Children’s worship brings back memories of childhood for many people. Some remember strict structure or flannel boards or creeds and pledging allegiance to the Christian flag. Others remember more Vacation Bible School types of services. We often think back with joy on exciting, fun times of worship at church camps or special events. As times change, our worship services for children and adults change. When I look at creating an engaging Children’s Worship, three fundamental aspects come to mind: Worship, Fun, and Connection. However, the most important is WORSHIP.
Worship is Primary to Children’s Worship
We intentionally choose not to call our Sunday morning children’s activities “children’s church” in favor of “Children’s Worship” to keep us, as adults leading, focused on its purpose, namely worship! This is a time when we open the gates of heaven and usher in the worship of children to our God and King.
We do this differently with children than with adults, but that does not change that this is worship! If your children’s worship is simply a time to get the kids out of church so the adults can learn, you and your kids are missing out on so much of the heart of God!
Why is Worship the Fundamental part of Your children’s church or Sunday morning activities?
Praising God and showing Him love is the primary purpose of any time of worship. This is equally true for children as it is for adults. We come to church to worship. A time of passionate play and fun for the kids is great, but if we fail to teach them to connect with God, we fall short of our eternal responsibility to lead them into a relationship with Him.
What is Worship?
Worship is a time when we ascribe worth to God. We let God know that we value Him more than other things in our lives. But we also remind ourselves of His place in the universe.
Thus worship is not only done during the singing portion of our hour-long Sunday morning service. Worship is something we do every single day in many ways.
This is exactly why Children’s Worship is one of my favorite places to see worship take place. Jesus said, “let the little children come to me.” He wants a relationship with them! In Children’s Worship, we leave behind the boxes of our typical adult services and incorporate so many more aspects of life.
What are the elements of Children’s worship?
The elements of an adult service are normally music, scripture, sermon, giving, responsive readings, liturgy, etc. However, the fundamental elements for a children’s worship time can be slightly different and will look much different in how they play out. Elements of music and learning are similar, but there is much more active motion in children’s worship. Creativity and tone are equally important and often much harder to set in a children’s worship service than an adult service.
Music Teaches, Energizes And Offers Transition Or Structure
Music is a time to dance and sing. It is a time to be still and think. Music is a time to recenter our heads and our hearts. Our music teaches theology and deep truths about God, but music also buries deep into little hearts and will stay with them for years! Choose your music carefully for many times they will remember the music long after they have forgotten the lesson! Music must be both biblically and theologically solid and fun! Not every song needs to be fast and upbeat, but the songs your kids will gravitate to probably will be. If you are looking for great music, check out Yancy No Nancy’s Church bundle here. It is filled with powerful, fun songs that will provide quality music for your ministry all year long!
Little bodies that love to sing and play are also full of wiggles and easily get distracted. One or two songs are often enough before they start to wander off and want to do other things. The timing and structure of Children’s Worship are much different than an adult or youth service. If you want to learn more about how we structure our children’s worship, you can read more here.
Creativity is Viatal to Worship
Involving creativity in some way is another important part of worshiping our creative God. Children so naturally want to create, build, and explore. We are intentional to use elements that they are both familiar with but also excited about, which allows the children to see that worship is not only a set apart time on Sunday mornings. Rather we do these things all week long. Every time we do them, it can still be an act of worship if we do it with a worshipful heart.
Activity is FUNdamental to Children’s needs
Activities or games are also an essential part of worship. Sharing how your concept of the day can leave this room and allowing them space to process the how is vital. Children need to learn through multiple avenues. Just because they heard the story or drew a picture doesn’t mean they internalized the concept of the day. I encourage you to have them do as much as possible with the idea yet keep it broken down into small child-sized pieces. Also, always find ways and opportunities to give them a chance to move!
Learning is Crucial To Worship
The lesson is the “sermon” of a children’s worship time; however, most children struggle to sit still and be attentive for an extended time. Therefore being intentional to teach through every element of the service is key. Use words, share the story, introduce the concept, but everything else done during the worship service should support and draw into the day’s theme.
Setting The Tone Is Indespensible
Just as in an adult service, where the worship leader sets the tone for the service, so it is in Children’s Worship as well. Much more so than anything else, the worshipful heart of the leader will invite the children to join them in worship. When you walk into that room, your attitude and energy are the most vital and indispensable tools you have!
Gentle leading rather than a stern hand aid in inviting the child into a heart of worship rather than simply physical obedience. While strict rules and an atmosphere of forceful adherence lead children to dread the time and show them a view of a strict God who is to be feared but disconnected from. In comparison, a time of gentle persuasion and constant movement and excitement allows the children to worship freely and connect to a God who is reachable.
Every aspect of Children’s worship is meant to invite the children into a relationship with the God of the universe who loves them. I find that this is incredibly hard to do when I am stressed or overwhelmed. If I am feeling anxious, then it is almost impossible to usher others into a place of worship. If these are things that you struggle with, read this article, and hopefully, it will be helpful.
Fun Engages Play
What makes fun a Fundamental part of Children’s worship?
Fun is a vital part of children’s worship because fun opens children’s hearts to hear and accept the good news of Christ’s love for them.
I’m not one to say that if the kids aren’t having fun, they won’t come back. It’s true that it isn’t the child’s place to bring themselves to church; it is the parent’s responsibility. However, I have learned – the hard way- that if children are not having fun, they won’t be open to God, connection, or love. When children are not having fun, they are not worshiping.
First and foremost, our children’s worship needs to be theologically sound, biblically-based worship. But if the kids learn a lot of information about Jesus and don’t build a relationship with Jesus, all we have done is push them farther from Him.
When children have fun, they are open mentally and emotionally to what we offer. Yet when they feel boxed in or forced to do something, they harden their hearts and shut out the gospel’s good news.
WE DON’T WANT THAT!!!
So How Do We Create Fun?
Fun is like a Chinese Finger Trap. The more you work on it, the harder it seems to get where you are going.
I’ve learned that I work against myself when I try so hard for them to sit and listen that they can’t hear what I am saying. I’ve been the teacher that the kids say, “do we have to go with her?” It breaks my heart and frustrates me, but it also drives me to my knees to ask, “God, what am I doing wrong?” I stopped and took a look around to see how can I change. Does this mean I never yell at my kids? of course not, but I’ve learned how to apologize to them, put aside my worries, and just be a kid again myself. If you have fun, they will too!
Creating fun is actually quite simple. Keep it light. Invite, don’t force. Give choices, and keep it moving!
This often means ignoring mild unwanted behavior; yes, there is a time to step in. But if they are playing with their shoe, don’t let it bother you! Keep a smile on your face, even when you are asking them to change what they are doing.
Choose your words wisely. Invite the children. There is a big difference between “We are singing right now, you need to put that away and join us” and “Will you come sing with me?” Both statements let the child know what you want from them, but one builds connection while the other typically builds a wall between you and the child.
If they choose not to participate, gently remind them that that is their choice, and they are welcome to sit out, but they cannot disrupt the class. Let them know that it is their choice, and they can change their mind later. As they see the other kids having fun, they will typically come to join in. Give it some time, and you can reach out to invite the child to come play with everyone again.
The key element here is inviting the children to join in on the fun. Keep the time moving so that if one of the elements of worship isn’t what they like, they know it won’t last that long, and everyone moves on to a new thing together. Most children have a limited attention span. Choose to do things in 5-10 minute blocks, then move on to something else.
The FUNdamental to children’s worship here is FUN! Fun creates the opportunity for connection!
Connection Creates Passion
Without connection, you cannot worship. Connection is fundamental in the act of any worship, including children’s worship! Connection is what sets apart the Christian faith. God offers us a relationship with Him. It is a two-way street. He reaches out to us, and we reach back to Him. Without this functioning communication, we feel disconnected and lost from God.
When you’re having fun, it’s easy to connect. It’s easy to connect with your kids, and it’s easy for your kids to connect with God.
Connection is key. Why? Because the connection is what God is after! God wants to connect with us; connection is relationship.
God offers us not law but love, not rules, but a relationship. We have the distinct privilege of giving this gift to our kids during the time of worship.
Who do you feel most connected to? I can almost guarantee you that it is someone who you are in a deep relationship with. A spouse, a friend, someone you want to be around.
Our goal as Children’s worship leaders is to help children connect to God in meaningful ways. To learn to connect with God, we first teach them to connect with us! We use the relationship we build with them to be an example of the relationship they get to build with Christ. This is why no child is too young for Children’s worship; every child is able to be loved and cared for!
Connection sometimes means encouraging them to ask questions and be silly. This may mean not getting through all of your lesson that day or changing plans mid-stream. But in those times, when it could be easy for me to get stressed and feel like my plan is falling apart, I am reminded of what is more important. Jesus would choose connection and relationship over everything going according to plan. And if I want to introduce them to Jesus, so must I!
Finnaly, Be Encouraged!
SO be encouraged! There will be days when children’s worship is exhausting, and there will be days when it feels like too much. There will be days when you want to scream or go home and sleep the rest of the day away! Rest, and breathe!
But don’t grow weary! When you focus on these three fundamentals of children’s worship, you will see a reward! There will also be days when it seems like you have never been so alive! There will be times when children say things that will bless your heart for the next 20 years.
Watching them grow to be people of faith who have deep relationships with Jesus is always worth any sacrifice, hard work, sleepless nights, and extra trips to the store. Anything you give is a gift to God, and He will accept your gifts and multiply them into the lives of those you lead. Keep leading. Keep giving of yourself. You can do this! You are loved!
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