One of the results that the outbreak of Covid had on our church is that we developed a live-streaming ministry. Live-streaming provides a way that those who are not able to come to the services to participate in the music and preaching. People who are shut-in, or have an extended illness, or people who are away from the area can be able to have some contact with the services on Sunday. Live-streaming also provides a way for us to invite people to give us a watch before they join us on a Sunday.
However, we have always challenged our people not to replace or forsake the assembling together in the house of the Lord. Hebrews 10:24,25 (HCSB) says: “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our ⌊worship⌋ meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near”. The early church in the book of Acts met frequently for: worship, for fellowship, for observance of the ordinances, and hearing the apostles' doctrine. They met to pray, to praise the Lord, and to care for the needs of the saints. The Lord showed His divine approval of their gatherings by “added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).
Live-streaming will not give you the personal encouragement from the saints of God, nor does it aid in accountability to one another. By sitting home and watching church you miss the smiles, the conversations, the hugs, and the joy of serving Jesus. The healing and nourishing power of the church down through the centuries centered around their gathered meetings. Persecution, laws, and the absence of a public building could not stop the church from meeting. They have met in homes, in businesses and even in the woods but they still met.
Much like all technology live-streaming has its advantages and its shortcomings. Never allow it to replace the vital fellowship of meeting “live” with the saints of God.