Worship is what you do to show God that you know who He is and what He has done.
Worship is a critical part of a child’s spiritual growth. It’s just as important as Bible study, prayer, and small group time. Creating environments that allow our kids to genuinely worship God is one of our most significant callings.
EVERY leader models worship.
Leaders demonstrate how important worship is or isn’t, by the way they personally participate. Our volunteers must understand that children are watching and they are learning how to relate to a God they cannot see by learning from the leaders around them.
Children shouldn’t be viewed as “worshipers-in-waiting.”
Sometimes we think that young children are less capable of worship than adults. When actually, the reverse is true… children are more imaginative, open, spontaneous, and uninhibited.
Scripture even illustrates that children are quick to recognize and praise God, and sometimes they can even lead the way for adults (Matthew 21:12-16).
When creating environments for our kids, we MUST appeal to every child’s natural desire to worship.
Worship is an opportunity to teach children what is true about God.
Every kid has their own personal ideas and notions about who God is and when they worship they tend to worship “a god of their imagination.” The role of the worship leader is to help transition the mind of the child from worshiping “a god of their imagination” to worshiping “the God of reality” and to teach them the TRUTH about who God is.
Scripture teaches us that God desires for us to worship Him “in truth.”
An effective worship leader is more than a musician or singer.
A worship leader is a COACH. So, how do you engage, motivate, or inspire kids?
Engaging worship leaders:
1. Capture their attention.
2. Maintain eye contact.
3. Stay positive.
4. Hold their focus.
5. Master transitions…Plan ahead.
6. Keep moving.
A worship leader is a TEACHER. So, what do you need to teach them about worship or more specifically, what do you need to teach them about God?
You are teaching kids that:
1. God is your audience.
2. God created you to worship Him.
3. God smiles when you worship.
4. God likes to hear you brag about what He has done.
5. God wants you to know who He REALLY is.
I wish I could tell every worship leader who leads worship with children:
Don’t embellish…be true.
Don’t be too deep…be clear.
Don’t scold…be encouraging.
Don’t be too lofty…be simple.
Don’t be sappy…be real.
Don’t just stand there…be passionate!
We need to help our worship leaders approach kids in a whole new way. They are ushering kids into the presence of their Heavenly Father. What could be more important?
December 17th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Thank you for posting this! We’re trying to figure out worship for our kids and this is such a clear, helpful blueprint of how to teach kids to worship God. Thanks for all that you do!
December 17th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Excellent, excellent, excellent.
“The role of the worship leader is to help transition the mind of the child from worshipping “a god of their imagination” to worshipping “the God of reality.” – To teach them the TRUTH about who God is.”
Makes me want to jump up and down and clap my hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I spent several months studying the Psalms and compiling a “theology” of sorts of what true praise and worship is - you might enjoy reading it: http://www.krististephens.com/2007/09/true-praise-and-worship-blueprint-from.html
December 17th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Great, Great, Great stuffs. I’ll be sharing this with our team ASAP. I think the most important part of creating worship environments for kids is to get people worshiping in front of them that look like them. We try and always have a mix of males and females on stage leading at all times. Don’t want Kids’ Worship to turn into a girl-thing, know what I mean?
December 17th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Awesome!
My dad was a true worship leader. He had every quality here. I aspire to be like my dad and lead people to the Father.
Thanks for the tips. They help a LOT!
December 17th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Great point Jonathan! Putting a good mixture of worship leaders in front of our kids is really important. We are blessed to have a bunch of guys who lead worship - you’re right - it’s important.
We also use quite a few students to fill our worship teams. I notice that our kids really respond and connect to students.
Thanks!
Kendra
December 19th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Awesome post. Says clearly what I’ve been trying to teach children’s leaders for year. God wants our children to worship him.