June 9, 2022
5 Difference Making Practices To Gather Well
Elder Letter by Daniel Broyles
Be Present
I love the convicting simplicity of Prov. 4:7, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom…” The first step to gathering well: Gather! Gather with us on Sunday at 9:30 or 11:00.
Be Early
Prioritize the gathering with your time. Don’t be late. It is a distraction and hindrance to your worship and limits your connection and ministry to others. (Parents, consider the family of 6 who scrambles out the door late to school, ballgames, birthday parties, and everything else, but on Sunday gathers to worship 15 minutes early. The practical discipleship of this priority can be profound.)
Be Prepared
Plan and ready yourself to set aside your stuff and turn your affections to God. Bible reading, prayer, meditation, singing, fasting, and praising are all good ways to prepare.
Be Uncomfortable
Sit with different people. Sing loud. Challenge routines. Gather on mission. I like the term missional gathering. It is just a way of saying we don’t gather for ourselves. There is no doubt we benefit greatly, but our personal gain is an overflow of grace, not the pursuit. Missional gathering surrenders self-centered preferences, relationships, and ambitions to pursue worship and build up the one-anothers.
Be Responsive
Don’t just be hearers of the word, be doers. Pray. Ponder. Repent. Change. Practice. Respond in action and launch into a week of worship and ministry. Too often we gather to affirm what we already hold, rather than be taught, rebuked, corrected, or trained in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). Gather to be transformed.
Daniel Broyles
Elder / Pastor Teaching/Vision
Dr. Daniel Broyles
Elder/Lead Pastor
Daniel Broyles has served as the Leadership Pastor and Elder at Tri-Cities Baptist Church since 2012. He is married to his wife Amy and they have a daughter named Lena.