The Importance of the Local Church Family

What role does the local church family play in the life of a believer?Tom Ascol emphasizes the essential role of a local church in the life of a Christian family. He argues that the most crucial step for a believer or a Christian household is to find a healthy church and commit to it, not merely by attending but by actively belonging and engaging with the community. The New Testament illustrates that the church was at the core of the disciples' lives, indicating that it is not an afterthought in God's plan but a primary means through which believers live for God's glory in the world.Moreover, Ascol points out that Christians cannot fully obey Christ's commands or have shepherds accountable for their souls unless they are part of a church. Being united to a church is vital for spiritual growth and submission to Christ's authority. Families should center their lives around the church, aligning their rhythms and identity with the body of believers. While no church or individual is perfect, the collective journey under Christ's lordship fosters spiritual growth, trust in God, and repentance from sin.Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV): "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."