Years ago a parent came to me after church one week and asked about something her child had come home singing the week before. She was concerned and said that based on the words she was hearing she couldn't tell if it was a pop song her child had heard on the radio or something from church. She challenged me to think more carefully about the songs I chose to sing with the children, making sure that children were hearing and singing the gospel and big truths of God's character. That simple conversation and loving correction changed the way I think of music in children's ministry. Our singing time became a true worship and teaching time.
The truth of the matter is that songs matter because Christians are a singing people; and that includes children!
Hymns and songs, sung together as a community, form an important part of Christian worship and education. But not all songs are created equal. If we only have a few minutes in our class to sing, we need to make sure those songs are theologically sound, biblically accurate, and most importantly, gospel-driven.
Why Should We Sing?
Let’s first look at what Scripture has to say about singing. Singing is a biblical command, not just a church tradition. In Ephesians 5:19, Paul exhorts believers to "speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord." Notice that singing is both a means of worship and a way to encourage one another in the faith.
Psalm 100:2 also reminds us, “Serve the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.” The act of singing is an expression of our joy and reverence toward God. It teaches us to rejoice in His greatness and His goodness. In the same way, we are called to teach our children this joy through songs that reflect who God is and what He has done for us. Children absorb much of what they hear, and singing becomes a vital means of learning doctrine.
Finally, Colossians 3:16 adds “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Singing is a powerful teaching tool that helps instill truth in young hearts. As we teach, we must be aware that every song we sing with our children is an opportunity to impart biblical truth.
Learning Through Song
Children are wired to learn through repetition, patterns, and rhythm. Songs help children internalize the truths of Scripture in a way that is memorable and engaging. Think about how quickly children pick up a catchy tune or a silly phrase, or how many toddlers you know who can sing the ABCs without any real concept of what those letters are. Children can memorize long lists of words when paired with melody and rhythm, for example my 5 year old regularly sings "The area of a rectangle is length times height." He has no idea what area is or what times means, but he has that math fact down pat.
This makes songs an incredibly effective tool in teaching Biblical truth and doctrine.
Children can learn the simple truth of the gospel through a song about God’s love or grace. The melody allows them to remember it, repeat it, and carry it with them even beyond the classroom. When we sing about God’s holiness, His greatness, or the gospel, we are planting seeds in their hearts that can grow over time, deeply embedded in their understanding and love for God.
Choosing the Right Songs
It's because of the importance of carefully choosing songs, that most of my curriculum resourced come with a written liturgy (song selection, Scriptures to read, even prayers). I want everything that happens in the classroom to be emphasizing the point of the lesson and directing kid's hearts to Christ.
While fun songs with catchy tunes may seem appealing, we must always ask ourselves:
What is this song teaching our children?
Is it true to Scripture?
Does it point to the gospel?
Are we reinforcing good theology with the words we sing?
For example, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man” is a fun song for little ones, but if we stop there, we miss the point of the story. The focus should be on how Jesus reached out to Zacchaeus and saved him, not merely on the height of the man.
Theological Soundness is Key
In our classrooms, every word and every moment should be used as a teaching opportunity. That includes the songs we choose.
Consider the following when choosing songs for your Sunday school class:
Biblically Accurate: The songs should reflect the truth of Scripture. Avoid songs that make broad generalizations or that take Scripture out of context. Always aim for songs that reflect what Scripture actually teaches about God and His plan for salvation.
Theologically Sound: Look for songs that reflect an understanding of God's sovereignty, grace, and salvation. We want our children to grow up with a deep understanding of God's character and the gospel.
God Focussed: The songs we sing need to focus on the the greatness of God and be full of truths of His character that children can meditate on throughout the week.
Age-Appropriate: Choose songs that are engaging but also meaningful for the age group you are teaching. Children can grasp deep truths, but they need songs that are clear and simple, without being overly simplistic.
Gospel-Driven: The heart of all our teaching, including songs, should center on the gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ. Songs should help children understand who Jesus is, what He did for us, and why that matters.
Some of My Personal Favorites:
Here are a few of my go to sources for music to help me craft rich, gospel-centered worship times with the children I teach:
- The Songs My Church Sings: Singing the same songs kids may hear in the adult worship time reminds kids that they are part of the church. Using these songs may involved teaching around the song to introduce words and concepts in the song, but it's a great option.
- Keith and Kristyn Getty: Their hymns like "The Power of the Cross" and "In Christ Alone" are rich in theology and truth. They also have several albums geared for children with their daughters and other children singing classic hymns. Children love to sing along with other children, so these are great options.
- Sovereign Grace: They excellent, theologically rich songs like "All I Have is Christ" and "Only a Holy God" which are accessible to young children and rooted in Scripture. They also have several albums geared just to kids with songs like "Mighty Mighty Savior" and "The Gospel Song."
- CityAlight: With songs like "Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me," and "Jesus Strong and Kind," CityAlight’s music can introduce children to deep truths of God’s grace. Plus, these are often songs being sung by the adults, so older children will especially enjoy singing them.
- Seeds Family Worship: Their Bible verse songs are an excellent tool for embedding Scripture in children's hearts. Each of their songs is nothing more than Scripture set to music.
- The Village Church Kids: Their albums contain simple, gospel-centered songs that will help children internalize biblical truths. My 3-year-old class sings "Jesus Came to Save Sinners" every week at the close of class and it's such a joy to see these little hearts rehearsing the truths of the gospel.
- Shai Linne: I know rap may not be everyone's cup of tea, but the song "Only Jesus" has to be sung anytime you're in an Old Testament story and you want kids to remember that Abraham, Moses, David, etc weren't able to redeem the people - Only Jesus!
- Traditional Sunday School Songs: Lest you think I have something against old school Sunday School songs, you can never go wrong with songs like "Jesus Love me," "The BIBLE," and "God is so Good."
Creating a Liturgy for Your Teaching Time
One of the most helpful things we can do as children's teachers is to intentionally structure our time to maximize the impact of each element of the class, including song. Here is a simple template for creating a liturgy for your Sunday school time:
Opening Scripture: Begin with a short verse or passage from the Bible to focus children on God’s word. Choose a verse that aligns with the theme of the lesson. For example, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6).
First Song: Pick a song that introduces the theme of the lesson or reminds the children of a truth about God. After the song, take a moment to explain the meaning of the lyrics. For instance, after a song about God’s holiness, you might say, “God is holy. He is perfect and without sin. He is set apart from us because of our sin, but through Jesus we can be made holy and stand in God's presence.”
Second Song: Sing another song that builds on the truth you are focussing on in your passage for the week.
Prayer: Take time to thank God for His Word and pray that He would open the hearts and minds of the children in your class to know Him. Pray for the salvation of the kids in your class.
Bible Lesson: After the first song, transition into the Bible story. Always tie the story to the gospel, helping children see how it points to Jesus.
Final Song: After the Bible story, sing another song that reinforces the lesson or the gospel. You might want to use a song that reflects on the theme of salvation, like “Jesus Loves Me” or “Jesus Came to Save Sinners."
By structuring your time thoughtfully, you help children understand that each part of the class builds upon the other. You teach through the songs just as much as through the Bible story, and the songs reinforce the truth of God’s word in a way that sticks.
Conclusion
As children’s ministry leaders, we must remember that we are shaping hearts, and the songs we sing with them are powerful tools for teaching. As Christians, we are a singing people, and that includes the youngest among us. Let’s be careful and intentional in the songs we choose, ensuring that they are biblically sound, gospel-centered, and age-appropriate. Each moment, including the songs we sing, is an opportunity to point children toward the Savior and teach them about the greatness of our God. Let every song be a teaching moment, and may the music we share with our children draw them closer to Christ.