Topical Bible: Children: Worship, Attend Divine

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In the context of biblical teachings, the participation of children in worship and divine services is a subject of significant importance. The Scriptures provide guidance on the role of children in the worship of God, emphasizing their inclusion in the spiritual life of the community.

Biblical Foundations

The Bible underscores the importance of involving children in worship from an early age. In the Old Testament, the Israelites were instructed to include children in religious observances. Deuteronomy 31:12-13 states, "Assemble the people—men, women, children, and the foreigners within your gates—so that they may listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. Then their children, who do not know the law, will listen and learn to fear the LORD your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

This passage highlights the communal aspect of worship and the responsibility of the community to teach children the ways of the Lord. The inclusion of children in these gatherings was intended to instill a reverence for God and an understanding of His commandments.

Jesus and Children

In the New Testament, Jesus' attitude towards children further emphasizes their value in the kingdom of God. In Matthew 19:14 , Jesus says, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." This statement not only affirms the worth of children but also suggests that their presence in worship is both welcomed and necessary.

Jesus' welcoming of children serves as a model for the church, indicating that children should be active participants in worship and not merely passive observers. Their involvement is seen as a reflection of the purity and faith that believers are called to emulate.

Role of Parents and the Church

The responsibility of guiding children in worship falls primarily on parents and the church community. Proverbs 22:6 advises, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." This verse underscores the duty of parents to nurture their children's spiritual growth and ensure their regular participation in worship.

The church also plays a crucial role in facilitating children's worship experiences. By providing age-appropriate teachings and opportunities for involvement, the church helps children develop a personal relationship with God. Ephesians 6:4 instructs, "Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Practical Considerations

Incorporating children into worship services can take various forms, such as children's sermons, Sunday school, and family worship services. These practices aim to engage children in a manner that is both meaningful and accessible, fostering a lifelong commitment to faith.

The presence of children in worship is not only beneficial for their spiritual development but also enriches the entire congregation. Their participation serves as a reminder of the simplicity and sincerity of faith, encouraging believers of all ages to approach God with a childlike heart.

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Joshua 8:35
There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
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2 Chronicles 20:13
And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
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2 Chronicles 31:16
Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even to every one that enters into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;
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Ezra 8:21
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
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Nehemiah 8:2,3
And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.
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Nehemiah 12:43
Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
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Matthew 21:15
And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,
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Luke 2:46
And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
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Library

Letter viii. Public and Social Worship, and Sabbath Employments.
... would recommend to you always to attend a praying ... holy Sabbath not employed in public
worship, it naturally ... less than the conversion of the children, and their ...
/.../letter viii public and social.htm

The Danger of Deviating from Divine Institutions.
... men so often from their temporal concerns to attend to the ... the wrath of God, on the
children of disobedience ... the ark, and the use of images in divine worship! ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xxviii the danger of.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... doubt felt it to be His duty to attend to every ... But in the worship of the primitive
Christians there was ... it was also administered to the infant children of the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

Letter of Origen to Gregory.
... thing to descend from the land of the children of Israel ... the law of God and in the
Israelite worship of Him ... To him the porter openeth." While you attend to this ...
/.../unknown/the passion of the scillitan martyrs/letter of origen to gregory.htm

Argument. --And That, Although Scripture Often Changes the Divine ...
... 5041] or when the people of the children of Israel ... a Spirit; and those therefore
who worship, must worship in spirit ... to God, whose will the works attend not so ...
/.../chapter vi argument and that although.htm

That Pious Parents have Reason to Hope it is Well with those Dear ...
... of Heaven[e]. May we not then hope that many little Children are admitted ... and good
GOD; a Love to Truth; a Readiness to attend on Divine Worship, from some ...
/.../iv that pious parents have.htm

How Pekah Died by the Treachery of Hoshea who was a Little after ...
... and Levites, that they might constantly attend upon Divine ... and never be taken off
from the worship of God. ... priests and Levites, and to their children and wives ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how pekah died.htm

Heavenly Worship
... wish to take a view of THE OBJECT OF HEAVENLY WORSHIP. ... yet we may be as familiar
as children in Christ ... be far larger than that which shall attend the chariots ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/heavenly worship.htm

Parental Duties Considered and Urged.
... that seal might be; and were trained up to attend the worship and ordinances of ... were
administered"cast off religion, and taught his children to disregard ...
/.../sermon xxii parental duties considered.htm

The Unity of the Divine Being
... of husbands and wives, or of parents and children? ... of forms; of barely outward worship,
how constantly soever performed; yea, though we attend the Church ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 114 the unity of.htm