Slideshow image

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.

At Victory, we often say that church is more than a service; it’s a family. And while technology has given us helpful ways to stay connected, it’s important to remember that online church was never meant to replace gathering together.

The church has not changed. We are still God’s people, gathering in God’s presence to glorify God. When we come together, Christ promises to meet us in a unique way as His body (Matthew 18:20). Watching a service can encourage us, but being present with one another is how God designed the church to grow.

God loves His church, and because He does, we do too. Gathering has never been about convenience. It’s about obedience, love, and commitment. Online options can quietly make it easier to stay comfortable and disconnected, but spiritual growth has always required us to show up, spirit, heart, and body.

Scripture reminds us that the Christian life was never meant to be lived alone. There are no lone Christians in the Bible. We were created and redeemed to belong to a community where we worship together, pray for one another, and walk through life side by side. While online content can inform us, community is what forms us.

Corporate worship matters. When we gather, we respond to God’s invitation. We lift our voices together in worship, we pray together, and we sit under the teaching of God’s Word. These moments shape us, align our hearts, and remind us who we are and whose we are. An online church can supplement this, but it cannot replace it.

Our gathering is also a witness. Every week, people around us are looking for hope and direction. When they see a local church family loving God and loving one another, they see the gospel lived out. The church isn’t just something we attend, it’s something we live.

The Bible describes the church as a body, and every part matters. Each of us has been given gifts to strengthen the whole. When we are absent, the body feels it, and we do too. God designed us to grow best when we are connected, serving, and building one another up.

God also uses the church to shape us in holiness. Growth happens as we worship together, hear the Word together, encourage one another, and model faith for each other. These are things that happen most powerfully in a close, consistent community.

At Victory, we carry one another’s burdens, celebrate together, and walk through seasons of life side by side. This kind of family life can’t be fully experienced from a distance.

And we have a mission. Jesus calls us to make disciples, serve others, and invite people to come and see what God is doing. This mission is not meant to be done alone—it’s something we do together.

The church also has a future, and it’s a glorious one. God is still building His church, and He isn’t finished yet. Even when we feel small or imperfect, we trust that the best is still ahead as God continues His work in and through His people.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Victory Community Church. Thank you for calling us into a family where we can grow, serve, and worship together. Help us value gathering, not out of habit, but out of love for You and for one another. Guard our hearts from settling for convenience, and draw us deeper into community. Shape us through Your Word, strengthen us through relationships, and use us to reach others for You. May we continue to be a church that shows up, loves well, and follows You together. In Jesus name, Amen.