Thursday, September 19, 2024

I grew up hating church...I was just bored. The worst part is that my dad was the pastor, so we were there every time the door was open. Yet, several decades later, I still attend church almost every weekend. Why? One of the biggest reasons is that in middle school I began serving at church. Serving transformed me from a reluctant spectator to an engaged participant.  

I saw the same pattern in my own kids. When they were young, we had to drag them to church. But when they began to serve, their attitudes changed. Today each of them serve full time at their local church. As a parent, one of the biggest things you can do to help your children connect with God and with the local church is to model and encourage a lifestyle of serving. Try this: 

Find serving opportunities ASAP 

• It’s never too early to sow the seeds of a servant’s attitude in the hearts of your children. Reward them when they pick up the toys at home. Encourage them to help their teacher clean up when class is over at church. Always look for ways they can begin serving others. 

Invite your children to serve with you 

• Volunteer to serve regularly in their class at church, and invite them to help you. They can pick up toys, hand snacks, and clean up when the other kids are gone. If you serve in a younger class, invite your older kids to help. 

Help them find a place to serve on their own 

• There are many places in your church where your middle school kids can serve. Don’t be shy about asking adult leaders how they can involve your kids in serving. 

Make serving a part of the rhythm of your house 

• One of the reasons I began serving in church is it was just a regular part of who we were as a family. My dad, my mom, and my siblings all served in the local church, and serving took the highest priority. 

As you look at your family schedule and all the activities you juggle on a weekly basis, which are most likely to have a long term impact on the spiritual development of your children? Baseball? Chemistry homework? Learning a lifetime of serving others? 

I believe, and have seen in my own family, few things in life have a more positive impact than learning to serve.