Men, I firmly believe in the importance of attending some type of church service on a regular basis. Whether it is a large church or a small home church is not the point. The point is that you, along with your family, are gathering together with other Christians to worship, be encouraged, exhorted, warned, and sharpened by the anointed preaching of God's Word.
Hebrews 10:25 says, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."
We must teach our children that we are not to be an exclusive island to ourselves, but rather that we have a responsibility to fellowship and worship with others. In this way we are accountable to one another.
In Ephesians 2:4-6 Paul tells us that "God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) TOGETHER WITH CHRIST." But we are not only together in Christ, but together with one another. "And hath RAISED US UP TOGETHER, and made us SIT TOGETHER in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." As believers, we are together with one another in our plural togetherness in Christ Jesus. If we stay at home on our own with our children, how will they learn their responsibility to love, fellowship, and care for their fellow believers with whom they share such a blessed inheritance in Christ?
It seems a tragedy to me that having this amazing grace to be crucified, buried, raised, and seated together with Christ Jesus, yet we are still so carnal that we shun and resist our togetherness with one another here on this earth. Shame on us.
The body of Christ has many members and as with our own bodies, we need every one of them (1 Corinthians 12:12-20). How can we exhort, edify, and encourage one another when we won't even worship the Lord with one another?
The assembling of ourselves together is definitely more than having people come over to our house for fellowship. The Lord, through the apostles, set up the New Testament church with apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/teachers. These men are also called elders, and alongside these men are deacons. The Lord has a purpose in establishing His church this way, and we had better not forsake it. If we do, we do so to our own peril.
By this means we then have assistance in passing on the baton of biblical values to the next generation. However, as fathers, we must not in any way pass our own responsibilities as fathers to the church.
Be encouraged.
Colin Campbell