2025-10-22
Way back in August of 2014, I preached a message that I never realized would come back to my mind so much over the years. In our day, years after the unexpected events of 2020, it holds even more significance. I remember that I almost gave some of the folks a heart attack, but I got my point across. The message was called 'ChurchHouse' and I guess I'll never forget it. I put on the guise of a salesman and tried to sell the congregation on the idea of a 'remote-first', 'virtual-church' paradigm.
This message took Hebrews 10:23-25 as its text, so we are going to look there to begin with tonight. It has a lot to say about our interaction with each other as Christians.
Just as the Lord is faithful, we should be faithful to our public acknowledgment of the faith. We are responsible to think of each other with a view to encouraging loving actions. Indeed, we must not fail to meet together in one place to exhort each other. We do this in anticipation of the coming of the Lord.
(Jn. 15:26 NKJ) "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
We cannot, and must not, miss the point of this passage of Scripture. Indeed, there are several other benefits of 'in-person' church that the Bible shares with us.
Jesus is there. He meets with His assembled church.
Since the days of the early church, we have found that doing life together as Christians makes us stronger in Christ.
This 'one accord' word is also found in Acts 15 in connection with the decision-making functions of the church. The church is meant to meet together in person to make important choices.
The church is meant to relate to the world around her as a unit.
This is only a sample of what the Bible has to say about meeting in person.
Here is an excerpt from my 2014 sermon:
ChurchHouse is the wave of the future. It is what will bring our dead churches back to life. It will bring God’s house back to your house. No more cold, dead, pews. No more plastic saints under shiny steeples. No more suits and ties to cover naked hearts. No more spending of God’s money on edifices rather than missions.
ChurchHouse makes church work again. It will revitalize our old, and keep the interest of our young. It won’t scare off the visitors or offend the shy and reserved. It is out of your face, and in your face at the same time! It will bring people out of the woodwork. Sunday school teachers, pastors, missionaries, all of God’s children, may benefit from ChurchHouse. Small churches in the middle of quiet towns can have members that live in huge cities. Why, the face of church membership will itself be changed forever! No more us and them! All will be a part of what is going on.
The old will no longer have to stay out of church. The sick will not have to miss. The crying babies can keep right on crying. If you have to get out and use the restroom, the eyes of all will not follow you all the way to the door. If you come in late, not a soul will have to know! You can listen to the message on Sunday from the comfort of your own recliner. Yet, you can stay connected with your brothers and sister in Christ all throughout the week. The auditorium will never be locked! The lights will never go off. You can fellowship after church, and then meet at the restaurant of your choice.
ChurchHouse is the technological advancement that the church has needed for years. It will take our older folks a bit to get used to it, but the kids are going to love it! Maybe teens will stay in church. Maybe the young families will come more. Maybe we can all stop spending money on our gas guzzling cars and give more to missions! Wow, what a concept!
ChruchHouse brings the whole congregation to your house. But, you can wear your pajamas! It is an app, it is a computer, it is a social media outlet, it is a large screen TV, it is a website, it is a software program to help run your church, it is all of these and so much more! Do you feel the Spirit? Click the dove! Do you want to say Amen? Turn on your microphone so all can hear. Need to sing a special? You don’t have to get up in front of everybody if you don’t want to.
Way back in 2014 there were already many churches that had embraced a 'remote-first', 'virtual-church' paradigm.
We live in a day when ease is more and more common. It has made us much softer than the early Christians. We tend to have a love for convenience that they could only dream about. Many of us have never felt fear, seen death, or waded through deep grief. We are not prepared to make too much of a sacrifice for those around us, and we want to 'stand for Christ' but secretly hope that doesn't mean what we think it does.
To believers I will say this, be encouraged and be encouraging! Our tendencies have made us soft, but the Lord can make us strong! We can encourage and strengthen each other by consolation.
To the lost, I will say this, don't be fooled by a 'convenient' gospel! There is a reason for what we do as a church. It isn't just traditions, nor is it driven by empty religious rituals. There is a Master, and we follow Him.