5 Ways to Engage Your Family in Worship
I am getting to inaugurate the Fellowship Worship blog, and I can’t think of a better topic to start this thing off than worshiping together as a family. Even though it can be challenging at times, capitalizing on the potential you have as a parent to lead your kids in worship of the living God is invaluable. In fact, family worship was considered an essential element in spiritual formation by the reformers and puritans. Jonathan Edwards, the 18th-century pastor and theologian, frequently spoke of the family as “the little church.” Worshiping together as a family is not simply an activity, but it is a confirmation to our children that our faith is authentic and has real-life applications.
“Worshiping together as a family is not simply an activity, but it is a confirmation to our children that our faith is authentic and has real-life applications.”
However, you may not know where to begin or you may find the whole notion of family worship intimidating. Perhaps, you’ve had bad experiences with overly structured family times growing up, or you didn’t have any kind of family devotional life. Maybe you are like me and every time you try to do something quiet and contemplative with your kids it ends with you breaking up a fight because someone won’t stay on “their side of the couch”. (I have three boys).
My hope is that the ideas here will make family worship accessible and approachable at your house. I think our children long for spiritual direction from their parents and we have the opportunity to provide it in simple daily and weekly rhythms that don’t require us to be great theologians or worship leaders, just spiritually engaged moms and dads.
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Every kid is unique so there is not a “one size fits all” approach to discipling your children in praise and worship. However, here are some observations from my experience:
Don’t underestimate the desire and need for praise and worship in children. If you don’t think they are natural worshipers ask them about their favorite toy, video game or show. We are all worshipers. Our kids will worship something, and we have the opportunity to direct their hearts towards the only One who is worthy.
Keep it simple. If you want to have a regular family worship time build it around a normal family rhythm and keep it simple. Before or after dinner might work well. Perhaps you could start your day with a simple time of worship, though mornings tend toward chaos at our house. Read a passage of scripture and sing one song. That’s all you that’s really needed for a great family worship experience.
Don’t talk down, raise up. Many times we think of having to “dumb down” ideas about faith in order for kids to understand. I have found that kids are able to engage with the profound mysteries of the faith if we include them, let them ask questions and answer as we are able. It’s also ok to confess to our kids that we don’t know all the answers, but we are willing to learn together. Though kids love simple and direct songs, this does not necessarily mean that they need to be theologically vacant.
Engage with them. Don’t be afraid to move, dance, clap, and sing with your kids. Kids respond to music. They are natural movers. If you don’t, believe me, there are thousands of videos on youtube of babies dancing that will prove me right. I am not a naturally performative person. I’m introverted and I’m not a dancer, but I have found that kids love to engage with their parents through song and movement if we are willing to lead.
Kids need context. Don’t miss an opportunity to insert moments of worship when you are out in creation, engaged in service with your kids or after the big basketball tournament. I have a personal experience that illustrates the power of context. This past summer we had the privilege of going to Yellowstone. Each morning we read a portion of Psalm 104 with the kids. The Psalm speaks about the power of God in and through the created landscape. The scripture really came alive for us there in the beauty of Yellowstone. Psalm 104:10 says “he makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.” Surrounded by mountains and hot springs my kids could wonder at what God had made and make a tangible connection with the truth of His word.
I would encourage all of us to take the opportunities built into our daily lives to worship with our kids. As we engage with our kids in worship, God is honored, and we are helping to produce and release worshipers of the authentic Christ.
