TRAINING CHILDREN TO WORSHIP GOD
by Bill Hall
One of the greatest responsibilities that parents face is teaching their children proper behavior in worship. The children’s ultimate interest in spiritual matters depends so greatly on their parents’ success.
Teaching children that they are to be quiet is important. But good behavior in worship reaches far beyond this. Children must be taught reverence and respect for God. They must learn to stay awake, to sing, to listen, to participate. Their interest should grow as their capacity for learning grows. By the time they reach accountability they should be able to discuss intelligently the preacher’s lesson. If they cannot do so, they have not behaved properly, no matter how quiet they have been. At this point in their lives they should be ready to offer a reasonably mature expression of adoration and praise to the true and living God.
With such goals in mind, faithful parents set out to train their children. We offer the following suggestions:
- Sit near the front where there are fewer distractions and never ever let your children sit behind you.
- Do not allow routine visits to the toilet. Plan ahead!
- Don’t let them play. Toddlers will need something for their distraction, but when children are pre-school age, they are old enough to sit quietly without entertainment. You will be surprised at what they will learn. Pencils and paper should be used only for taking notes on the sermon.
- Make sure your children get adequate sleep the night before. They will be better behaved in class and during worship.
- Set a good example before them.
- Pray for God’s help.
The task is not easy. But great joy awaits those who are successful.
TRAINING ADULTS TO WORSHIP GOD
by Don Hooton
Bill Hall’s great article made me think of the same challenge to engage all people to worship God. The suggestions are universal. Helping young families raise kids through setting our own good example is part of the process. This in no way minimizes the challenges that parents face and must meet to raise godly children to reverently worship God. However, this does maximize the potential for good for which we all can influence.
Teach yourselves to “be quiet”. Gasps, snickers or tongue-snaps at children who misbehave can no more fulfill the demand of “let all things be done for edification” (1Corinthians 14:26) than parents who aren’t managing their children. Teach yourselves “to learn, to stay awake, to sing, to listen, to participate.” Children learn what they see in their parents, for sure, but they learn what they see in you and how you act in worship. And, learn to discuss the preacher’s lesson intelligently. If kids should be able to discuss spiritual things by the time they reach accountability, adults should do this naturally. So, when you leave services, talk about what you hear and what you learn. You see, the goal for every age is not to make us expressly quiet but to make us expressly worship. We should mature as we grow to let nothing distract our heart’s object of the hour – the praise and adoration of the Almighty.
And we follow with the same suggestions….
- Sit near the front where there are fewer distractions and don’t let distractions distract you.
- Plan ahead for the time you are there! Whether it be bathroom visits, phone calls or adulting life events, focus your mind on why you are there.
- Don’t play. If you use your digital device to read Scripture, don’t check your email, your social media or shop for your next purchase in worship; or remove the temptation and turn it on Airplane Mode.
- Make sure you get adequate sleep. Many a Sunday is spoiled by a Saturday night’s festivities.
- Set a good example before others. If you don’t want kids to be divert their attention from the worship of God – then don’t divert yours and sleep. Stay focused on worship.
- Pray for God’s help.
The task is not easy. But great joy awaits those who are successful.