Children in Church - Page 3

BoredOutOfMyMind · #21 07-07-2007, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

First of all, being bored and restless in church is childish behavior...not bad behavior, and therefore has to be corrected as such. We don't spank our children unless they are deliberately disobedient or defiant. Wiggling too much during a long sermon certainly doesn't qualify as spank-worthy.

This shows again why you are one of my favorite members here. Can we punish wiggling adults, or those who have to troop to the bathroom and back also?

Great thoughts on children, and I agree with Barb, you are doing a great time with yours it appears!

Sherri · #22 07-07-2007, 06:15 PM

I can see both sides of this issue, being on staff at church. I think kids need the worship experience with their parents, but if you have them stay in, there are always those crying babies who the parents wait and wait and wait to take out. It's very distracting to the speaker, and it's awful when you're recording for TV or even CD's. Our kids and babies are not in the service on Sundays; they have their own church. But once a month on Wednesdays, they are in the sanctuary with their folks for an "Encounter Service" where we really focus on praise & worship and the power of God.

lisafitzh2o · #23 07-07-2007, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

Can we punish wiggling adults, or those who have to troop to the bathroom and back also?

So true! I was watching LA camp online and caught myself shaking my head in amazement at a singer on the platform talking nonstop to the person beside her while Lee Stoneking was preaching the Word. I was blown away.

And we wonder why our kids misbehave....

lisafitzh2o · #24 07-07-2007, 08:23 PM

And before anybody starts in on me... no, I don't sit around watching others. She was just very distracting.

Pressing-On · #25 07-07-2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sherri

I can see both sides of this issue, being on staff at church. I think kids need the worship experience with their parents, but if you have them stay in, there are always those crying babies who the parents wait and wait and wait to take out. It's very distracting to the speaker, and it's awful when you're recording for TV or even CD's. Our kids and babies are not in the service on Sundays; they have their own church. But once a month on Wednesdays, they are in the sanctuary with their folks for an "Encounter Service" where we really focus on praise & worship and the power of God.

Good post, Sherri. Some churches have a Sunday night service, like ours, that give the children an opportunity to participate with the adults.

I wish I had a picture of this little girl that was standing at the front Sunday night, about 3 years old, blond hair, blue eyes and fat cheeks with her hair piled on top of her head. She was lifting her hands worshiping, clapping and singing. So cute!!! I couldn't stop watching her! lol

Pressing-On · #26 07-07-2007, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisafitzh2o

So true! I was watching LA camp online and caught myself shaking my head in amazement at a singer on the platform talking nonstop to the person beside her while Lee Stoneking was preaching the Word. I was blown away.

And we wonder why our kids misbehave....

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisafitzh2o

And before anybody starts in on me... no, I don't sit around watching others. She was just very distracting.

That is a distraction! Or when you are asked to testify and the speaker starts talking to one of the singers! Hilarious!

Neck · #27 07-07-2007, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianoman

This subject was brought up in another thread, but I thought it deserved it's own thread.

Crying children or unruly children are a distraction in a church service.

As a grandfather, I'm torn between having the kids go to the nursery or children's church during services vs. having the children experience a family worship and preaching.

At my church, children never experience the main services until they're teenagers. When my own children started attending services, they were uncomfortable for awhile.

I grew up sleeping on top or under pews during preaching. My mom made me behave so I wouldn't be a distraction. At times she wasn't successful!

Anyway, I grew up experiencing church!

Where should we draw the line when it comes to our children attending church services? What is the age when they should start experiencing the things that happen in our services?

I'll never forget Mark Hanby while preaching a sermon in Ft. Worth when we attended his church in 1976.

There was a baby crying and crying.

He stopped his sermon, looked at the mother and said,

"Treat it like a new years resolution and carry it out"!

She got the message....

LaGirl · #28 07-07-2007, 09:46 PM

we have a nursery. it is for ages 0-4. my son is 4 and sits with me in church. he went to the nursery MAYBE 3 times. NOT MANY! there are kids that i KNOW are 3 and 4 years old and MAY have sit in church 4 or 5services....and i dont think they even made it pass the singing part. my suggest is let them learn from age 1!

LaGirl · #29 07-07-2007, 09:48 PM

i also sat near the back in case i needed to take my son out.

Pressing-On · #30 07-07-2007, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LaGirl

we have a nursery. it is for ages 0-4. my son is 4 and sits with me in church. he went to the nursery MAYBE 3 times. NOT MANY! there are kids that i KNOW are 3 and 4 years old and MAY have sit in church 4 or 5services....and i dont think they even made it pass the singing part. my suggest is let them learn from age 1!

I only went to the nursery for obvious reasons. Sure didn't want to sit in there and so many women loved passing the kids around and holding them that I had plenty of times to get into the service.