Is there something indispensable about in-person ministry, something that simply can’t be replicated through long-distance communication?
Even if you believe the answer to this question is a self-evident yes, in our age of live-streamed services and TikTok preachers, the people in your pews—or the people you hope to be in your pews—may assume otherwise.
Does the Bible help us to shepherd skeptical sheep back to the flock? Thankfully, it does. We can examine a few Pauline passages that address the importance of proximity. For a man who maintained a prolific remote ministry through his letters, Paul repeatedly sounds discontent with the remote, impersonal medium.
1. EAGER TO PREACH TO YOU (ROMANS 1:9–13, 15)
When Paul sat down to write his robust gospel presentation to the Romans, he still wanted to strengthen the church in person.
Without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we maybe mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware,
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