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WHY
COVENANTAL WORSHIP? The Family Together in God’s Presence š š š At
Open Door Community Church we worship together with our children on the first
Sunday of every month. This brochure
is to help you understand why we do this and to give some practical help to
parents. WHAT IS COVENANTAL
WORSHIP? Covenantal
worship means that we approach the Lord in worship, not simply as
individuals, but as members of the covenant community of faith, of which we
believe, children are to be included.
Basically, covenantal worship is covenant families worshipping together,
children and adults, both young and old. WHY COVENANTAL WORSHIP? Many
of us grew up in churches in which the children worshipped with children, the
youth with youth, the adults with adults a
compartmentalized church or an age-segregated church. Is this the way it ought to be so that our
specific needs can be meet? We don’t believe so. The church is
not merely a place where you get your specific needs met in an age-specific
group. The church is the people of God standing before God to worship,
learn, grow, heed his Word, and be equipped for service. There is much
talk today about becoming more “multi-ethnic” because diversity glorifies God
and demonstrates a picture of heavenly worship. There is much truth in that. But
there is also truth in becoming more “multi-generational” because this
glorifies God and demonstrates a picture of heavenly worship as well. Covenantal
worship is not merely rooted in an idealized picture in someone’s mind of a
happy family sitting quietly together to worship. Covenantal worship is rooted in God’s
covenant promises in the Bible. Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring
after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God
to you and to your offspring after you. In the Old Testament, when God made a covenant to
Abraham he included the offspring or children of Abraham. God’s covenant promises included
children. Children were consider part of the covenant community of faith. This notion of the children of believers being included
in the covenant is not just an Old Testament concept but shows its continuity
in the New Testament as evidenced by Acts 2:39. Acts 2:39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far
off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Children
are to be included in the covenant community of faith. That is why we refer
to children of believers as “covenant children.” That is why in our church, like many other
churches, we baptize children of believers. But
does this mean that children have to worship together with adults? Not necessarily. In fact, we only have “covenantal worship”
once a month. The other Sundays,
children meet for a brief “children’s worship” and have children’s Sunday
School. What is
important is that we get into a pattern of including children rather than
segregating them. It is good for
families to be together, doing the most important thing - worshipping God. In today’s society there is an increasing
fragmentation of families. When
families regularly worship together, like having family dinners, it has far
more impact than one can imagine for the spiritual health of a family. Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do
not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus
did not find children a distraction, rather he took
them in his arms and blessed them. He
even told the crowd that you need to be like children if you want to go to
heaven. We can learn from children in
how to be child-like in our faith. The
children learn from us, to learn what is to be mature in our faith and
worship. Jesus wanted the children to
come to him. So, I hope you can also
welcome children into worship and teach them by example what it means to
worship God in spirit and in truth. š š š |
A Message for Children Children, we welcome you to
Covenant Family Worship. Once a month
our church gathers together with children and adults to worship God. Worship is the most
important thing that we can do in life and it is the main reason why we were
created by God - to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever! Here are some instructions to help you worship
God: 1) LOOK up front. Instead of talking with someone beside you
or looking down at something on your lap or table, Look up front to see
what’s going on. 2) LISTEN to what people are singing or
praying. Listen to the Pastor’s
instructions and to the Pastor’s sermon.
Most importantly, listen to God’s Word. 3) LEARN - if you look and listen, you will learn. You will learn how to sing songs that
worship God. You will learn how to
pray. You will learn what God’s Word
says and means. And you will learn how
you can apply God’s Word to your life. We are so glad that you are with us to worship God together. So LOOK, LISTEN and LEARN how to worship
God. But don’t just look, listen and
learn. SING with us. PRAY with us. WORSHIP with us. |
PRACTICAL
TIPS FOR PARENTS Parents, you have the primary responsibility to teach your
children the most important thing in life - to worship God. The pastor, church officers, and teachers
are here to assist you in this task, but you have to step up to the task and
instruct your children before, during and after worship. Here are some suggestions to help you: 1. Don’t
be a stumbling block. The greatest
stumbling block for children in worship is that their parents do not cherish
worship. Children can feel the
difference between a sense of duty and a sense of delight. Therefore the first and most important job
of a parent is to fall in love with the worship of God. You can’t impart what
you don’t possess. So spend time
throughout the week cultivating your relationship with the Lord in prayer and
the Word. 2. Prepare
for worship throughout the week, but especially on Saturday. Get Sunday clothes ready, say a prayer
together, and make sure you get a good night’s sleep. 3, Come early to church, take your
children to the bathroom so that they will not have to go during the
worship. Give them a bulletin, if they
are able to read, and go over the different elements of worship. Explain any
unfamiliar words to them. 4. Sit
with your children and, if necessary, whisper instruction during the
service. Encourage them to LOOK,
LISTEN and LEARN. 5. Help
them look up the Scripture passage and fill in the blanks on the Sermon
Notes. 6. Pray
with and for your children. 7. Be
patient with your children, but also be consistent and persistent about your
instruction. Remember the goal is not for them to learn to be quiet during
worship but to learn to worship. |