pilgrim people

Like confessing our faith in the creed, praying the Lord’s Prayer in unison during the service allows our children an opportunity to be involved in worship. From their earliest years they will become familiar with the practice of uniting with God’s people in one voice on the Lord’s Day.

It is not uncommon, however, to hear some parents object to this practice: “I don’t want my children to pray in a meaningless, mechanical fashion. I’m concerned that they will think worship is merely jumping through hoops and mouthing the right words.”

But here is where parents must be diligent to take up their responsibilities of catechizing and discipling their children (Deut 6.4-6; Eph 6.1-4). If we teach our children what it means to pray, “Hallowed be Thy name,” “Thy kingdom come,” “Lead us not into temptation” and so on, they will begin to understand the theological depth and richness of this prayer that they have grown up praying and memorizing.

As parents, we should use the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer to teach our children about God and his kingdom, and about the nature of the Father and our dependence on him. Use the Heidelberg Catechism as it exposits the Lord’s Prayer in questions 116-129 to help you in your instruction. It is important for us to teach them why they are praying what they are praying. Over the years, this can have a tremendous impact on our children as they learn the great value of this prayer our Lord taught us to pray, allow it to shape and structure their own prayer life, and develop a heart that worships with understanding.

In the meantime, praying the Lord’s Prayer at home during the week and in public worship on the Lord’s Day provides covenant children from the earliest years an excellent opportunity to participate in the Divine Service.