Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Teaching Your Child to Value Worship: Part 3 - Arrive
Arrive - Be on time! – Show your child that no part of the service is less important than another part. Children notice when you rush in after service has began and sneak into class. Likewise, they notice when you are on time, prepared and relaxed. They can see that worship as a whole is valuable and they can notice when something is lost in the rush of arriving late. You communicate your priorities and the value of something by the time you give to it. Show your child how valuable and important worship is by being present for the whole service.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Teaching Your Child to Value Worship: Part 2 - Ask
Ask - Pray together in the car before service – asking God to teach you and your children new and beautiful things. This is a great opportunity to explain to your children why they go to their class while you go and worship with adults. Explain that your child needs to hear special words from God and play special games and do special crafts to help them learn and love God more. Explain that while your child is learning, you are in another room, singing special songs and hearing special words so that you can learn how to love God more also.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Teaching Your Child to Value Worship: Part 1 - Anticipate
About a year ago I wrote an article on teaching your children to value worship. It's a bit long, so I will publish it in segments. It's divided into 5 A's: Anticipate, Ask, Arrive, Attend, and Approach.
Part 1: Anticipate
Every day, through the way you approach tasks, obligations, people and time, you communicate to your children the things that you value. You show that you value family through sharing meals, spending time together in the evening, playing together on the weekends. You show that you value the Lord through praying together, spending time in the Word and talking openly about spiritual things. Every time you walk into the doors of Providence Church, you are revealing to your children the ways you value worship.
You are your child’s primary teacher and the way they learn to love the Lord is through watching you do it. That is why it is necessary to approach worship in an honest, reverent manner.
Anticipate - Communicate an excitement, a hope and confidence in what the Lord will do during service. Communicate it through words, attitudes and actions. If the week has been hard, you communicate your dependence by leaving your hurt at the foot of the Cross. If the week has been fun and exciting, you communicate your praise by celebrating and rejoicing before the King. Your child may not sit with you throughout the service, but they observe your attitude before and after. They can hear your prayers. And they can certainly tell when Mom and Dad are not excited to go to church. What is your attitude before worship communicating to your children?
Part 1: Anticipate
Every day, through the way you approach tasks, obligations, people and time, you communicate to your children the things that you value. You show that you value family through sharing meals, spending time together in the evening, playing together on the weekends. You show that you value the Lord through praying together, spending time in the Word and talking openly about spiritual things. Every time you walk into the doors of Providence Church, you are revealing to your children the ways you value worship.
You are your child’s primary teacher and the way they learn to love the Lord is through watching you do it. That is why it is necessary to approach worship in an honest, reverent manner.
Anticipate - Communicate an excitement, a hope and confidence in what the Lord will do during service. Communicate it through words, attitudes and actions. If the week has been hard, you communicate your dependence by leaving your hurt at the foot of the Cross. If the week has been fun and exciting, you communicate your praise by celebrating and rejoicing before the King. Your child may not sit with you throughout the service, but they observe your attitude before and after. They can hear your prayers. And they can certainly tell when Mom and Dad are not excited to go to church. What is your attitude before worship communicating to your children?
Follow-up: Jesus Loves the Children
Fundamental Truth: God is Good
Making it Real:
Jesus was teaching people how to love God. Many people wanted to hear Jesus teach and they wanted Jesus to bless them and show that He loved them. Some parents wanted their children to see Jesus. Jesus’ friends said, “Jesus is too busy for the children.” But Jesus said He was not too busy. Why did Jesus have time for children even when He had other things to do?
Jesus loves children. Just like He loves Moms and Dads and doctors and plumbers, He loves children. And He was trying to teach everyone how to love Him like children do. Children love Jesus in a big way, with lots of trust and lots of joy. That’s how Jesus wants us to love Him always, with lots of trust and lots of joy.
Making it Stick:
Have a time of show-and-tell with your child. Have your child go throughout the house and pick a few things he/she loves the most. They can be toys, books, pictures representing family, etc. Have your child share why he/she loves these things the most. Share your own ideas of things you love. Then talk about how much Jesus loves you all. Talk about how Jesus’ love doesn’t end and how it spreads to all of us.
Making it Real:
Jesus was teaching people how to love God. Many people wanted to hear Jesus teach and they wanted Jesus to bless them and show that He loved them. Some parents wanted their children to see Jesus. Jesus’ friends said, “Jesus is too busy for the children.” But Jesus said He was not too busy. Why did Jesus have time for children even when He had other things to do?
Jesus loves children. Just like He loves Moms and Dads and doctors and plumbers, He loves children. And He was trying to teach everyone how to love Him like children do. Children love Jesus in a big way, with lots of trust and lots of joy. That’s how Jesus wants us to love Him always, with lots of trust and lots of joy.
Making it Stick:
Have a time of show-and-tell with your child. Have your child go throughout the house and pick a few things he/she loves the most. They can be toys, books, pictures representing family, etc. Have your child share why he/she loves these things the most. Share your own ideas of things you love. Then talk about how much Jesus loves you all. Talk about how Jesus’ love doesn’t end and how it spreads to all of us.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
A Helpful Link
Only in the past couple of years have I begun to understand the power that comes when we pray the words of Scripture. They are authoritative, complete and beautiful.
Yesterday I came across a list of Scriptural blessings to pray for our children. I invite you to check out the link and pray these verses for your own little ones.
Pray for your children.
Yesterday I came across a list of Scriptural blessings to pray for our children. I invite you to check out the link and pray these verses for your own little ones.
Pray for your children.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
New Year, New Opportunities
As you continue to settle back into your daily routine, take time to sit down with your children and reflect on the good things God has done in your family in the last year. If you have not already done so, take time over dinner or before bedtime to make a list using words or pictures, of some of the great things God did or taught you this year. Spend time praying and thanking God for the things on that list.
After that, take some time as a family to think through some things you want to see God do in your lives this year. Consider things within your home, opportunities within the church or community, and hopes you have for extended family or friends. Write down your prayers and goals for this year and spend some time praying over them and asking God for the things on your list.
At the end of your time together, remind you children that God is Good and that as a family you will trust Him to do whatever He wants to within your lives this year. Spend a few final minutes praising God through song or prayer for His power, provision and love.
After that, take some time as a family to think through some things you want to see God do in your lives this year. Consider things within your home, opportunities within the church or community, and hopes you have for extended family or friends. Write down your prayers and goals for this year and spend some time praying over them and asking God for the things on your list.
At the end of your time together, remind you children that God is Good and that as a family you will trust Him to do whatever He wants to within your lives this year. Spend a few final minutes praising God through song or prayer for His power, provision and love.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Follow-up: Wisemen
Story: How we worship Jesus
Fundamental Truth: God is in Charge of Everything
Making it Real:
The angels sang to worship Jesus. The wisemen brought gifts. The shepherds sat at the baby’s feet in worship. Why did these people worship this child and why do we worship Him still?
When we worship God, we are making Him famous. We are putting Him in the most important place in our hearts. We are saying that He is better than anything else and our heart belongs to Him. We worship Jesus because He is God’s Son and by His death He made a way for us to be with God forever. We worship Jesus because He is the only way to God and because He is the reason we have hope and joy and purpose.
Making it Stick:
Grab your camera and go on a photo scavenger hunt with your child. Take pictures of different ways we worship God. You can take pictures of church buildings, Bibles, books, music, etc. But also help your child think of different ways you worship or different things you do while you worship. You can take pictures of someone cooking or cleaning, working at a job, eating, taking care of a child or loved one, etc. Talk through each of the pictures and how you can worship in each instance. Put together an online album or print the pictures out and make a journal with pictures and descriptions.
Fundamental Truth: God is in Charge of Everything
Making it Real:
The angels sang to worship Jesus. The wisemen brought gifts. The shepherds sat at the baby’s feet in worship. Why did these people worship this child and why do we worship Him still?
When we worship God, we are making Him famous. We are putting Him in the most important place in our hearts. We are saying that He is better than anything else and our heart belongs to Him. We worship Jesus because He is God’s Son and by His death He made a way for us to be with God forever. We worship Jesus because He is the only way to God and because He is the reason we have hope and joy and purpose.
Making it Stick:
Grab your camera and go on a photo scavenger hunt with your child. Take pictures of different ways we worship God. You can take pictures of church buildings, Bibles, books, music, etc. But also help your child think of different ways you worship or different things you do while you worship. You can take pictures of someone cooking or cleaning, working at a job, eating, taking care of a child or loved one, etc. Talk through each of the pictures and how you can worship in each instance. Put together an online album or print the pictures out and make a journal with pictures and descriptions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)