Theology & Thoughts
Why Children's Ministry?
If you are visiting this website, you probably have interest in teaching children about Jesus. This page explores some of the reasons why ministry for and with children is a critical part of church life and family culture. I share it with the hope of encouraging readers and pointing us all to God's Word together.
Why?
We are all commissioned.
Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 MSG
The Great Commission applies to all believers. Children’s Ministry is a journey of discipleship and is about the work of Christ in the life of each believer. Just before ascending into Heaven, Jesus gave all of us a critical assignment and opportunity. We are to share God’s Word with every person and make disciples. Children are not only recipients of this gift, they are also people who are called to share the gift. In leading children to Jesus, and therefore making young people disciples, we are fulfilling God’s instructions to us and also welcoming children into their new role as disciples, and therefore disciple makers.
Why?
God is already doing the work.
'It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.'
Ephesians 2:1-10 MSG
The book of Ephesians reminds us that this work we are doing is not our own. God does all the heavy lifting and we are given the incredible gift of joining Him in the work that He does.
Why? Because we are called.
1-7So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!—to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain.
2 Timothy 2:1-7 MSG
Paul wrote his letter to Timothy from the dismal location of a prison cell, yet spoke with hope and motivation that speaks to us today. We are called, not just to do God’s work, but to pass that privilege to others. In the case of children’s ministry, this message is passed to both adult volunteers and children.
Why?
Jesus said, "Let the Little Children Come to Me."
One day children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” After laying hands on them, he left.
Matthew 19:13-15 MSG
In Matthew 19:13-15, people brought little children to Jesus, but were sent away by the disciples. Jesus made His heart for children clear in His response. “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” It is clear that children have value in the Kingdom of God and that Jesus is interested in them.
Why?
Be inspired by faith like a child.
At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s kingdom?” For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me. “But if you give them a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck. Doom to the world for giving these God-believing children a hard time! Hard times are inevitable, but you don’t have to make it worse—and it’s doomsday to you if you do.
Matthew 18:1-7 MSG
In my experience, children are special and loved. They are uniquely able to seek Jesus, unhindered by decades of life experience, pride, pain, or fear. Growing with children is a privilege. In Matthew 18 the disciples asked Jesus about who would be the greatest in God’s Kingdom. The response Jesus gave them describes in detail what it means to be like a child and points us to a path of simplicity and childlike faith.
Why?
Children are hungry for Jesus & Jesus is pursuing them.
Jesus Invites:
'Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. '
-Revelation 3:20 NIV
Kids have a god shaped hole:
'He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. '
-Ecclesiastes 3:11
Jesus is persistent in his invitation to each of us to abide in a deep and loving relationship with Him. He wants an intimate and relational connection, like one has when sharing a meal. God has placed a desire in each human heart for a desire to be with their Creator and Savior. Many theologians have described a God shaped hole or a yearning for God including Augustine who said, "though hast made us for Thyself, O God, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee."