KIDS WORSHIP
GIVING KIDS A BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF WORSHIP ( PART 4 ) | Yancy
So , I ’ m curious . How did it go ? Did you start a conversation with different ministry team leaders asking the questions : 1 . How does your church place value on worship ? 2 . How are they intentional to use worship to help raise up Christ followers ?
Have you solidified your vision for worship discipleship to happen within the generations of your church ? Maybe you ’ ve started the process but it ’ s just that “ in process ”. That ’ s ok . I understand that in many cases it feels like you ’ re trying to change the direction of the Titanic . Don ’ t get overwhelmed . Take it one step at a time . My challenge to you is to just keep taking steps . This isn ’ t a one conversation topic . Keep bringing it up to your leadership and your peers until everyone is on the same page and ready to truly disciple this generation to be the worshipers God made them to be . Yes , it means you ’ re going to have to work together . It could mean your worship pastor gets involved in kids and student ministry worship . Yesterday , I had a conversation with someone and they shared how a cycle had been created . Middle schoolers helped lead elementary worship . High schoolers helped lead middle schoolers in worship and on and on . The process they had created also meant that as kids moved up to a new class there were people that knew them because they had served in their previous class . Hearing this person share their experience reminded me what can be gained when we decide to work together and to work as one church and mission rather than a bunch of different ministry silos .
As we wrap up this article series let ’ s learn another Hebrew word for praise .
TOWDAH -To-daw An extension of the hand . Thanksgiving . A confession . A sacrifice of praise . Thanksgiving for things not yet received . A choir of worshippers . It is praising God with expectation . Sometimes the sacrifice of praise , the act of showing God honor and praise even before the realization of his promises , precedes salvation . Psalm 50:23 “ Whoever offers praise ( towdah ) glorifies Me ; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God .”
Worship could be the place within your church that people are drawn to God . You could be leading people in worship that participate in glorifying God even when they haven ’ t made Jesus their Lord . I love this reminder from scripture that God will show His salvation . As people sing , eyes are opened . As hands are lifted , attitudes and atmospheres shift . It ’ s such a powerful thought that should help us define our purpose as leaders of worship . Help people draw close to the Lord , because when they do , He draws close to us . I heard a pastor recently sharing about how God goes where He is invited . It was such an important reminder for the posture that we should choose to enter into every day but especially every time we are gathering together for worship .
In this series we ’ ve learned about : Yadah , Barak , Shabach , Zamar , Caphar and Halal . Here ’ s a short list of some popular worship songs and what Hebrew word for praise describes this song .
• House of the Lord ( Shabach )
• Gratitude ( Yadah , Shabach )
• Goodness of God ( Barak , Caphar )
• Revelation Song ( Barak , Yadah )
• Great Are You Lord ( Barak , Yadah )
• Super Wonderful ( Halal )
• See A Victory ( Shabach , Towdah )
• Firm Foundation ( Towdah )
• No Longer Slaves ( Halal , Towdah , Barak )
• Build My Life ( Yadah , Towdah )
I have some homework for you to do . I want you to identify songs from your recent months set lists . Process what word ( s ) best describes the type of songs you ’ ve been leading . What ’ s missing from the list ? Do you need to find some songs that support those types of praise to be offered up ? As you craft your worship sets consider the types of praise those songs will help you express . Maybe you want to have a variety throughout a set . Other days you may want a repeating theme throughout .
I pray you ’ re feeling more equipped to share Biblical definitions of what worship is and how you do it . Keep learning . Listen to messages on worship . Read books about it . The more you intake the more vocabulary you will have to lead your kids with and help give them understanding . The goal isn ’ t to just do songs . The goal is to lead them in worship . Choose to become more intentional to disciple kids in worship .
© 2023 Yancy Ministries , Inc .
Yancy Yancy is a worship leader and songwriter for kids that travels the globe doing family concerts and training worship leaders . Every week her songs are used in thousands of churches around the world . Her Dove Award winning music is all the things kids love and everything adults value . Her popular worship resources include “ Little Praise Party ”, “ Kidmin Worship ” and “ Heartbeat Curriculum ”. Yancy wrote her first children ’ s musical for Lillenas Kids : “ Best Christmas Song Ever ”. She authored the book “ Sweet Sound : The Power of Discipling Kids in Worship ”. She lives with her husband and sons in Nashville , TN .
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