Why Should Kids Worship With Their Parents?
At Knox we understand that kids are way more capable than we give them credit for, and that much of their spiritual learning is from observation and the formation of habits. Here are some of the reasons we ask them to participate in a multi-generational worship service—and ask their parents to support them in this intimidating task!
Because it is biblical.
All throughout the Bible, entire families worshipped God together in corporate worship.
Many Psalms address God’s holy people and their children (Psalm 148:7-8; Psalm 34:9-11).
In Ezra we see the house of God as a crowd of men, women, and children gathered together.
In the New Testament, when the disciples rebuked the people for bringing their children to Jesus, Jesus interrupted them and said, “Let the Children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:13-15).
2. Because the biggest influence on a kid’s faith is their parents’.
Parents have the most influence in their child’s life. What they observe of your faith, at home and at church, will be more impactful on their faith than Children’s Ministry ever will. Do mom and dad worship an invincible God? How do they participate in and respond to worship?
3. Because worship is different than Sunday school.
The habit of going to church every week, year after year, even when it’s hard, teaches children the priority of worship. Question 1 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks: "What is the chief end of man?" The answer is: "to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever."
The creator of the universe and our most high God wants our families to be in his presence, worshiping him and glorifying him as he created us to do together. So the question is really, “Why would we not want our children to experience the worship of the one true God in spirit and in truth along with the magnitude of the congregation?”
At the same time, we are commanded to pass down our faith to the next generation and to make disciples. So our Christian Education (CE) hour is crucial to the church’s discipleship of their members. It is the teaching and the training we provide for the sheep to shepherd them to follow Jesus.
Through corporate worship, biblical instruction, and multi-generational Christian community, children can be equipped for a lifelong journey of faith.