The Church Service Model: How and why it’s IMPORTANT for your children’s Church
When adapting a children's church service to resemble an adult service, it's important to maintain a balance between making it engaging for children and incorporating elements that mirror an adult service. Here are some tips:
1. Simplified Liturgy:
Keep the structure of the service similar to an adult one but simplify the language and shorten the duration of each segment.
Introduce simplified versions of common liturgical elements like greetings, prayers, and worship.
2. Interactive Worship:
Include interactive worship elements such as sing-alongs, simple hand motions, or visual aids to make the experience more engaging for children.
Use age-appropriate worship songs that convey meaningful messages when available. However don’t get caught up in trying to make every worship song fit a kids perspective. Worship is a heart act not lip service.
3. Biblical Stories:
Choose relevant and age-appropriate Bible stories for the sermon. Consider using creative storytelling methods, visuals, or multimedia to capture children's attention.
Include practical applications of the biblical lessons that children can relate to.
4. Inclusive Participation:
Encourage children to actively participate in the service through age-appropriate activities like drawing, simple discussions, or short reflections.
Incorporate opportunities for children to share their thoughts or experiences related to the message.
5. Visual and Multimedia Elements:
Use visually appealing slides, props, or multimedia presentations to enhance the message and maintain the children's interest.
Ensure that visuals are colorful, engaging, and age-appropriate.
6. Sermon Adaptation:
Condense the sermon content and present it in a way that is easy for children to understand.
Consider incorporating object lessons or real-life examples to illustrate key points.
7. Prayer Time:
Include a prayer time that is interactive and encourages children to express their thoughts and feelings.
Keep prayers concise and focused on themes that resonate with children.
8. Youth Involvement:
Involve older children or youth in leading certain segments of the service, fostering a sense of responsibility and leadership. This is two fold in that it allows teens to actively participate in being the church through serving and gives the kids they are serving an attainable goal of wanting to one day do the same.
9. Fun and Fellowship:
Incorporate elements of fun and fellowship, such as games, snacks, or short breaks, to create a positive and enjoyable atmosphere.
Remember to continually assess and adjust based on the feedback and reactions of the children to ensure that the adapted service effectively meets their needs while resembling an adult service.