How do I get to Church?

My children fight me tooth and nail everytime we get ready to go to Church or a church service. What is it going to take to get them interested because ordering them and laying down the rules doesn't work.

How do I get to Church?
Is there a youth group if so let them do that, if they make friends that go to church they might start going 2.


thats why I started going





:)
Reply:Let them win. Stop going to church. They'll love you for it when they get older.
Reply:How old are your children?





What kind of church are you taking them to?





Perhaps you are taking them to a boring church?





Do they cooperate when you tell them to get ready to go to Disney World?





Why?





How about the Dentist?





Why?





Is it because you have told them Disney is a fun place and you've told them church is a horrible place?





If your church isn't just as exciting as Disney World, you are going to the wrong church.





Pastor Art
Reply:How about a nice belt and a nice promise about a trip to the bathroom if they act up while there. That is how my dad did it. He was a pastor, and ,because of the lack of children's church, we had to stay in the main service. He told us that if we acted up he would take his belt off and "ware us out" in front of the entire congregation. Now I laugh at it, because I think of how good I acted in church because I didn't want the spanking. Maybe something different will work for you, it worked for me.
Reply:Sounds like an exorcism is needed. I kid!





Does your church have good activities for youth? Sunday School? Vacation Bible School? Do they have friends that go?





Other than those things...have you tried duct-tape?
Reply:Live by example. I hope you do but make sure they understand just how important it is. Show a daily example of a Christian to them. Have Bible studies every day. Don't make the Christian life only a sunday thing. Anyways I do understand what you are saying. With the garbage the kids are being taught in public schools, and what they see and hear in the media you have a tough battle on your hand.
Reply:How old are your children? If they are young, does your church have children's church? Many children resist going to church. Try to find out what the biggest complaint is and if they have a valid point, you might want to consider another church. But do continue to take them to church! They will thank you for it one day.
Reply:I think your children are tryint to tell you they don't want to go to church. Get a babysitter for them and go alone.
Reply:Anesthesia?
Reply:obviously you cant do anything to stop them but you can help them.


try to buy things that related to church, and don't force them to do something they are not interested in. but do try to help them it is going to take some time for them to realize of the interesting things there is at church.
Reply:Get them in a Vacation Bible School or a church youth camp. This way they can create a bond with the other kids their ages and want to see them more, "at church"....it works you haveto just find a church with an effective youth group or sunday school. Also, remind them who the parent is..don't let them run your house....going to church is not a choice especially if they aren't paying any bills in your house. I pray they get connected to an awesome youth ministry.
Reply:Who is the parent here , how can your children tell you, what to do ? Do you know that if you know God , that you are responsible before Him to bring them up in the Lord and if you don't, you will have to pay ???
Reply:We've been blessed. None of our 3 children ever tried to fight us about going. But we were in special circumstances, too. For one thing, we went to everything. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, special functions, youth events, marriages, work days at the church building, etc. I guess it just came natural for them that if something was going on at church, we were going to be there. Plus, we lived next to their grandparents who were as involved as we were. Sometimes, sending them to ride with Mamaw and Papaw helped get them excited. But putting God first in our own lives, praying in front of the kids, constantly talking to them about God, and praying FOR the kids also helped. But in the end, it was God who did it. Just keep praying, raise your children in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it.
Reply:Get them into a bible study group in their age group. I loved going to church. But my grandparents are mormon so i never did like attending church with them





I loved youth group. I used to 1 time a week. And it helped me with my relationship with JESUS CHRIST.





You shouldn't give them a reward for going to church.
Reply:How old are they? I did the same thing to my mom when I was younger. We fought every Sunday morning. I would dress reeeeally slow because I knew she wouldn't go to church late and would eventually leave me. I didn't like the environment in the Christian church we attended. I didn't like the people because they were all hypocrites. I saw this at a young age and I knew it was wrong and I didn't want to be there. Just make sure you all practice what you preach. Kids are very smart and observant. Be a role model and an example.





If they are old enough to stay home, let them stay home. Forcing them will only push them away. Just pray for them and be there to guide them. God will lead them down the correct path.





As a young adult I am now in full swing. I go to the mosque (I am Muslim now) regularly and I am very much into my religion. It just took me some time to get there ON MY OWN, and not being forced by my mom.





Now on the flip side, I am a mom now and I take my daughter to the mosque regularly. She is 5 years old, so she is young and enthusiastic and shares her love of God with everyone she meets. Like someone mentioned earlier, don't make it just a Sunday thing, make it a lifestlye thing. We are at the mosque like every other day doing something. Meeting with people, workshops, prayer etc. My daughter is usually the only child, but she looks forward to Sunday school because ALL of her friends are there. I am not sure what your church is like or how old your children are, but this is my story. Hope this helps a little.
Reply:Stop trying to force them. When I was younger and forced to go, I hated it even worse. Believe me, if you force them to go, they will NOT thank you later, it will only make the matter worse. When I was to young to make up my own mind I was forced, as soon as I was old enough I said f**k this **** and vowed never to set foot in church, any church for any reason EVER AGAIN.


That's just one of the many, many reasons I turned my back on the church.
Reply:You are obviously taking them to the wrong church.


In my experience (I'm 56, mother of seven grown kids, grandmother of fourteen kids, and freind and mentor to I-dunno-how-many kids), kids are always interested in learning about Jesus.


If yours are not, you can be very sure that it is not the subject matter. It is the presentation.





Have you asked your kids why they don't want to go to church? Could it be that there is something...or some person...at the church that is disturbing them? You need to find out, and take steps to remove the problem, if possible.





You want kids who can't wait on Sunday morning to get to their Sunday School class with all their friends, who are eager to get involved in children's choir or puppet theatres or plays, or whatever the church has to offer...and if it doesn't offer these things, find out why, or find another church, quick. I can remember Sunday mornings when I honestly would rather have slept late, but my kids would be insisting "Come ON, Mom, we're going to be late for church!"


How does this happen? Well, it will never happen with orders and threats, that's for sure. Going to church should be as exciting as going to ToysRUs...as comforting as a trip to Gramma's house...as much fun as a theme park...as fulfilling as Chucky Cheese "where a kid can be a kid". It certainly shouldn't be as dull as math homework...or as scary as a trip to the doctor.





Find out what is wrong, and take immediate steps to change it!


Right now, it isn't about going to the church "of your choice"...it is about going to a church that includes the children. There will be plenty of time to be a dour, long-faced bore of a Christian when you are old...but if that is what you think pleases God, then you have the problem, not the kids.


Talk to God about it.





Remember that the little children loved Jesus...and He loves them!


"Let the children come to Me, and don't try to hold them back. The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these."
Reply:Perhaps you can try reading scriptures at home and teaching them spiritual principles. Bring "church" to them so it's interactive and you grow together as a family.

Skin