Calvary's touch-makes a difference! Children in your Church: Some Practical Suggestions for Church Leaders

CHILDREN IN YOUR CHURCH:
SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

1. Keep your services simple. A profound service need not be complicated or difficult. See how simply put Jesus' sermons are.
2.Let children know that they are a part of the service. The Jewish tradition has a child asking the questions and the adults responding in the explanation of the passover. We can do the same for the Holy Communion. Occasionally we can have a child pray. Whatever we do should be thought through and not part of a gimmick.
3. Respect a child. This means that as a church, we place certain expectations and restraint on a child as we do adults in worship service.

BRINGING YOUR CHILD TO CHURCH: SOME PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PARENTS: Most parents think a child's place is in Sunday school. A child is in Church service only because his parents are there. They are only ''tagging along." The child knows that and therefore has no interest in the church service.

1.When bringing a young child to church, leave him in a cry room or nursery if there is one.
2. At the earliest possible, where your child has shown some understanding, explain the church service to him. Integrate the child into as much of the service as possible.
3. For parts of the service where you think the child might be lost or bored, bring things to occupy him. Some parents suggest a colour book or some crayons and papers.
4. Teach your child reverence and respect. Reverence for God and respect for others. Teach him not to disturb the worship of others. You'll be surprised how much a young child can understand.
5. Discipline your child when necessary. Once a child can understand rules, for example how to behave in class or kindergarten, he can be held accountable for breaking those rules.

How to Discipline your child: "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die." Proverbs 23: 13. The Bible, especially the book of Proverbs, is emphatic that children should be disciplined. Let me put it directly enough to offend the faint hearted: God says. ''spank the brat!'' Spanking is not the "in'' thing to do these days. Only the unenlightened spanked their kids. It's barbaric. So the modern pied pipers of child rearing insist to their followers. And they should know; look at their success. especially in the West, of raising up a generation of respectful, moral, law-abiding, drug free youths! (Forgive my sarcasm.)
But God's Word has not changed and neither has human nature. Christian parents need to take seriously (and obediently) God's instructions about child discipline. Spanking is a necessary part of that. I believe it is significant that of all the books in the Bible it is Proverbs, the book of Wisdom, that most clearly insists that parents lovingly spank (''use the rod'' ''cane'' etc.) their kids.

HOW TO PHYSICALLY DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILD: "The rod of reproof gives wisdom, but the child left to himself brings shame to his mother." Proverbs 29: 15.

1. Make sure he or she has done something wilfully defiant or morally wrong (like lying or stealing). Don't spank a child for simple forgetfulness or irresponsibility.
2.You will understandably be upset but try to not let anger be your motivation for spanking. On the other hand, even if you don't feel particularly angry, but your child deserves spanking, administer it. Consistency is a key.
3. Make sure your child knows what he or she is being spanked for.The pain inflicted should be psychologically attached to the undesired behaviour.
4.Use an instrument, like a paddle or belt or cane, to spank. It is better not to use your hand since the instrument of spanking will be associated with pain.
5.Only strike the child on the buttocks. Do not slap or beat the child around the head or body. That is abusive. Also, only spank enough times to inflict pain. Spanking is not torture.
6. Expect some complaints and pouting from your child.

	CHILDREN IN YOUR CHURCH: SOME PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR CHURCH LEADERS 1. Keep your services simple. A profound service need not be complicated or difficult. See how simply put Jesus' sermons are. 2.Let children know that they are a part of the service. The Jewish tradition has a child asking the questions and the adults responding in the explanation of the passover. We can do the same for the Holy Communion. Occasionally we can have a child pray. Whatever we do should be thought through and not part of a gimmick. 3. Respect a child. This means that as a church, we place certain expectations and restraint on a child as we do adults in worship service. BRINGING YOUR CHILD TO CHURCH: SOME PRACTICAL TIPS FOR PARENTS: Most parents think a child's place is in Sunday school. A child is in Church service only because his parents are there. They are only ''tagging along." The child knows that and therefore has no interest in the church service. 1.When bringing a young child to church, leave him in a cry room or nursery if there is one. 2. At the earliest possible, where your child has shown some understanding, explain the church service to him. Integrate the child into as much of the service as possible. 3. For parts of the service where you think the child might be lost or bored, bring things to occupy him. Some parents suggest a colour book or some crayons and papers. 4. Teach your child reverence and respect. Reverence for God and respect for others. Teach him not to disturb the worship of others. You'll be surprised how much a young child can understand. 5. Discipline your child when necessary. Once a child can understand rules, for example how to behave in class or kindergarten, he can be held accountable for breaking those rules. How to Discipline your child: "Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you beat him with a rod, he will not die." Proverbs 23: 13. The Bible, especially the book of Proverbs, is emphatic that children should be disciplined. Let me put it directly enough to offend the faint hearted: God says. ''spank the brat!'' Spanking is not the "in'' thing to do these days. Only the unenlightened spanked their kids. It's barbaric. So the modern pied pipers of child rearing insist to their followers. And they should know; look at their success. especially in the West, of raising up a generation of respectful, moral, law-abiding, drug free youths! (Forgive my sarcasm.) But God's Word has not changed and neither has human nature. Christian parents need to take seriously (and obediently) God's instructions about child discipline. Spanking is a necessary part of that. I believe it is significant that of all the books in the Bible it is Proverbs, the book of Wisdom, that most clearly insists that parents lovingly spank (''use the rod'' ''cane'' etc.) their kids. HOW TO PHYSICALLY DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILD: "The rod of reproof gives wisdom, but the child left to himself brings shame to his mother." Proverbs 29: 15. 1. Make sure he or she has done something wilfully defiant or morally wrong (like lying or stealing). Don't spank a child for simple forgetfulness or irresponsibility. 2.You will understandably be upset but try to not let anger be your motivation for spanking. On the other hand, even if you don't feel particularly angry, but your child deserves spanking, administer it. Consistency is a key. 3. Make sure your child knows what he or she is being spanked for.The pain inflicted should be psychologically attached to the undesired behaviour. 4.Use an instrument, like a paddle or belt or cane, to spank. It is better not to use your hand since the instrument of spanking will be associated with pain. 5.Only strike the child on the buttocks. Do not slap or beat the child around the head or body. That is abusive. Also, only spank enough times to inflict pain. Spanking is not torture. 6. Expect some complaints and pouting from your child.
Home	Copyright @ A.Othniel, Bombay, India. aocc@vsnl.com	top