Return to the Brick and Mortar Church: Why We’re Craving Community Again

This morning, coffee in hand, I found myself watching the Today Show—a rare Friday treat. One headline caught my attention: Bed, Bath & Beyond is reopening stores. Apparently, people are ready to step away from the “add to cart” life and get back to touching fabrics, smelling candles, and chatting with store clerks.

As I sat there in my pj’s, I realized… the Western Church feels the same way.

The Return to In-Person Worship

​During the pandemic, many of us shifted to watching church online. Weeks turned into months… months into years. Now, in 2025, something is stirring. We want to walk through church doors again. We want to hear live music, see familiar faces, sip coffee poured from a giant thermos by a volunteer, and watch our kids play together after service.
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But here’s what I’m hearing from worship leaders, pastors, and people in the pews…

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​we’re not looking for the same church we left. We’re done with just hype, smoke, and lights. We’re hungry for authenticity in sermons, depth in worship, and real connection in community.

There’s even a unique pull among millennials toward tradition—toward churches with roots, liturgy, and a sense of sacredness—away from the purely “seeker friendly” models of the past.

Why It Matters

Growing up, my family attended a more traditional church. My fingerprints are still on the hymnals. I cut my teeth worship leading in a youth house, singing in a choir, and playing guitar on wooden stages at church camps.
I miss parts of that simplicity—the kind of church that wasn’t trying to be “cool” but was deeply rooted in community and the Gospel
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The Bible paints this picture beautifully:

Colossians 3:16 — “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Hebrews 10:25 — “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Ephesians 3:10 — “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms.”

The “Beyond” That Changes Everything

When I walk into Bed, Bath & Beyond, I might not actually need new sheets or towels. But I’ll probably walk out with a candle or a quirky kitchen gadget I didn’t know I wanted—especially if I have that famous 20% off coupon.

At church, God doesn’t need me to show up. Sitting in a pew doesn’t “earn” me anything. But every time I step into the House of God, I receive something “beyond” what I came for:

• Encouragement from a conversation in the lobby
• Peace that comes through singing with others
• A Word from God that hits exactly where my heart needs it
• Friendships that grow over coffee
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Those “beyond” moments are what make showing up worth it.

The Invitation

There’s a calling back to the House and family of God. We weren’t meant to church shop alone online. Our souls are wired to worship with others, to break bread together, to grow in faith side-by-side.

When the doors to God’s house open, let’s show up. Together.

What about you? 

​What’s one thing you’ve missed most about in-person church? Share it in the comments—I’d love to hear your story.