What is a Family Integrated Church?

Click the video below to listen to a sermon which explains what we mean when we say Verity Baptist Church is a Family Integrated Church.



We have also posted an outline of the sermon:

Introduction:

1. A big part of modern day churches are children’s ministries

2. Are children’s ministries a Biblical ministry

3. Why do we have no children’s ministries at Verity Baptist Church?



I. The Biblical Basis for Being A Family Integrated Church

A. The Family Integrated Church is Scriptural

1. First Example: Moses Gathering All the People


  • Deu 31:9 And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.

  • Deu 31:10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,

  • Deu 31:11 When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

  • Deu 31:12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:



2. Second Example: Ezra Assembling All the People

  • Ezr 10:1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.


3. Third Example: Joel Assembling All the People


  • Joel 2:15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

  • Joel 2:16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.


4. Fourth Example: Jesus Allowing Children to Take Part in His Public Ministry


  • Mat 19:13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

  • Mat 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer [“Suffer” means allow] little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.


  • Mar 10:13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

  • Mar 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.


  • Luk 18:15 And they brought unto him also infants (Younger than a toddler), that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

  • Luk 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer (allow) little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.



Note: At Verity Baptist Church we endeavor to pattern ourselves to the example set forth in scripture. When you remove all preconceived ideas or anything you may have seen in a modern day churches, and simply allow the Bible to show you how a church (i.e. gathering, congregation) meeting was held, it will become very apparent that the children were always part of the assembly. The children were not taken to another location to minimize distractions. Where do you see in scripture the modern day “Sunday school” or “Children’s Church”?

B. The Family Integrated Church is Safer

1. The Bible Warns Us Wicked People Creep Into Churches for Lustful Desires


a. Jude Describes These Wicked People



  • Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (Given to lust or sexual desires), and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.


  • Jud 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.


  • Jud 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.


  • Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.


  • Jud 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.


b. How Peter describes these wicked people



  • 2Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.


  • 2Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.


2. Predators Come to A Church With the Intent to Defile Children


  • 2Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls [could be a reference to children]: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:


Note: You do not need to look very hard to find that children are being molested and attacked on a regular and frequent basis all across our nation’s churches. The reason for this is because “children’s ministries” lend themselves to allow a predator access to many children. We understand that most churches want and attempt to have the children in a safe environment, yet many perverts are still able to get to through the background checks and get access to these vulnerable children. At Verity Baptist Church we have drastically lowered the opportunity of a child being sexually attacked in one of our church functions because the entire congregation is kept together and children are always with their parents.


II. The Parents of a Family Integrated Church (What is expected of you)

A. Parents Need to Discipline Their Children

1. Children Can Be Taught To Obey, Listen and Be Still


Famous Quote: “We don’t get much from our children because we don’t expect much from our children”

a. All Children Are Naturally Not Well Behaved



  • Pro 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.


b. Parents Must Spend Time Training Their Children



  • Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.


2. Parents Must Learn to Biblically Discipline ("spank") Their Children


a. Spanking is the scriptural pattern for disciplining children



  • Pro 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

  • Pro 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
  • Pro 23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.


b. A spanking should hurt not injure



  • Pro 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

  • Pro 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.


c. Parent that spanks their children truly loves their children


  • Pro 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.


Note: We are not talking about beating a child in an abusive way although a spanking should hurt enough to deter them from doing wrong again. We are talking about lovingly correcting our children. Contrary to our societies philosophy the Bible is clear that a spanking is the most loving way to discipline your child.

B. Parents Need to Disciple Their Children

1. Children Can Learn the Bible With Adults; They Do Not Need it Dumbed Down

  • Deu 31:12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:

  • Deu 31:13 And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

  • Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

  • Isa 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

2. Children Should be Taught the Bible at Home by Their Parents

  • Deu 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

  • Deu 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

  • Deu 6:8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

  • Deu 6:9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

    • Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Note: It is not the job of the church to teach the Bible to children it is the job of the church to come along side the parents and help equip them as they disciple their own children

III. The Practice of a Family Integrated Church (How it All Works)

A. What must be done at home

1. Parents Must Spend Quality Time With their Children


2. Parents Must Have Daily in Bible Time With Their Children


3. Parents Must Lovingly Discipline ("spank") Their Children


4. Parents Must Teach Their Children To Be Well Behaved



B. What Must Be Done at Church

1. Churches Must Have a Facility for Mothers to Care for Young Children


2. Churches Must Not Look Down at Children in the Service Who Are Learning


3. Churches Must Encourage Families to Learn and Serve Together
Conclusion:

1. Modern day children’s ministries are not found in scripture

2. Modern day children’s ministries lend opportunities for predators

3. Modern day children’s ministries remove the responsibility from families to teach the Bible to their children