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You Don't Want to Miss It!
We are about to welcome the 34th annual Southside Lectures. This year’s theme, We Would See Jesus, is designed to make us aware of Jesus and what He has done for all of us. It has themes that are not only practical, but faith-building. It has themes that will motivate us to greater spiritual understanding and spiritual involvement.
The very first Southside Lectures were held the first week of June, 1980. The speakers, Connie Adams, Ed Harrell, Homer Hailey and Harry Pickup, Jr., launched for us that year what was to become one of the most outstanding and enjoyable projects for this congregation.
This year’s speakers, Wilson Adams (Connie’s son), Tim Jennings, Bob Owen, and David Posey, are men of the book, men whose lives reflect their love for the Savior and His word. You will find their messages–each and every one of them–biblically motivated, and intended to not only bring honor to the Savior, but to encourage you to greater spiritual participation.
The Southside Lectures are for us. We spend time, effort, and monies to invite people to come, and that’s good. We want as many as possible to come. But I would remind you that the Southside Lectures, while of interest to people all over, are first and foremostly intended for the benefit of the brethren here at Southside. How sad to see that some don’t take advantage of this special opportunity!
What excuse, pray tell, is sufficient to divest one of the rich spiritual experience this week offers us? Please take note of what you’ll miss if you’re not here.
You’ll miss the joy of hearing about the Savior. No matter who you are, there is nothing more important in your life than knowing the truth about salvation. "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Freedom from sin and the joy of forgiveness are what the lectures are all about. You don’t want to miss out on that do you?
You’ll miss the joy of spiritual reunion. "Consider one another to provoke to love and good works" (Hebrews 10:23) will play a major role in the lectures this year. The speakers will be recommending the Risen Savior as the hope of all of us. The joy of being together and considering these things about the Master, will accomplish several things. Hope will be enlivened, rejuvenated each day. Our common interest in spiritual matters will make for a joyful and exciting week for all of us. "Together," how sweet the thought! You don’t want to miss out on that do you?
You’ll miss the opportunity to increase your personal faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:1). The word of God will be preached this week. It will be done in a forceful, but loving way. The preaching will increase your trust in Jesus, make you glad to know His word. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is our evidence of heaven, our trust in our deliverance, our confident expectation. It is the foundation for our hope. The lectures will most certainly increase your faith. You don’t want to miss out on that do you?
You’ll miss the possible opportunity to bring others to Christ. How wonderful it would be if someone you invited should come to learn about Jesus this week, and choose to obey the gospel. "The things thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (II Timothy 2:2). It is not up to us to save people, but it is up to us to make that salvation accessible for as many as possible. What if someone you invited should obey the gospel? What a joy that would be! You don’t want to miss out on that do you?
Let’s do away with the excuses, let’s get rid of the things which might keep us from being present. Let’s rid ourselves of every barrier and be a part of this year’s Southside Lectures. You don’t want to miss out on it do you?
