It doesn’t seem possible that an entire year has passed since R.J. Stevens lead the final song of the 24th Southside Lectures. I remember thinking on that Thursday night, a night when over 750 souls gathered to hear Sewell Hall and Robert Jackson preach the gospel of God, “it can’t get any better than this.” But it can. And it will. How do I know? Because I’ve said that at the end of every lecture program since I’ve been here. Each year is filled with its own special memories of sermons and songs that bring us closer to the Lord and closer to one another.

What will the 25th Lectures bring? What will be their story? We’re just two weeks away from finding out. The speakers and subjects have been confirmed. The brochures have been prepared and mailed to people in our area and around the country. The deacons have had a special meeting to ensure that things run as smoothly as they have the past 24 times. What’s left to do? What difference can you make in the next 14 days?

You can pray. Just by including them in your prayers at mealtime means you can pray for the Lectures over 40 times between now and when they begin. Can you do that? Yes, you can.

You can pray for the speakers by name—Wilson Adams, Dee Bowman, Marty Pickup, and Gerry Sandusky. They will preach on the grandest and noblest theme imaginable: “Jesus, Name Above All Names.” They will tell us of His love as our Savior, His life as our example, His authority as our Master, and His resurrection as our hope. The greatest story ever told deserves our greatest expression of prayers ever offered.

You can pray for R.J. Stevens. What an awesome responsibility of leading a congregation of people in worship to God. Yet, he does it in such a way that makes you wonder if you’ve just gotten a glimpse of what heaven will be like. And for some of the visitors, our singing will be their first introduction to the Lord’s church and what we’re about. Pray that the focus of this part of the program will not be on how well we sound but on how God is glorified.

You can plan. The reason they’re called the Southside Lectures is because they’re for the Southside people. We want visitors from various places. We want to fill the pews and put out chairs. We want as many people as we can to hear the gospel of Christ. But if all that is done to the exclusion of the edification and building up of our local body, I’m not sure we can count the 25th Lectures a success.

One of my favorite things to do during Lectures is to watch our members. How you greet the visitors, how you encourage the speakers, how you serve each other. And the Sunday morning after, even though everyone is exhausted, there is this great buzz in the building left over from a powerful, emotional, inspiring week that we all experienced. Together.

Can you be a part of that? Yes, you can. If you’ll start planning. Plan to be at every service you possibly can. Even when it means some sacrifice must be made to get here, you won’t regret it. In fact, you’ll say, “I sure am glad I didn’t miss this.” The 25th Southside Lectures have long been planned. Will you make them a part of yours?

You can invite. This year’s theme is an evangelistic one, intended to reach lost souls. Phillip “preached Jesus” to the eunuch (Acts 8:35 LBX). Wilson Adams, Dee Bowman, Marty Pickup, and Gerry Sandusky will preach Jesus to us. And we want to invite all who will listen to come hear the Lord’s invitation.

This Saturday, 1,500 packets will be distributed in the neighborhoods surrounding our building, letting this community know about the lectures and about who we are and what we’re about. Can you be here to help invite? Yes, you can. There are people on your own street, in your office, at your school who might be searching for something better. Don’t dismiss them by thinking, “they’ll never come.” Give them the information and let them decide. Can you do that? Yes, you can.

I guess there’s a lot left to do in these last two weeks. And when it’s all over, we can drive home on Thursday night and wonder how it could ever get any better. But it can. It will. When we all get to heaven.