focusing them to worship?
[ David ] You’ re right that kids can be blissfully uninhibited in their worship, and often their hearts are open to what God wants to do in a way that other age groups are not. J. I. Packer wrote,“ One can know a great deal about God without much knowledge of him.” In worship we actually meet with God— we know him instead of just learning about him. That’ s why we should care about teaching kids to worship.
[ Yancy ] How would you encourage us as children’ s ministry leaders to not forsake the singing act of worship?
[ David ] This is a big deal. The Bible contains more than 50 commands to sing and more than 400 references to singing. The point is not the quality of our singing, but our willingness to sing. It says something about our hearts. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote,“ The heart sings because it is filled with Christ.”
That doesn’ t mean other forms of worship are wrong— there are lots of different ways to worship in Scripture. But whatever form our worship takes, it should include singing.
A simple way to start is to lead from the platform in the way you want kids to participate. So, prioritize leading with singers— even if they are singing off-mic. We love hand motions, but we try to make them simple enough that they enhance kids’ singing rather than detracting from it. There’ s a whole chapter on singing in the book where I go into much more depth.
[ Yancy ] There are plenty of books and resources and information about worship in general, but comparatively little about kids’ worship. What are we missing?
[ David ] It’ s striking just how little is out there on this topic. Truly, between your book, Sweet Sound: The Power of Discipling Kids in Worship, and mine, we might represent the sum total of all published work on this topic in the last decade or more. That complete lack of resources is a big reason for writing this book. It’ s also why we created the Leading Kids in Worship Masterclass to go with it. We wanted leaders to have a resource they could use with their teams to cast a positive vision for kids’ worship.
[ Yancy ] What’ s your favorite way churches can partner with their families to provide parents with discipleship tools for their family time?
[ David ] There are lots of good resources, but the only thing you really need to disciple your kids is a Bible and a willing heart. And most of us have the Bible part of the equation covered. The partnership most parents need is not finding the right tool but developing the right heart. That means parents need regular encouragement. They need accountability. They need training. And they need persistence.
A couple years ago, I needed to start exercising. A friend said,“ I just joined a gym down the street. Why don’ t you come with me?” So, I did. He showed me his exercise plan and helped me learn how to use some of the equipment.
Having a partner meant having accountability. Ultimately, he helped me form a new healthy habit.
That’ s the kind of partnership parents need— not pointing them in the direction of a tool, but coming alongside and saying,“ Let’ s do this together.”
[ Yancy ] Yes, I love that. Thanks for all you do David. I loved reading your book and am so grateful to have this time with you today.
Learn more about all that David and Jess Ray are doing with Doorpost Kids Worship and grab his book at DoorpostSongs. com.
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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