Family Life Ministry Moment: The Children’s Message
The panic sets in.
It’s Saturday night and you suddenly remember—you’re leading the children’s message tomorrow morning. A quick internet search for “object lesson for 4-year-olds based on this sermon text” will surely produce something creative.
Sure, this search may come up with some engaging object lesson, but what is the goal of this children’s message time? And maybe more importantly, who is this target of this educational moment?
As we consider engagement of families in our ministry setting, often we seek to solve problems of raising up lifelong disciples of Jesus with the addition of more children-focused activities. These children-focused activities can be wonderful, but who are we truly seeking to equip?
Parents are the greatest influencers in a child’s life.
How, then, can we seek to support parents as they navigate this extreme influence?
Many of our schools and congregations faithfully provide resources like children’s picture Bibles to equip young learners. Yet often we place this resource into a child’s hands without modeling how it might be used in the home.
One simple and powerful solution is the modeling of a home devotion during the children’s message itself. Consider the children’s message not merely as a teaching moment for children, but as training for households.
Choose a story from the children’s Bible your ministry distributes. (Or perhaps this is the opportunity to consider placing such Bibles into the hands of your families.) Then demonstrate a simple, repeatable pattern: Start with singing Jesus Loves Me, read a Bible story, then close with The Lord’s Prayer.
It may feel almost too simple. But many families do not engage in home devotions not because they are unwilling—but because they are unsure where to begin. By modeling a brief and accessible format using a resource they already have, you give parents both confidence and clarity.
When we view the children’s message as equipping parents rather than simply entertaining children, its impact multiplies. We are not just filling five minutes during the service. We are strengthening households, encouraging spiritual leadership in the home, and nurturing daily engagement with God’s Word.
Deb Jurchen serves the District as Congregational Consultant for Family Life Ministry. In this role, she will share articles and resources to encourage congregations to connect with and serve the families in their community. Click here to learn more about Family Life Ministry.