A child is never too young to be pointed to God as the source of all things, as One who is a great God but also a God of love.
Can infants really learn about worshiping God?
As Bible teachers, and parents, model a lifestyle of praise, infants will begin the process of developing good attitudes toward God as their maker, a great God who made all things and a caring God who loves them. Simply speaking words like “God loves you and so do I.”, leaves an impact. The same effect can happen by holding babies up to a mirror and saying something like, “There is … (child’s name). I’m so glad God made you.” As teachers walk around the room with them looking at pictures and objects, saying things like, “God made … puppies, pretty flowers, or whatever it is.,” they’re pointing these little ones to God as the Source of all things. Praying with short phrases of adoration and thanksgiving to God and singing words of praise, suggests God must be Someone special.
What can toddlers and preschoolers learn about worship?
As children grow into their toddler and preschool years, they can begin to participate in worship activities. Clapping, singing, and simple prayers are ways to engage them. Remind them that they are doing these activities to and for God because He is a great and good God. He is worthy of their praise. They may not fully grasp the significance but it continues to reinforce that the Lord is God and He is the source of all things.
How does learning about worship change at the Grade School level?
By the time children are grade school age, they can begin to grasp the theological basis behind who this God is that they worship, why they worship Him, and how He is worthy of their praise. Younger grade school children still struggle with abstract concepts but they are able to understand that there is Someone greater than them who merits their praise and thanksgiving.
All, young and old, can be taught about worship.
Begin in the nursery, and continue into adulthood, to help people “know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
Encourage them, at all ages, to “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.”
Exhort everyone to “give thanks to him and praise his name.”
Why? – “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100).
Resources for Learning About Worship:
Psalm 100 forms the basis for the Children Learn to Worship Curriculum by Ministry Tools Resource Center. It makes memorizing Scripture and learning Bible truths about worshiping God fun for grade school age children.
Help adults learn about worship with The Truth About Worship Discussion Guides. As they study and discuss God’s Word together using the questions in these guides, they begin to see that worship goes beyond what they do one day a week to a lifestyle of worship.