Let the Little Children Come: Family Worship on Sundays (And the Other Six Days Too) (Scott Aniol)

In Let the Little Children Come, Scott Aniol strives to convince church leaders and parents that children best grow into faithful, mature worshipers of Jesus Christ when they are led to Jesus by their parents in the context of intergenerational church gatherings and in daily worship at home. In Part 1, Scott presents biblical and theological reasons families should worship together both on Sundays and the other six days too, addressing common objections and suggesting some practical ways family worship might be recovered. In Part 2, Scott then offers practical tips and myriads of resources for engaging children in church worship as well as family worship at home.

 

Table of Contents:

Introduction: Two Examples

Part One: A Little Bit of Doctrine, History, and Philosophy

Our Goal: The Discipline and Instruction of the Lord
From Integration to Segregation
Practice Makes Perfect
Do This in Remembrance of Me

Part Two: Tips for Parents, Pastors, and Parishioners

Tips for Worship in the Assembly
Tips for the Other Six Days

Part Three: Tools and Resources

Resource Recommendations
Tools from Tune My Heart
Religious Affections Catechism
Liturgies for Church and Home
Family Worship
Prayers
Advent

Let the Little Children Come approaches a sizable modern problem in the church with biblical wisdom. Children must not only be pointed to the Son for salvation. They must also be pointed to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as the proper objects of their worship. This cannot occur when children are always separated from the worship of the gathered church. Scott Aniol’s timely book helps parents teach their children in a practical way to worship, both on the Lord’s Day and the other six days of the week.
– Sam Waldron, President and Academic Dean, Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary

Scott Aniol should be commended for helping parents to teach their children to worship, both in public worship with the church and in family worship at home. Drawing from Reformed and Baptist traditions, he not only instructs but warmly encourages parents, by the Spirit’s grace, to point and bring their children to Jesus. This is an excellent resource for small groups and classes as well as for personal study by pastors and parents.
– Joel R. Beeke, President, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

Shaped by scriptural reflection and informed by serious theological commitments, along with a broad understanding of church history, Scott Aniol in Let the Little Children Come offers wise guidance for parents, pastors, church leaders, and grandparents as well. This thoughtful little volume, filled with hymns, catechisms, Bible readings, and practical instruction, provides helpful insights for congregational worship on Sunday as well as family time throughout the week. Even those readers who may struggle with Aniol’s convictions regarding age-graded Christian education and church programming will find this well-designed and carefully organized volume to be a rich resource for those seeking to tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.
– David S. Dockery, Distinguished Professor of Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; President, International Alliance for Christian Education

For many parents, the question of children and worship, both public and family, is a vexing issue. We know it is important, but we struggle to know how to think clearly and practically about it. And yet I have heard it said, and believe it true, that one big reason the church loses young people is because parents fail to teach them how important worship is. That is why Scott Aniol’s book is helpful: he not only provides a biblical, theological, and historical framework for thinking about children and worship, he also provides tools—a catechism, a Bible reading scheme—and helpful specifics on different types of worship services. This is a small book but a really useful addition to the libraries of pastors and parents.
– Carl R. Trueman, Grove City College

Let the Little Children Come is a first-rate resource to help you center your family on the worship of God. Scott lays the biblical foundations for both family and corporate church worship. Then he addresses the modern challenges to engaging your children in worship, and finally, he explains in detail how parents and pastors can lead their children in worship. I have never seen such a helpful mixture of both practical and biblically sound advice. Scott does not simply tell you what to do. He does not get stuck in theoretical clouds. He tells you what to do and how to do it. I highly recommend this book to both church leaders and parents. This is a book you can use every day of your child-raising years. Your children will be gone sooner than you think; if you use this book as your guide, you will be glad you did. Don’t let the opportunity slip away.
– Scott Brown, Pastor, Hope Baptist Church, Wake Forest, NC; President, Church and Family Life

Author Bio