Children in Church

I'm a firm believer in having children worship alongside adults. Children learn by observation, and our culture sadly doesn't give them enough credit. We often hear, "They can't sit that long," or "They don't comprehend what is being said or done anyway." I find both statements to be untrue.


My children have played church since they were old enough to pretend. Sermons have been preached on the living room steps, and hymns have been sung by little people in our home.


Several years back, I read Edith Schaeffer's book, The Hidden Art of Homemaking. While we've always had our children alongside us in worship, and they have always been given a notebook to take notes in, she opened my eyes to the way that I take notes with a youngster sitting beside me. She suggested drawing little pictures in your notes, to tell the story of the sermon. I was intrigued, and put her advice into practice the very next Sunday. Abigail was thrilled.


It's been many years already since Abigail learned to read, but as I flipped through an old notebook yesterday and found some primitive drawings, I was reminded that little eyes are watching what we do.

In true Reformed fashion, I don't attempt to draw Jesus, but rather represent Him with a large heart for a body, and a circle for His head. The Holy Spirit is drawn the same, but with wings. Be creative. Your drawings don't have to be complicated or intricate to please a young child.