You didn't raise them that way. All of a sudden - your children, grandchildren, spouse or boyfriend has lost interest in church. Nothing particular or offensive happened - they just have other interests.
Disciples are developed in the mundane - the everyday, weekly, monthly routine habits. "In person" worship is one of those habits - it's the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8-11). God's people keep the Sabbath day holy - a day believers are to set apart for the Lord.
When your children fail to worship on Sundays, they're unknowingly declaring, "I'm not part of God's people."
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it easy to slip out the back door - all of a sudden, those closest to you haven't been to church in months and you're concerned they've lost interest.
Here are four ways to re-engage your children to church:
1). Communicate on Saturday that you want them to attend with you on Sunday morning. Sunday morning worship is a Saturday decision. Don't make late Saturday night plans - get your clothes ready, offering ready, Bible ready - you want to communicate that Sunday mornings are for the Lord. If you wake-up on Sunday, trying to decide if you're headed to church...it's tempting to stay home. "As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord." Joshua 24:15 CSB
2). Offer to take your children to lunch after church. It's 4th of July Weekend, after worship, take them out to have BBQ. City Barbecue is down the street from our church - instead of going out on Friday or Saturday - take your family out for lunch on Sundays.
3). Buy your child a new Bible or a new Christian book to read together. Sherri and I read books together - we recently began reading, "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity" by Nabeel Qureshi. The strength of reading together is accountability - if you get your children to begin reading together, it's much easier for them to accept attending church together. The goal is to grow in the Lord with your son, wife, or granddaughter - you have to establish common spiritual things to discuss - when you read the same verses of Scripture, chapter of a book, and listen to the same sermon - you can discuss what God is teaching you.
4). Stay and sit with your family. If you're always serving in the nursery, children's church, welcome center, or singing in the choir - your children or spouse doesn't want to sit alone in the pew. You have to look through the lenses of people who don't know anyone at church - to expect your grandchildren to "feel at home" while at church, will take some time.
Church attendance is about connections - you want your children to connect with God - one of the ways you make that possible is to remove every possible barrier and excuse.
Related Posts
3 Signs it's Time for You to Change Churches
4 Keys to Disciplining Teenagers
Which Children's Bible Should You Buy?
Which Bible Should you Buy your Preteen or Teenager?
Disciples are developed in the mundane - the everyday, weekly, monthly routine habits. "In person" worship is one of those habits - it's the fourth commandment (Exodus 20:8-11). God's people keep the Sabbath day holy - a day believers are to set apart for the Lord.
When your children fail to worship on Sundays, they're unknowingly declaring, "I'm not part of God's people."
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it easy to slip out the back door - all of a sudden, those closest to you haven't been to church in months and you're concerned they've lost interest.
Here are four ways to re-engage your children to church:
1). Communicate on Saturday that you want them to attend with you on Sunday morning. Sunday morning worship is a Saturday decision. Don't make late Saturday night plans - get your clothes ready, offering ready, Bible ready - you want to communicate that Sunday mornings are for the Lord. If you wake-up on Sunday, trying to decide if you're headed to church...it's tempting to stay home. "As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord." Joshua 24:15 CSB
2). Offer to take your children to lunch after church. It's 4th of July Weekend, after worship, take them out to have BBQ. City Barbecue is down the street from our church - instead of going out on Friday or Saturday - take your family out for lunch on Sundays.
3). Buy your child a new Bible or a new Christian book to read together. Sherri and I read books together - we recently began reading, "Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity" by Nabeel Qureshi. The strength of reading together is accountability - if you get your children to begin reading together, it's much easier for them to accept attending church together. The goal is to grow in the Lord with your son, wife, or granddaughter - you have to establish common spiritual things to discuss - when you read the same verses of Scripture, chapter of a book, and listen to the same sermon - you can discuss what God is teaching you.
4). Stay and sit with your family. If you're always serving in the nursery, children's church, welcome center, or singing in the choir - your children or spouse doesn't want to sit alone in the pew. You have to look through the lenses of people who don't know anyone at church - to expect your grandchildren to "feel at home" while at church, will take some time.
Church attendance is about connections - you want your children to connect with God - one of the ways you make that possible is to remove every possible barrier and excuse.
Related Posts
3 Signs it's Time for You to Change Churches
4 Keys to Disciplining Teenagers
Which Children's Bible Should You Buy?
Which Bible Should you Buy your Preteen or Teenager?
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