On 1st and 5th Sundays, we have kids sitting in service. Here are a few suggestions to help your kids adjust.
During the week
Read the upcoming sermon passage together at least once.
Listen to Sunday’s song playlist with your kids—ask which song they like best, and sing one together.
Pray with them—pray for the preacher and for those who will gather.
Sunday Morning
Pack snacks, notepads, crayons, or colored pencils.
Pick up a kids sermon notes sheet, and crayons/markers at church.
Encourage a bathroom break before the service begins.
Worship as you normally would: sing joyfully, take notes during the sermon, engage fully. Let your kids see that you've come to worship God. Their view of God and corporate worship will be shaped by you - model well.
Let them color or fill out the children's sermon notes sheet.
Encourage them to sity quietely, stand to sing loudly, and participate with you.
Whisper brief explanations about words or concepts they don't understand in the sermon, or elements like the Lord's Supper.
Ask your kids to share their sermon notes sheet with you. Talk about anything they drew, wrote, or wondered about.
Share what you learned and what encouraged you during the service.
Pray together, asking God to help you apply what you heard.
Back to step 1... start preparing for next week!