“Are We (Only) Having Fun?”

Summary

In this episode, Matt Markins and Mike Handler discuss the role of fun and entertainment in children’s ministry. They are careful to say that fun is good and necessary. Kids should laugh, enjoy church, and want to come back. But the episode asks whether children’s ministry has sometimes made fun the main measure of success rather than discipleship.

Matt traces part of this tendency to the church growth movement and attractional models of ministry. In that framework, churches often removed barriers so people would come, stay, and return. That influenced children’s ministry, where entertainment became a common way to attract families and keep kids engaged. The concern is not that fun is wrong, but that fun can become overemphasized when the deeper goal should be lasting faith in Jesus.

The episode contrasts entertainment with engagement. Entertainment puts something in front of children. Engagement invites children into discipleship. Mike gives practical examples, such as small group confession, helping kids learn how to talk about sin and forgiveness, and giving children opportunities to serve, greet, pass out supplies, run tech, or help younger kids. These practices move kids from being passive spectators to active participants.

The main takeaway is that children rise to the level of expectation placed before them. If churches expect little more than attendance and enjoyment, kids may learn that church is mainly about having fun. But if churches invite them into meaningful participation, service, confession, Scripture, and gospel-centered community, they begin to see church as a place where they are formed as disciples of Jesus.

Practical Next Steps

1. Audit your children’s ministry.
   Ask how much of the weekly experience is built around entertainment and how much is built around engagement, formation, Scripture, prayer, service, and gospel response.
2. Change the parent pickup question.
   Instead of only asking, “Did you have fun?” encourage parents to ask:
   – “What did you learn about Jesus today?”
   – “What is one thing you heard?”
   – “What is one thing that stood out to you?”
   – “How did you see someone serve today?”
3. Invite kids to serve.
   Give children age-appropriate roles such as greeting, helping with supplies, welcoming new kids, reading Scripture, assisting with tech, or helping younger children.
4. Create space for real spiritual formation.
   In small groups, help children learn how to talk about sin, forgiveness, prayer, and following Jesus in everyday life.
5. Aim for formation, not perfection.
   Let kids participate even when it is messy. Jesus formed His disciples by inviting them into the work, not by keeping them on the sidelines.