Children in the worship service

We have a baby nursery, a toddler nursery, and a large bus ministry. We have Biddy Church for ages 5-7 and then they go into Junior Church until they are 13.

Our Junior Church is taught by our Assoc. Pastor and is much like gb's church. The children do the same thing in their class as we do in the adult service, with the Assoc. Pastor giving the sermon to them.

When they turn 13, they either go into the adult service or stay and become 'helpers' in Junior Church.

It is all very structured and the lessons and sermons are geared for their age group, but are always along the same line as what the preacher is teaching that day.

 

I have no great opinion one way or another. We never had children's church when I was a child, possibly because we were a small country church, and possibly because no none around here had ever even heard of such a concept. I think there are times when it is advantageous both ways. But I won't go to the mat for or against. Our church has CC about one out of every three weeks, although we have a 'children's sermon' every week, led by a deacon. Younger children in church or a crying baby - disruptive? :tear: Sure, at times. A sleeping saint- Can he or she be disruptive? Sure, if he or she :sleep:! Could the saint be bored to sleep? Su... - uh, on second thought, I'll let that one slide.

I did once hear where some preacher said that he'd rather see a crying baby than a sleeping saint, anytime. :laugh:

Ed

 

Hello,

The original poster asked what we believe and what our churches practise. I believe that it is good for children to stay in the service wherever possible. If they are taken out to a Sunday School before the sermon, then not only are they missing the preaching of God's Word, but so are their teachers. Maybe someone will argue that children won't understand the sermon, but nor will anyone else, naturally speaking. 1 Corinthians 2.14:

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Of course I realise that there will be exceptional cases where children will need to be taken out. Some children with severe mental disorders, for example, can sometimes unintentionally become very disruptive. Very young children and babies may need to be taken out from time to time to use the toilet or to be fed.

In our own church, we encourage children to stay for the whole service. We also provide a place for parents to take younger children out when necessary, with a loudspeaker so they can hear the sermon.

Incidentally, no offence intended of course, but I feel that phrases like "Junior Church" and "Children's Church" are incompatible with baptist principles. Even if all the children involved have already been converted, the idea of having a separate church for them seems to lack biblical warrant. I don't suppose that the folk who use these terms are for one moment thinking about a separate church, but that is what the phrases could so easily be understood to mean.

 

We have two different nurseries where the sermon is piped in and we also have Junior Church and Children's Church.

The Assoc. Pastor brings a sermon in Junior Church much like the Pastor's sermon except geared down. We have a large bus ministry, so a Junior Church is a must.

We have seen bus kids get saved in Junior Church that eventually brought their whole families in and they all got saved.

I believe in church for children and I believe in bus ministries. I have worked in both and it is very rewarding all the way around.

 

Our church has no nursery or childrens church and I thank God for it. I believe that my pastor put it best when he said "our children are not the church of tomorrow they are the church of today." We actually have children from the age of 6 to 9 participate in our church services. I have personally witnessed an 8 year old brother in Christ sing "O What A Saviour" while the Holy Spirit filled his heart and the tears streamed down his face and there wasn't a dry eye in the house of God. Praise God for our younger sisters and brothers in Christ.

 

David Lamb,

typically "Sunday School" is an hour or so BEFORE the morning service where ALL attenders split up into grade/age appropriate classes and have their own Bible lesson time. This seems to me to be a very good practice as children learn at significantly different levels than adults do. They also have vastly different needs at various stages of their developments. Children are not "little adults", and they ought not be treated as if they are.
So usually kids are not being taken out of the morning service in order to go to Sunday School.

"Junior Church" and "Children's Church" are of course debatable. I don't see any harm in them, but if a church feels that its better to have all children above nursery age in the auditorium than by all means. We do. All kids over the age of 4 sit in the morning service, Sunday evening service and Wednesday service. Usually there's no disruption.

I do believe that kids younger than that ought to be in a nursery, though. Little, little people can be very distracting, both for the parents and those sitting in the surrounding pews. IMO, it borders on rudeness to insist that your toddler be in the auditorium with you. (borders, I said....)

 

And I believe that it borders on rudeness, and maybe even crosses the line, when anyone insists that toddlers ought not learn to worship with Mom and Dad. My wife and I do what we can to make sure that our preschooler (older than a toddler) is quiet during the service, but I enjoy worshipping with other families who are also worshipping together, even if they are a little noisy. Also, if the babies are in the service then no one has to miss the service to take care of the babies. If a church has the space then a "crying room" or something like that can be helpful but I like families worshipping together.

 

One simple question. Why do we have a graded system of education in our schools?

If a child can understand what I am preaching to their parents, then surely they can understand a level 6 teacher at beginning classes. We could save a bundle on taxes with that principle.

In all my churches, the children remained in the sanctuary through to the time of giving the scripture reading and receiving the offering. I then told a children's story,,gospel oriented, and they proceeded to go to their nursery or church school. I found it served two purposes. It kept the sermon time for adults and teens, and the children where they are nurtured in bottle and lesson. They got to experience worship as well.

To each his own, but as a preacher, I preferred the amens to come from those who understand rather than a bawl for a bottle.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I find family worship totally natural and desirable.

I really do miss unsegregated services, the kind where if a child cries the pastor is just as likely to pause for a minute and wait patiently for the problem to be solved as he is to pick the child up and walk around with him while he continues talking.

These services where people dress all fancy, that are so rigid that they come to an uncomfortable halt at the very common sound of an infant crying, where people can't understand the message if the delivery isn't given in the same style at the exact same time in the exact same format....those services...are they really worship or pretense?

The same people who complain that they can't worship with different age groups are the same who don't miss a WINK at a sports game with drunk people yelling and falling over them and such.

Save it for the judge. :tongue3:

I love having kids programs, I do. But I also think that it's a horrible shame that the norm has been to cast children out of our weekly worship services.

 

I understand your point, but how far do you take it? Why try to preach to college graduates and high school dropouts and upper-middle school children and senior citizens who can barely see and hear, all at the same time? Why draw the line at pre-teens? I'm not arguing (yet), I'm just asking (for now).

 

As we were taught in seminary homiletics,,,preach to the youngest member of the congregation and the lawyer and doctor will also understand.

It is easier to reach those categories you mentioned than a child in arms or youngish school children. For example, the preacher can make a statement,,then elaborate on that statement in easier terms for those less educated....it adds punch to teh first statement, and makes it clear for the rest. As for the blind and hard of hearing, there are devices to handle special conditions.

Cheers,

Jim

 

So why is it bad to preach that way with small children present, who are observing what is happening but not understanding all of it? I have found it more valuable to talk to my kids about the sermon that they heard but didn't understand than to talk about a coloring sheet that they brought home that had something to do with a Bible story that I didn't hear (and that they often didn't hear). When I would ask my kids what they learned in children's church and they started replying "nothing, it was stuff we already knew", I knew it was time for them to get more from church. Babies can't chew the same food that adults can, but we can present the same food to them in such a way that it still nourishes them.

 

whatever,

in your response to me you mentioned "preschool, older than toddler". Thats fine. But as I said toddler, I meant toddler.......those who can barely understand English are not in any way worshipping. They aren't even saved yet, since they cannot understand salvation yet.

Ive seen too many moms distracted by their own 2yr old during a service to believe that she can actually pay attention and get anything out of it for herself.

OTOH, I also think that if we have the kids in the auditorium during the preaching than as parents we ought to try to get them to listen rather than giving them coloring books and crayons. Our four-year-old still tends to fall asleep, but she's going longer each service. The others have all learned how to take notes as soon as they could write.

 

Funny that you should mention such a thing. I have never had a young Christian or non-Christian that has ever told me they did understand the point of the sermon. It has always been those who hear, but don't listen. It is the disobedient who get mad.

One time I had a young deacon who regu;lar;y comp,ained that he did not understand the sermons I gave. So one day I decided I would go to a young Christian and ask him if he understood what I preached on that Sunday. He understood well. The young Christian was thankful that he came to know Christ and wanted to grow. The young deacon however was interested in image. The young Christian today is on staff at a church leading the music and discipling people. The deacon is still at the church shooting for image.

 

bapmom,

I was talking about toddlers too. I just don't have a toddler any more that I can use as an example.

 

Many things can disrupt the service. And so often God is dealing with someone during the service about some aspect of their life that desperately needs change. Children as are many things are a distraction in the adult worship service. They disrupt the preacher and the listeners who are taking care of some very important business.

Worshipping as a family together is very important. However, maybe that should be done all week long at home. Family alter serves just that purpose. We shouldnt be waitng until we get to sunday service to worship together as a family.

Children learn on a different level than adults. And as has been said already some topics that are adressed in the preaching are far to sensative for children.

The congregation is better served if the service remains uninterrupted.

 

I see both sides, and as a kid in the worship service at around 3, I was thankful to be there. I sang my first solo in church at 4!

I think no blanket statements can be made here. Our church is about to institute a "children's church" that will teach and basically be an extension of a Sunday School type time with games and such. They will leave after the music service.

But a child that can sit quietly through the service should be in there as soon as possible. My opinion may change when someday it's my child, but right now, I say leave them there if they can glean anything from the service.

 

Maybe I am the only one, but it just breaks my heart that children are seen as a nuisance or a distraction.

 

whatever,

my hubby and I have six children. They are most certainly not a nuisance. :smilewinkgrin:

BUT, realistically? in a church service they can most definitely be a distraction. Thats just the reality of life.

I have seen mommies so distracted by their beautiful, wonderful, non-nuisance child in the service, that they do not hear the gospel message being preached to them. Now, I would rather have that gorgeous child be put in an age-appropriate, safe, loving environment, and later present to him a saved-by-grace-alone mother.

Honestly, it's a 'rule of thumb". If your little person can actually sit still through a two hour service then more power to ya. I know of almost no toddler that can do that.

I also liked what one poster pointed out....we ought to be worshipping as a family at home. Then it most naturally flows into your whole family worshipping together at a church service. I guess Im really talking more about visitors or people who have not been in church for most of their lives.

 

Bapmom,
I like you idea of home worship with the family. We only have two kids just entering the adult years, so you got three times the experience as me. (and three times the patience) :laugh:

It seems the best place to put the kids as they are growing up is where they get the most out of the time spent as far as learning Scripture and the Gospel.

God bless you and you family and you bring those six up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.