Chick-fil-A gets it. Take care of children, and parents show up. Yes, clean bathrooms help. Silly fast double drive-thrus are a plus. Moreover, the indoor playground, most days, is a welcomed child containment area providing precious moments of sanity for young mothers. Lesson learned: Take care of the kids, and parents tend to flock your way. The children (and the chicken) are the way to a parent’s heart.
Pastor, does your church take care of kids? I’ve never seen a healthy, growing church that didn’t have a vibrant children’s ministry. Further, how a church ministers to children can make or break their ability to reach a community.
Truth be told, Jesus loved kids better than the best training Atlanta can provide. He knew the value of children and laid upon his followers a great kingdom stewardship to care for them. So with spring on its way and Easter in view, I’d like to build out a high-level philosophy of children’s ministry taken straight from the ministry of Jesus. Here’s how Doctor Luke recorded it.
“Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:15-17)
What does this passage teach us about the heart of Jesus, and how we should serve our children? As a pastor and a parent, allow me to share a few lessons from the text that shape a philosophy of children’s ministry.
- Parents are to be the primary disciple-makers of their children. “They were bringing infants to him…” The text presents a positive example for parents to follow. They are bringing their children to Jesus. Here we learn that the evangelism and discipleship of children are among the first responsibilities of parents. No one has more of a voice in a child’s life than a parent. Parents have a unique God-given opportunity to put their children on the path to spiritual success. Yet, there are no perfect parents. We are all in process. Therefore, pastors should seek to put parents in partnership with each other. Share tips and encouragement. Parents should help each other bring their children to Jesus.
- Churches are to make it easy for families to connect in ministry. “And the [disciples] rebuked them.” Contrary to the parents, the disciples present a negative example of what not to do – stand in the way between children and Christ. What a sad commentary. Chalk it up to “good intentions, bad judgment.” The disciples must have assumed that Jesus is either too busy for children, or children are below his ministry purview. But as Jesus makes it clear, they were way off. Pastors should lead their churches, therefore, to be “pro-parent,” that is, for the family. Everything they do and don’t do must be helping homes find their way to Jesus.
- Children are to be encouraged in taking steps of faith towards Jesus. “Let the children come to me…” Christ calls children to enter his Kingdom. We want to help them heed that call. His words assume many children are capable of responding to the gospel in genuine repentance and true saving faith. Therefore, our ministry to them is a great stewardship of introducing big truths to little hearts. Every child is in process from a young age – in mind, body and heart. Be sure to encourage what God is doing in our children.
- People are to receive Christ with the heart-posture of small children. “…like a child…” We may teach our children, but our children also teach us. If you spend much time around children, you’ll learn of their dependency on their parents. Such is the attitude we must have in order to enter the Kingdom of God — utter dependency on the person and work of Jesus. To be a disciple of Christ is to live a life of learned dependence upon him. Watch your kids, learn from them. Just remember, they are watching you. Stay dependent.
Children’s ministry stands on the front line of gospel advancement community. For many families, it is the front door of our church. Lead your people to pray, support, and serve the children’s ministry at your church.
We must never get over the blessing and stewardship of serving the little ones. If Jesus took time to serve children, so should we.
MDiv Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
The Preaching and Pastoral Ministry track prepares students for pastoral ministry in the local church with a special emphasis on expository preaching.
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