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We believe that the family-integrated church model is the church structure that is found in scripture. This is not a matter of first liking the idea of family-integrated church and then looking for it in scripture. Instead this conclusion is based on not only the inerrancy and inspiration of scripture, but also the sufficiency of scripture. Recognizing the scriptures as the sufficient standard for the local church is really the foundation of the family-integrated church and must be the starting point for a change in church structure.

How should you train your children to prepare for worship services? How should children listen to the preached Word and receive it? How can you help them retain it and put its content into practice? What role should the prayer meetings have in your family? Why are they so important biblically and historically? Answering these questions, we see the need for families - parents and children - to be actively involved in the church’s core callings of corporate worship and corporate prayer. To begin with, it is crucial that fathers teach their children first how to listen attentively to the preached Word.

When discussing family integrated worship one of the first concerns raised it "How do I get my kids to behave in church?" The practical aspect of keeping children in the worship service is an important issue and in many cases a real difficulty, especially if changing from an age segregated meeting. Thankfully, there are simple, practical things that parents and members can do and it all starts with the mindset of recognizing the goodness of having children in the church.

Is there a specific text that commands the New Testament Church to keep their children in the congregation on the Lord's Day? No there isn't. However, a survey of the Bible shows that the consistent patterns of God's people under both Covenants was one of age-integrated discipleship where families brought their children in to participate in the community of faith.

I’ve been pastoring in Vancouver for roughly twelve years now, preaching close to 1000 sermons, to over 50 nationalities, with people of various backgrounds and theological understanding in the pews. And 100s of children (ages 0-13) have been present. We are a Presbyterian church and, as such, believe children belong to the kingdom of God (Matt. 19:14). For us, there really is no question whether children belong in the worship service (Eph. 6:1). It would make more sense for me to cut off my right leg than it would for me to tell my children to leave the worship service (see 1 Cor. 12). As a preacher and a father of four young children, few things have given me more delight in this world than singing with my children in the worship service and looking at them when I’m preaching knowing that they are hearing and listening to the preached word of God. As Presbyterians, besides the fact that we believe worship is a privilege for God’s people, regardless of age, sex, race, class, etc., we also believe there is a unique God-ordained power in the preached Word that transforms the people of God (2 Cor. 3:18). The preached Word has a unique power to “make alive” and “build up,” such that willfully removing ourselves from such a blessing is to remove us from the primary means God has ordained for our salvation (Rom. 10:14ff.). Naturally, when I came across an article offering reasons why one church “let the little ones go from the worship service,” I was rather disappointed. The author (Pastor Paul Carter) “believe[s] in the transforming power of the preached Word of God,” but his church sends those under the age of 10 to Sunday School where, I assume, adults teach and thus also miss out on the preached Word. The implication is that this transforming power is better reserved for those over the age of 10. According to his experience, having “little ones in the service works against the smooth operation of that process” because “every fussing toddler is surrounded by a 20 person circle of distraction” and “of course, no one is listening to the sermon.” Children are “distraction factories,” and so need to be removed for the common good! As a pastor, I would say that much of my own efforts in sermon preparation are geared towards making the sermon simple enough for both children and adults to understand. Having pastored in a church that allows all ages to worship in the sanctuary, I have found that having children

Over the years, many people have written both positively and negatively about Church and Family Life.  Here are the seven most common mischaracterizations. Church and Family Life redefines the nature of the church as a “Family of Families.” False. Our understanding of the nature of the church is consistent with the historic doctrinal statements of the faith including the second London Baptist Confession of 1689, the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Heidelberg Catechism and The Baptist Faith and Message 2000. Many years ago, we said, “the church is a spiritual family of families.” Some said we were presenting a new definition for the church when in fact we were not speaking of the nature of the church at all. All we meant is that a separate jurisdiction – a family - comes to church and it needs to be acknowledged as such and equipped to be a biblical family. We were not redefining the nature of the church. Church and Family Life believes that the church is an extension of the family. False.  We do not believe the church is an extension of the family, rather they are separate yet complimentary institutions. Church and Family Life wrongfully places the family over the church in priority.  False. We have plainly stated that we believe the church is supreme among the institutions for it is eternal while the family is temporal. Church and Family Life believes that the church should be family-based. False. We do not believe that the church should be family-based. We believe that the foundation and center of attention of the church ought to be the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel. Further, we believe that families form critical building blocks of the church in the sense that families send their members to church and if you have weak and unbiblical family life, you will have a weak church.  Church and Family Life believes that the church can only relate to family members through the father. False. We do not believe that the church must always work through or communicate through a father. We believe that the church has authority to discipline and instruct every individual believer in the family not just the head of the family, or through the head of the family. Church and Family Life believes that the whole family must always be together for all gatheri

What should you do when tyrants are in control? In this encouraging message, Scott Brown examines Jeremiah 29:1-14, encouraging those living in exile to “Build, Dwell, Plant.” In other words, don’t waste your exile pining away. Don’t waste your exile getting caught up in distractions, move forward, be productive, do the powerful things, and don’t be frustrated. Don’t let the bad guys get you down. Get your wife at the table and design your home. Settle down. Stay put. Plant crops. Be self-sufficient. Plan weddings. Have babies. Make your house a house of prayer. Be a force of peace in your community.

Carlton McLeod explains in this video that the church provides many benefits and blessings to a family. For instance, preaching helps families. When a family can sit together and hear the preaching together, it can be helpful to reinforce what was taught during the week during family worship. Fellowship amongst fellow believers can encourage and uplift members of the family. Colossians 3:16 (NKJV) - "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

Dr. Joel Beeke explains in this video that in some ways, the church and the family are alike and in other ways, they are different. They are both ordered and structured by God in His Word and they are both to subject themselves to the Word of God. Colossians 1:18 (NKJV) - "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."

Paul White explains in this video that families need to focus their attention on Christ and see Him as a great treasure in all of life. If they do this, there will be fewer distractions and a greater desire to learn more about the things of God. Time spent studying God's Word, fellowshipping with fellow believers, and in prayer is certainly not wasted time. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) - "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Dr. Joel Beeke explains in this video that parents should demonstrate to their children how excited they are about the things of God. They should treat Sundays as a special day, a day to be set apart. Your children ought to know that you find your greatest joy and purpose in worshipping God. Romans 15:13 (NKJV) - "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Trent Moody explains in this video that there is bound to be disagreement with others within a church. We need to understand that when we come into a church, we need to get rid of the "My way or the highway" concept. Christ calls us to serve, to humble ourselves, and to extend unconditional love towards others. Romans 12:16-18 (NKJV) - "Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men."