Teaching Children To Worship

Robert Meredith

What are some things a parent can do to teach their children how to worship properly?  Parents receive a great blessing from the Lord and ever need to be thankful for their children.  The Psalmist tells us, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3).  However, with this blessing comes an awesome responsibility.  The Holy Spirit commands, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).  And again, “Ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).  These are commands from the Holy Spirit and are not optional.  Let us look at some helpful ways to instill within our children the proper way of worshipping God.

  Moses instructed the Israelites, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).  If one wants his children to learn how to properly worship God, he must heed

Moses’ admonition.  One should diligently teach his children constantly what worship is, how it is to be done and why it is so important that one only worship as God directs (John 4:24; Colossians 3:17).

  Another vitally important thing parents can do to teach their children to worship properly is to attend.  If parents or grandparents attend irregularly, it is teaching the youngsters a lesson that very well could lead them to be lost eternally themselves.  Faithful attendance teaches and shows that worship is important.

  Furthermore, parents need to set the proper example while at worship.  Children can tell if the worship is important to you or not.  If the grown-ups around them are daydreaming, sleeping, cutting their fingernails, passing notes or balancing the checkbook, the children will believe that worship really is not important.  Make sure for your soul’s sake and theirs that you are setting the proper example.

  Also, parents need to talk to their children at home about the worship.  Ask questions and explain why we do what we do.  Ask them about the lesson, song service, and the other avenues of worship.

  Too, adults do not need to be critical of everything.  When children see and hear criticism of the worship and the church, it causes them to not even desire to be there.  After all, if they are having Sunday afternoon dinner, and are served fried chicken, fried okra, and fried preacher, why would they desire to go to church when they get out on their own?  If all they hear is criticism, why would they desire to worship, and whose fault is it?  The Apostle Paul wrote that love, “Thinketh no evil...Beareth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (1 Corinthians 13:5-7).  My friends, love will cause us not to always be down on things.

  Jesus commanded, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).  When one seeks after spiritual things first, prays and studies at home with his children, he will lay a strong foundation and his offspring will desire to be godly and worship God as He directs (John 4:23-24).