On reading that title you’re probably either thinking: “Yes, obvs” or “What?! Are you crazy?!” I’m super interested in knowing which category you fall into – leave a comment and let me know!
It’s good for everybody.
I took part in a webinar last week on Youth and Children’s Ministry After Covid; in this transition many churches are not able to run their kis work in parallel because there isn’t the space. But having kids in the service has made churches think about making services accessible for everybody. Adding more visual elements can also help second language speakers and the hard of hearing. Breaking up the sermon helps anybody who has a shorter attention span, and asking questions helps everybody to spend think about applying what they’ve heard. You can find loads of ideas for getting kids involved in church life here.
It’s a family affair.
Families are among those who come to church and the church itself is a family. One marked by a deep Jesus-like love from each member to each other person, regardless of race, background, language, relationship status, gender or any other category we’re put into. Yet we’re often happy to divide based on age. Having that wide variety of people together in one place, with a shared purpose, is a part of being a family.
Young people learn what it means to be in church.
Stand up to sing; sit for everything else; listen to the sermon. They’re pretty basic things but they need take time for people to become comfortable with it. But unity doesn’t mean uniformity and there needs to be place for those who fidget (me), take notes (also me), and those who can’t stand up or who will stand on the chair to see. It’ll mean patience from everyone while normal is learnt, and maybe doing things a bit differently but it helps to make the service accessible for all.
It encourages teaching and communication between parents and child.
During a service this might look like a brief explanation of what something means, who is talking, why we do this; as well as reminders not to distract others, or help to find the right page in their Bible. After the service it’s asking the questions like: what surprised you in the Bible passage today? What was your favourite song? Why do you think Jesus said that? Is there anything we talked about you’d like to pray for? What do we need to change about our lives? Asking questions like this teaches a child that God is not simply for an hour on Sunday but for the whole time – it widens our perspective too, particularly if we encourage them to ask us their questions too. If parent and child are hearing the same thing it can be talked about the rest of the week.
It challenges church leadership.
It is too much to expect most children to sit quietly through a 30 minute sermon aimed at adults. I’m not actually advocating that: I’m in favour of changing up how sermons work. Here are some ideas I’ve seen that work: Use powerpoints as a visual focus for those who find it tricky just to listen; divide the sermon into 3 ten minute sections or two of 15; have sermon sheets for kids who can read and refer to them; ask questions kids can answer; have a signer (totally fascinating ); and apply it to all ages not just kids. Other tricky things, get kids involved in them (check out these ideas). Explain what you’re doing and why; if you have to give a reason – especially one a 3 year old can follow – it also stops you doing things just because you’ve always done them.
It eliminates the need for Sunday Schools.
I’m a Sunday School teacher and I have been for 16 years – I love it – I blog about it and yet… It would be so nice to hear the entirety of a sermon series; it would be great not to spend a small fortune on snacks; not to half-watch tv because I’m simultaneously cutting up crafts; not to spend my days googling colouring sheets and then editing them or drawing them when I can’t find what I want; to read the Bible without automatically planning how I’d teach it. It’d be a major save on resources and people with the skills and desire to teach children would have opportunities do that during the week.
We can learn from them.
Just going to leave this here:
”Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Then having little children around and seeing how they receive the kingdom of God is a good idea.
Let me know what you think in the comments: What have I missed? Do you agree or disagree? and come back next Friday find out why I’m pro kids in Sunday School.
How to engage children and young people in serving
How to engage chidren and young people with the sermon