Family Sundays
Dallas Bible Church is taking up an initiative to more fully include our children and youth on Sundays in the rhythms of our faith community: to worship, grow, serve, and go. Family Sundays will be an opportunity for all of us to come together throughout the year as a community of believers, obeying our biblical mandate to meet as a church Body.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
Our goal for Family Sundays is to empower the children and youth of Dallas Bible Church to be active members of our church, raised up to be spiritual leaders through the encouragement of our entire church family. We will strive for inclusivity in all areas of our rhythms.
Parents, we encourage you to have your elementary-aged children and older join you on these Sundays in your Sunday Morning Group, in the main worship service, or with any volunteer position scheduled for that day. (Preschool and sensory-sensitive classes will meet as usual.) Dallas Bible Church will also be providing opportunities on some Family Sundays for us to go into our community to spread the Gospel. Please use these Sundays to give your kids a chance to actively participate in each of these areas, not just passively observe.
While parents have been entrusted by God to raise and care for their children’s daily needs, we as a Church have also been entrusted to come alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ to teach and equip all the children of our church to be mature followers of Jesus. We best model our faith to the youngest members of Dallas Bible Church through our examples of heart-felt worship, actively seeking to grow in faith, self-sacrificing service, and obedience to go. Inviting our children and youth to a shared experience on Family Sundays, in conjunction with our everyday experiences, invites “our children to a purpose greater than ourselves” (Sharon Hodde Miller).
WORSHIP: the rhythm that calls our gathering to surrender
Bring your children and youth to worship with you on Family Sundays. Kids can engage in songs of worship, meet and greet fellow worshipers, and follow a kid-friendly sermon. Families can gather as a spiritual unit. Our church community can welcome all of our members gathered together.
Assemble the people—men, women and children, …so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 31:12-13 (NIV).
GROW: the rhythm that calls us to maturity
ABF leaders will accommodate children and youth on Family Sundays. As a church family, we can instruct and lift up each other, making disciples of even our youngest members.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)
SERVE: the rhythm that calls us to build Christ’s body
Empowering our children and youth to serve in the church, whether as a front-line greeter or behind the scenes playing with toddlers, blesses them with an opportunity to feel they are a vital part of our church. Adult members can recognize and support their efforts.
Serve areas that kids can actively serve in include: parking, ushering, greeting, safety, the café, media, Newcomer Welcome Desk, and Family Ministry. Visit the Next Steps Desk for information on these and other service opportunities on Family Sundays.
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)
GO: the rhythm that calls us to action
Including our children and youth in outreach within our local community, so as to model obedience to the call of scripture to put our faith into action.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
The staff of Dallas Bible Church is eager to launch Family Sundays and witness the power of the Holy Spirit move, transforming our church, as we embrace the call to raise up our children and youth as spiritual leaders and stewards of our faith. We pray that you are, too.