Children's ministry strategy

This is an extract from a longer article on this matter, which can be�viewed here.

As parents the end goal in training our children should be to mature them in worshiping God. Covenant children should be in the worship service to learn how to fear God, both through verbal and observational instruction. Our children need to hear dad and mum instruct them in the ways of God and then see dad and mum (and the church) worship Him. From our discussion on “who are our children,” this pattern does not change in the New Testament. Children of Christians are to be taught the rules of how to behave in the house of God (1 Timothy 3:15 ). Our role as parents is to train our children in the worship of God, as this is the way in which we want them to go. If we train our children to sit at the household table well, not throw their food or scream and shout, how much more should we have them present in the gathering of God’s people to continuously disciple them in reverent fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7 ). This relational lifestyle can never be morphed to children through abstract learning; children need to observe their parents in the faith. Christianity is earthy in the sense that it is not merely a theory of knowledge; it also instructs how we are to live in the world.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ; “’Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD�is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ‘And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.’”

By thinking, learning and living Bible culture we will return to the old paths of trusting the promises and obeying the Word of God. Individual, family and societal transformation is achieved through the church being faithful to God in applying His Word to all of faith, life and the world.

Let’s talk strategy

I am not suggesting we dismantle all existing children’s programs in a manner that would create instant chaos and disorderliness. God is orderly and the church ought to hold, in tension, her responsibility to transform the world and doing that action in an orderly manner. Transformation should not be at the cost of orderliness; nor should orderliness stunt transformation. We are to be faithfully obedient to Scripture in all of life and through the structure of all of our ministries. I believe these are some key strategies that church leaders should consider; this is not an exhaustive list. It is limited but an attempt to start conversation in Australia:

Fathers need to be actively discipled by their church leaders:

• to see the importance and centrality of corporate worship;
• to grasp the importance of leading their family in daily family worship
• to become more Biblically masculine;
• in how to turn their hearts back to the Law of God and their children;
• in understanding their responsibilities as a husband and father who serves God and His people.

Mothers and single ladies need to be actively discipled by their husband, father and church leaders in:

• following their husband (or father if not married);
• keeping the home;
• training and nurturing their children;
• caring for the sick and needy;
• hospitality,
• Biblical femininity and modesty, etc

Age segregated ministries:

• In general age segregated ministries split families and should be discouraged and a phase out plan designed. These ministries should be replaced with others that encourage whole families to minister to each other. This will allow those who are husbandless or wifeless to be ministered to in the context of a family of families.

• Sunday School time should be minimised initially, with a phase out plan to remove age segregated ministries during corporate worship. This will help Biblical authority lines of the family to be redeveloped and will put an end to dividing the people of God at times of corporate worship.

• Sunday School outreach activities should be rescheduled to not co-inside with the church’s corporate worship. The structure of these outreaches should be examined under the patterns developed through Scripture. The whole family should be engaged and involved in church outreach activities to avoid age segregated ghettos.

• The centrality of familial hospitality as a means of discipleship and outreach should be encouraged. It would be useful for church leaders to study the pattern of how familial hospitality is commanded and used within the Bible to build up the church and reach the lost.

Youth group, Sunday School and other children ministry workers will not be out of a job. There are plenty of fathers and mothers who are crying out for discipleship. As churches we must return to the patterns of Scripture. This will bring transformation within the body and in the broader context of society too. Strong families build churches and strengthen nations. Our ministries should focus on equipping fathers and mothers to excel in their God ordained responsibilities. God will then bring the increase, He is faithful to His covenant promises. Our ministries must be shaped by the Bible; which is not silent on the matter. I challenger anyone to identify an age segragated, family splitting childrens ministry model from Scripture. Please show it to me, not just proof texts but build a case for this model from all of Scripture.

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