We may be in danger of becoming like the quarreling Corinthian church that Paul admonished because some identified as followers of Paul, others of Apollos, and still others of Cephas (1 Cor. 1:12–13). Ultimately, we follow Christ and are united with other believers under his lordship. But one way we can guard the unity of our local body is by devoting our time and attention to following our pastor as he follows Christ, rather than spending a lot of time following online teachers.

When I was growing up, my family rarely ate out. Going to a restaurant was an occasional treat, but our daily diet was filled with my mom’s home-cooked meals. We were healthier for it.

As Christians, God’s Word is our spiritual food, and our spiritual health is affected by how we’re fed. In Acts 2, we see that the early church flourished as believers were devoted to the apostles’ teaching, broke bread and prayed together, and attended the temple together day by day. This was how the church grew in knowledge, unity, and size. And it’s still how believers and local churches can flourish today.

However, I’ve observed a concerning trend in recent years: Christians going to their local church on Sunday but devoting much more time and attention to online resources—podcasts, YouTube videos, sermons from other churches—for their spiritual nourishment.

Nothing is inherently wrong with using other resources to help grow your knowledge and love for God and his people, but online resources are best used as a supplement rather than a primary source of nourishment. Our primary discipleship, through preaching and teaching, should come from the pastor and saints of the local church where we’re covenant members—our home church.

Why We Need to Eat at Home

Let me offer three reasons why eating at home is good for the church and the saint.

1. Gathering Promotes Growth

Hearing a great sermon online is just that—hearing a great sermon. Perhaps you glean some new knowledge or personal application, but you miss the communal blessing of receiving God’s Word alongside God’s people.

When you sit under your pastor’s teaching while gathered with the saints at your local church, you have the opportunity to discuss, apply, and collectively use the preached Word as a tool for discipling one another.

As Hebrews 10:24–25 exhorts us, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Growth happens most profoundly when saints gather regularly, sitting under teaching from the man of God assigned to their local flock, serving together, waging war against sin together, and praying together. Where this is lacking, spiritual malnutrition is often present.

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