KIDS WORSHIP
LEADING KIDS TO KNOW HIS VOICE | Yancy
Are you making space for the things you want to see grow in the lives of those you lead?
In a recent conversation with a kids worship leader we were discussing ways they could encourage worship in their group. I recalled a ministry director telling me about giving kids time to listen to God speak to them. Literally setting aside four minutes of class to just allow the kids to be still and know that God was talking to them. Like anything she commented the first week everyone was a little caught off guard and maybe it was a little clunky. But she kept up the discipline. Played some soft music in the background. Prompted them with a question to ask God. What does God say about you? What is God really proud of you about? How does God want to be worshiped? She was teaching them to hear His voice. She repeated this rhythm over and over. It was no longer a rough few minutes but rather an intentional and life-giving few minutes as part of their time together.
I think it’ s really important to give children space to learn to hear God’ s voice. Imagine all the things that He could talk to them about? Consider the ways that He might nudge their behavior or attitude through these encounters.
Growing up, I often would think I heard my parents calling me. I’ d come from my bedroom over to the kitchen and ask whichever parent there what they wanted. So many times they responded“ I didn’ t call you … but if you hear it again say‘ Speak Lord, Your servant is listening’.” Quoting Eli raising up young Samuel to hear God’ s voice and know His voice. This went on for years. I even recall being in the mall as a teenager and thinking they were saying my name on the intercom in a department store. Looking back, I can see where these experiences hearing my name were shaping me. They were teaching me a posture of prayer, waiting and being on guard and ready:“ Speak Lord, your servant is listening.”
What if Eli had not taught this very thing to Samuel? Do you think he would have still become a prophet? Hearing God’ s voice is a pretty key thing for a prophet to be able to do. I’ d say it’ s a necessary thing. My family has been enjoying the“ House of David” show. It’ s bringing to life this story and expanding so many other details that we just skip by in reading the text. Seeing Saul being tormented, knowing David was brought to the palace to play the harp to calm him is making so much more sense. Watching Samuel in the story, although much later in his life, I can’ t help but recall the childhood discipleship that Eli forged. Hearing God’ s voice and responding to it are essential. Without it he couldn’ t have anointed David as King. Hannah’ s little boy and Eli’ s protégé, Samuel had a calling on his life. God would use Him mightily but in the secret place he had to learn the sound of God’ s voice.
I know we can have struggles where we don’ t see the kind of engagement in worship we’ d like. Whether that be from shifts in the year, growth in the kids, or changes in your team. What if in addressing the issues you’ re navigating you asked your kids questions?
What if you taught them to seek God about the worship, He wants them to bring? It’ s a whole different form of leading worship. And I believe it could be incredibly impactful. When God speaks to you, about how He wants you to worship, it’ s a lot harder to withhold that kind of participation.
You could have a Samuel kind of leader in your class. Teach him to hear God’ s voice.
You could have a sacrificial giver like Hannah in your group. Teach her to hear God’ s voice.
I believe, you are a mighty leader, just like Eli, shaping and forming faith in the lives of those you lead. It’ s time to raise up boys and girls that are confident in the voice of the Father. Make space for that to happen. Invite them into worship as a way to communicate their love to the Father, express their awe and wonder, while always remaining in a“ Speak Lord, your servant is listening” posture. What if church became a place that kids know“ God talks to me there”? This is another layer in hungering and thirsting.
© 2025 Yancy Ministries, Inc.
Yancy Yancy is a worship leader and songwriter with a passion for kids worship. Every week her music is used in thousands of churches around the world. Her Dove Awards winning music helps kids fall in love with Jesus one song at a time. Yancy authored the book Sweet Sound: The Power of Discipling Kids in Worship to help your church raise every generation to be worshipers. Through her program CHORUS, she coaches worship leaders for Next Gen Ministry. Stained Glass Kids is a podcast she hosts for PK’ s and ministry kids. Yancy lives with her husband and sons in Nashville, TN.
YancyMinistries. com
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