Teaching kids to sing, or to worship?
Over the past week I have been teaching in a Vacation Bible School. Amidst many positive experiences, it has also put me to wondering:
Do we teach kids to worship, or do we simply teach them to sing? My own experience growing up (and what I have observed this week) is that we sing fun songs with lots of motions. But if I was asked to describe it as singing or worship, I would have to call it singing.
My point is not to criticize, but to say that if my experiences are representative, it is wise for us to consider how we teach children to worship, and not merely to sing.
So I turn the question to you: How do you teach children to worship (in song)?
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5 comments:
This previous Sunday School session (we had 1st and 2nd graders), Dan spent one morning reading to the kids Psalm 150. This Psalm has great references to musical instruments in worship - "Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness, Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre..." The second time he read it to the children, they acted out all of the musical instruments as they were learning the words of the psalm. We did the psalm almost every Sunday after that, and the children were starting to remember the words and getting more creative and active in the ways they were worshipping God.
I think there is great value in teaching kids to sing spiritual songs, even if at the time it is not teaching them to worship. Especially in the context of a VBS, where often there are children who are not growing up in church, songs have a way of 'sticking'. If we can help them to take in and remember things that are true, God has a way of not letting His truth be wasted.
Songs are a great way to teach Bible stories, scriptures, and concepts about God (even if the song is silly!). Any of these types of songs will be part of a child's growing frame of reference about who God is and why He is worthy to be praised. Then as they come to understand more and more just how great God is, it only seems natural to sing worshipful songs from the heart. I don't think that is something that can be forced or taught... I just think we have to do our best to give them an accurate picture of God, and help them to hold those truths in their hearts. Then we ourselves want to model genuine worship. We are all made to worship... many worship the wrong things, but we are all made to worship. I think that goes for kids too- if we continually provide them with the truth and exalt God ourselves, we need to then trust God to grow the seeds in their hearts.
Karina, I think Dan's example is a great one of how to use Scripture and song together to worship God. And Lauren, your point is well-taken that songs are just as important for teaching as for worship (and can do the first even before children are ready for the second).
Does anyone have suggestions of God-enthralled kids' songs that support this dual purpose? Or particular song-writers who consistently do this well?
your onto something - there is a big difference between worship and singing
I am afraid "singing" is almost an idol in many church services.
In worship we train our hearts & minds to want-love-desire-seek-pursue-enjoy God.
Thanks for joining the discussion, Tony!
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