Worship: The Value of Church
Bible Verse
We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep encouraging each other, especially since you know the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer. Hebrews 10:24-25
Teaching your kids "the rules" can sometimes seem like a double-edged sword. Telling them they cannot eat in the living room seems a good idea until you want to watch the game while eating lunch. Reminding them of the importance of being content with what they have is wise until you go grocery shopping and the urge to splurge on some extra snacks greets you. It feels like such a weighty privilege that God has given your kids to you so that you can raise them well, and it feels like such a nuisance when you realize God has given you to your kids so that he can raise you well.
Showing the value of church goes beyond just telling your kids that it is essential. It involves showing that the church plays a vital role in how you live. I recently heard it said that one of the best ways to show someone the value of the church is not just to tell them but to show them how it is good, beautiful, and true.
Here are some of the ways God has used others to show me the value of church:
Daily Remembering. Church services have encouraged me to practice spiritual disciplines. Through the diligence and habits of others, I have seen the beauty of daily Bible reading and prayer, the value of fasting, and the joy of celebration. Since it can be challenging for kids to find these times on their own, invite them to join you for part of your devotion time or set aside time for the entire family to read, pray, etc. We can show our kids the importance of what happens Sunday morning by making it something that does not just happen on Sunday morning.
The Trip Back Home. There have been times when a sermon or a song has cut me to the heart, and there are other times when the application for my life did not become apparent until the discussions on the way home from church. Since it can be challenging for kids to figure out how the church service applies to them, use the trip back home to ask what they heard or to talk about what you appreciated or wondered about from the service.
Encourage Often. Sometimes, after a service, I have stood in the fellowship hall for the sole purpose of eating a cookie and watched someone go around the room and ask people how they were doing, let them know they were praying for them, or give a hug and say "Good to see you!" It is incredible what someone walking up to you and letting you know they were thinking about you during the week can do. Ask your kids to remind you to talk to someone after the service. Encourage them to speak with their friends or one of the congregation's older members.
Teaching kids about the church's value can seem daunting, especially when trying to help them practice sitting still. It’s good news that it’s God's church, and it’s encouraging to look forward to the day Christ returns for his church. Our hope is that we belong to Jesus. He holds on to us when we sing a favorite praise song, talk together after church, and even when we explain the service to our kids in the car.
Want to do a deep dive? Check out Family Fire's article Teaching Our Children to Adore God.
Philip Vander Windt
Philip VanderWindt is the pastor at Champlain Valley Christian Reformed Church. In his free time he enjoys building “tall-tall towers” with his kids, analyzing worldviews of films and music with his wife, photographing the beauty of God’s creation, dabbling in leathercraft and woodwork, and writing.
