What our son taught us in “big church”

Written By jonathan couch

Last week, if you follow us on social media, you may have seen that we shared a reflection on Jesus’ instruction to be more childlike in our faith. This week, we experienced another powerful reminder of what that really means.

Our oldest son, Henderson, has recently started joining us in the main church service, what he calls “big church.” He’s reaching the age where kids’ church feels a little too “kiddish.”

Before the service began, we told him that “big church” was for big kids, and that meant sitting up, paying attention, and taking notes. We handed him a notebook and encouraged him to write down any questions he had so we could talk about them later.

He did that, but he didn’t stop there.

On the left page of his notebook, he boldly wrote the word “QUESTIONS.” 

On the right page, he wrote “COOL THINGS.”

The Challenge

Jesus’ call to be childlike is both inspiring and challenging. Throughout Scripture, we’re also told to grow and mature in our faith.

Here are just a few examples:

🧭 Spiritual Maturity & Growth

  • Hebrews 5:12–14

  • Ephesians 4:13–15

  • 1 Corinthians 13:11

🪞 Becoming More Like Christ

  • Romans 8:29

  • 2 Corinthians 3:18

  • Philippians 1:6

🔥 Endurance and Trials as Part of Maturing

  • James 1:2–4

  • Romans 5:3–5

  • 1 Peter 1:6–7

📖 Pursuing Wisdom and Discernment

  • Proverbs 4:7

  • Colossians 1:9–10

  • Philippians 1:9–10

🧥 Leaving the Old Self Behind

  • Colossians 3:9–10

  • Galatians 5:22–25

  • Romans 12:1–2

🚶‍♂️ Living Out the Maturity

  • Titus 2:11–12

  • 2 Peter 1:5–8

  • Matthew 5:48

Clearly, spiritual growth is an essential part of the Christian life. So how do we hold both? How do we grow in maturity and also become more childlike, as Jesus commands?

The Treasure

God’s treasures often have layers. And in His grace, He reveals those layers to us in just the right season.

This week, one of those layers came through a boy’s notebook in “big church.”

Henderson followed our instructions. He was mature: he sat up, listened carefully, and took notes. But he also brought something we didn’t tell him to bring: his childlike faith.

I was also sitting up, paying attention, and taking notes. However, there was one thing missing from my notebook: a bold title at the top that read “COOL THINGS.”

Henderson listened with expectation and wonder as he heard the treasure of God’s word. And one of the “cool things” he wrote down was this:

We are blessed to be a blessing.

I’ve heard that phrase many times before. But I didn’t write it down. He did. Seeing it on Henderson’s list made me slow down and think about it. The more I thought about it, the more I agreed with him; it is a really cool thing.

As we continue to train up our children in the way they should go, we’ll continue focusing on maturity. We’ll keep pursuing wisdom and Christlikeness. At the same time, we will pursue the childlike awe and wonder that our kids are teaching us.

Maybe this weekend, when I’m in “big church,” I’ll try something different. I’ll sit up, pay attention, take notes… and at the top of the page, I’ll write in big, bold letters:

COOL THINGS

From our family to yours, may childlike wonder help you see God’s treasures in a whole new way this week.

With love,
The Couch Family

jonathan couch