The Importance of Family

June 21st, 2006

As you know, this past Sunday was Father’s Day. To celebrate the day, after church I drove home and spent the day with my own father and the rest of my family. Each time I get to see my family these days makes me realize how lucky I am to have the family that I do. For those of you that don’t know, I grew up in Mackville, Kentucky, with both of my parents and four other siblings. With cousins and other close friends never far away, I always had a big family to surround and support me. Now that I have moved away from that family, I realize just how important they are to me personally.

The Bible also holds the family in high regard. There are passages where Paul and other writers instruct us to take care of our own family members before we take care of others. We also find in the Bible many instruction passages on how to treat our husbands, wives, children, and other members of our families. But more than that, the Bible describes the church as God’s family. Take a look at what Ephesians 3:14-19 says.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Here, Paul mentions that Christians, both in heaven and here on earth are all part of one big family. We call that the church. The church was meant to function much in the way a family does. To give love, support, and strength to the various members of that family. Is that what you think of when you think of church? Secondly, Paul tells us that God is the father of that family. No wonder we call him the Heavenly Father. That’s not just a title. God is the head of his people - the father, the protector and provider for those he loves. And then finally, Paul instructs us to be “rooted and established in love”. Once again, is that what you feel when you attend church? And more than that, is that the kind of person you strive to be - one who builds others up rather than tearing them down? One who is quicker to love than he is to judge? One whose very life is indeed rooted in the love of Christ?

And speaking of family…

The Campton Christian Church is hosting a Family Night this coming Saturday, June 24, 2006, at the Campton Elementary School. We will be grilling out and playing some volleyball and just enjoying the fellowship of one another. Come on out and bring your family. Come experience the love Christ intended for his people. The fun and food will start at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call me on the church phone at (606) 362-9277, or email me at will@camptonchristianchurch.org.

God Bless!

Will Cooper
Senior Minister

Entry Filed under: Events, Will's Blog