Fewer kids attend major league baseball games than in the past. Why? Perhaps it's because fewer play baseball themselves. Those who don't play in their own life are less likely to show up at the stadiums. Likewise, when fewer people walk with God in their own daily life, eventually fewer show up at church. Attendance doesn't plunge right away. One generation starts ignoring God in daily life but keeps going to church from habit. A generation or two later, the children and grandchildren no longer bother with church at all.

Don't wait till attendance drops to realize there's a problem. Don't count on a Sunday service to satisfy your soul if your daily life is spiritually hollow. Don't expect kids to learn from youth leaders and teachers what they're not learning from parents. Don't expect a few handshakes in "a friendly church" to provide real fellowship if you seldom invite others to share a meal in your home.

Worship, teaching, and fellowship flourish on Sunday only if these things are thriving every day among families and Christian friends. The Christians in Acts 2 weren't weekly spectators but daily participants. We must seek to be so filled with the Holy Spirit that we have that same vitality. When our homes are full of praise to God and hospitality to others, our church services will be full of the Spirit's joy--and full of people too, as the Lord adds to our numbers.

PRAYER--Lord, make us not just hearers of the Word on Sunday but doers of the Word every day. Fill our homes and churches with your Holy Spirit, for Jesus' sake. Amen.