My church heritage, thankfully, put a lot of emphasis upon the importance of regularly gathering with fellow church members for worship, instruction, fellowship, and ministry. Though I was not always an enthusiastic participant, nevertheless, by God’s grace, my spiritual lethargy took a dramatic turn nearly a half a century ago. In response to God’s gracious gospel, I came to appreciate the admonition to not forsake the opportunity to assemble with fellow Christians (Hebrews 10:23–25), especially on the Lord’s Day. I finally understood what my long-time pastor meant when he exhorted concerning Sundays, “It takes three to thrive.” I think it still does.
Brackenhurst Baptist Church, like the church in which I grew up, offers three opportunities to gather on the Lord’s Day: Family Bible Hour, morning worship, and evening worship. Those who are able and willing to gather for all three place themselves in a position to reap the spiritual and relational benefits from doing so. They place themselves in the way of the potential to thrive in their relationship with the Lord and his people. I write this brief article to simply encourage faithful Lord’s Day participation in 2026.
This Sunday (11 January) we returned to our “regularly scheduled programming,” as the old TV networks used to say. Yet in place of “programs,” I choose the word “opportunities for growth.” Each Lord’s Day provides a trio of gatherings for the purpose of strengthening our worship of, our walk with, and our witness for our triune God.
In Family Bible Hour, we characteristically have classes designed to equip us to apply God’s word in various spheres and challenges of life. Family Bible Hour aims to sharpen our biblical worldview. It is also designed to come alongside parents in the evangelising and discipling of their children. As I have often said, our church has some of the best and most dedicated Sunday school teachers on the planet. Every member should take advantage of our 8:30 am opportunity to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
As an aside, my wife’s father has often joked about his apathy as a student. He recollects, “When I was young I went to school a lot, and sometimes I actually went into school!” I am glad when parents bring their children to FBH. It is even better when parents also go into FBH.
Our gathering for Sunday morning worship is a non-negotiable expectation. It is our main gathering each week. It provides the opportunity to corporately sing, pray, learn, and respond to God in worship. It aims for transformation of Christians and the salvation of non-Christians. Sunday morning worship is the priority of faithful members. It trumps recreation, family gatherings, leisure, and laziness! Such obstacles can be a real challenge to gathering and therefore sometimes we must strive to thrive. May God give us grace to overcome such opposition.
Our third opportunity for gathering to grow is Sunday evenings. This service wonderfully bookends our Lord’s Day together as a church.
Many who are able to come willingly do so. And they are usually very glad they did.
In addition to worshipping via song and the teaching of God’s word, we spend a good amount of time in corporate prayer. Many Sunday evenings my soul is refreshed as I listen to my brothers and sisters bring our corporate pleas before our heavenly Father. The praying “with plural pronouns,” followed by a chorus of “amens!” is often like water to my God-thirsting soul.
An important element of our Sunday evening gatherings is our bi-weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper. If you are wilfully notparticipating in this corporate means of grace, there is no way you can thrive. If you forsake the Table, eventually you will experience the effects of spiritual malnourishment. So come. The Table will be set this Sunday evening. I hope you are hungry for what God has provided through Christ. Will you be there?
“Three to thrive” is a helpful practice, yet we would be wrong to assume that mere presence is sufficient. Being punctual and having perfect attendance is no substitute for meaningful participation. We must gather intentionally prepared to meaningfully gather. Gather with the commitment to engage body, heart, soul and mind. Prayerfully prepare, thankfully sing, submissively listen, worshipfully respond, and relationally engage. Guard against a self-centred, critical, and, God forbid, cynical attitude. Don’t be a loner when you gather; rather, be a lover of both God and one another. With such a commitment, indeed “three to thrive” will be our corporate experience.
See you Sunday,
Doug