Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Should you have children’s worship during your Sunday service?

  • February 13, 2022
  • Julie Redmond Donavan
  • Church Life, Featured, Latest News
(Unsplash photo)

Should you have children’s worship during your Sunday service?

Do you have children’s worship during your Sunday morning service?

If so, you might have music, games, snack, special activities and Bible study. I love all these components of children’s worship. We can use many creative ways to open children’s eyes to understand God’s word, and children’s worship can be a great avenue.

And while I have led children’s worship service for years, I also have struggled with whether we should have it during the Sunday morning service. I have four questions for us to wrestle through as we all seek to see what fits with our church and children’s ministry.

  1. What benefits would children have if they sat in the Sunday morning corporate worship service?

First, if a child is sitting with family, they will be witness to different biblical components. They will see baptisms and people participate in the Lord’s Supper.

They will know who their preacher and other ministers are, and they will see many other attributes of corporate worship they truly cannot see in children’s worship.

Also, if a child is participating in the service he or she can ask questions about the sermon, the Lord’s Supper, baptism or anything else he or she sees.

Second, children will feel part of the corporate church because, if they are believers, they are part of the corporate church.

Third, children will see their parents worship and serve the Lord. Do you take an offering in children’s worship? I have done that before, and it is great, kids love it — but what if a child sees Dad as the one passing the offering plate?

In children’s worship I am sure you have fun songs. What if a child saw Mom singing in the choir or singing a solo? If grade schoolers are sitting in the Sunday morning service, they see their parents worship and serve.

Fourth, when is another time children will see their parents worship like this? The answer is only on Sunday mornings. Parents should be their children’s main spiritual guide, and if they never worship with their parents, how can they imitate them? 

  1. What if children’s worship was another night?

    “Why They St(r)ay: Helping Parents and Church Leaders Make Investments That Keep Children and Teens Connected to the Church for a Lifetime” by Dr. Steve R. Parr and Dr. Tom Crites

I love children’s worship. I love being creative and thinking of fun games, songs and activities for the kids to participate in to learn God’s word.

Moving children’s worship to another day allows them to still have worship geared toward their age level while also having them in Sunday corporate worship.

Many reasons exist about why this option works, but one really sticks out to me: What if a child only went to children’s worship or only stayed in the preschool area from when he or she was born to ages 10 or 11?

When that child does sit in the service, he or she might not know what to do or how to act. They might not understand what is going on.

Allowing them to sit in the service with their family benefits the children in the long run. 

  1. How do you help parents teach their children to participate and worship during the church service?

Speak with ministers to get their help. Ask your pastor to plug in illustrations in the sermon children will understand.

Ask your minister of music to sing a song with which the children are familiar.

You also can have a children’s message that connects to the sermon.

Another idea is to set up a specific area near the sanctuary to provide resources to help children stay connected during the sermon.

At our church we have something called “Kid’s Corner,” simply a basket of clipboards with the weekly newsletter, a sermon notes sheet and an activity sheet that goes along with the sermon, along with crayons and pencils.

Some children need something to do with their hands while they listen and this helps.

Will this system be perfect? No, but it is a step in discipling children in how to worship God. 

  1. Is children’s worship bad?

Children’s worship is not bad at all. Perhaps you have children’s worship for certain grades or only twice a month.

Maybe your church does not meet on another night so Sunday morning is the only time you have with children.

Do what best fits your church, your schedule and your volunteers.

Children’s worship is a time where you can be creative and silly while also speaking the love of God into children.

As you continue to pray and wrestle over what your church will do, check out the “Why They St(r)ay” book by Steve Parr and Tom Crites to help guide you in what your next step will be in children’s ministry.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: Pastors and ministry leaders, stop drinking your own Kool-Aid
    First person: Pastors and ministry leaders, stop drinking your own Kool-Aid
    May 12, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • First person: 12 easy ways to reach out to your neighbors
    First person: 12 easy ways to reach out to your neighbors
    May 11, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • ‘It’s hard to wrap my head around’: Men’s retreat leads to life-changing decisions for Christ
    ‘It’s hard to wrap my head around’: Men’s retreat leads to life-changing decisions for Christ
    May 10, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: Pastors and ministry leaders, stop drinking your own Kool-Aid

When the problem is with the leader, in almost every case, it starts when that pastor or ministry leader starts drinking his or her own Kool-Aid.

First person: 12 easy ways to reach out to your neighbors

Most believers will never share the gospel with anyone, and many will never even invite anyone to church.

‘It’s hard to wrap my head around’: Men’s retreat leads to life-changing decisions for Christ

“These men got away for a weekend and experienced the peace from other men who knew Jesus and had that life change,” said North Monroe Baptist Church Director of Facilities and Men’s Ministry Jeff McPherson.

Alaska’s Covington rescinds resignation, affirmed to continue

Randy Covington will continue as exec dir of Alaska Baptists until his originally planned retirement date of Sept. 30, 2025 — despite what was announced in March following a disagreement over the extent of autonomy a church should have.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel