Summary: As Christians, we need to plant our roots deeply into the local church. But how? First, make a commitment to your local church. Second, speak well of your church. Even though it has faults, obey 1 Corinthians 1:10. It says don't allow yourself to develop a critical spirit. Your church is your spiritual "family" in Christ. Defend it! When others grumble about it, remind them to take the matter to the elders, not to the rest of the congregation. It is important that parents learn to speak well of "our" church. Let your children hear you talking about "our" pastor, "our" elders, "our" deacons, "our" Sunday school, "our" church retreat. This will help them claim the church as their own as they grow older. My wife Pat and I have seen the fruitful results in our four sons’ lives. Also, speak well of your church by inviting others to attend with you. A church historian once found the average person in a particular denomination invited others to church once every 28 years. Surely we can do better than that! What’s more, be sure to invite missionaries over for dinner in your home. They’ll be blessed, sure, but you’ll be blessed even more. And so will your children. This is Luis Palau.
