Since the beginning of biblical religion, children have participated in worship with their parents. However, in recent times this practice has been drawn into question at many churches. Why should children participate in a worship service when they will not fully understand what is being said and done? If we force them to participate in worship, won't we "turn them off" to church as they grow older?

Ultimately, the Word of God must be studied to determine the role that children should play in the worship services of the church. However, before turning to the Scriptures, it is important to note that the practice of excusing children from worship (to child care, church school, or children's church) has flourished in a society that is facing tremendous problems in the area of child discipline. One wonders how much the call for sending children away during worship is a surrender to the reality that many parents will not exercise orderly authority over their children? Perhaps it is easier to excuse the children from worship than to change the disciplinary methods of parents.

But back to the most important question: What does the Bible have to say about children in worship? Two relevant passages in the Old Testament are Joshua 8:30-35 and 2 Chronicles 20:1-13. In both passages, you will find that children were present when the people of Israel came together to worship the Lord, to hear the reading of God's law, and to pray.

Ephesians 6:1-4 is another relevant passage. In these verses, the apostle Paul addresses children directly, as members of the congregation. Evidently, Paul expected children to be present when his letter – the authoritative Word of the Lord – was read to the congregation, even though its subject matter was profound.

In light of these passages, parents should insist that their children participate in the worship services of the Lord. Certainly, they will not fully understand all of the implications of worship, but, for that matter, who does? All of God's people – including children – should continually be growing in their understanding of worship.

Yes, children may be "turned off" to worship. But this probably has more to do with how they are taught to approach worship than by the actual worship service itself. Obviously, if worship always psychologically scarred children for life and made their continued participation in worship as adults unlikely, the church would have fizzled out a long time ago.

Perhaps we ought to turn the question around: How many young people, having been taught by their parents to love worship and appreciate the majesty of God, have gone on to assume positions of leadership and responsibility among the people of God and to raise children who placed the same value on worship?

This is not to suggest that parents can insure that their children will automatically grow up and continue to worship the Lord Jesus. Children are not robots; they must be born again to enter the kingdom of God and granted new hearts that love Christ. Nor does it mean – given the present condition of our culture – that a Christian parent's task is easy. Preparing children for worship requires no small amount of time and energy.

What we should accept, however, is the biblical truth that God has given the family a special place in the life of the church. And one of the ways that the Lord builds his church is to bless the efforts of Christian parents to lead their children in worship from an early age.

Therefore, the challenge for parents is to stand up for what is right and take their children to worship. Parents should resolve, regardless of the difficulties, to lead their children. Neither the complaints of children (which will be less frequent under loving but firm leadership) nor the standards of our culture should be permitted to keep the children of believing parents from taking their position in the assembly of God's congregation.

To lead children in worship is the responsibility of every Christian parent.

Here are Some Tips to Help You⤒🔗

• Never allow your family's participation in worship on the Lord's Day to be a topic of debate. Be assertive and lead your family in worship.
  The fourth commandment requires us to "remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." Clearly, one of the ways in which the day is kept holy is by worshiping with God's people. I assume that you do not discuss in your family whether you will lie, steal, murder, make idols, or break any other of the Ten Commandments, so why should your approach to the fourth commandment be any different? By word and by example you should demonstrate an unswerving commitment to worshiping as a family with God's people on the Lord's day.

• Have times of family worship in your home during the week. This practice will help prepare your children for congregational worship. Good behavior during worship at home will lead to good behavior in congregational worship.

• Train your children to worship. Worship does not come any more naturally to a child than do chores. A child must be taught to assume responsibility. Prior to worship, explain the parts of worship to your children. Then they will know why the congregation prays, sings, and listens to the reading and preaching of the Word of God.

• Lovingly and consistently discipline your children during the week. If they are permitted to question your authority at home, they will question your authority at church. If, however, they are taught to obey your voice at home, they will be obedient during public worship.

• Set concrete standards of behavior for your child, and make them clear. Then your child will be less likely to misbehave. At the same time, do not expect your child to behave like a miniature adult. Do not make unreasonable demands (such as no movement) that will frustrate a child.

• Be enthusiastic about worship. If you complain about worship, your child will imitate your attitude. Eager participation in worship is contagious.

• Use the nursery, if you desire, when it is provided. It is there to assist your family.

• Take your child to the bathroom shortly before the church service begins. That will eliminate the need to leave during the service.

• Some churches provide a soundproof room at the back of the auditorium. You may use it to train your child to behave properly during worship. A sound system and large window will enable you to hear and watch the service while sitting with your child. Do not use this room as a playroom, but as a place where your child can be prepared to enter the main assembly area again soon.

• Punish your child when necessary. It is not improper to take an unruly child from the auditorium to another part of the building in order to punish misbehavior. Do it in a spirit of love and explain to the child that he or she is being punished not because of embarrassment to you, but because the child's behavior dishonors God. If you are unsure about how to administer a spanking in a godly manner, please read the book Withhold Not Correction, by Bruce Ray.

• Be imaginative during the sermon. Even your young children can benefit from it, if you use ideas like these:

1. Give a young child a pad and pencil for drawing, provided that you protect the church's property from damage and do not permit the tearing and rattling of papers. Let your child draw what he or she wants, but tell him or her that you expect one of the drawings to be a picture of something from the Bible reading and sermon. Gradually increase the number of pictures that pertain to the sermon. Talk about the picture(s) with your child on the way home or during your family's devotion time. (Do not give your child markers or crayons. Boxes of them rattle and, when used carelessly, may damage your church's property.)

2. Give rewards to encourage good behavior in children. This teaches that blessings follow obedience. For example, choose three words from a Bible text and have the child place a mark on a sheet of paper each time he or she hears one of the words during the sermon. Then give your child a small reward (maybe a penny for each word). Later, talk about the words with your child. The purpose is not to turn worship into a capitalistic adventure, but to reward good behavior and provide further opportunity for discussion of the sermon. Good habits will be formed that will continue after the giving of rewards is discontinued.

3. Some churches print a sermon outline in their bulletin. Blank spaces can be left in each sermon point so that children can fill in the missing words during the sermon. This can help the older children pay attention to the sermon and it provides material for reviewing the sermon at home. You might also give your child an appropriate reward for completing the outline successfully.

4. Once again, if you expect your child to get nothing out of the sermon, he or she will probably meet your expectations. However, if your child is taught to interact with the message in a creative way, he or she will learn to listen to the preached Word of God.

Think ahead. Some churches print in each week's bulletin the Scripture passage, sermon title, and hymns for the next Lord's day. During your family devotions, take some time to discuss the passage with your children. Teach them one or two verses of each hymn.