Welcome to the Family ministry moment. I’m Jonathan and we are discussing the reasons kids should attend worship services with their parents…
How many times have you said: “eat your veggies or you don’t get dessert.” “Clean your room or you are not going out.” If you are not in by curfew, you’re grounded for the week!” Our kids know these things are important to us, they know we value them, because if they don’t comply, they know there are consequences. If we force them to brush their teeth, eat their vegetables, clean their room, but make going to church optional, what are we communicating to them? DO you put more emphasis on chores and doing homework than going to worship and reading the Bible?
Many parents don’t want to force their kids to go to church or read the bible and the reasons seem legitimate; they want it to be their decision. They don’t want to force God on them in fear that their kids will rebel and never want to go to church again. But, when we make going to church optional, we are communicating to them that it really isn’t important. We are in essence, saying, “If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. It is important to me, but it’s not that important if you don’t go. But if you don’t clean that room of yours, you will have serious consequences, young lady.”
Going to worship and reading Gods Word should be the most important things we do together as a family. And just like there are consequences for not cleaning their room, our kids should have consequences if they have a bad attitude about going to church. In Joshua 24.15, he says, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua didn’t go and ask everyone. He knew he had to lead his family. And today, parents have a God given responsibility to lead their family, to model what a follower of Christ does. I hope you communicate to your kids that attending worship is way more important than cleaning their room, brushing their teeth or being in by curfew…
I know what you’re thinking: MY kids give me such a hard time about going to church. If you are one of those parents, we will be discussing how to make church more relevant to your kids, so come back to hear more. Leave a question or comment and I promise to answer every one as we strive to have homes devoted!
Written by Jonathan
Rev. Jonathan Cronkhite has been serving youth and families in full time
ministry for the last 23 years. With the heart of a pastor, he encourages and equips families to have Homes Devoted, through conferences, workshops, coaching and writing. Married to Carrie for 22 years, they have 5 children, run a home school co-op, drama club and invite 50 people over once a month for airsoft battles.
