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Featured Keep The Kids In

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Thousand Hills, Jul 31, 2015.

  1. Thousand Hills

    Thousand Hills Active Member

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    Earlier this week on BB there was a thread on when to give offerings which turned into a debate on children's church etc.

    Here are some good thoughts on 5 Reasons To Keep The Kids In, with some balanced caveats from the author.

    http://www.alliancenet.org/christward/5-reasons-to-keep-the-kids-in#.VbvQK_lVikp

    (1) It is the pattern of scripture
    (2) It is a model for our children for life
    (3) The worship service is the place of God's promised blessings.
    (4) It is an encouragement to other families
    (5) It is an encouragement to the parents

    The only thing I heard from those of the opposing view in the other thread is "as long as I've been around that's how we've always done it". What says you?
     
  2. Tom Bryant

    Tom Bryant Well-Known Member

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    I was interested only in his claim that it was the pattern of Scripture. He argued for it because of the Passover which was always set in a home with a family. So he is comparing oranges with steak.

    Then he argues that it is the pattern because the Bible books were written to be read in the church. But the Bible doesn't say there were children present.

    I have been in and preached in churches where the children were kept in the services. For the most part it ended with mom trying to bring enough stuff in her purse to keep the kids entertained. I am sure that this might work if all the kids in church were with their parents.

    Just not sure his arguments hold much water either Biblically or practically.
     
  3. blessedwife318

    blessedwife318 Well-Known Member
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    My husband and I are fans of children staying in the service. We have no problem with Sunday Schools being split by age but we feel that for the main service age should not be a factor.
    Yes we know that there is a learning curve with kids sitting still, but we also think that kids can and do live up to or down to expectations. We also feel that kids are smarter then we give them credit for and can pick up things here and there in the service. Do we expect them to get everything the pastor is saying, no, but it is amazing what kids to pick up on and that may come out much later in their lives.
     
  4. Van

    Van Well-Known Member
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    Some churches start with all the kids in the Adult service, for the worship and giving, and then the Pastor invites all the kids to come up to the front. He says a few things to them, and perhaps one or two answer a question, but then they exit to their respective Sunday School classes. Occasionally High School and Middle School kids serve as ushers or presenters, and hand out the "bread" and the "drink" at communion. In any event a concerted effort is made to honor our youngest believers!
     
  5. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I agree with having children in service, but I also have a few issues with some points of the article. As an added bonus, I can offer a few reasons from the opposing view (other than "it's always been that way).

    Concerning the article - it is a bit of a leap to claim that the pattern of Scripture is to have children in the worship service rather than "children's church." Looking at the references provided, I don't think that you'll disagree with me - but either way it's not a leap I'm willing to make. What I disagree with a bit more is the second point that it is a model for our children for life. What the author states, basically, is "sure the kiddos won't understand the message - it is grown up talk. But they will learn to sit and listen to who ever is in the pulpit." (I understand I'm pushing it a bit in my example....partly for fun, but mostly because it's true....., but basically the point is the benefit of listening to a speaker rather than being involved in the communication of the Word of God). The second point could easily be applied to instilling a cult mindset in our children (it is not for you to understand, just accept and sit still and stop fidegeting). I think that this is more tradition, BTW, than "children's church."

    And here is the bonus material... at no additional charge. Why have Children's Church? To communicate, in a meaningful way, the gospel message to our children. To teach our children the basics of our faith so that they will understand the message from the pulpit. To disciple these young ones in the Christian faith. To allow the Body of Christ to work as the Body of Christ within the local church by having ministers who are gifted teachers towards children obediently exercise their gifts. And lastly, to teach children that the sermons are designed to build the saints and are to be understood and applied rather than endured without understanding.

    With all of that....I still favor having my family together in service. But my son is 12, and I am still glad that he was able to attend "Children's Church" and grow in the knowledge of our faith (through understanding) which God used to draw him to Christ. It was in Children's Church that he learned to listen to the pastor and understand, ask questions, and apply the message.
     
  6. wpe3bql

    wpe3bql Member

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    I'm inclined to support Bro. JonC's position on Children's Church.

    Let me preface my reasoning behind Children's Church (or any other ministry that tends to keep the little ones away from their parents once they set foot inside their local church's building) by stating that I have no children. So far, God hasn't called me to be married, and with no wife, I haven't any scriptural means of fathering children. At age 68+, I doubt He'll call me to become a biological father of children any time soon.

    That doesn't mean that I don't like children because I do. For the past 40+ years I've helped out in various ministries like AWANA's or Children's Church, etc., that are primarily aimed at children 9-10 YO or younger.

    I think ministries such as Children's Church, or SS--that takes children away from their parents too--are great means whereby children who are, say, under 9-10 YO, can be taught wonderful truths from God's Word at a level that they can grasp more easily than if they have to sit quietly for at least 30 or more minutes while pastor so-and-so preaches about, for example, why one needs to adhere strictly to an a-millennial or a pre-millennial or whatever-millennial approach to prophetic scriptures.

    I'm sure Billy or Sally or whatever his/her names are will kept in rapt attention while Bro. Whatever-his-name-is preaches on something like that! Maybe some bright 11-12 YO fellow might grasp something from a message like that, but little 5-6 YO "Meagan" probably doesn't even know what a "millennium" is.

    She may've misunderstood the preacher and thought he's preaching about a "MEAL-llennium" and is anxiously waiting for some deacon to offer her a snack or two! I once overheard a 4-YO "Meagan" (not her real name) ask Mommy when the man was going to give her a candy bar so she could enjoy her "MEAL-llennium" that Sunday morning! :smilewinkgrin:

    Some churches may not have a Children's Church because her congregation's mean age is over 50, which'd mean that their congregation probably is past the age of rearing little children. If that's the case, that church probably wouldn't need a full-scale Children's Church.

    To summarize, it's been my experience over these past 4-5 decades in which God has allowed me to serve in the half dozen different churches of which I've been a member that if a congregation has more than a half dozen or so little ones under age 9-10 or thereabouts, she'd do well to consider having some kind of ministry aimed at that age group.

    And I think the parents of these little tykes would appreciate it too.
     
  7. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Its the job of the parents to explain the pastors sermon to the kids.
     
  8. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    With all do respect brother, if you were ever envolved in churches that are ill equiped with good teachers, you might just change your mind on the topic. But by putting the responsibility of raising up these kids spiritually on the parents it helps the whole family and builds tighter
    Spirtual families.....ive seen it.
     
  9. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    It is. But edification is also the responsibility of the church, and pastors are responsible for their members (and teachers for teaching).


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  10. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Jon,who do you think the parents a re going to with questions?
     
  11. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    ................ Oops.
     
  12. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    :laugh:....no ill intentions brother:thumbs:
     
  13. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I fear most don't care enough to ask to ask questions. The church has a responsibility, as does the parent, but the church's responsibility is not one "twice removed." But my concern was not that someone explains the sermon that the child could not comprehend as much as it was the sermon being what the child needs to understand.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  14. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    . I'm typing on a two week old iPhone with a shattered screen (only took me a week to do that). It's crazy, but I received a new screen today and will attempt to change it. My eyes don't work so well anymore so who knows what will happen.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  15. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    In my experience, the church encourages questions
     
  16. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I'm glad you have had that experience.
    In mine, parents simply don't care enough to have questions.

    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  17. Earth Wind and Fire

    Earth Wind and Fire Well-Known Member
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    Shameless plug here......yes, Primitive Baptist Churches are good at education and promoting family togetherness.:thumbs:
     
  18. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    Yes.......shameless.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  19. blessedwife318

    blessedwife318 Well-Known Member
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    While I get what you are saying about having children's church is helpful so that kids can understand what is going on, I feel like that line of thinking is part of the problem within American Christiandom, the idea that we outsource everything to the professional in the church.
    What about the family? Or more specifically the Fathers? They are the ones that are charged with raising their children in the fear and admonitions of the Lord.
    Sunday afternoons should be used to talk to your kids to see what they picked up from the sermon. Like I said before Kids are smarter then we often give them credit for.
     
  20. blessedwife318

    blessedwife318 Well-Known Member
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    Agreed very much.
    I feel like as stated in another post that Children's church is often an outsourcing of responsibilities to church "professional" when the Bible is clear that it is the Fathers job to teach his kids.
     
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