Discipling Our Kids: Liturgy for Littles
What is Liturgy?
If you look up the word liturgy, you’re going to get a handful of definitions. They all communicate some nuance around the idea that the people of God get to participate in the leading of a worshipful moment through some repeated pattern. That is, they are leading each other in the moment, whether through singing, reading, reciting, or some other communal practice. The literal translation of the Greek word would be something like, “Work of the people.”
Liturgy might carry a negative connotation for you. If you grew up in highly liturgical churches, you might have experienced a boring recitation of certain phrases that were lost on you due to a lack of enthusiasm by the participants. That’s unfortunate. Following a liturgy can actually be a highly formative tool.
Why? Two reasons. We participate in the moment. The repeating patterns we participate in become ingrained in who we are and form us.
If you’re really into it, do some research on liturgical history. That’s not why we’re here.
What Does Liturgy Look Like in a Microchurch?
We’re here to consider what the liturgy of your microchurch looks like in an accessible way with your little ones. How can they participate in the rhythms? What repeating patterns would help form your heart and their heart together?
A Simple Example of Microchurch Liturgy
In another tool offered by the Kansas City Underground, we suggested that words create worlds and offered some questions that you can ask your family or microchurch that might shape or reshape the paradigm around disciple-making. The evolution of that conversation turned into a simple liturgy that is now repeated by the family before each microchurch gathering. It goes like this:
Leader: What did Jesus call us to do?
People: Go make disciples.
Leader: Before we can make one, we have to…
People: Be one!
Leader: How do we become a disciple?
People: Be with Jesus, be like Jesus, and do as He did.
Leader: Who did Jesus send us to help us do that?
People: The Holy Spirit.
Leader: What does the Spirit produce in us and plant in us?
People: Fruit and Gifts.
Take a moment and consider what resonates with you here. What stands out?
The Impact of Simple Liturgy
These simple phrases are shaping children from 6 up to 72 (😁). They are grounded in the what and how of a disciple-making foundation. They recall Scripture from Matthew 28 (the command to go and make disciples), John 15 (I will send the Holy Spirit), Galatians 5 (the fruit of the Spirit), and Ephesians 4 (gifts of the Spirit).
This whole process takes only a couple of minutes, and then they move into a discovery Bible study or practice around what it means to be a disciple. It took about four to five weeks before everyone remembered all the sayings, but now it is an embedded practice. One particular thing to note here is that anyone can be the “leader.” But everyone is participating in this formational moment.
What Would Your Liturgy Look Like?
What would you say? What would be your guiding framework each time you gather? What's your liturgy?
