A Book for Church Members on the Fringes . . . and the Ones Who Pursue Them
May 15, 2026
May 15, 2026
A.C. Loizos reviews Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church by Jonathan Griffiths and highlights the book’s ability to speak to a wide range of believers about the beauty and benefits of belonging to the local church. Though Loizos notes certain areas where the book could be strengthened, he concludes that it is a helpful resource for Christians who want to grow in their love for and commitment to the body of Christ.
Jonathan Griffiths, Gathered for Good: God’s Good Design for the Local Church. B&H Publishing, 2025. 176 pages.
“God gathers us to one another for our good and for his glory” (10). A fine claim, is it not? It’s not particularly controversial or provocative. Most Christians agree that gathering together is good—and yet, how easily can these words come out of our mouths without ever resting in our souls.
The truths in Gathered for Good by Jonathan Griffiths are not merely intended to convict the nominal Christian or the new believer; they help even the most mature believer see God’s beauty and providence in the fellowship of his people.
Perhaps you’re a pastor who has found your heart growing dull due to creeping thoughts that there’s little you can receive from those whom you serve. Exhaustion and burnout inevitably set in as you pour into one-sided relationships with other members. If this sounds familiar, take heart! Not only are you there for the good of your local church, but your local church has been given for your good—and ultimately for God’s glory. And Griffiths has graciously reminded us of this truth.
Prospective readers should note what this book is and what it is not. Do not expect a deep dive into ecclesiological blueprints. The tagline does contain the word “design,” but the focus is more on the “purpose and principles” that characterize the church. While other books focus on the nuts and bolts of the local church, Gathered for Good focuses on the heart of God for his gathered people, and it aims to draw the hearts of God’s people to one another in their gathering.
Griffiths weaves the gospel into every page, even as he follows a formulaic flow for each chapter. He introduces the topic with an engaging anecdote or question, tracing its root to a passage of Scripture, and then he provides three or four subpoints. Griffiths seems to have a good grasp on the ways a wide range of people perceive the local church. He speaks as comfortably and graciously to the person lingering on the edges as he does to the pastor who preaches fifty Sundays a year. And he connects with the reader not by making legalistic appeals or inducing guilt, but by appealing to their own personal good. These tender instincts undoubtedly spring from a heart seasoned by years of faithful shepherding.
Griffiths is aware that intentional, meaningful, and consistent involvement with the local church can be difficult. As such, it is fitting that his first chapter provides four reasons from Scripture why believers should devote themselves to their local church. Next he discusses the uniqueness and beauty of corporate worship in engaging a person’s eyes, ears, and mouth (chapter 2) before painting a picture of biblical service that flows from one gospel-redeemed individual to another (chapter 3).
In chapter 4, Griffiths demonstrates how grace-filled giving contrasts with the world’s version of charity. He later builds on this point by using Matthew 6 to lay out a framework for holistically investing in heavenly things (chapter 6). Sandwiched between these two chapters is an invitation to take a seat at the table (chapter 5). Griffiths shows how communion offers more nourishment for the growth of the believer than the stale customs we are accustomed to.
Chapter 7 addresses prayer, and the author’s pastoral insight, wisdom, and relatability are on full display as he diagnoses common deficiencies in prayer habits and prescribes their scriptural remedies. In chapter 8, Griffiths discusses society’s understanding of “family” and then tries to capture the biblical meaning of the concept, effectively pressing it into the life of the local church. He closes the book by demonstrating the need to grow the gathering through the proclamation of the Word, faithful parenting, personal evangelism, and a corporate witness.
The logical flow of Griffiths’s arguments and their connection to the book’s overarching argument are not always as tight as they could be. For example, the section on parenting as evangelism seems to blur the distinction between individual and corporate actions. Some chapters overlap in their content (i.e., “Giving” and “Investing”). Further, the book can seem a bit sermonic in both rhetoric and rhythm, which means some readers will want more stylistic variation.
A curious omission is the lack of a discussion on baptism as one of the key elements of the church’s gathering. While Griffiths devotes the entirety of chapter 5 to communion, its sister ordinance is not given the same emphasis. Additionally, it may have been helpful to discuss the role of church discipline within the gathered body. Granted, chapter 1 touches on the individual’s need for accountability, and chapter 8 exhorts members to move toward those who are struggling. However, neither of these exhortations is connected to the necessity and benefits of church discipline.
Despite these critiques, Jonathan Griffiths has given the church a gift. Given his ability to speak to Christians at various maturity levels, the book can be useful for a wide range of individuals, as well as for small groups, one-on-one discipleship, or studies for the entire church. I’m especially eager to place this book in the hands of those who have yet to think carefully about church membership.