Numbers are not significant by themselves. Their value is determined by what they represent. The number 10 is not important until you know what the number 10 quantifies—perhaps 10 apples, or 10 apple pies, or 10 gallons of Blue Bell to eat with those 10 apple pies. It’s what stands behind the number that makes the number meaningful.

600 is a meaningless number until it’s connected with our upcoming Lectures.

600 is about twice the number of Christians at Southside. If everyone brings just one visitor to the Lectures, we’d have 600 in the assembly. Is that not a worthy goal? Does it not have biblical precedent ()? Everyone bring one to hear the gospel preached.

600 is a capacity crowd for our auditorium. We didn’t build a new facility to be half full. We built it to supply new opportunities to teach willing listeners the news of the Savior. I want to be a good steward of the resources God has blessed us with as a congregation (). Don’t you? I don’t want to reach just some people. I want to reach all the people we can possibly reach in our upcoming Lectures. Don’t you?

600 people is 600 voices praising God in song. Too few people know the joy of worshiping the Father “in spirit and in truth” (). The Lectures are an opportunity to teach people, to show people, to encourage people to praise God and honor Him in song.

600 people is 600 heads bowed in prayer. If the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (), what will the fervent prayers of a multitude accomplish? And what prayers are more needed than petitions regarding the content of this year’s Lectures—the problem of culture and the Christian’s clash with its influence.

600 people is 600 hearts to hear the gospel preached. I’ve never seen too many people at a gospel meeting. I’ve never seen too many invitations extended. I’ve never seen too many visitors show up. I’ve never worried about the gospel becoming too popular with folks. Have you? Who do you not want to show up? I know one thing—they won’t show, if we don’t invite them. I don’t expect that the Lord will be pleased with that kind of effort.

600 people is 600 souls. 3000 obeyed on the day of Pentecost (), I’d use every device possible to cause our people not care about the souls of the lost enough to invite all whom they can. I’d supply excuses, complaints, petty grievances and gripes. I’d distract them from the fact that the gospel is about people—people with souls that need saving, that need encouragement, that need the Lord.

Well, you do the math. Can you bring one? Just one soul. Is that too much? Surely not. If we each bring one, we’ll bring a house full. After all, what is the gospel about if it’s not to be shared? And what are you doing with the gospel, if you’re not interested in sharing it? Jesus called them one by one. Go, thou, and do likewise.