Church is a blessing. It nourishes the Christian through fellowship; a community devoted to loving God and loving others. The activity of the church’s loving fellowship is compelling. This is just as true for adults as it is for teens (and younger).

As families and a church body, one of our goals in raising up the next generation in the fear and admonition of the Lord is to lead our young ones into local church fellowship. We can present them with the grandeur of God by worshipping and representing Him in church life. To misunderstand church and one’s roles in the church jeopardizes one’s love of God and others. The opposite is true too: to understand God, His church, and one’s role in the church stimulates one’s love of God and others. 

The apex of church life is Sunday morning service. The whole service revolves around the worship of God and service of others. Helping teens experience the necessary blessing of church begin with their participation in Sunday morning worship. Here are a few practical ways for the teens in your family and around you to engage in the church:

1. Pray. The first staple of Sunday worship is prayer. If you haven’t noticed, we pray a lot on Sunday mornings. Matt 21:22 gives us good reason to pray – whatever we ask in prayer we will receive by faith. Parents, instruct your teen on the who, what, where, when, and hows of prayer and why it is important. Congregation, pray with the teens around you. Teens, internalize the prayers of others and pray through Scripture yourself.

2. Sing. The second staple of Sunday worship is prayer. We sing gospel-informed songs for a reason – they fan the flames of love for God! Ps 105:2 says that rehearsing God’s wondrous works ought to roil into song. Parents, explain the lyrics to your teen. Congregation, let’s sing the songs (loudly) for the benefit of the church. Teens, sing the songs out loud while considering the words. 

3. Give. The third staple of Sunday worship is giving. 2 Corinthians 2:9-7 instructs every church member to give to the mission of the church generously and with joy because God loves a cheerful giver. Parents, include your teen in your tithing practices. Congregation, express your joy to work and give to God’s mission. Teens, consider what Christ gave up for you and give a portion of what you have.

4. Respond. The fourth staple of Sunday worship is respond to preaching. The crux of Sunday worship is the preaching of God’s Word. 2 Tim 3:15 says the Scriptures give wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ. We must respond in faith to the truth of the Bible. Parents, include your children in your learnings and respondings. Congregation, ask sermon-centric questions in your conversations. Teens, bring your paper Bibles to church and ask big questions of the Bible.