What about small children?

[PaulFan]

In the Methodist church I attend, we have "children's church" for the children up to a certain age. These children sit with the parents for the first part of the service and then go to children's church for the remainder of the service.

I am interested to know how some of you handle the smaller children in your house church or small groups? Do they attend with parents for the duration? Does someone take them aside and teach them separately?

 

[Johnnz]

They come and go. A parent might go with their child for a while, but generally they do not bother us.

John
NZ

 

[Frank1]

The children attend the entire service. They are no bother.
The Lord made it clear that when the children of Israel were to gather they bring their children.
The problem in big churches is that the parents shrug off their responsibility of keeping the children quiet during the service and put it on a "teacher." Mainly so they aren't bothered.
I have personally seen children attend services and prosper. Some have asked to help with offerings and others asked to sing during the song service. That part of the service that has been replaced by powerpoint due to live music no longer being welcomed.
The children should be in the service. Training up a child does not mean putting them in a class. It means allowing them to witness dad and mom singing, praying, raising their hands and amening a sermon.

 

[PaulFan]

Training up a child does not mean putting them in a class. It means allowing them to witness dad and mom singing, praying, raising their hands and amening a sermon.

Thanks for your input. My previous pastor was a good shepherd. My youngest daughter got to a certain age (about 5) and he suggested that I begin keeping her in the adult service instead of sending her to children's church. He said children should learn from their parents, not a children's church teacher.

 

[Johnnz]

Children should learn about life and God from their families discussing and modelling biblical values. A young child in an adult service gets very little of that.

John
NZ

 

[Frank1]

Johnnz,
It is the parent's responsibility to teach their children about life and God but the children really should be in a service.
The children of Israel were commanded where and when and how to worship and they were told to bring their little ones as well.
I do agree with part of what you say but there are some aspects of worship the parents should not shrug off or put on others. Those who teach children's Sunday School should be in the service.
The children should see that daddy isn't too "macho" to lift his hands and sing and even cry should the Spirit lead to that just like mommy. They should see daddy take up the offering or say "Amen" to the sermon. They should see their parents putting on decent clothing to visit a King.
There are just so many things that parents don't think about when it comes to church now of days.
Children should not only witness some of the things I stated above, but should hear the sermons and see the "different person" the pastor becomes as the Spirit of God anoints him. They should hear what the Spirit says and then if they should have questions the parents can explain more to them at home.
Personally, I remember sitting in a church service as a child and watching the pastor preach. I saw him have a different "story" every week that aligned with what I was studying at school. Sometimes those stories contradicted the teacher's teaching so I answered tests with the answers that gave me a good grade but cherished the "right answer" from that pastor.
As I watched this man I just knew that one day I would be a preacher. I can't explain it but just knew deep down inside.
I cherished the adult church service and hated when I had to go to the children's Sunday School. I couldn't tell anyone but it wasn't the same.
In hindsight I am glad that I was allowed to go to the adult services. Had I not gone to those and heard what the Spirit said and seen how it fit into my life every week I may have wound up lost.
My children attended adult services and loved them. They attended services I do at home and loved them.
In one service (not my own) that I attend I have seen the children cherish the word and take it to school during the week. The secular teachers don't like it but the Lord did say that to follow him would make us hated of all men.
In these services I have taught a 10 year old how to assist with taking up the offering. He jumps at the chance to help. It makes him feel important. I do strongly feel that he will be used of God if the Lord tarries. He is showing those traits already. He wouldn't have that opportunity if he was stuck in a Sunday School.
Sorry for the length of this but there are many wonderful things about children allowed to do as the scriptures say and the mainstream rejects.
May God bless.

 

[ezeric]

Children should learn about life and God from their families discussing and modelling biblical values. A young child in an adult service gets very little of that.

John
NZ

Couldn't agree more!

As mentioned in others posts, we do home church with about 30 attending.
Families come - that means kids too.
We have 2 boys in our family as well.

Ours is a whole event taking on many hours.
Its all done in love and fun, so nobody gets bored.
The kingdom is never boring.

The kids are usually playing together for hours and then join us
to eat, they also join us for family games (like baseball, biking or whatever we do).

When it comes time for them learning, they learn at home and just 'being around' believers. We also encourage the 'older ones', to share for about 15 to 30 minutes what is one their hearts and this is just with the kids (no adults) although we are only in the next room.

And wonder of wonders, everyone grows!
Love and joy make it grow.

even the kids...

-eric

The Exchanged Life