Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[b] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
We are all a little tired of the cancel culture happening in society and through social media, but that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about the rash of cancellations we have had in our church - especially in the children’s ministry! We haven’t restarted our children’s Sunday School classes, we cancelled movie night and Family Council, and yesterday we cancelled our children’s programs on the first Wednesday back for the new year. We cancelled movie night due to inclement weather and Family Council because our kitchen crew was out due to COVID. Without food and the pressing need for church action at our business meeting, there was little need to meet: yes, food is THAT important. For our children’s ministries, our volunteers have been largely unable to attend for various reasons - mainly stemming from COVID affecting them and their families.
I’ve never experienced this at FBCW, but it does feel like we are developing a culture of cancelling things in our church. NEVER FEAR! This passage in Deuteronomy, later quoted by Jesus, reminds us that we must continue talking about God’s great story in our families wherever we are, regardless of whether or not there are childrens’ ministries happening at our church. In fact, research continually points to parents, not church programs, as being the most important influence in the formation of a young person’s faith (Growing Young, Loc 2877).
I miss time with our church kids. Sunday School was influential in my life and I look forward to when my kids can attend again. But each day I have the opportunity as a parent to grab time over meals at home and in car rides to talk about God’s great story of love and redemption. Having faith in the research, and that old Proverb, I know that regardless of what is cancelled at church, I can see that my children will not depart from God’s ways when they are old. God will never be cancelled!
Ray Sanchez is the Pastor of Worship and Administration at First Baptist Church Weslaco. He enjoys having his kids read from the YouVersion Bible App each morning on the way to school, watching the short video, and talking with them about the word of God. Here are some memory verses you can challenge your family to learn by heart, and don’t forget about our Right Now Media subscription that allows us access to tons of video Bible content for children and adults. Call the office if you need login info (956-968-9585).