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Aaron Denlinger posted an article on Reformation21,   In the article, he identified a time in the sixteenth-century Church of Scotland in which children were excluded from worship services. I’m still chuckling at the YouTube video satire he included on how children’s church started… I don’t disagree with his content in terms of his source documentation of a historical fact in the history of the church of Scotland. Further, I did appreciate that he believes there are advantages to age-integrated worship.  He quotes from Margo Todd’s book, “The Culture of Protestantism in Modern Scotland” where children were excluded from hearing sermons in order not to interrupt the more mature parishioners. This is neither old or new. Jesus encountered it when his disciples wanted to whisk the children away from him and he said, “suffer the little children…”  It is clear that our Lord Jesus Christ did not believe his teaching was hampered by the presence of children. The question Mr. Denlinger poses is historical – not biblical. Is the historical pattern age-segregated or not? While Aaron Denlinger is correct that the church in Scotland did in fact practice this form of age segregation, I would like to offer four considerations. First, our argument has always been that age integration has been the norm in the church, while there have been exceptions and different expressions of it throughout history. We have crafted an extensive document to explain the nuances,   Here is how I describe history on the matter in my book, “A Weed in the Church”: > “for most of Christian history, children were present in the meetings of God’s people.”1 I would have preferred that Mr. Denlinger provide some positive proof that excluding children in the services of the worship of God has been the norm. He is correct if he is saying that there are examples which are exceptions, where age segregation was practiced. Second, exceptions don’t invalidate the no

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.

In modern evangelicalism, it is almost impossible for some to imagine church life without dedicated youth and children ministries. But what are the foundations of this modern innovation? What has been its fruit? In this video, Voddie Baucham answers a series of questions on the history, foundation, and outcome of the modern youth ministry movement.

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.

Here are some practical steps to get your family ready to hear the Word of God on Sunday: Familiarize your family with the sermon text before the preaching If you can, familiarize your family with the scripture text the pastor is going to be preaching from. In our church our weekly Men’s Bible Study for this express purpose. We want our men to teach their families what the upcoming scripture text is all about BEFORE the pastor preaches on it. We meet early in the morning and discuss the text to get the meaning. We do this to help our men understand what the text is saying. Our desire is that everyone in the church will come to worship on Sunday already having reviewed the terminology, theology and the central message of the passage. We want them to work through it beforehand. We want them to arrive at some practical applications for their families. Prepare your family to hear Intentionally prepare your family to hear the sermon. Much has been written on “How to listen to a sermon.” Let me paraphrase George Whitefield’s instructions for hearing sermons: Come with a sincere desire to know your duty. Pray before, during, and after the sermon. Listen to the sermon as if you are listening to a king, as the “Lord of Lords” Himself. Why? Because ministers are sent from God. They are ambassadors who speak the words of God. Do not think poorly of the minister when you think of his weaknesses. Cast a vision for the importance of the moment It is critical that you impress” on your children the importance of the moment. God has always gathered His people together to worship Him. Coming to God’s house is a critical and holy and God-ordained moment. It is the most important meeting scheduled all week. Help your children see the priority and importance of the gatherings of God’s people to hear preaching. Help them sense the prioritization, the expectation and the privilege of the moment. If you sense they are like those who, “shrugged their shoulders and stiffened their necks and would not hear,” (Neh. 9:29), then snap into action to help them learn to appreciate it by your own zeal, instruction, and hands-on assistance. Pray for the preacher before the church service. Use this time to give thanks for the preacher and the preparation he has engaged in. Preaching is labor. Most of the time, it is hard labor – and often tort

What things should parents be aware of before letting their children watch movies or listen to music? Dr. Carlton McLeod explains in this video that extreme amounts of care need to be used when determining what kinds of media we allow into our home. There are many ungodly things within the movies, music, or books that our children take in. Parents ought to scrutinize what their children watch. In his house, he and his wife often view a movie before letting their children see it. The problem is that we as Christians want to "fit in" with their unbelieving friends and oftentimes compromise on these matters. We need to take this seriously and realize there is much at stake if we fail to determine what we allow into our home. Psalm 119:37 (NKJV) - "Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way."

What should parents be cautious of in regards to social media? Gary Powers explains in this video that he personally doesn't use any social media. For our children, it is shaping their worldview much more than they believe. He wants their worldview shaped by Scripture. He shares that he enjoys reading books written by individuals who lived years before. In regards to social influencers, we barely know many of these people and yet, we're allowing them to shape our opinions, values, and worldview. It can be very dangerous or a waste of time if we are not careful. We must see how we are spending our time. There are other things that we can be doing like mentoring others, building relationships, or discipling individuals. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) - "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

For many years, our family read the Bible out loud together. We did it for about a decade. It gave our children a love for the Word of God, and it provided them with an understanding of the sweeping history of redemption from Genesis to Revelation. It showed them where they fit in the world. Why do this? David gives the most powerful argument in Psalm 19:7-11, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.” What is the value of a deep understanding of the Gospel? What is the value of seeing the sweep of history? What is the value of knowing the whole counsel of God? What is the value of getting prepared to meet the trials and heartbreaks that are ahead? I believe that there is no better way to capture this value than to simply read the Bible as a family. Here is my challenge: read the Bible with your whole family in 2018. Here are Ten Tips for Reading the Bible as a Family in 2018: 1. Resolve this issue right away: Can your children handle it? Can they? Yes! Don’t be intimidated by the fact that your children are young. They may not get everything out of everything, but they will get something out of everything. You will find that they will understand more than you anticipate. Remember that Timothy’s mother taught him the scriptures from the time he was a child, “from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures” (2 Tim:315). Remember that God’s people have gathered for many hours to hear the reading of the Word of God (Nehemiah 8:1). Also, remember that most of the Bible is narrative – stories that children can love. Children are fully able to sit down and watch a video for an hour. Certainly, that is proof positive that they can sit and listen to reading for 20-40 minutes. 2. Prepare a heart of gladness</

Scott Brown begins our National Conference on the Glory of Christ by preaching on John 7:46, which says: “The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” He explains in this first message that John's purpose is for his readers to believe that Christ was God.   Christ spoke words of life and of grace and truth. He spoke words of love. He spoke words of healing. He spoke bold and sometimes divisive words. He did not fear what others thought. He spoke words to the helpless. He spoke to people who were trapped in sin. In short, no one ever talked like Christ did. Scott Brown then explains that we behold the glory of Christ by reading His Word and mediating upon it. Beholding the glory of Christ does not come through a transcendent experience. Instead, it comes by the preaching of His Word and the reading of Scripture. Beholding the glory of Christ involves a meek and a humble spirit and an obedience of God’s Words. If you want to behold His glory, open His Word. Scott here encourages us to take prayerful, thoughtful moments to mediate on the Words of God. Specifically, he gives three practical applications in closing this message: First, pause after each the preaching of the Word, ponder the paths of your feet. Second, speak with your family and others around you about the lessons that your are learning from the Word of God. Third, think on something each evening so you can be like David who said, “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches” (Psalm 36:6, NKJV).

The speaker discusses his experience with youth ministry events and how they all seemed to be ineffective and similar to one another. He argues that the focus on youth ministry as a separate entity within the church has created a subculture that leads to young people falling out of the church as they grow older. The solution, according to the speaker, is to incorporate young people into broader ministries like college and singles ministries rather than focusing solely on youth ministry.

Scott Brown explains in this video that revival often occurs when you see the significance of your sin and the effect that it has. The house built on the sand will be destroyed. Have our homes today been destroyed because we have neglected to follow the clear commands of Scripture in regards to child raising and marriage? Matthew 7:26-27 (NKJV) - "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

Kevin Swanson explains in this video that there is hope for the upcoming generation. He sees many children who are desiring the things of God and are now married and wanting to raise godly children of their own. If you walk in God's ways, He will bless you. Fathers and mothers ought to strive to point their children to Scripture and encourage their children onward to spiritual maturity. Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV) - "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."