Involving Children in Planning Family Worship Services
Children are capable of glorifying God and should be brought to Christ and instructed in His ways [5]. The Bible indicates that children were present at significant religious gatherings and were considered part of the worshipping community. For instance, Joel 2:16 calls for the gathering of "the children, even those nursing at the breast," alongside the aged and the congregation, for sanctification [1]. This suggests an inclusive approach to worship, where all members of the family, regardless of age, are present.
Involving children in planning family worship services aligns with biblical principles of instruction and participation. Parents are encouraged to teach their children about God's law and the meaning of religious observances [5, 9]. Deuteronomy 31:12-13 emphasizes that children should hear and learn to fear the Lord. The Passover celebration, for example, included a specific instruction for parents to explain the meaning of the service when their children inquired, providing an opportunity for intergenerational teaching and understanding [9].
While the Old Testament describes specific age requirements for service in the tabernacle (e.g., from thirty to fifty years old for certain tasks) [2, 3], these refer to particular roles within the Levitical priesthood, not general participation in worship or family devotion. The broader biblical emphasis for children is on their spiritual development and their inclusion in the life of faith [4, 5]. Children are to be taught to obey God, fear Him, and remember Him [5]. They are also encouraged to attend to parental teaching [4, 5].
Involving children in planning can foster a sense of ownership and engagement, helping them to understand and appreciate the worship experience. This can include selecting hymns, reading scripture, or contributing to prayers. Such participation can help children develop a "new spirit" and a "one heart" in seeking God, as described in Ezekiel 11:19 [8]. It also reflects the idea that a believer has a "new nature" through God's Spirit, which expresses itself in their life [6]. True worship occurs as God's Spirit reveals God's truth to the worshiper, and this can be nurtured from a young age [7].
Sources
- Joel “Joel 2:16 (BSB) — Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.”
- Numbers “Numbers 4:35 (LITV) — from a son of thirty years and upward, even to a son of fifty years, everyone who is going into the service, for work in the tabernacle of the congregation.”
- Numbers “Numbers 4:3 (LITV) — from a son of thirty years and upward, even until fifty years old, all that enter upon the service, to do work in the tabernacle of the congregation.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children, Good — The Lord is with -- 1Sa 3:19. Know the Scriptures -- 2Ti 3:15. Observe the law of God -- Pr 28:7. Their obedience to parents is well pleasing to God -- Col 3:20. Partake of the promises of God -- Ac 2:39. Shall be blessed -- Pr 3:1-4; Eph 6:2,3. Show love to parents -- Ge 46:29. Obey parents -- Ge 28:7; 47:30. Attend to parental teaching -- Pr 13:1. Take care of parents -- Ge 45:9,11; 47:12. Make their parents' hearts glad -- Pr 10:1; 29:17. Honour the aged -- Job 32:6,7. Adduced as a motive for submission to God -- Heb 12:9. Spirit of, a requisite f”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children — Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr ”
- Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 4:24: 4:24 in spirit and in truth: One Greek preposition governs both words (literally in spirit and truth) and makes them a single concept. True worship occurs as God’s Spirit reveals God’s truth and reality to the worshiper. Jesus Christ is the Truth (14:6; cp. 14:17; 15:26).”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 11:19: I will give them--lest they should claim to themselves the praise given them in Eze 11:18, God declares it is to be the free gift of His Spirit. one heart--not singleness, that is, uprightness, but oneness of heart in all, unanimously seeking Him in contrast to their state at that time, when only single scattered individuals sought God (Jer 32:39; Zep 3:9) [HENGSTENBERG]. Or, "content with one God," not distracted with "the many detestable things" (Eze 11:18; Kg1 18:21; Hos 10:2) [CALVIN]. new spirit-- (Psa 51:10; Jer 31:33). Realized fully in th”
- Exodus (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Exodus 12:26: when your children shall say, . . . What mean ye by this service--Independently of some observances which were not afterwards repeated, the usages practised at this yearly commemorative feast were so peculiar that the curiosity of the young would be stimulated, and thus parents had an excellent opportunity, which they were enjoined to embrace, for instructing each rising generation in the origin and leading facts of the national faith.”