"I don't want to go to church."
If you're a parent, you've probably heard those words at least once.
Maybe your child says church is boring. Maybe they'd rather sleep in, play sports, spend the day at the beach, or hang out with friends. As parents, we naturally wonder, How do I get my child excited about church?
After years of serving in children's ministry and raising my own children, I've come to believe we may be asking the wrong question.
The real question isn't, "How do I make church more exciting?" It's, "How do I help my child delight in the Lord?"
Because children who genuinely delight in Jesus naturally begin to love gathering with His people.
My Perspective Changed When I Became a Parent
As a children's ministry leader, I noticed that some children couldn't wait to come to church while others seemed like they were there against their will.
I had my own ideas about why that was.
Then I became a parent.
Like many families, my children went through seasons. Some Sundays they were excited to get ready. Other times they tried every excuse imaginable to stay home. They were normal kids.
But something became clear over the years.
The weeks they were most excited about church weren't because we had planned an amazing activity or because someone promised doughnuts afterward.
They were excited because Jesus was already part of our everyday lives.
Faith wasn't something we pulled out on Sunday mornings.
Our children saw us pray when we needed wisdom. They saw us trust God during difficult seasons. They experienced His healing, His provision, His comfort, and His love. We talked about Scripture throughout the week. We worshipped together in our home. (Deuteronomy 6:7)
God wasn't simply Someone we believed in.
He was Someone we knew.
So church became a place where we gathered with other people who knew and loved Him too.
Sometimes My Kids Didn't Feel Like Going
Let's be honest.
There were mornings when my children didn't want to go to church.
There were mornings when I didn't feel like getting up either.
But our family learned an important lesson:
We don't worship because we always feel like it. We worship because He is worthy.
If we only worship when we're excited, our worship becomes centered on our feelings instead of God's worthiness.
Psalm 34:1 says,
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
Praise isn't reserved for convenient moments.
It's a lifestyle.
Our family rule was simple: if you're too sick for church, you're too sick for sports, playing outside, or visiting friends.
Why?
Because gathering with believers wasn't an optional activity on our calendar.
It was a biblical priority.
After all, we don't let our children skip school every time they don't feel like going. We encourage them to persevere because education matters.
Shouldn't we treat worship with God's people as even more important?
The Biggest Mistake I See Parents Make
Over the years, I've watched well-meaning parents try to make church more appealing by offering rewards.
"I'll buy you doughnuts after church if you behave."
"I packed your favorite toys."
"I hope there's a fun craft today."
Please hear me.
I'm not against quiet toys for toddlers.
I'm not against games.
I'm not against crafts.
In fact, I love making children's ministry engaging and age appropriate.
But when those things become the highlight, children begin to associate church with entertainment instead of Jesus.
The prize slowly becomes the toys, the snacks, or the games.
Jesus becomes secondary.
We unintentionally teach children that the gospel isn't enough to capture their hearts unless something more exciting accompanies it.
The Day One Little Boy's Life Changed
One young boy attended church occasionally with his grandmother.
He never seemed particularly interested.
Then one week he came bouncing through the doors with excitement.
I had to ask what had happened.
He had gone to his first church summer camp.
Something shifted.
For the first time, he realized worship wasn't just for his grandmother.
Prayer wasn't just for adults.
Scripture wasn't just another story.
Jesus wanted a relationship with him.
He experienced God's love personally.
That encounter changed everything.
His excitement wasn't because camp had better games.
It was because he met Jesus.
What Actually Gets Children Excited About Church
Some of the most memorable moments in our children's ministry have had nothing to do with games.
They've happened during prayer.
I've watched children pray over people who needed healing.
I've watched them ask the Holy Spirit what to pray.
I've watched congregants weep because they were overwhelmed by God's love.
I've watched children hear testimonies of healing.
I've watched families begin attending church because children faithfully prayed for them.
Those moments cannot be manufactured with entertainment.
Children become excited when they realize God wants to use them.
Not someday.
Today.
Children Want Purpose More Than We Think
One of the greatest gifts we can give children is meaningful responsibility.
When children begin serving...
When they pray for others...
When they share testimonies...
When they help younger children...
When they participate instead of simply watching...
Something changes.
Their faith becomes their own.
They stop seeing church as their parents' thing.
They begin seeing themselves as valuable members of Christ's body.
Children are not just the future church.
They are part of the church right now.
It All Starts at Home
If your child says church is boring, I would gently ask you a different question.
Do your children see you delighting in the Lord during the week?
Do they hear you singing worship songs because you genuinely love Jesus?
Do they see you reading your Bible because you can't wait to discover more about Him?
Do they hear you excitedly share something God taught you in Scripture?
Do they watch you pray when life gets difficult?
One of my favorite ways to disciple children is during bedtime.
Instead of only praying for ourselves or close family members, ask your child:
"Is anyone at school having a hard time?"
"Is there someone being bullied?"
"Is there someone who bullies others?"
Then pray together.
Ask God to reveal His heart for those people.
It's amazing how quickly children begin giving updates.
"Mom, remember who we prayed for?"
"Dad, guess what happened today?"
Suddenly they're watching God answer prayers.
They're learning that He is alive and active.
By the time Sunday arrives, church isn't where they first meet God.
It's where they celebrate what He's been doing all week.
What Churches Can Do Better
I believe many churches have become so concerned with entertaining children that discipleship has quietly taken a back seat.
Please don't misunderstand me.
Children's ministry should absolutely be fun.
Children should laugh.
They should play.
They should enjoy being there.
But every game, every craft, every song, every activity should point them toward Jesus.
If it doesn't help children know Christ more deeply, we should ask whether it's the best use of our time, money, and energy.
Children don't need us to compete with the world's entertainment.
They need us to introduce them to the living God.
Raising Children Who Love Jesus
Parents often ask me,
"What if making my child come to church causes them to resent it?"
I wondered the same thing.
But over the years, I've noticed something.
Children who were rarely expected to gather with God's people often drifted away from church.
Children who were required to attend church but never saw authentic faith at home often walked away as well. (hypocrisy is a turn-off at any age)
But I have repeatedly seen something different in families where parents faithfully lived out their relationship with Christ throughout the week while consistently making church a priority.
Those children were given the opportunity to see that Christianity wasn't just something their parents believed.
It was a way of life. A relationship with the living God that shaped who they were and how they lived.
No, there are no guarantees. Every child must choose to follow Jesus for themselves.
But our responsibility isn't to manufacture that decision.
Our responsibility is to faithfully disciple them, model authentic faith, and continually point them to Christ.
The Goal Isn't Excited Kids
The goal isn't children who can't wait for the next game.
The goal isn't children who come for the snacks.
The goal isn't children who behave quietly enough to earn doughnuts afterward.
The goal is children who know Jesus personally.
Children who delight in the Lord.
Children who hear His voice.
Children who pray with bold faith.
Children who love serving His people.
Children who understand that gathering with believers isn't another weekend activity.
It's a privilege.
Because when children discover that Jesus is real—and that He wants a relationship with them—church stops being a place their parents make them attend.
It becomes a place they can't wait to return to.
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