We love families, and we love having children worship with us! We believe that children are not simply the church of tomorrow but are part of the church family today. The Sunday worship service is a wonderful opportunity for children to see their parents worship, hear the Word of God, participate with the congregation, and grow in their understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.
We hope these resources will encourage and equip parents as they seek to help their children grow in worship and learn to participate meaningfully in the life of the church.
Worshiping Together as a Family
God-centered worship is central to the life of the church. We approach our Sunday morning gathering with joy, expectancy, and a desire to honor the Lord. One of the beautiful things about having children in the worship service is that they get to experience the gathered church worshiping God together.
- Here is a helpful article on the importance of families worshiping together: The Family Together in God’s Presence – Desiring God
Preparing Our Children for Worship
Helping our children engage in worship begins with us as parents. Before we can expect our children to recognize the importance of worship, we need to model it for them. Our attitude toward the Lord, His Word, the church, and the worship service communicates far more than we may realize.
- This podcast featuring Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, with special guests Danny and Megan Craig, offers helpful encouragement for parents as they seek to cultivate a heart for worship in their children. Preparing Our Children for Worship – Church & Family Life (Read the Podcast Transcript)
Helping Children Participate in Worship
Children can learn to worship God alongside the rest of the church family. It takes patience, consistency, and grace, and every child and family is different. The goal is not simply to have children sit quietly but to gradually help them understand why we gather, who we are worshiping, and how they can participate.
- This resource from Focus on the Family offers practical ideas for helping children feel welcomed and learn to participate in the worship service: Welcoming Kids into Worship – Focus on the Family
A Word of Encouragement to Parents
If bringing your children into the worship service feels challenging, you are not alone! Children will have difficult Sundays. They may become distracted, make noise, need a bathroom break, or simply struggle to sit and listen. That is part of the process of teaching them.
Be patient with yourself and with your children. Take the opportunity to teach them, encourage them, and point them to Jesus. Over time, they can grow in their ability to listen, participate, and worship alongside the rest of the church family.
Our prayer is that these resources will help you as you disciple your children and that, together as families and as a church, we would raise children who know and love Jesus and delight in worshiping Him.
