The Worship No One Sees
Sidebar: 
Children Experiencing Worship
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise" (Psalm 8:2, NIV). Giving praise through music, and praise flowing from children to the throne of God, has been ordained by God.
In other Scripture passages are phrases such as, "Let the little children come to me," and, "Unless you…become like little children." Our Lord loved infants and children. He saw in them an innocence and sincerity often lacking in adults. When toddlers are taught to worship and love God, they do it without pretense and with complete trust. Their minds have not yet been contaminated by the filth of this world. It is easy for them to praise the Lord with purity of heart, soul, and mind.
A minister in a fashionable church had a dream in which he saw himself standing by the throne of God. As he looked down on earth, he saw his congregation and the 100-voice choir at Sunday worship. Although he saw the lips of the choir and congregation move in song, the only sound that rose to heaven was that of one solitary voice.
Children’s choirs are an excellent vehicle by which children can be taught not only music, but also how to worship and love God. |
He asked the Lord, "Why is it, Lord, that out of a congregation of many hundreds and a choir of 100 highly trained voices, I can hear only a single voice?"
The Lord replied, "The only sound that reaches heaven is the sound of heartfelt praise–anything less is lost on the way up."
As the minister looked more closely, he saw that the solitary voice reaching heaven was that of a little boy–who was not even in the choir–as he sang the praises of God with utter delight and sincerity.1 It is important to teach the smallest children that they can worship and love God with all of their heart.
GRADED-CHOIR MINISTRY
Children’s choirs are an excellent vehicle by which children can be taught not only music, but also how to worship and love God. This also prepares them for worship in Sunday school, children’s church, and adult worship services. I am not referring to the occasional children’s Christmas or Easter presentation, but to an ongoing time of teaching. If your Sunday school has classes for various grades, you can have a graded-choir program. The Sunday school, children’s church, and graded-choir program can all work hand-in-hand in equipping children to love, worship, and praise the Lord, along with teaching them the basics of music.
In 1989, Randy Quackenbush, who is now minister of music at James River Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri, assisted me in the music department at Capital Christian Center, Sacramento, California. One of Randy’s first undertakings was to develop a graded-choir program. Over 500 registered that first year. The focus of the graded-choir ministry is to train young people to have a heart for worship, a love for music, and the skill to be effective singers. After 8 years, the graded choirs fed the youth choirs to the point of having a junior high choir of 100 members and a senior high/college choir of 100 members. These students had grown up in the graded-choir program, and it was natural for them to keep singing to the Lord as they reached their teens. Of those graduates of that first program, five are now music majors in college–giving a total of nine collegians majoring in music from Capital Christian Center.
Several years ago, I arranged 10 familiar hymns and gospel songs for a major publisher. This project included a recording of these arrangements by a well-known church choir in Houston, Texas. When I was made aware that this choir had recorded these 10 choral numbers in 2 nights, without seeing the music previous to the recording sessions, I was astounded.
When I asked the minister of music how this could be possible, his response was, "Paul, almost all of my sanctuary choir members have come up through our graded-choir program and they are all wonderful sight readers."
Stability, musicianship, and commitment were demonstrated in that sanctuary choir. What had been taught in those early, formative years was producing tremendous results many years later.
Musicianship and commitment to choir are certainly important. However, stability was demonstrated in something far more important. These singers had learned to praise God with their voices and to serve Him with all their hearts. Perhaps, as they faced temptations and trials, the Spirit of the Lord brought back to their hearts the words learned in a primary or junior choir years ago.
CHILDREN’S MUSIC MATERIAL
A wide variety of materials is available from almost every publisher. Look for varied styles and subjects, but don’t forget to include some contemporary choruses along with hymns and gospel songs. Here are some ideas to help you in your search:
- Top contemporary Christian songs arranged for and sung by children.
- Christmas music using many different characters to tell the familiar story.
- Fresh and exciting arrangements for hymns and gospel songs. Some include stories of how these songs were written.
- Material that will make learning music fun. They usually include games that assist in the learning process.
- Nonseasonal musicals based on Bible stories. This will encourage additional involvement with sets, scenery, and drama.
Involving your children in services, whether a musical or only one song, is a wonderful way to reach unchurched parents and family members. When children tell the Christmas story, bring life to a Bible story, participate in a missions theme, sing contemporary choruses, or present the timeless hymns of the church, their lives will never be the same, and neither will the lives of their family members.
This also instills the need and privilege to worship God in the hearts of our children.
ENDNOTE
1. Selwyn Hughes, Born To Praise, (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000).