Summary: How essential is the local church in developing strong, godly individuals, couples, and families? One man told me the church definitely takes second or third place in his list of priorities. "Family has to come first," he said. So, he and his family don't attend church regularly any more. Maybe if you have money, health, and a busy schedule, you don't feel the need to fellowship with other Christians. But when the storms of life hit—and they will—suddenly you'll find nobody's there. If you remain shallow in your relationship with the members of your local church, you will lose out on the support of other Christians when you need it most. By neglecting to minister within your local church, you also cause other Christians to lose something. The Lord Jesus Himself says in John 15 that He is the Vine, and we are connected to Him as branches. As a result, through Jesus, we are connected to each other. In Colossians chapter 1 we read, “…in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church.” I urge you, plant your roots deeply into a good, solid, Christ-honoring, Bible-preaching local church. This is Luis Palau.
