A Few Thoughts from our Elder Retreat

This past weekend our elders got away for our annual retreat. Chad and Scott mentioned it during their sermons, so I thought I'd tell you a little about it.

With the Texas heat in full force, we decided to go somewhere cool. That didn't work out. There isn't a cool place within about a 15-hour drive, so we rented a house in Fort Worth instead.

It was Africa hot, but it gave us a chance to step away from the normal routine for a couple of days.

Thursday night we opened 1 Timothy 3 and read through the qualifications for elders. Then we started asking ourselves questions. Are we still living this out? Are we still the kind of men these verses describe? That led to confession, prayer, and some honest conversations. Nobody was evaluating anyone else. We were looking at ourselves.

We ended the night by taking communion together. Paul says that whenever we eat the bread and drink the cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Christians have done that for nearly two thousand years. Long after we're gone, other believers will gather around the Lord's Table and remember the same Savior. His blood has made us one.

Friday, we spent the day talking about TDC. We looked back at the past year, talked about what we'd learned, reviewed our mission, and spent time thinking about where we're headed.

We talked about discipleship, worship, students, hospitality, communication, finances, and how we can better shepherd people.

We didn't all step into every conversation thinking the same way. Healthy discussion is a gift. We listened to each other, prayed, made decisions, and kept moving. Everybody wanted to do what honored Christ.

I wish every member of TDC could sit in that room for ten minutes. You'd hear people praying for members by name. You'd hear hard questions. You'd hear a lot of laughter.

Mostly, I think you'd walk away knowing these men love Jesus, love His church, and love the people of TDC.

We don't get every decision right and never will. That's why we keep praying for wisdom.

I'll admit there are still times I look around the room and wonder how I ended up sitting at that table. It feels a little like stealing a green jacket and walking into the Masters Champions Dinner.

If I hope you take one thing away from this, it's simply that your elders love you. We pray for you often, and we're grateful when you pray for us.

The only extraordinary thing about that room was how ordinary it was. That's how God has always worked. He takes ordinary people, teaches them to trust Him, and does things only He can do. I pray He keeps doing that at TDC.