Our Blog

By: Pastor Nathan Berg

As parents, God has given us the awesome responsibility to bring up our children in the training and instruction of the Lord. To think that we are personally responsible for another soul can be overwhelming. So how can I follow God’s command to “bring [my children] up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4)? Worship in God’s house is a wonderful resource that can help you. Contrary to popular belief, children have a place in God’s house during worship. They are so observant and have so many questions. But can we really expect young children to listen to the sermon?

Jesus tells us, “Amen I tell you: Whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15). Children are able to believe. Children accept the truth of God’s Word without questions because of their unwavering trust. Certainly, the truths of the sermon are for them also. So how can they understand  what’s being said? No, it’s true, they won’t understand everything. But we can help them to listen for specific things, things that even the youngest of our children can understand. 

Try this for example. Before the sermon, whisper to your child: “Every time the Pastor says, ‘Jesus,’ or ‘God,’ I want you to squeeze my thumb.” It may seem like a simple thing. It may even appear like a game to your child. But what it will do is teach your child to focus on the Pastor’s words. You child may not understand everything in the sermon, but God promises: “Just as the rain and snow come down from the sky and do not return there unless they first water the earth, making it give birth, and cause it to sprout, so that it gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater, in the same way my word that goes out from my mouth will not return to me empty. Rather it will accomplish whatever I please, and it will succeed in the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

In the back of the sanctuary are two resources for you to make use of as well. We have children’s bulletins that correspond to the lessons we are using in worship for that week. These are especially useful for younger children. We also are offering a resource called, “My Worship Notes.” This encourages children who can read and write to actively think about the service and the sermon for the week and engages them in many aspects of what takes place on Sunday morning. May these resources be a blessing to you and may God continue to bless your efforts to bring up his children.