BOOKLETS | The Baldy Bishops

WHY WE GATHER

In our age of individualism, social media, and livestreamed church services, it can be easy to wonder whether gathering in person with God’s people still matters.

At the same time, there are some unhelpful reasons people might feel compelled to attend church. Some may come out of a sense of obligation; ticking a box on their spiritual checklist. Others may be motivated by guilt, habit, or a quiet hope that their attendance might earn God’s favour. While these reasons may get us through the door, they often leave our hearts untouched and our faith unengaged.

So why do we gather? Why continue to meet together every Sunday, and often throughout the week as well? Why have believers, across centuries and cultures, made gathering a priority?

In this short booklet, we explore ten reasons for gathering. Whether you’re just beginning to connect with church life or you’ve been faithfully attending for years, our hope is that these reflections will help you see gathering not as a burden, but as a beautiful, life-giving part of following Jesus. May they deepen your joy in coming together with God’s people, and strengthen your understanding of why it truly matters.

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VULNERABLE: HOW TO LISTEN WELL TO OTHERS

Being vulnerable, honest and confessional with one another is hard. It pushes against our fallen instincts. However, if we want to follow the commands of Jesus for his church, we must learn to come out of hiding.

After all, you can’t weep with me when I keep my weeping secret. We can’t bear each other’s burdens if we don’t know about them. I can’t rejoice with you over your patient endurance in suffering, or your victory over a certain sin, if I’m not aware of your suffering or sinning.

So, vulnerability is a must. But so too is how we respond to the vulnerability of others. Vulnerability involves risk. It’s a privilege when someone entrusts their sin and suffering to us. If we don’t listen well, or if we respond carelessly, we make vulnerability harder for each other.

The truth is, we’re not naturally great listeners. We don’t naturally treat the vulnerability of others with care.

Our hope is that this short booklet will show you how our poor listening can discourage vulnerability, and how growing in love through listening can create a culture where it is safe to be known.

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LAMENT: FINDING GOD IN THE DARK

Life brings with it deep struggle. At times, the weight of confusion, sorrow, doubt, or pain can feel suffocating. As believers, we are not immune. But we are not alone either.

The Bible doesn’t call us to pretend everything is fine or to keep up appearances. Nor does it leave us without a voice in the storm. God gives us the language of lament. A way to process pain that is honest, raw, and deeply anchored in faith. This booklet offers a gospel-shaped path for those moments when life breaks down, when your soul is troubled, and when silence from heaven seems deafening.

We'll begin by looking at some common human, but ultimately unhealthy, ways we try to cope. Then we’ll explore the biblical alternative: lamenting before God. Finally, we’ll walk through examples in Scripture that show us how to bring our hearts honestly before Him.

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EASY TO READ VERSION

We also have an easier to read version, directed toward teens. You can Click here to get a free copy of the easier to read version.

COMPLAINT: DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT GRUMBLING

We live in a world where complaint is the soundtrack of everyday life. At work, online, in our homes, and even in church. Whether it's frustration with leadership, dissatisfaction with circumstances, or disappointment with others, it's easy to fall into a pattern of complaining.

The Bible makes a distinction between complaining and lamenting. Both express distress. But one draws us closer to God, and the other pushes us away from him.

When we complain, we blend in with the brokenness around us. But when we choose gratitude and trust over grumbling and division we are living as God’s beloved children, shining brightly in a dark, fractured world. We stand out. Our lives become a beacon of hope and peace, pointing others toward the life-giving Gospel.

That’s what’s at stake in this topic of complaint.

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SEASONED WITH SALT: A GOSPEL GUIDE TO CRITICISM

Criticism is something we all give and receive. But how we do it, and why, matters deeply. For Christians, our words are never neutral. They have the power to build up or tear down, to heal or to wound. That’s why Scripture calls us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and to let our speech be “always gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).

Receiving well-meant, thoughtful criticism is still hard. But how we respond reveals a lot about our humility, maturity, and understanding of the gospel. Receiving criticism well is a sign of spiritual maturity. It shows you’re more committed to Christlikeness. Here's a short, gospel-shaped guide on receiving well-meaning criticism.

So what does giving and receiving gospel-shaped, biblical criticism look like? Here's a short, gospel-shaped guide.

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SHARING YOUR TESTIMONY

Christians use the word testimony when asking someone to share how they became a Christian because they are testifying to how Jesus and his gospel has saved them.

One of the crucial points regarding each Christian’s testimony is that it is not supposed to be about them. Your testimony is about Jesus.

The goal of giving your testimony is to:

Glorify Jesus as you declare what he has done in your life
Encourage other believers as they hear about this miracle of grace
Challenge unbelievers as they hear of the power of the gospel

This short booklet is aimed at equipping believers to share their testimony in a way that achieves these three goals.

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LET THEM LEAD WITH JOY: ENCOURAGE YOUR PASTORS

Hebrews 13v17 isn't about blind obedience. It's about a joyful church family cooperating in a shared mission. One where leaders serve faithfully and members respond in love, making their work a joy and not a burden.

This booklet explores:

Ways we may unknowingly discourage our pastors
Practical ways to be a source of joy
Common misuses of Hebrews 13:17
What biblical submission looks like

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