Sometimes services need a PG rating. It’s important to be able to talk about the real world in sermons, and the real world isn’t always pretty – or kid friendly. If you are discussing porn use, drug addiction or adultery, it won’t be [and shouldn’t be] appropriate for children. Even messages that touch on divorce can traumatize kids, either filling them with fear or painful memories [and even self-blame].
The easiest answer is to avoid those topics and only preach about “nice” things – but that’s not what pastors are called to do, and we all know it. The reason that we have children’s ministry isn’t just to babysit – it’s so that kids can learn in age-appropriate environments. They are not just “little adults” – they cognate differently, thinking much more in black-and-white terms, and not understanding grownup relational structures, paradoxes and shades of meaning like adults do. Let people know the week before. Have ushers warn families with young kids if the topic that day is going to be intense – hell, death, grief, sex, etc… and remind in a friendly way during announcements [preservice slides can sometimes be helpful, but they are often ignored]. Don’t push kids to grow up too soon…
Hmmm - well, let's see...
I'm a Christian, a husband, a dad, a son, a pastor, a consultant, a musician, a writer, and bits and pieces of a bunch of other things. My work life has followed three main phases - business to teaching to church. I was the Weekend Services Pastor for nine years at Northview Church, an awesome church in the Indianapolis suburbs. I used to work for Willow Creek, another awesome church in the Chicago area. Plus I've written for various magazines and websites, and other freelancy sorts of things... My life mission is to help the church be as excellent as it can be.
Oh yeah - the name's Greg. Greg Wallace. But not the race car driver or the major league pitcher or the British celebrity chef. Just the creative worship guy. Hi.
It's my hope that these ideas, musings, rants, raves, etc... will inspire you. They're just my opinions - but again, I hope that they'll help to inspire you. Because the church really, really needs inspired creative types. If you're a creative type (and most people are, deep-down), ask God for help. Then take any ideas that are useful to you - borrow them, nab them, use them, adapt them - and make them into something greater...
You can head over to my Instagram site for an abundance of shorter posts: creativeworshipideas. If you're looking for consulting - especially on weekend services, team leadership or multi-site strategies - I'd love to help. Just message me here, and I'll be in touch - Greg
View all posts by creativeworshipideas
creativeworshipideas 