Linda Mei Lin Koh, Children’s Ministries General Conference

A Leadership CertificationA Leadership Certification Course #5Course #5

What is Worship?What is Worship?

“ “Worship is far more than Worship is far more than going to church singing, going to church singing,

praying, reading the Bible, praying, reading the Bible, memorizing a few verses, memorizing a few verses,

putting a few coins in the plate, putting a few coins in the plate, or performing any outward or performing any outward

rituals. It is about forming and rituals. It is about forming and nurturing an nurturing an internal internal

relationship with Godrelationship with God.” .”

Definition of WorshipDefinition of Worship

Worship is the Worship is the individual individual

adoration of adoration of God God

It’s an internal service! It’s an internal service!

The Importance of Worship The Importance of Worship in the Family in the Family

““The only way to provide the right The only way to provide the right home for your children is to put the home for your children is to put the Lord above them, and fully instruct Lord above them, and fully instruct them in the ways of the Lord. You them in the ways of the Lord. You are responsible before God for the are responsible before God for the

home you provide for them.”home you provide for them.”

--Billy Graham --Billy Graham

Two areas are important for every believer:

•Worship in Your Daily Quiet Time

•Worship as a Lifestyle

What Should We Do As We What Should We Do As We Worship God Each Day?Worship God Each Day?

1. Model a Lifestyle 1. Model a Lifestyle ofof

Worship Before Our Worship Before Our ChildrenChildren

We cannot expect our We cannot expect our children to be any children to be any more dedicated to more dedicated to Christ than we are Christ than we are

ourselvesourselves

The Modeling PrincipleThe Modeling Principle

Understanding Different Types Understanding Different Types of Authority of Authority

• Authority of PositionAuthority of Position – whether an – whether an adult is a good parent or a poor adult is a good parent or a poor one, the child obeys him.one, the child obeys him.

• Authority of ExperienceAuthority of Experience – – the the adult has more knowledge, hence adult has more knowledge, hence carries more weight.carries more weight.

• Authority of RecognitionAuthority of Recognition – – the adult has authority, the adult has authority, knowledge & successes. knowledge & successes.

Winning Your Kids’ Winning Your Kids’ Respect Respect

• Winning your children’s—especially teenage children’s—long-term respect is far more important than winning a short-term argument.

• Winning their respect will enable them to respect your belief system as well

What, Then, Are We toWhat, Then, Are We toModel to Our ChildrenModel to Our Children

1. “Virtuous” actions 1. “Virtuous” actions and attitudes such as and attitudes such as being kind, humble, being kind, humble, patient and patient and compassionate. compassionate.

2. Christian actions 2. Christian actions such as reading & such as reading & studying the Bible, studying the Bible, praying to God, praying to God, worshiping Jesus.worshiping Jesus.

What Do We Model? What Do We Model?

• We talk about worship.We talk about worship.• We speak praise.We speak praise.• We enjoy learning—We enjoy learning—”Anyone who stops ”Anyone who stops

learning is old, whether it happens at learning is old, whether it happens at twenty or eight.”—writer Harvey Ullman.twenty or eight.”—writer Harvey Ullman.

• We model the characteristics of God.We model the characteristics of God.

* justice* justice

* unconditional love* unconditional love

* forgiveness * forgiveness

2. Knowing 2. Knowing YourYour

ChildrenChildren

“ “ Be sure you Be sure you know the know the

condition of condition of your flocks, give your flocks, give careful attention careful attention to your herds.”to your herds.”

Proverbs Proverbs 27:2327:23

What Do We Need to Know?What Do We Need to Know?

• Know that every child is Know that every child is unique.unique.

• Know our children’s Know our children’s temperaments.temperaments.

• Know how to show equal Know how to show equal respect for every child. respect for every child.

• Know how our children feel.Know how our children feel.• Know how our children think Know how our children think

about God. about God.

3. Practice 3. Practice Principles Principles

That That Encourage Encourage WorshipWorship

Express Gratitude to your Express Gratitude to your Children Children

• Let our children know that we were delighted at their arrival.

• Children need to hear such statements as, “We were so excited when you were born” and “The best gift God has ever given me was you children.”

• Love them unconditionally.

Be Humble and Ask for Be Humble and Ask for ForgivenessForgiveness

• Parents who sincerely apologize and ask Parents who sincerely apologize and ask forgiveness after they lose their temper, forgiveness after they lose their temper, demonstrate to the children that there is demonstrate to the children that there is a higher authority, a Master in heaven.a higher authority, a Master in heaven.

• Our public submission to that Master Our public submission to that Master

and His law is another proof that we and His law is another proof that we consider Him worthy of our worship.consider Him worthy of our worship.

Be sure that Dad (not just Mom) Be sure that Dad (not just Mom) Leads Spiritually Leads Spiritually

Long-Term Effects on Children• For the sons, it proclaims that Christianity is

really for the females, so you do not have to take it seriously.

• For the daughters, it damages the important portrait of the father heart of God, which may later produce insecurities about God’s love for them.

Have Regular Family DevotionalsHave Regular Family Devotionals

• Time – each family decides on the best time, but the keyword is consistency.

“The secret of success is consistency of purpose.” -- Benjamin Disraeli

• Place – choose a place where there is minimum distractions.

• Duration – generally 10-15 minutes.

General Principles for Family General Principles for Family DevotionalsDevotionals

• Positive Attitude – “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

• Openness – answer children’s questions.• Variety – use drama, quizzes, etc. • “Serious Fun.”

Learn to Handle DisagreementsLearn to Handle Disagreements

• Self-control—parents need to put the brakes on the feelings of anger and curb their tongues from lashing out.

• Privacy—resolve arguments in your room, keeping their voices down.

• Resolution—problems and disagreements should be resolved as soon as possible (Ephesians 4:26).

Uphold Other Authorities Before Uphold Other Authorities Before Your ChildrenYour Children

• Consider other authorities in your child’s life: teachers, coaches, youth leader, police officers, politicians, etc.

• Help children see these true authorities are their friends, not enemies, and that they have been placed here by God Himself.

• Do not criticize your child’s teacher at meal times.

Watch the Way You Talk About Watch the Way You Talk About Your ChildhoodYour Childhood

• Do not rub our negative memories in the children’s faces.

• Use discretion when we want to share some horrible “testimony” with them.

• Good memories should be told and retold.

Maintain Personal StandardsMaintain Personal Standards

• Give your children an illustration of “clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:4).

• Check on what you read or watch on television.• Your language should be consistent with your

Christian beliefs.• Get rid of hypocrisy.• “Where one man reads the Bible,

a hundred read you and me.”

-- Dwight Moody.

Try to Make Your Children Proud Try to Make Your Children Proud of You of You

• Take a friendly, sincere interest in their friends.

• Act wisely in front of their friends.

• Smile and greet their friends warmly.

• Ask about their families.

• Avoid saying anything that might

embarrass your child.

Love Your Spouse Above Your Love Your Spouse Above Your Children Children

• This principle is most important in terms of inspiring a child to adore God.

• Take disagreements to the privacy of your room.

• Show open affection.• Love your spouse as Christ loves

the Church.

The Correct Order The Correct Order

GodGodYour SpouseYour Spouse

Your ChildYour ChildEverything Else Everything Else