By Todd Barrier 

Community is a huge part of being a Christian.  

Over the past 20 months, online church has grown significantly. The need was there, and the technology was there, so it was a smart and useful tool.  

Online church services aren’t going anywhere, and they shouldn’t. We need that alternative in the world we live in today. However, we need to make sure it doesn’t become a crutch.  

The availability of online church can’t become an excuse to skip gathering with the saints for services.  

Why? What I mentioned earlier: community.  

Gathering with one another is so much more than what we think it is sometimes. It’s how we grow as a community of believers. It’s how we care for one another. It’s how we lift one another up. It’s how a community of believers influences one another.  

Online services are a great tool and are needed sometimes, but being together is how God intended us to worship – and it’s so much more than just “being there.” The Bible says as much in Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

Love, good works, exhorting one another, so much the more. All of these things are part of being together and shouldn’t be something we take for granted.  

The past year has shown us how much we need each other, and we need to be together to worship God! Let’s use online services when needed, but let’s be ready to be together when we are able.  

Are you ready to assemble together as a community?