Brethren, let’s talk. When was the last time you went to church?

We’re not talking about watching a sermon on YouTube, listening to a worship session while getting ready for work in the morning, or watching a 60-second clip from your favourite pastor on Instagram.

It is an important question because technology has made it incredibly easy to consume Christian content without being part of a Christian community.

You can listen to sermons from pastors in three different countries while streaming worship music all day. You can join an online prayer meeting without leaving your room.

And all of that is very useful, but there is something called fellowship, and that is something you cannot replace with a screen.

Christianity was never meant to be done alone.

The early church gathered. They prayed together, ate together and learned together. They encouraged each other, gave to people who were struggling, and most importantly, they worshipped together.

There was a sense of belonging that came from being physically present with other believers.

That part of Christianity can feel easy to overlook when your phone gives you access to almost every sermon you could ever want.

Fellowship gives you people.

There are seasons when you need more than a sermon.

You need someone to notice that you have not been yourself.

You need somebody to pray with you and correct you when you are making a bad decision.

You need people who will still be there when the excitement of Sunday is over.

That is part of why fellowship matters.

Also, church is not only a place where you go to receive. Sometimes you are the person somebody else needs through your presence, your kindness or even your testimonies.

You may walk into church thinking you have nothing to offer and leave realizing that your presence made a difference in somebody’s life.

But what if church has hurt you?

Maybe you have been disappointed by leaders or you have experienced unhealthy church environments. Some people are exhausted, others work on Sundays. Some are simply struggling with their faith.

Fellowship should be a place of safety, truth, accountability and growth.

If you have been hurt by church, healing may take time. Finding a healthy church community may also take time.

But isolation should not become the permanent answer.

You need to go back.

Perhaps you have been saying, “I will go next Sunday.”

Then next Sunday becomes next month, and next year.

Before you know it, you cannot remember the last time you went to church.

This weekend is a good time to change that.

Sometimes you just need to show up, and experience church again for yourself.

And as you try again, we hope you find a true church community that is truly yours.