The man was angry at his church, so he stayed home Sundays. He said, "I get what I need by watching a preacher on TV." Then, one awful night, his son was killed. The TV didn't weep with the grieving father. The TV didn't embrace him and pray with him and comfort him. Who did help him? The people and pastor of the church he had been avoiding.

Does this mean media ministry is bad? No. I preach on radio, and I know the Lord can use media ministry in marvelous ways. But nothing replaces the local church. After all, Jesus doesn't just offer words to individuals; he forms a community of love.

The Apostles' Creed speaks of "the communion of saints." Who are saints? Not just a handful of unusual Christians who have died and been declared officially to be a cut above ordinary believers. No, according to the Bible, all who follow Jesus are saints, set apart to be holy and to build each other up. The communion of saints is the fellowship of all Christians of all times and places, united in Christ and in the truth taught by his apostles, bound together in baptism and the Lord's Supper, joined together in prayer. This communion is universal and spiritual, but it is experienced most directly in the local, physical presence of fellow believers: in places of public worship and in homes where God's people gather to praise him and to love one another.

PRAYER--Father, we join all saints on earth and in heaven to worship you this Lord's Day. Holy Spirit, make us one in heart and mind, one in truth and love, through Jesus our Lord. Amen.