What would life be like for a Christian family without the church?

Dr. Joel Beeke presents a thought-provoking scenario about the absence of the church in a believer's life. He explains that while a family might focus on homeschooling and keeping children away from worldly influences, they would miss out on the communal aspect of faith. The church plays a crucial role in providing a larger family context, where worship at home is supported and enriched by public worship. The church serves as a model for family worship, helping families pattern their devotion after public gatherings.

Dr. Beeke emphasizes the nurturing role of the church, likening it to a mother who nourishes her children with the Word of God. According to John Calvin, the church is instrumental in catechizing and teaching children, allowing them to witness God-fearing people and the building up of God's kingdom. The church offers both negative and positive guidance for raising children: teaching them to flee the world and encouraging them to embrace truth. Without the positive influence of the church, children may only see faith as restrictive, potentially leading to rebellion.

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."