And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:15)). It is the announcement of God’s love towards a world of lost sinners, in the gift of His Son (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)), and that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). The facts of the gospel are recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:1-41Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:1‑4),
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel...how that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” These facts should always have their place in a gospel meeting.
Where should the gospel be preached? In Scripture, it was preached on many different occasions, and in many different places.
On the day of Pentecost, “Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice,” and addressed the multitude that came together, resulting in the conversion of about 3000 souls (Acts 2).
After the persecution following the martyrdom of Stephen, the scattered disciples “went everywhere preaching the Word” (Acts 8:44Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. (Acts 8:4)).
“Philip went down into the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them” (Acts 8:55Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. (Acts 8:5)).
In Caesarea, Peter preached first to the Gentiles, to Cornelius, and a group of his kinsmen and near friends whom he had gathered together (Acts 10).
We find Paul preaching in all sorts of places. Hill-tops, river-sides, market-places, prisons, palaces, and synagogues, and his own hired house, all heard his voice.
At Antioch he preached in the synagogue to a mixed company of Jews and Greek proselytes (Acts 13:14-4114But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down. 15And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. 16Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 17The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 18And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. 19And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: 24When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose. 26Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. 27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30But God raised him from the dead: 31And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 34And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. 35Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: 37But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. 38Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you. (Acts 13:14‑41)), “and the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God” (Acts 13:4444And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. (Acts 13:44)).
Another notable gospel address given by the same Apostle to the Athenians, on Mar’s Hill, is recorded in Acts 17:22-3122Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:22‑31), with its results (Acts 17:32-3432And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33So Paul departed from among them. 34Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them. (Acts 17:32‑34)).
The Lord’s commission to His disciples was “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:1515And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15)). The world is the field; the unsaved, the subjects for the preaching of the gospel. In the meeting-room or hired hall, the home, in Institutions, in the open air, on land or sea, gospel meetings may be held.
Gospel meetings are not assembly meetings, but the preacher of the gospel should always seek the prayers and fellowship of the saints. The preacher is individually responsible to the Lord, as His servant, but, if instructed, he always works from the assembly, and leads souls into it. An evangelist, if he is faithful, is like a pair of compasses—one leg is fixed, firmly planted in the assembly; and the other leg, circling the world, stretching out, with burning zeal and whole-hearted energy, to seek souls, wherever he may find them. There is plenty of room, outside the systems of men, which are contrary to the truth, for the work of the gospel to be carried on with a good conscience. There is danger for one who knows the truth to associate himself, even in service, with those who are walking contrary to it (Heb. 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13); Jer. 15:1919Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. (Jeremiah 15:19)).
The meeting for open ministry, or meeting for edification, is recorded and described in 1 Corinthians 14:23-4023If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. 26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40Let all things be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:23‑40). Such meetings were apparently common in the early days of the church, especially where there was much gift, as in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:77So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: (1 Corinthians 1:7)). Two important principles were enunciated in connection with such meetings,
1. “Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Cor. 14:2626How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:26)).
2. “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:4040Let all things be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)). Two or three were to speak, “by course” and “one by one”, and the others were to judge (1 Cor. 14:27,29,3127If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. (1 Corinthians 14:27)
29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. (1 Corinthians 14:29)
31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. (1 Corinthians 14:31)). Order and peace were to prevail,
“For God is, not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints” (1 Cor. 14:3333For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33)). The object of all the ministry was “that all may learn, and all may be comforted” (1 Cor. 14:3131For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. (1 Corinthians 14:31)).
In a day of weakness, as at present, especially in small assemblies, open meetings, as they are sometimes called, are infrequent, but wherever and whenever they are carried on or undertaken, there should be subjection to the scriptural order. The warnings and restrictions given by the Apostle in this chapter show the special dangers connected with this type of meeting.