“Worship is about/for God not me. He is the object. He is the focus.
He is the one whose pleasure it is for. He is the real audience. So it is not about what I feel, or what I get out of it. It is about what I give…”
(Jack, Chris London School of Theology , Spring 2004)
Coming Back to the Heart of Worship
In response to the phenomenon of young people walking away from God in their teenage years, Kathleen Chapman, author of Teaching Kids Authentic Worship, began researching the most effective way to help kids stay “glued” to God. This is what she discovered:
The glue is not church attendance. It is not Bible Study, not a prayer meeting, not music or singing, not memorizing verses, not tithing, and not faithful service. It is not baptism and not some mysterious theology or ritual connected to any particular religion or denomination. The glue is not simply loving God. The glue is worshipping God. (Chapman, Kathleen, Teaching Kids Authentic Worship (p..22))
Worshipping God, means having all our attention focused on Him. When all our attention is focused on Him, we are reminded of who He is. We are reminded of all the things He is, and all the things He does. In light of who He is, our troubles are eclipsed, our hope is secure, and our reality is filtered through the proper lens. In order to worship God, you need to know Him intimately. When we know Him intimately, we are more likely to stay close to His heart.
As I continued to read this book (TKAW), these simple truths seemed profound to me. It seemed somewhat silly to be moved to tears by something so basic, and yet I was. I think it was because I was finding myself yearning to come back to the heart of worship… I felt myself identifying strongly with the sentiment, “I’m sorry Lord, for the thing I’ve made it [worship], when it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus.”
In wondering if children could understand the concept of worship, Chapman relates the fact that many youngsters can wax eloquent about prominent sports figures and the latest fads. They have no problem focusing all their attention on one thing. ☺
I firmly believe that the battle for kids hearts and minds will be won when they can worship God authentically. If they are able to focus all their attention on Him on a consistent basis, they will come to know His character, and find wonder, fulfillment, adventure, unconditional love, security, boundaries, and standards for holiness—–all the things they’re searching for. In God’s presence they will discover a sense of worth when they understand that the God of the universe intimately cares for and understands who they are, that He has in fact, designed them right down to the last molecule. Kids will still be kids—they will still be tempted (as we all are). As one of my former students put it, “the World’s voice seems louder”. Perhaps in helping them grow in worship they can adjust that volume switch a little, and the World’s voice will become background noise as they tune in to that still small voice calling their name.
This book moved and inspired me, and challenged the way I thought about worship. I highly recommend this book for those who desire to help their children worship authentically. It’s practical and insightful, and best of all you can probably read it in one sitting.
He is the one whose pleasure it is for. He is the real audience. So it is not about what I feel, or what I get out of it. It is about what I give…”
(Jack, Chris London School of Theology , Spring 2004)
Coming Back to the Heart of Worship
In response to the phenomenon of young people walking away from God in their teenage years, Kathleen Chapman, author of Teaching Kids Authentic Worship, began researching the most effective way to help kids stay “glued” to God. This is what she discovered:
The glue is not church attendance. It is not Bible Study, not a prayer meeting, not music or singing, not memorizing verses, not tithing, and not faithful service. It is not baptism and not some mysterious theology or ritual connected to any particular religion or denomination. The glue is not simply loving God. The glue is worshipping God. (Chapman, Kathleen, Teaching Kids Authentic Worship (p..22))
Worshipping God, means having all our attention focused on Him. When all our attention is focused on Him, we are reminded of who He is. We are reminded of all the things He is, and all the things He does. In light of who He is, our troubles are eclipsed, our hope is secure, and our reality is filtered through the proper lens. In order to worship God, you need to know Him intimately. When we know Him intimately, we are more likely to stay close to His heart.
As I continued to read this book (TKAW), these simple truths seemed profound to me. It seemed somewhat silly to be moved to tears by something so basic, and yet I was. I think it was because I was finding myself yearning to come back to the heart of worship… I felt myself identifying strongly with the sentiment, “I’m sorry Lord, for the thing I’ve made it [worship], when it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus.”
In wondering if children could understand the concept of worship, Chapman relates the fact that many youngsters can wax eloquent about prominent sports figures and the latest fads. They have no problem focusing all their attention on one thing. ☺
I firmly believe that the battle for kids hearts and minds will be won when they can worship God authentically. If they are able to focus all their attention on Him on a consistent basis, they will come to know His character, and find wonder, fulfillment, adventure, unconditional love, security, boundaries, and standards for holiness—–all the things they’re searching for. In God’s presence they will discover a sense of worth when they understand that the God of the universe intimately cares for and understands who they are, that He has in fact, designed them right down to the last molecule. Kids will still be kids—they will still be tempted (as we all are). As one of my former students put it, “the World’s voice seems louder”. Perhaps in helping them grow in worship they can adjust that volume switch a little, and the World’s voice will become background noise as they tune in to that still small voice calling their name.
This book moved and inspired me, and challenged the way I thought about worship. I highly recommend this book for those who desire to help their children worship authentically. It’s practical and insightful, and best of all you can probably read it in one sitting.
Q: What is worship?
A: All our attention focused on God
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