Ministering to Young People in the Age of Cynicism

by Leah and Costin Jordache, interviewed by Anthony Kent

Level Up: What Video Games Can Teach Us About Kids, and Discipleship

by Elizabeth Pule

The other day our boys enthusiastically described a video game they were playing. Not only did they share with excitement the new community they had created, but they told my husband and me the functions of the homes, the little details of every nook and cranny, and … they were eager for us to participate.

We know offers like these won’t last forever, so we accept these kinds of invitations as best we can. As the boys dynamically engaged with us, I thought, “How come we don’t have this kind of enthusiasm during piano practice, chores, or homework time?” Then my thoughts turned to family worship time, and I took a moment to reflect honestly on the spiritual environment of my home. Are my boys as motivated and excited to learn about the King of the Universe as they are to play a video game? What would need to happen for my family to experience the same kind of eagerness to know Jesus? The Bible is filled with grand adventure, intrigue, and powerful life lessons—much more so than video games—so what are we missing when we lead our kids in worship?

When I was growing up, family worship was a solemn time when we kids sat around listening to our mom or dad read a devotional that we didn’t understand. As we sang songs, read the Bible, and prayed, it was a time of quiet reverence. We knew there would be consequences if we joked around. Some of us have brought these types of lackluster traditions to our own families, and then we wonder why Bible study and family worship isn’t a cherished experience.

If worshiping isn’t enjoyable, it will never be priority. The Bible is full of advice on how to worship God, such as happy singing, clapping hands, dancing, and shouting with gladness. “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing” (Psalm 100:1-2, NASB). Nowhere does it say, “All children should sit still and be quiet.” Parents, grandparents, and caregivers have the sacred responsibility to present our awesome God to our children in a manner that makes them want to know Him.

During Jesus’ time on earth, children were not regarded very highly; they were valued even less than women. So it’s not surprising to read the actions of the disciples in the story of Jesus and the children. “People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them” (Mark 10:13, NIV). The disciples thought they had good reasons to keep kids away from Jesus while He was working. His reaction must have really surprised them! “When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:14-16, NIV).

How would Jesus react to the way we are leading children today? Would He be indignant with us? Does the way we minister to kids help or hinder their relationship with God? So often, we teach rules and tradition rather than sharing relationship and truth. If we are to disciple our children we need to show them—with enthusiasm and passion—how awesome Jesus is!

I asked my three sons for their input, and we came up with some principles for making family worship more exciting, interesting, and meaningful:

Cultivate an Attitude and Atmosphere of Joy

If we want our children to discover the joy of Jesus and the gift of family devotional time, we need to make sure our attitude toward God is positive. Worshiping the God of the Universe cannot be a sentence of silence or a dreary occasion where kids are not allowed to laugh and participate.

When children’s ministry days are planned at church, there’s an atmosphere of anticipation and delight. Many volunteers put forth great effort to make the time special, including lively music, interesting stories, and fun activities. Family worships can be just as amazing if we intentionally make an effort. Go outside in nature, share object lessons and personal stories, and use words kids can understand. Also, remember that not all spiritual instruction takes place in a formal worship setting. Do not forget about those teachable moments at the grocery store or while you’re driving.

Harness The Power of Music


Week after week in most Cradle Roll Sabbath Schools, our little ones ring bells, shake tambourines, wave Jesus flags, and click sticks. As they actively participate, songs are engraved in their hearts for life. Numerous studies attest to the power of music, so use this power to make learning about Jesus a celebrated experience. Play uplifting music at home, including Scripture lullabies for little ones before bedtime. Include action songs during worship time, and encourage children to use their toys and instruments as regular accompaniments. Let’s allow our children to make a joyful noise because it sounds beautiful to the King.

Ask Your Children to be Ministry Leaders

Do you want to actively engage your children in discipleship? Allow them to lead. Let your children take ownership of family worship, Bible study time, and ministry projects. Empower them to choose the songs, pick the Bible story or text, find an object lesson, or determine the location. Why not have worship in a tent in the basement, under the kitchen table, or by the front door? Allow them to choose a family service project. It may be different from what you would have chosen, but it is still a valid contribution. Through these experiences, children can explore their spiritual gifts and share what is on their hearts. Empowering our kids to lead at home opens doors for their involvement in serving the community and leading at church.

Focus on Community During Prayer

We need to intentionally turn our kids’ attention outward. They need to be taught the concepts of serving and caring for others, which are often contrary to what popular culture teaches. Utilize a globe to pray over troubled portions of the world, or examine a neighborhood grid to focus on your immediate community. Talk about issues of poverty, war, politics, bullying, climate change, and more to encourage a global awareness and a mission focus. What’s happening in your neighborhood? Can your family volunteer anywhere or show kindness to a neighbor? By having a broader view, we can teach our children that there is a whole world that needs Jesus’ love and our prayers.

Every family lives within a different context, but we can all make a practical plan to share Jesus with our children in positive ways! Make a game plan for your family:

• a Bible verse to serve as my family’s motto:

• three things I want my kids to know about Jesus:

• two things that distract from discipling my children effectively:

• two ways I can help my kids learn more about Jesus:

• three ways I can make Bible study and worship fun and interactive and how I will implement them:

As we wait with anticipation for Jesus’ return, let us intentionally grow and invest in our family’s spiritual life. Take these few suggestions and prayerfully consider your game plan. I pray your homes are places of peace and that discipling your family is a celebrated experience, met with eagerness and joy.

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD,
And great shall be the peace of your children.”
Isaiah: 54:13 (NKJV)

Building a Strong Spiritual Foundation in Your Children

by Leticia De los Santos

Parents are the key factor in knowledge about God and faith development in their children. In order to be able to transmit this faith, parents need clarity and conviction in their own beliefs.

The same way that children are not born already knowing their grandparents, they are not born already knowing God. Parents tell them about their grandparents and how important they will be in the children’s lives, even when they may not see their grandparents very often. In the same way, by teaching our children since birth about God and His love for them, children will learn about God and grow to love Him.

Repetition

When communicating with Israel, God gave them specific instructions on how to pass down God’s teachings to their children and grandchildren. This carried the promise of having a better and longer life in the land they were about to inherit. “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deut. 6:6, 7).[1]

Repetition creates paths in our brain. Once you follow the same path multiple times, it gets easier to remember the way. Repetition gives us the chance of executing what we have learned and do it confidently. It can also lead children to consolidate their knowledge of God at a young age, and by doing so will help them in their development and spiritual growth.

Recently my husband and I Face-timed with our daughter so we could talk and see our 18-month-old granddaughter. After a couple minutes of talking with them, our daughter asked our granddaughter if she wanted to pray with her grandparents. She immediately agreed and started to pray.

For the first time, we were able to see and hear her pray. She put her little hands together, bowed her little head and started mumbling, praying to Jesus. Her parents taught her how to pray and now she is doing it by herself. The desire of knowing and loving Jesus is growing inside her.

Modeling

Children are great impersonators. They do and say everything they see and hear. It is possible that your children will not always do what you tell them to do but you can be sure that they will do what they see you doing.

Actions will always be a stronger influence than words. As Christian parents, it is imperative that we show our kids how to live a life that reflects Christ and how He lived when He was here on earth. If we show love and kindness to others, they will see it and it will be easier and more natural for them to do the same thing with the people they interact with. On the contrary, if they more frequently see hostility and aggressiveness, that’s what they will repeat.

One of the most vivid memories of my childhood is the practical Christian life that my parents consistently showed, a life of selfless service towards everybody. I remember thinking that I wanted to be like them when I grew up. Living and practicing Christianity and making it a reality at home will inspire our children to consolidate their spiritual life.

Remember, modeling does not mean being perfect. There are no perfect children, because there are no perfect parents. Modeling is a very effective teacher, but remember, modeling is not about perfection. It is about letting your children see your commitment to moral, Christian ideals.

If we want our kids to develop a spirit of generosity, forgiveness, patience, kindness, consideration, diligence, and, of course, to stay faithful to their beliefs, we as parents have to live and practice it.

Nowadays, young people are tired of sermons and advice. They would rather see Christiantiy in action than hear about a Christian life. Let them see you praying for them and others, let them see you reading your Bible and applying it in your life, let them see you being attentive to and helpful with the needs of others.

Ellen White says, “It is during the first years of a child's life that his mind is most susceptible to impressions either good or evil. During these years decided progress is made in either a right direction or a wrong one.” [2]

Study of the Bible

God told Joshua, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Josh. 1:8).Children can develop the faith that will later help them face their fears and challenges in life with courage.

Childhood is the perfect time to stimulate memorization and learning the Word of God. It is very important to select the appropriate story according to the child’s age. I used different methods of reading the Bible with my children,  to motivate them to memorize and learn about God’s truth at their age. The story of Creation, Noah, David and Goliath, Jonah and the big fish, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus, are among the favorites for young children. The miracles of Jesus can fill children with joy hearing about how Jesus loves everybody and has the power to heal them.

I remember during my childhood, my mom would often ask me to sit next to her and read the Psalms out loud while she was working on different projects. Practice and repetition not only helped me with my reading but also helped me memorize some psalms and learn to fall in love with the Bible from an early age.

We face multiple distractions these days—entertainment, social media, TV—that can take away time from reading our Bible. But we should remember the promise from God to Joshua: “...Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Josh. 1:8).

Author Ellen White states, “There is nothing more calculated to energize the mind, and strengthen the intellect, than the study of the word of God. No other book is so potent to elevate the thoughts or give vigor to the faculties, as the broad, ennobling truths of the Bible. If God's word were studied as it should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a nobility of character, and a stability of purpose, that are rarely seen in these times.”[3]

Prayer

Prayer has always been an important pillar in my life. The interceding prayers of my parents were fundamental for me as a child and gave me strength and confidence. When I became a mother, praying for my kids became my refuge.

Pray prayers with gratitude and joy, and prayers with contrition and tears as well. Pray God will take control of every situation, and in truth ask for heart desires. Nevertheless, I have learned that we cannot always get exactly what we want, God is the only One that knows the beginning and the end, and He knows what is best and how to take care of our needs.

When we pray, remember that God loves our children more than we ever can. God does not have grandchildren, only children. That makes our children, His children. “He takes care of His children” (1 Peter 5:7), and “He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways” (Ps. 91:11).

When we pray, we should not try to convince God of what we need. Instead, we need to leave our anxieties and concerns with Him, and trust that He will care for them and us. When we pray, we should let God take control of their lives, whether they are children, teens, youth, or adults.

A couple of days ago I heard this declaration: “The only thing limiting God is our lack of faith and perseverance.” Remember that faith has to be developed and should continue developing during our entire Christian journey.

One of the most touching stories of faith in the Bible is of the father that came to Jesus crying out for a miracle for his son who was possessed with an evil spirit. Jesus told him: “If you can believe, everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23, 24). Let’s exclaim the same!

Conclusion

Don’t limit God with lack of faith and perseverance. There is no doubt in my heart that God will always be willing to perform a miracle in the lives of our children.

Let’s persevere with repetition, modeling, bible study, and praying. Let’s trust in God, because we serve and believe in the God of the impossible.

Let’s put our children in the hand of the Lord.

Footnotes:
[1]Scripture is quoted from the New International Version.
[2]Ellen G. White, Child Guidance (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1954), 193.
[3]Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers (Washington, DC: Review and Herald Pub. Assn.,1915), 249.