Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the North West Bible Conference (NWBC). It was a wonderful time of teaching and mixing with other Christians, and not just people from Tamworth, but as far away as Sydney and the south coast. Both speakers, John Woodhouse and John Patterson, explained the Bible with great clarity flowing from their love for Christ and his church. It was encouraging to see people from our own church soaking up the teaching and good Christian company.

Janette and myself have always valued the gathering of large numbers of people to hear the word of God. It reminds us that our local church is one part of a much broader and vibrant church. It’s a place where denominations really don’t matter because we meet under the banner of “All One in Christ Jesus”. Whilst there may be differences of opinion regarding matters like infant baptism and church governance, these are secondary to core gospel truths which define who we really are.

Conferences such as NBWC give us access to bible scholars who otherwise remain outside our experience. And far from confounding the Scriptures with their great learning, they teach the Word with precision and power. John Woodhouse is an accomplished OT scholar who has written commentaries on the books of Samuel and Kings. God graciously provides his church with excellent teachers who willingly serve the body of Christ.

I hope I’m wetting you appetite for next year! At this early stage, I understand that Gary Millar is speaking. He is the Principal of Queensland Theological College which is the Presbyterian College in Brisbane.

Our own church gathering are important for the same reasons the larger ones are important. We come together to hear God’s Word and respond in loving obedience. What keeps me coming to church each week is my concern for you. How can I teach you, encourage you and walk beside you, if I never see you? You are my motivation for coming to church. Indeed, I can listen to sermons at home, I can sing on my own, I can pray on my own. But what I can’t do is meet with you on my own! No-one needs to drag me to church—well, maybe on a really, really cold morning—I come to church to worship God with you because I think you matter.

Isn’t this why you come to church?

The gospel saves us for “church”. I am not the church, you are not the church. When we meet together we are the church. The church is the gathering of the people of God. What a privilege this is for all of us. What God commands in Scripture is for our benefit. He commands that we meet as his treasured possession, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb 10:24–25).

Our church lunch is another opportunity to love one another. So let’s enjoy the day and be thankful.