Children's church, Sunday School and nurseries

[Squire Robertsson]

To the best of my knowledge, save for the nursery, the programs are focused on discipeling the youngsters at an age-appropriate level. We had one sister who pastored the 5 to 7-year-old S/S class for over 30 years. I worked in Junior Church and can say the attendees got Bible Truth at a level they could understand. Mind you at around 11 years they moved into the main service.

What prevents a teacher from teaching the children about Jesus - on a level they can understand. Sure, there may be toys - but keep in mind that young children have a short attention span. Even when the children are playing - they can be singing "Jesus Loves Me"

 

[Squire Robertsson]

On the other hand, I've ministered to emigre Russian Evangelical Christian-Baptist churches. The brethren get along quite nicely with all ages in the Sunday services. Crying babies are taken to the mothers' room as needed. Otherwise, the hand of discipline is applied to the seat of knowledge.

 

[HeDied4U]

L6


I disagree with all of that. Why have children sit in an environment whete tbe understand nothing, learn to despise church because of it. Further they become unnecessary noise and distraction to the preacher and everyone listening.

Instead have them where they can learn Gods word in an environment conducive to their age and learning ability until they reach the age when they can actually participate and benefit from the service.

Once they reach 6th grade they are ready to sit still and can actually understand what is being said. Makes mo sense to put babies and children through when you can do otherwise.

I kind of had to chuckle at that. While I mostly agree, there are some 6th graders at my church who definitely would not fit the bill.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

In another thread - during the discussion of the OP, nurseries was brought up
So as not to hijack that thread - I am starting this thread.


rlvaughn stated:
"I suppose part of it is historical/traditional, where our rural churches had large families and no nurseries and had no idea that any such thing was needed. We and a few others have continued under the idea that no such thing is needed, and have consciously (iow, not accidentally) continued on the past course. The way children learn how to behave at the church meeting is by being at the church meeting. If church services are absent of children, soon both adults and children are warmed to the idea that they shouldn't be there (iow, we don't do children's church either)."

What are the pros and cons of church nurseries and Children's church.

The reduced interaction between parent and child... it’s a separation of family. There is no family unity, no teachable moment. My grandmother would take me by the hand when I was 4-5 yo and lead me to church, that was a wonderful time with her singing and praying & I instinctively knew that she was sharing something with me. How would I have felt had she isolated me in kids church instead of seeing her at home with Christ.

 

[Deacon]

According to a search, this is unicode for Pile of Poo, Smiling emoji, or Smiling Pile of Poo, which is used to convey dissatisfaction. All news to me!

To clear the air I used it to show a two year olds humor
Young kids won’t connect to a sermon but will connect with the stink of a dirty diaper.
Apparently “pile of poo”is a character in the ‘Emoticon Movie’ that she enjoys.
She even named a doll, Poo.

I don’t think she would benefit fron sitting at home with Mom on Sunday OR sitting in a long service.

Rob

 

[Salty]

For those of you who think that all ages should be in the "one SS class for all ages",
may I assume your kids go to college classes with you? What better way to to prevent
"The reduced interaction between parent and child... it’s a separation of family."
My goodness this would promote family unity!.

 

[ChrisTheSaved]

This is a fairly new thing in the scheme of things. I have to say how's it working out? Keeping kids in their own classes from 0-18. They never have to connect with the church. Go to a Baptist church with a nice youth program and I can show you a church that will struggle with those kids attending in adulthood.

Steven L Anderson: children's church

 

[OnlyaSinner]

This is a fairly new thing in the scheme of things. I have to say how's it working out? Keeping kids in their own classes from 0-18. They never have to connect with the church. Go to a Baptist church with a nice youth program and I can show you a church that will struggle with those kids attending in adulthood.

Steven L Anderson: children's church

Our church has separate Sunday School classes, but Childrens' Church is limited to 3rd grade and younger, as parents desire - some keep their younger set with them. We've found that engaging youth in service work outside of Sunday morning is important in keeping them interested. Whether it's joining in choir or special programs, workdays at church, "mercy missions" like splitting/stacking firewood for an older couple, assisting at VBS, visitation, etc. - participation breeds continuation. Those allowed to "sit, soak and sour" (as one pastor would say) are much more likely to be lost to the world.

 

[Revmitchell]

This is a fairly new thing in the scheme of things. I have to say how's it working out? Keeping kids in their own classes from 0-18. They never have to connect with the church. Go to a Baptist church with a nice youth program and I can show you a church that will struggle with those kids attending in adulthood.

Steven L Anderson: children's church

You are wuoting anderson? Really? What churches keep children in their own class till 18? Ive never seen it

 

[Squire Robertsson]

The EC-B are able to have all ages in the Sunday services because there is more "scheduled movement" in their service. See Below:

1. Traditionally, Evangelical Christian Baptists follow what we in the States would think of as a Plymouth Brethren style of service.
2. A typical Sunday (morning or evening) service goes something like this:

a. the Pastor or his designee calls the service to order and gives the Invocation.
b. a choir number
c. congregational hymn
d. the first preacher (the Pastor or the man in charge of the service has previously designated which of the preachers in the church will be speaking at a given service and in what order) speaks usually for 10-15 minutes. This message is usually a Call to Worship or Prayer
e. congregational prayer (three maybe four men or women lead in prayer from their places in the meeting hall, with the preacher closing). This is a time of Thanksgiving for the God's provision in the last week. The preacher closes with a prayer for God s blessing on the coming service.
f. a congregational hymn
g. a senior choir number or
h. a children's choir or
i. a recitation of Christian poetry by an individual or group
j. the second preacher speaks (see d. above). This preacher brings a strong Bible Message for 20-25 minutes.
k. repeat f-i.
l. the third preacher speaks (usually this is senior pastor). This man ties the two previous speakers together. (Or he may launch off on his own message.)
m. see e. above​

n. congregational hymn and offering
o. greetings from various churches
p. prayer requests are taken and final prayer +/-two hours later.

 

[ChrisTheSaved]

You are wuoting anderson? Really? What churches keep children in their own class till 18? Ive never seen it

What's wrong with Steven Anderson Rev. Mitchell. Do you prefer to go by Reverend or The Reverend?

 

[rsr]

Children benefit from being in the meeting between God and His people. They are in the presence of Christians of various ages rather than only their own peer group. They see how their parents worship and learn that this is an important part of their parents' lives. They are exposed to togetherness rather than the societal trend of family fragmentation. Adults benefit from children being in their meetings. They are reminded that it is not all about themselves, that they have a calling to train up children, and that gospel is to be passed on. We are reminded that life, families -- and God's family -- are made up of the old and the young.

I wouldn't disagree with any of that. I'm just agnostic about nurseries and children's church because I suspect part of philosophical disagreement might be rooted in the fact that I never went to children's church and have no memory of nurseries.

My earliest recollections of attending church are of sitting beside a friendly deacon who always had gum and a pencil and paper. I didn't necessarily learn much Scripture, but I did learn how I supposed to act in services. Now, I was not a restless child and was easily entertained. I've spent a good deal of supposedly sermon time as a child (and adult) reading the indexes of hymnals — by author, by tune, by meter ...

Aside from his misogyny, Anderson has an almost point: Most teachers have inadequate preparation for biblical teaching. I can count on one hand the number of teachers I've had who had a good grasp on doctrine. On the other hand, all of them have had a love for Christ, compassion for the "students" and a willingness to serve. I leave it to you to decide which is more important.

A fault in Anderson's analysis, to my mind, is that the pastor is to be the ONLY teacher for the congregation (that's my assumption, anyway). If you want a church to survive, you must train teachers who are competent and give them freedom to exercise their gifts. If they are into serious error, step in. If you want to pitch a fit about a craft that shows Jesus with long hair ...

 

[Reynolds]

The EC-B are able to have all ages in the Sunday services because there is more "scheduled movement" in their service. See Below:

1. Traditionally, Evangelical Christian Baptists follow what we in the States would think of as a Plymouth Brethren style of service.
2. A typical Sunday (morning or evening) service goes something like this:

a. the Pastor or his designee calls the service to order and gives the Invocation.
b. a choir number
c. congregational hymn
d. the first preacher (the Pastor or the man in charge of the service has previously designated which of the preachers in the church will be speaking at a given service and in what order) speaks usually for 10-15 minutes. This message is usually a Call to Worship or Prayer
e. congregational prayer (three maybe four men or women lead in prayer from their places in the meeting hall, with the preacher closing). This is a time of Thanksgiving for the God's provision in the last week. The preacher closes with a prayer for God s blessing on the coming service.
f. a congregational hymn
g. a senior choir number or
h. a children's choir or
i. a recitation of Christian poetry by an individual or group
j. the second preacher speaks (see d. above). This preacher brings a strong Bible Message for 20-25 minutes.
k. repeat f-i.
l. the third preacher speaks (usually this is senior pastor). This man ties the two previous speakers together. (Or he may launch off on his own message.)
m. see e. above​

n. congregational hymn and offering
o. greetings from various churches
p. prayer requests are taken and final prayer +/-two hours later.

That would bore me to death.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

How so? I can see the standard Anglo-American Baptist service being boring for an eight-year-old. However, in an EC-B service, there's sitting, standing (for the congregational singing), kneeling (during corporate prayer). Little Sasha or Marika could also find themselves up front as part of the children's choir or as part of a family ensemble. In one church, the pastor regularly calls all the 4-12-year-olds up to sing a well known Gospel song. Not to mention nobody minds if you have to go use the facilities.

That would bore me to death.

 

[Reynolds]

How so? I can see the standard Anglo-American Baptist service being boring for an eight-year-old. However, in an EC-B service, there's sitting, standing (for the congregational singing), kneeling (during corporate prayer). Little Sasha or Marika could also find themselves up front as part of the children's choir or as part of a family ensemble. In one church, the pastor regularly calls all the 4-12-year-olds up to sing a well known Gospel song. Not to mention nobody minds if you have to go use the facilities.

I like:
1.Invocation
2. 3 song
3. Take up offering
4. Sermon
5. Benediction
6. Go home 50 minutes after 1. Started.

 

[rlvaughn]

I like:
1.Invocation
2. 3 song
3. Take up offering
4. Sermon
5. Benediction
6. Go home 50 minutes after 1. Started.

Sounds quite boring!

 

[Deacon]

What's wrong with Steven Anderson

He was a participant in years past before being banned.
His 'pisseth against the wall' sermon was a barn-burner for me.

Rob

 

[rlvaughn]

His 'pisseth against the wall' sermon was a barn-burner for me.

Barn-burner: "something that is highly exciting, impressive, etc." (Dictionary.com)

??

I am so excited that I have never bothered to listen to it.

 

[Jerome]

nurseries...most of them are nasty

We sterilize regularly and on a schedule

You are an exception.

our church cleans all of the nursery regularly....our nursery is pretty much sterile

you are an exception. Every kid in the nursery...in a neighboring county got foot and mouth disease.

We sterilize regularly

you might have the first church that formally disinfects their nursery. Most never do

This wide discrepancy in general standards of cleanliness, perhaps it's a regional thing?

 

[Reynolds]

This wide discrepancy in general standards of cleanliness, perhaps it's a regional thing?

Its more due to the fact that Churches are exempt from regulation.
Now, the churches who run state licensed daycare out of the same rooms would be different.
I would like to see results from a Hygiena (or similar) testing system, for the nurseries that many on here think are clean.