Word Count: 327 – Est Reading Time: <2 Minutes
What’s Up:
Most churches claim they want to disciple children … then toss them into an environment built to bore them into silence (and rebellion!). Adult worship is undermining our children’s faith.
So What:
If your mission is to raise up disciples of Jesus, then every ministry, especially children’s ministry, must align with that purpose.
The Point Is:
Mission statements are useless if ignored
If your mission doesn’t shape your programs, budget, and Sunday rhythm, you’re just playing church.
Adult worship isn’t for kids
It’s built for adults. Too often, the only “discipleship” going on for the kids is teaching them to sit down and shut up.
Most kids bail
When we train our children to associate their church experience with irrelevance and boredom, it’s no wonder that they disappear the moment they have a choice.
Disciple kids on purpose in their own space
Instead of forcing them to endure the adult service, create something that’s for them. Develop worship, teaching, and experiences that are fast-paced, engaging, and designed to form young disciples.
And … ?
Let’s quit pretending that the 3-minute children’s moment justifies 57 minutes of sit-still-and-endure time. The real lesson most kids are learning in adult worship isn’t spiritual depth. It’s performance behavior. Be quiet. Don’t squirm. Look interested. Endure. And for parents, it’s often no better – they’re stuck entertaining their kids for 60 minutes and calling it worship. It’s no wonder guests don’t return.
If your mission is to make disciples, then disciple the children. Don’t just warehouse them. Don’t show them off for a warm-fuzzy moment. Create worship experiences built for them. With energy. With movement. With music and teaching that’s designed to lead them to Jesus. And if your current structure doesn’t allow that, change it. Because if we keep training kids to hate church, they’ll keep leaving.
Action!
Audit your Sunday experience. Does it disciple kids or just expect them to behave? Then fix it.
