Drew Boswell

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“The Heart of Giving” Malachi 3:1-12

“Getting Your Heart Ready For Worship ” Psalm 24

Getting Your Heart Ready For Worship

Psalm 24

 Introduction

The 24th Psalm is a hymn or a song that would have been sung either going to the temple, as they entered the temple, or as they were leaving a worship service, and it directs the hearts of his people to worship God in a manner that recognizes his glory.  It celebrates God coming into the holy city and God’s people were going to see Him.

If we truly believed that God were to enter this room and His presence were to fill this room – would we have come to the worship service any differently? So to prepare God’s people’s hearts – they would have sung this hymn to prepare themselves. This is the heart of worship – a humble recognition of the sovereignty of our triune God and responding appropriately by presenting our praise, devotion, and lives to Him.  True worship is an all-consuming desire to give God all that we are to all that He is.

Psalm 24 is a picture of worshippers arriving at a church at the same time. They are walking together into worship. But before they enter into the temple itself, “would -be celebrators ask who may join (v.3). A liturgist replies: those who have aligned themselves toward this ordering God are those whose actions and motives are pure and who do not ally themselves to falsehood (v.4). A promise is given: these pilgrims will receive Yahweh’s righteousness (vv. 5-6). Only then does the procession through the temple gates begin, . . .”[1]

As we enter into Bellevue Baptist Church and find our seat, and settle in for a time of worship what enters our minds? Are we focused on what we’re doing after church; are we focused on the conversation we had with our spouse on the way to church; are we focused on how angry we are about our kids getting their clothes dirty before church? What are we focused on right now? Are you ready to meet with God?

Prayer – Lord you are sovereign and all that exists is under your dominion. Everything and everyone on the earth is under your sovereign control.  This morning we come before you to worship you, and you have said, “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart” Lord you have given us pure hearts and clean hands through our Savoir Jesus Christ. But there are so many times when we go back to the world, and we allow ourselves to be led away from you. Draw us close to You, through your word and Holy Spirit. We seek your face this morning and we desire to know how to apply your Word to our hearts. Amen.

A Recognition of God’s Power (vv. 1-2)

“The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers
.”

The psalm (and the preparation of our hearts) begins with a recognition that the earth and everything in it is this Lord’s.  This includes people, all people are under the Lord’s dominion.  It doesn’t matter if someone believes in Him, or is not being obedient to Him, God is still God and reigns over the earth.

God has this authority because he made it.  So we begin to learn about worship by looking at what is the difference between the Creator and the created.  God is not “one of us” He is above and beyond the creation.  He is powerful enough to create and establish creation from nothing, man can only manipulate the world around him.

Also, it is God who not only created the world, but He also sustains it.  The earth and everything in it are dependent upon God for its continued existence. Hebrews 1:3 “He [Jesus] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.”  We need God, he is not optional in our lives.

Psalm 104:27-30 “These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. 28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.”

He is not a deistic god who stays far away, but the Lord comes to His creation, therefore, His creation must prepare for his coming. He came to Adam and Eve in the garden, He came to Abraham and Sara, He came to Moses on the mountain, He came to earth born of a virgin and lived among us for over 30 years – The God we worship loves His creation and loves to spend time with it.

John the Baptist’s ministry was to prepare the way for Jesus’ ministry to begin. He did this by preaching messages of repentance or turning from sin, and encouraging people to seek the Lord.  Matthew 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”

Entering into worship of God means that we must prepare our hearts for the person that we will meet there.  God who created us, sustains us by the power of his word, and all of creation all around us – This God is here, and we can go and meet with Him – or can we?

A Revelation of God’s Purity (vv. 3-6)

“3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah”

 Among all the earth inhabitants, who is acceptable and able to come before this sovereign king? Or how must a person prepare themselves when approaching such an awesome being?

 “The hill of the Lord” is a reference to Mt. Zion or Jerusalem, where God dwelled above the ark of the covenant.  If we ask the question a different way it would be, “who may stand in this holy place?” the holy place references Jerusalem that sat atop of Mt. Zion, “his holy place.” Who is spiritually qualified to fellowship with this awesome king?

 The answer is the person who has clean hands and a pure heart.  Clean hands speaks of a person’s purity in their outward actions.  A pure heart speaks of a persons inner soul that is holy and undefiled, set apart to God without moral defilement.

 A person’s life must be pure and clean if God is to be approached in worship and fellowship.  Specifically, this requires that a person not lift his soul to an idol.  He must have no other gods before his love for and loyalty to the one true God (Ex. 20:3).  An idol is anyone or anything that a person loves, fears, or serves more than God.  When the psalmist speaks of “not swearing deceitfully” he is speaking of not placing higher allegiance to anything or anyone before God.

 Another way to define this idea of idolatry is “not lifting ourselves to emptiness.”  This is talking about the inner soul or thing that makes you alive, the deepest part of who you are – don’t offer that to “emptiness.”  God created you, and sustains you – this life that is within you should not be given to anyone or anything other than God.  Worshipping anything else is giving our lives to things and people that will leave us “empty.”   

The requirement to enter into God’s presence is an outward and inward perfection. The worshipper who enters into the presence of the Lord must have and understand their need for grace and mercy. “The psalm is clear that the person so described in v. 4 is in need of a Savior and in need of righteousness.”[2]

 The blessing that the repentant worshipper receives is righteousness and forgiveness.  Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

When we turn from our sins and seek the Lord with all our heart – He will meet with us and we can enter into His presence because of Christ.

 A Realization of God’s Presence (vv. 7-10) 

“7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! 9 Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!”   

 The gates are commanded to open their doors wide, and be ready to receive the King of glory.  In David’s time this referred to the carrying of the ark into Jerusalem.  This was a call for the ark to be brought into the sanctuary in triumphant procession.

 During the first coming of Christ, who was the greater Son of David, had a triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Matt. 21:1-11).  Ultimately, it refers to the ascension of Christ to the heavenly Zion to be enthroned at God’s right hand.

 From within the city is asked the question “Who is this King of glory?” It is those who are carrying the ark, those within the city itself and those who have given the king of glory their hearts who yell out, “The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!”

 This is the one who can enter into the presence of God – the one who can enter the city, whose gates fly open at his presence, but remain closed for everyone else, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who can enter in.   It is this Lord who has shown himself strong and mighty in defeating all His people’s enemies.

 How has Jesus shown himself strong and mighty in battle?  1 Corinthians 15:54-57 “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

When we see the psalmist say in verse 5, “He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Salvation means deliverance, rescue, victory, help, or liberty.  Mankind was entangled and held captive by sin and death, but Jesus acting as our Savior brought us salvation and set us free from sin and death.  He is the only one who is mighty enough to save us, and therefore none other deserves our worship and devotion.

Because we are freed of sin and death, when we stand before God “our hands are clean, and our hearts are pure” – God sees the blood of Christ shed for the world, and we may enter into the temple and stand before the Lord.

The gates are told to “Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up” – they are told to lift up their heads, not bow down before the Lord – when we enter into worship with God, yes we bow before Him in reverence of who he is – but God is telling us to be joyful and anticipate hope – lift your head up and sing His praises because we have something to be joyful about.

Psalm 3:3 “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”

Conclusion

When our hearts are right before the Lord, and when we understand who it is that we stand before and bow down to worship – we respond to God with reverence, humility, praise, and devotion.

A person’s life will never rise above their view of God.  If we see Him high and lifted up and think highly of Him, then our lives will be marked by holiness and seeking to do great things for a mighty God.  But if our view of God is low, then we will live a low life, and seek our own self interests.

Is Jesus your Savior this morning and are you seeking Him with your whole heart? ABC

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[1] Craig C. Broyles, New International Biblical Commentary, Psalms (Hendrickson Publishing, 2005) 127.

[2] Broyles 130. The doctrine of imputed righteousness is found throughout the Bible.

Malachi 1: How Do You Respond to God’s Love?

*The following is an approximate transcript of a sermon given on 5-15-2016 at First Baptist Church, Valdosta, GA.

How Do You Respond to God’s Love?

Malachi 1

There is a story about an old village in Spain. The people of this village heard the king planned to visit there. No king had ever done that. So naturally, they became excited and wanted to offer a great celebration that would show their adoration and that would honor the king. But what could a village of such poor people offer?

Someone proposed that since so many of the villagers made their own wines, they could offer that to please the king. And they each decided that they would all take some of their best wine, and combine them as a gift for the king.

On the day of the king’s arrival, they all came to the village square early in the morning with a large cup of their finest wine and poured their offering into a small opening at the top of a large barrel. They were excited to see the king enjoy the best wine he had ever tasted.

When he arrived, the king was escorted to square where he was ceremoniously presented with a silver cup and invited to draw wine from the barrel. He was told the villagers were delighted to have him taste the best they had to offer.

He filled his cup from the spigot. And when he drank the wine, to his surprise he tasted only water. Had some miracle-worker turned wine to water? Had someone stolen all of the wine that was meant for the king?

No. Each villager had reasoned, “I’ll withhold my best wine and give water. There will be so many cups of excellent wine poured into the barrel that mine will never be missed.” After all was said and done, the king was left with a town full of people who simply went through the motions of showing their love and admiration for him.[1]

In Malachi the people of God were just going through the motions of worship and service. Their attitudes were bad and their hearts toward God were hardened. How are you responding to the full and complete love of God for you? How is the understanding of what He has done for us affecting how you live?

Prayer – Lord help us to see how you view our worship. Let us put aside our preference, cultural trappings and expectations, and truly show us your heart and how we should approach you. You alone are worthy to be praised and worthy of our worship. Forgive us for when we approach you in a half-hearted and ungrateful posture.

Malachi 1:1-5

The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. “2 I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob 3 but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” 4If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ˜the wicked country,” and ˜the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.” 5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

I. Israel’s Reaction To God’s love — #1 Questioning of God’s Love

The Lord begins by telling his people that he loves them.[2] The tone of the book is set in the opening verses. It is their reaction to this love that causes the oracle to be given, and the book to be written. Israel’s reaction to God’s election is not one of humility or thankfulness, instead they are arrogant and indifferent toward God’s love and favor.[3]

God’s people have a rich history of how He has loved them. Just to name a few:

  • They were chosen among all the people’s of the earth to be the receivers of His Word.
  • They have been protected from their enemies; winning impossible victories against them.
  • Escaping from slavery in Egypt.
  • Guidance as a pillar of smoke and fire through the wilderness (manna, quail, etc).
  • Even in their rebellion and cycles of sin, the Lord disciplines them, but always brings them back close to Himself.
  • Their plants and livestock prospered. When there were droughts and plagues it was a result of the people’s sin, and God always sent a prophet to warn them ahead of time.
  • God sent prophets, judges, and leaders to guide them through difficult times.

In spite of this unprecedented display of love, the people say, “How has God loved us?” As if all of the historical accounts of his mighty hand were not enough, they wanted more. It is amazing how, even with the presence of God in our lives and our seeing Him work, that we grow complacent and apathetic. We always want more.

The Lord then gives the examples of Esau and the city of Edom. Jacob (Esau’s brother) sinned against his family, went away, and was disciplined. He then returned home with God’s love and was able to be restored. The book was originally written to the descendants of Jacob. They were the people that God forgave, disciplined as a child, and loved again and again.

Edom were the descendants of Esau.[4] The city was destroyed, whereas Jacob was disciplined but shown God’s grace and love again and again through the generations. God’s people are confusing discipline with hatred or destruction.

“but Esau I have hated” is a hyperbole where the author chooses exaggeration to make a point, God favors Jacob so much over Esau that it appears as though it is hate, the difference is so great.

Upon returning from exile they are questioning if God loves them or is seeking to destroy them. This doubt and lack of understanding of God’s love is resulting in inauthentic and insincere worship. Whenever there is ingratitude or a lack of recognition of God’s love in a person’s life there will be the inevitable moral decline.[5]

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19

The only acceptable response to this complete and full love of God for His children is one of whole-hearted obedience and genuine worship. God’s people are unwilling to see that He has favored them, while rejecting others. Their response is one of questioning, question after question. Malachi then goes on to show how their worship of Him and relationship with Him is unacceptable.

II. Israel’s Reaction to God’s Love –  #2 Overlooking Sin, and Settling for Less than the Best

6A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ˜How have we despised your name? 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you? By saying that the Lord’s table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts.

God uses the description of Father and Master to describe his relationship with His people. They should show honor and reverential fear. Instead, their reaction and response to God is to despise His name.[6]

The reaction to being told that they are not honoring or showing respect is a demand of proof. They are then given the examples of polluted food and a polluted attitude.

The priests regarded the Temple service as a miserable job, and performed it with contempt (i.e. “weariness”). They are doing their duty with no attention to important details and with a horrible attitude. They were well aware of the requirements of the law, but were not following it.[7]

If they were to behave or do their duties in such a way for an earthly king they know what would happen to them? They were offering it to the “Lord of Hosts.”[8] The Lord says it would be better to shut the doors and not have worship than to have this parody of true worship. The priests were not bringing the animals to sacrifice, but were allowing the people to offer “polluted” animals instead of their best.

III. Israel’s Reaction to God’s Love – #3 Bad Attitude in Service, Insincere Worship

9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. 10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. 13 But you say, “What a weariness this is,” and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. 14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

In 1 Samuel 13 king Saul is concerned that Samuel the prophet was not slow in arriving. While Saul was claiming to seek the favor of the Lord and to have Him go with them into battle, he ignored the proper way of doing it (which was for a priest to offer the sacrifice). Saul is indifferent to God’s receiving of the act of worship, only in it being done. He seems to see worship as a formality and of having no power; it has to be done before the men can go to battle. He figures he can just slaughter the animals, wave his hands, say a prayer, and get on with the fighting (the real way that they will win the battle).

1 Samuel 13:12 — “Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ And Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines had mustered at Michmash, 12 I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of the Lord.’ So I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.’ 13 And Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the Lord your God, with which he commanded you.'”

In Malachi 1 the table of the Lord is polluted because the priests do not understand that the favor and presence of God is directly related to the authenticity of their worship. Worship involves sacrifices and a turning of the heart away from the world and toward God.

Their reaction to this highlighting of their lack of concern for their worship services is for them to say “What a weariness this is, and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts.’ This is tedious, tiring, shouldn’t God just receive whatever I give Him? The answer is a clear no. He does not want your leftovers, the second best (that includes time, possessions, family, talents, excitement, energy, etc.) He wants your heart to respond to His love and for your worship and relationship with Him to be real and genuine.

Verse 10 shows us that God would rather someone just close the door and to have a room full of people that give insincere and false worship. 10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand.

The people are returning from exile, “ the Assyrians had attacked and carried them off into captivity and slavery because of their sinfulness and unwillingness to listen to prophets. God allowed the Temple to be destroyed. Now they have been allowed to return to a desolate land after a period of discipline, they must rebuild everything. But even before the Temple itself is rebuilt their worship has already become hollow.

Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ are also people who have returned from being slaves and captives. We have been released and are now free to worship our Savior. Are you questioning if God really loves you? Look to the cross. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world . . .” “There is no greater love than this, that one would lay down his life for a friend.” But we were not friends with God, “ we were at war with Him. But He loved us anyway.

What does your worship look like?

*** another point that I did not get to that is worth thinking about:

In the end, the Lord is great and His name will be praised all over the earth. While this may draw the church toward missions and a desire to share the gospel with the world, it is genuine worship that the Lord desires. Missions and evangelism will soon pass, but worship of the Lord will continue throughout all of eternity.

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is temporary necessity. But worship abides forever.” [9]

_____________________________

[1] http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-sermon-central-staff-stories-honor-hypocrisy-dishonor-76905.asp

[2] The people had just returned from exile and are being challenged to rebuild the Temple (Haggai and Zachariah).

[3] The Broadman Bible Commentary, Hosea-Malachi, vol. 7 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press) 374.

[4] Genesis 36; Numbers 20:14-21; Psalm 137:7

[5] Romans 1:18-31

[6] Duet. 14:1; Lev. 25:55

[7] Duet. 15:21

[8] The phrase Lord of Hosts is used 24 times in the book of Malachi indicating the importance of understanding His high place of authority and control of the Hosts of heaven.

[9] The New American Commentary, Haggai-Malachi, vol. 21A (Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman and Holman Publishing, 2004) 286.

Making Your Services More “Kid Friendly”

imagesIn track there is a very important time during the 4×100 relay. No matter how fast one runner may have gone, everything hinges on the passing of the baton. Proper technique must be practiced and maintained no matter how tired the runner may be. The runner who is receiving the baton cannot go anywhere until it is in his/her hand, and the runner who is passing the baton is not considered successful until the next runner has it in their hand. The success of the handoff equals the success of the race.

In the Christian faith there is a handoff that takes place. One generation passes the baton of faith to the next generation. The children in the seats today will be preaching the sermons tomorrow. As a parent there is nothing more satisfying and that brings as much joy, as to see your children genuinely worshipping the Lord. However, as parents there is no one moment in time when the baton is passed; instead it happens a thousand times – one pass, and then another, and then another. One opportunity, that leads to another responsibility, that leads to raised expectations, etc. Slowly, over time, and then years, children grow in their faith and become leaders.

Not only is this passing the baton a parent’s responsibility it is also shared by the church as well. No matter your church’s position on children being present during the service (some leave half way through, some are out the entire time, some stay the whole time, etc.) there will be times when the children will be present for the service.

I begin with the assumption that whoever the teacher/preacher may be, that he desires to be understood and impact all in the room. Also, when the service is designed as a whole that the planners do not desire to leave anyone behind. The following are things that a worship leader or worship design team can implement with regard to children being present in a worship service.

________________________

  1. Sermons that utilize stories – specifically stories about the speakers childhood. This will help the children to see themselves or place themselves into the story.

d942e98a82ef3fef007b55bcd171eb66Telling stories – putting principles and precepts into skin and bones, truths and ideas into real or imaginary people and situations – excels as a means of communication. An abstraction may hold some interest, but embody it in a story and it becomes clear, understandable, and compelling.[1]

  1. Avoid unnecessary theological terms.[2] If you can explain something or reword it to make it easier to understand – then why wouldn’t you? If there is a term that is important to explain the main teaching point then take the time to define the term and illustrate why it is important.
  1. Include children in the service or story in some way. Ask them questions, mention their names in a positive way, etc. One could have them hold up a teaching object (ex. If the main idea was on “division” then they could hold up a splitting wedge. Or if the main idea was “service” then they could be asked to serve in some way that day during the service.) Of course knowing ahead of time which children are comfortable being in front of others and which ones are not is important.
  1. Use actual objects to teach – things they can see and touch. The more common the object the better because when they see it again they will be very likely to connect your teaching idea to the object (ex. Toothbrush, zipper, shoe laces, etc.)
  1. Give them an objective to complete – It helps everyone to know what is expected of them. If children can be given a worksheet to complete during the service it may focus their attention and allow them to know what you expect them to know at the end of the service. You may ask questions like “What was your favorite song? Why? What was the main idea of the sermon? How could you do that this week?, etc”

Avoid fact finding questions, instead focus on wording the questions so that they will help them reach a goal or understanding. Remember you are not desiring to raise a bunch of knowledgeable Pharisees, but whole hearted followers of Christ.

  1. Make comments that relax the parents. Let’s face it kids are at different stages of maturity (spiritual, mental, and physical). Their ability to sit still will vary greatly, but let me caution you to avoid assuming that because they were moving around that they were not listening. Also, don’t assume that because they were sitting still that they were listening.

A comment like “Children are welcome here. We know they may make noises, ask questions, or move around. . . it’s ok.” (the same is true for special needs families as well).

____________________________

You don’t have to water down theology or even “dumb down” the service just because the kids are there. But you need to pray and spend some time on how to make families feel more welcome and relaxed as they attend services together.

Also, a quick note to parents – just because your child may be drawing on the bulletin or crawling around under the chairs, don’t assume that they were not listening. Ask them on the way home what they heard – you will be amazed at what they can retain. As the church and the home work together on making our services more kid/family friendly we will make some great strides to passing off the baton. But don’t forget it’s not a one shot deal, it’s week after week, Sunday after Sunday of partnering together to reach the next generation for Christ.

Get ready, set, . . .

______________

[1] Roy Zuck. Teaching as Jesus Taught (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Publishing), 306.

[2] I go into this specific topic in greater depth in other articles. Click here to read further.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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