Your #1 Mission Field

Last Friday night, my family and I attended the youth lectures at Westside Church of Christ. I asked one of the visiting preachers for a piece of wisdom—anything he’d be willing to share. His response stopped me in my tracks: “Make your home your #1 mission field.” Over the past 15 years of full-time preaching, I’ve heard similar counsel: “Don’t try to win the world and lose your family.” I’ve preached it. I’ve heard it. And sadly, I’ve seen the heartache when it’s ignored. Not just by preachers—but by others in the body of Christ. I’ve known faithful parents whose children still walked away. Not because they weren’t present.

Not because they didn’t surround their kids with godly influences. Sometimes, it simply comes down to free will. Every soul must choose. Still, Proverbs 22:6 remains true: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” It's a general truth—and a reminder of our sacred responsibility.

Yes, ambition is good. Financial goals, career success, serving others—all important. And as Paul said in 1 Timothy 5:8: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” But if we lose the souls under our roof while chasing souls across the globe, we’ve missed the mark. Let’s not overlook our closest mission field—our families. It’s not about ignoring the world around us (Colossians 4:2–6) or rejecting open doors for the gospel. It’s about keeping first things first. And “first” begins at home.

What does the Bible say this mission field should look like? Deuteronomy 6:5–7: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Ephesians 6:1–4 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 5:15–17 “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” 1 Peter 3:1: “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives…”

If you’re a husband, your wife is your mission field.If you’re a wife, your husband is your mission field.If you’re a parent, your children are your mission field.If you’re a child, honoring your parents is part of your walk with the Lord.

Let’s not drift from the mission God placed under our own roof.Your living room is a training ground. Your time in the car together is a training ground.Your family is your #1 assignment. Let’s stay focused. Let’s stay faithful. Let’s save and strengthen souls right where we live.