Months ago my wife and I volunteered to teach the children’s church. We knew Easter would be a combined service potentially doubling our congregation in size. We were up for the service. What a treat. The entire children's ChChurch (approximately 50+ joined the main congregation in the “big hall” for worship in music. Before we sent the children into he auditorium, I stood on a chair and told them, “When we heart about Jesus resurrecting from the dead I want you to make the loudest noise and start celebrating like crazy!” Their little eyes lit up as in “are you serious!? YESSSSSS!” hahahaha. I love the innocence of the children. We were placed on the balcony while the grown ups were on the lower level. When I would cheer and clap my hands, the children would light up the room with cheers. When the song, Forever, came on, they had perfect timing and pitch! I was blown away! After the service, the worship leader as well as a few members of the band told me they too were blown away.
I told my wife, I desperately desire for these children to have a mindset about worship that takes God seriously, worships as he is in the room, and forgets about self-consciousness as well as the opinions of others. God has given me a vision for children in our church; namely, that they are set free to worship fearlessly. That they choose a relationship with Christ over bible trivia/head knowledge. I want to teach and cultivate a culture of spiritual warriors who have no secrets and join hands in sweet brokenness at the foot of the cross. This too, is a tremendous spiritual snowball that has already began to build speed.
When I covered the lessons plan for the children, I made one modification to the curriculum. Don't get me wrong. This curriculum is solid and gospel-centered. But the issue I had was the poster board, which said, “Jesus died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world.” I slightly disagree. I see Jesus praying intensely in the Garden of Gethsemane asking and pleading with God the Father for basically a plan B. Is there any other day? But then his attitude is perfect. Father, not my will but yours be done. I kept asking the children why Jesus died on the cross. With every answer, I replied, “that is true! thank you!” And I kept asking until a boy said, “Because God told him to!” In the second class, a little girl named Isabella said, “He did it to please the Father!” I almost fell on the floor! I told both of those children that their answer was the best I’d ever heard.
I then put all the attention on the attitude of Christ and his earthly mission to do nothing more than “Please the Father.” I turned it to application and connected pleasing the father to everything in their lives from domestic situations to school rules. And in the midst of discouragement to find that the power to obey and please the father comes from the power of the resurrection. Simply an amazing time. Oh yeah, we ended our class by singing praise and worship songs and dancing and break dance fighting with each other until the parents came to pick everyone up. yes! Best easter service I’ve ever experienced.
