Let the Children Worship

by Jason Helopoulos

Jason Helopoulos encourages the church to embrace the important part children play in the life of the church and unfolds the enormous blessings to be found in having them present in the worship services of the congregation. He points out how the struggles are temporary – whereas the blessings can be eternal.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Church, Christian, Christianity, Ecclesiology, Childrens

96 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2016

About the author

Jason was born in the “Land of Lincoln,” central Illinois. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1999. Jason then attended Dallas Theological Seminary and completed a Masters of Theology degree (ThM) with a concentration in Historical Theology and Christian Education in 2003. He served on the staff of Park Cities Presbyterian Church as a pastoral intern for one year and then accepted a call as an Assistant Pastor at Meadowview Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Lexington, North Carolina. In the fall of 2007, Jason was called by Christ Church PCA in Grand Rapids, Michigan to plant a daughter church in Lansing, Michigan. He accepted the call and moved to the field (and snow) as church planter and pastored Providence PCA in East Lansing until 2012. In the summer of 2012, Jason accepted the call as Assistant Pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan and accepted the call to Senior Pastor in the spring of 2018.

Jason is married to his beautiful bride, Leah. They are blessed with two wonderful children, Gracen and Ethan.

He enjoys spending time with his family, history, reading, laughing, watching a good Chicago Bears’ game (as rare as they are), and feasting upon Chicago-style pizza.

Reviews

[David Goetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now the best book out there on why children should be present and participating in the worship of Christ's church. I will recommend it before Parenting in the Pew.

Helopoulos rightly prioritizes worship of God, love for God, delight in God, and communion with God (individually and corporately) as the goal of the Christian life, and he rightly prizes the ordinary means of grace (the Word, the sacraments, and prayer) in the corporate worship of God's people as the greatest instruments whereby the Spirit of God will form the hearts of children to maturity in Christ. To remove children from worship, for whatever reason, steals blessing from them and injurs or weakens the body.

In the last three chapters, he addresses dubious parents (to whom he gives helpful concrete advice on how to prepare for Sunday and how to help your child thrive in worship), church leaders (whom he reminds that the culture of the church probably will communicate hospitality to children only if they themselves communicate hospitality to children), and various alternative programs (Sunday school, children's church, worship training) and objections. He argues his case persuasively and powerfully.

The only place where he didn't quite do his best was in arguing against children's church as a replacement for children-in-worship. He assumes that children's church will seek essentially to entertain children, which he rightly notes is not actually good preparation for worship, which is not about us but about the triune God of our confession. He does not, however, address children's church models that are genuinely worshipful (e.g., the model of the Hearts Alive curriculum). I do think that even that sort of children's church is inferior to children-in-worship, but Helopoulos would've done well to address a well-done children's church model rather than just the easy straw man.

That said, I wish literally everyone who loves the Church would read this book. The author is a pastor who has children, loves children, and wants to see children learn the joy of worship; he makes his case theologically and skillfully; he avoids entirely the charge of naiveté; and he clearly loves the church, which is a large part of what makes his case so persuasive.

Anyway, read this book. It'll take you an hour or two. And then give it to your pastor or your staff and have them read it, too.

[Kofi Opoku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! Jason Helopoulos has done a masterful work on the subject of children in corporate worship by first explaining what corporate worship is, and then showing the blessings and benefits of including children. I also liked his answers to some of the common objections. There’s a lot of practical wisdom in this book to serve the church for many generations.

[Molly Whelan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a blessing it is to be part of a church that values children in corporate worship! I appreciate the practical tips given in chapter 5.

[Natalie Herr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but thorough defense of keeping kids in Sunday worship. Helpful for both parents and church leaders looking to encourage parents in their church. I appreciated the reminder that our children are probably not as distracting as we think they are.🤍

[Ethan Moehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is simple, helpful, and should probably be considered by more pastors and church leaders. He writes most directly to a Presbyterian/Covenantal Household perspective, but nearly everything in the book applies across the board regardless of continuity and denominational convictions.

[Vincent Lemieux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Emmie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author an I would have deep debates over many things, but the Truth that children are to be with their families in corporate worship gatherings is not one of them. Helopoulos gives a clear argument as to why this is the case and even practical implementation. For this reason I recommend anyone who calls themselves a Christian or Bible believer should read this book.

Those involved in the popular churchianity way of doing corporate worship absolutely need to read this to understand the importance of children being in your pews.

He also has me thinking a bit about some of the covenant theology again, though we would likely disagree on what this means.

I only give it three stars because of how clearly he has been steeped in modern churchianity and seminary way of thinking in many other ways, particularly how he uses words commonly and not the way the Bible as we understand it does, and after all YHWH has shown us the past two years, I can see many errors in the way he presents the material, though the thesis is sound. For example the phrase going to church is not at all Biblical when throughout Scripture the church was charged to be. Sunday mornings are not the practice of the church in the Bible.

It was also a struggle to read as a family who held this conviction, were encouraged to practice it by a "pastor" who then turned on us after I nearly died and told us our children were no longer welcome in service. One chapter in this book was written to pastors to encourage them in this practice and how to implement it, and after living this, was very hard to read.

[Tim Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, such an encouraging read as a parent. it's so easy to become discouraged, overwhelmed, and tempted to give up. But, as members of the visible church, in worship is where children belong and benefit the most. Sunday school is great! Worship prep classes are great! Catechism and Communion Prep are awesome! But they are all second behind Children being where God has called them to be since the Old Testament Times, alongside their family in worship. Here they observe the joy of others Worshipping a loving God. They are confronted with and ask questions about a Communion they cannot yet take. They observe a baptism and ask about their own. Be encouraged parents, God's promises are not empty, and the months (years?) of work training a child to worship alongside the church are worth more than we can imagine!

Approx. Read Time: 90 Min.

[Betsy Wepfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very encouraged by this book, and even more encouraged by what our church is doing to include children in corporate worship. The author does an amazing job of using scripture to defend the point that children should be a part of our corporate worship service. It’s very short, but loaded with practical advice and answers to many “objections” people have regarding children in corporate worship (ex: they’re bored, they’re not quiet, they don’t understand). He also addresses many alternatives churches use for children in place of corporate worship. Overall I highly recommend this book to any Christian parent! Our children belong in corporate worship just as much as we as adults do.

[Paul Abdallah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful read. I came into the book with the perspective of the author and was strengthened in it! The focus on defining worship and why it’s important was helpful. I think the final few chapters were the most helpful, probably because that’s what I came in looking for!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling biblical vision for including children in corporate worship starting at a young age. Challenges a lot of modern day notions of children's ministry.

[Gretchen Hand · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple book, but helpful in ways to support families while in service. Also a great tool that discusses why it is important for kids to be in corporate worship.

[Joshua Chipchase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Effectively makes the case to include children in the main worship service on Sunday morning. Persuasive and easy to read. He also aptly deals with all the major arguments against having children in the worship service. I would have disagreements with the author's views on children being a part of the New Covenant community (so I may hesitate to give this to a church member), but it is a helpful resource to have.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

“One could rightfully suggest that consciously or unconsciously we make a statement about our children’s status in the covenant community by the very act of choosing to include or exclude them from corporate worship” p.36.

[Grant Hohlbein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m sold. *Gulp* Now to put it in action.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book arguing for keeping kids in church rather than an age-specific children's program (the other I read is "Parenting in the Pew"). Again: I wish I'd read this sooner! Lots to think about now.

[Rūta Bacevičė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Labai lengvai besiskaitanti knyga (ir plona 🙈). Autorius pristato priežastis, kodėl vaikai turėtų dalyvauti bažnyčioje pamaldose kartu su tėvais, o ne būti atskirti. Knyga taip pat supažindina su sekmadieninės mokyklos koncepto atsiradimu, gražia idėja (sekmadieniais mokyti darbininkų klasės vaikus, kurie 6 savaites dienas dirbdavo su savo tėvais, akademinių žinių) pakito į vaikų atskirtį sekmadieniais pamaldų metu, kad visiems būtų patogiau/įdomiau.

Labai patiko duotas vaizdingas pavyzdys apie maistą. Desertas (smagios veiklos vaikams apie Bibliją ir Dievą) yra didelis džiaugsmas ir tinkamu metu vartojamas yra palaiminimas. Tačiau vaikams visų pirma yra reikalinga sveika mityba (pamaldos/šventųjų susirinkimas), kad ilgainiui vaikai nesusilpnėtų. Kad ir koks skanus desertas būna tą akimirką, jis neduoda naudos tavo kūnui nevalgant rimto maisto.

Beskaitant mintyse vis galvojau, ką pasakytų prieštaraujančios pusės atstovai ir kokie mano argumentai turėtų būti. Mano džiaugsmui, autorius knygos pabaigoje pamini bendrinius prieštaravimus šiai pozicijai ir atsako į juos.

Trumpa, aiški, knyga, padrąsinanti tėvus (nes su mažais vaikais tai tikrai gali būti sudėtinga) šlovinti Dievą kartu su savo vaikais sekmadienį kitų tikinčiųjų draugijoje.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small voices murmuring, the slight cry of a baby, a little head turning around to stare at all the people behind them, all while the Word of God is read and proclaimed: this is the sight and the sounds of a community of believers worshiping God together. Do these sights and sounds give you fear and panic or do they sound like intergenerational worship? Whatever the case may be Jason Helopoulos argues in his new book Let the Children Worship published by Christian Focus that all people regardless of age should be worshiping together.

There is a problem in our churches today which affects all churches large and small. This problem stems from a trend which started during 70’s when churches starting having children separated from the rest of the congregation from “Youth Groups” to “Children’s Church” or any form of under 18 ministry. This trend has left most people who grew up in this new era feeling like they must be separated from those with differing ages. It is with this mindset that Helopoulos argues for a return to multigenerational congregational worship.

The main thrust of this work argues that since we are created for worship, when we gather as the people of God, we should be worshiping as He wants us to worship, by the basic means of grace a local covenant community. Helopoulos then demonstrates that there are blessings and benefits that come from including children in worship, how they are able to see the sacraments, understand necessity of keeping Sabbath worship as a priority, and engage the whole family in a unified teaching of scripture.

Yet while some of this book can seem like a study without practical implications, it is anything but. Helopoulos spends countless pages demonstrating to parents and church leaders how to implement this return to non-age segregated worship and to make it something that the children desire to be present for. Some of these practical applications can be difficult to complete but they are necessary steps to engage children in worship, and to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the church.

From the perspective of a Children’s and Youth Minister, as well as a father, this work was a concept that had been rattling around in my mind for a few years now, and it was great to see that not only do others share this view but have the desire and drive to see a return to a multigenerational congregational worship which is what is shown to us in scripture, demonstrating the principles laid out in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. I would recommend this to any ministers as well as any parents who desire to have their children worship together as the family of God.

This book was provided to me free of charge from Christian Focus Publishing in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.

[Matthew Manchester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really short, succinct, and great book. The author lays a quick foundation for the importance of worship. He then talks about the consequences of not including children in the main worship service and the benefits if you do.

I loved how he was realistic with these benefits. He didn't over-promise or under-promise.

The last couple chapters he answers the common objections to why people don't choose integrate family services.

Overall, I loved this book and will be referencing his wisdom for years to come.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book summarizing the importance of worship and the importance of including children in worship.
I found this book to be encouraging and helpful. It’s brief and easy to read but packed with information.


“ The most important part of a local churches life is corporate worship.... He ministers to us by these ordinary means of grace (Word, sacraments, and prayer). We must never forget God chooses to work by means -these ordinary means. Churches and parents can chase after the next creative means by which to impact their children, but nothing holds the promise of that which God Himself clearly ordained. These ordinary means of grace prove effectual. When our children attend corporate worship they dwell in the midst of these effectual means of grace. The more we place them in the way of the means of grace the better the opportunity for their souls to encounter the God of grace.” P. 41

“Remember, our goal is not to train our children to be quiet and still (though that is necessary), but to participate in worship.” P. 59

[Sarah Snyder · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was recommended in an article on the Center for Faith and Children website. Because of the endorsement by Center for Faith and Children I expected this book to be a good resource. I was disappointed. I found that most of the book focused on how to train children to sit through a worship service that is designed for adults. I was really hoping this would be a book that addressed how the church (in America at least) does not usually consider children when it comes to corporate worship. I wanted the author to address church leadership more directly about how services should adapt to the developmental level of children (spirituality and mentally/physically). One chapter did speak to church leadership and made some good points…but I feel there is so much more to address. Ultimately the focus was on how parents can help their kids engage quietly in corporate worship. I think it is so important for children to engage in corporate worship services as part of the Body of Christ. I also think it is so important that those planning worship services make adjustments to meet the spiritual needs of children and meet them at a level children can engage and experience God in ways that are meaningful to them. This book lacked in that area.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good, concise, and biblical book about including children in worship. The book is only seven chapters long. Jason Helopoulos lays the foundation with biblical reasons for why, as Christians, we worship and what our worship should look like. He then goes on to discuss why children should be included in our worship services; he includes the blessings and benefits of children worshiping with the entire body and wisdom for parents and church leaders in training our children in worship and the difficulties that come with it. The final chapter is titled "Not so Helpful Replacements and Objections." Some of the replacements mentioned are Sunday school and children's church during worship. Helopoulos points out that while these are good things, they should not compete with the worship service. As a Christian parent, I found this book to be encouraging and recommend it. It will take a short time to read and is well worth it.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helopoulos definitely has good things to say, and important points. To be honest, I expected such a short book to have more content; like many books in this genre, the writing wasn't very tight (or edited particularly well), and I felt like I was reading many of the same things over and over. The last few chapters were the most helpful, being more practical in nature, but that could be because the first couple were review for me (e.g. what is worship? and why is corporate worship for everyone?). I appreciated his sacramental theology, because without understanding the role of sacraments in Sunday worship, children aren't missing out on a whole lot by going to children's church. I'm glad someone is discussing this topic, and will definitely be more thoughtful about our family's Sunday morning choices as my own children grow.

[Chase Cohee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Succinct and very helpful. Provides good historical, biblical, and practical reasons why children should worship with the whole congregation from their earliest years on. I could only wish he had spent time on (a) the fact that Eph. 6:1-3 and Col. 3:20 imply that children were in the early church worship services to hear the instruction given to them when it Paul’s letters were read in church, and (b) the idea that attending to fidgety kids in the service is not a “distraction from worship” (the most common objection I’ve heard) but an expression of worship (leading children to God, regardless of how much you do or don’t “get out” of the service). Worship is always self-giving first before it is self-filling.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was edified by the chapters on what worship should be in the church and pleasantly surprised on its full treatment in such a thin book that I expected to be mainly on children.

I have been in a church where children are part of service and where they are part of half of service. Whilst I agree that there are many benefits to the former, I would say this is not ‘bullet-theology’, ie not an issue central to the gospel that I would take a bullet for. There can be liberty in how churches wish to practice this, and of course there can be liberty for some to hold this out as the best way.

Overall, a book very much worth reading.

[Leonardo Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reminder

The topic of the book is simple and practical. Should children participate in the worship service… the answer according to the book is yes.

I came to the book convinced of the topic already, in part because I was doing an study on family worship.

But I think the book is good. Personally I consider the start of the book slow but I think the book rewards the reader with a few practical tips on how to deal with the practice of introducing children to worship for both the parent as well as the minister trying to introduce the practice to a congregation due to conviction.

A really quick read but really encouraging.

[Leonardo Alfonseca · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book made me re-think some of my ideas about Junior Church and Sunday school, but I think it ultimately did not convinced me that doing away with them is the solution to children been bored or uninterested in worship. I believe there is a third option where children can go to most of the services during the week, and attend junior church Sunday morning. I do agree with the author that junior church needs to resemble more of a sermon and have less games and snacks.

I do think the book is valuable and overall pretty useful, even while disagreeing with his conclusions.

[ᴀᴍʙ ☼☽✧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though in the unpopular and the "minority" view with Jason, he made me see the importance of doing the hard and holy thing while not dismissing those who disagree. Biblically laying a foundation for family integrated worship, I learned very much of the why and was even graced with some practical hows as to live this out. So thankful for this resource and would recommend it to any person seeking to begin or needing encouragement when it comes to family integration of worship. This book is a blessing to the Church, young and old!

[Brian Rhea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judging this book by its cover, I expected a light and fluffy quick read, majoring on practicality and lacking substance. I was pleasantly surprised by chapters steeped in classic Reformation ecclesiology, yet quite accessible, that formed a solid foundation for the more practical questions and suggestions. While it's beneficial for all, I would especially recommend this for newer pastors forging their approach to ministry. And, although as a Wesleyan my views differ from the author's, I found nearly nothing to object to and would endorse this book for my own tribe.

[Annelise · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t recommend this book. It’s filled with promises ungrounded in Scripture that having kids in worship will ensure their faithfulness and prevent any spiritual harm. This is simply untrue, even if I agree that children in worship can have many benefits to the entire household of faith and that there are biblical and historical examples of that practice, as well as theological significance to doing so. That doesn’t guarantee any specific outcome though - which the author still makes.