Corporate worship on the Lord's Day should be the highlight of the worship taking place in our hearts and homes each week. Having worship at home during the week will prepare your children and you for worship with God's people on Sunday. Building a culture of worship in your family and home will make Sunday a natural part of your family's rhythm of walking with God and not just another item on the week's calendar.

Consistency is key. When you make worship and discipleship important in your home this will become a part of your children's lives and routines. The hardest years for teaching children to sit still and listen in church are from about 1-5. With consistent expectations and practice, by 5 years of age most children are completely capable of quietly sitting through a worship service and even listening and participating.

*Consider joining our Wednesday online prayer call. This call is only 15-20 minutes. Taking time to join this as a family will teach your children the importance of being involved/engaged in church fellowship. It is also another great way to teach them to be quiet and sit still for a short time.

A major part of preparing for worship on Sunday begins Saturday. Don’t plan Saturday night outings, especially ones that keep you out past the little ones' bedtimes. This sets you up for failure on Sunday morning. If everyone is tired and grumpy from being out late Saturday, Sunday will not be peaceful and joyful. Make it a priority to stay home as many Saturday evenings as you can. On Saturday night, get everyone bathed, lay out clothes and shoes for church the next day, etc. Talk about church, gather Bibles, quiet toys, books, and offerings and place them in a convenient place so they are ready to go. Having this routine will help Sunday go smoother and teach your children church is important.

In addition, plan a simple breakfast ahead of time for Sunday morning. Gather at the table for the meal, and talk about why this day is important. If it is a special service or we are having communion explain that to them. Be excited about church and seek to build anticipation in your family. You can also play worship music, and pray for the service, the pastor, the worship leaders, and the members. Try to leave early, and if it has been a hectic morning with little/no time to focus on God, talk about Him and what will be happening at church on the way in the car.

Parents, to prepare for the inevitable distractions that come from worshiping with your children, create a plan to engage them with quiet activities and snacks. When necessary, take your child out for a short time to allow them to calm down but always return to the service. You don't want your child to learn he can get out of service whenever he chooses. Take turns as to who will take a child out of the service (Mom this week, Dad the next). Also, our pastor is usually preaching through books of the Bible. This makes it easy to know where we will be in the Scriptures, so reading the passage for the Sunday sermon during the week will help you stay focused and reconnect when you must step out.

On the way home after the service, ask your children what they enjoyed or learned in church. Tell them what you enjoyed. Mention a song you liked and why. Highlight the key point(s) of the message and why that is important for us in following Jesus.