Child Driven Church Attendance with Chad Vegas

In this episode, Pastor Chad Vegas joins Rev. Chris Gordon to tackle a growing issue in modern evangelicalism: the "cult of the child." They explore how the responsibility of parents to raise their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord has been inverted, leading many families to choose a church based solely on where their children "have the most fun." This child-centered approach often results in an infantilized church culture that prioritizes entertainment and "bounce house" ministries over the faithful preaching of the Word and the catechizing of the next generation.

The discussion highlights the vital importance of the local church in shaping the minds and souls of both parents and children. Vegas and Gordon argue that the best thing a parent can do for a restless child is to teach them to sit and listen to the Word of God from a young age. By moving away from entertainment-driven models and returning to a high view of the church and the means of grace, families can find a community that fosters true spiritual maturity rather than perpetual adolescence.

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction: The shift toward child-centered parenting.
01:06 - Welcoming Chad Vegas: Seeking "trouble" in Israel.
02:12 - Defining child-driven church attendance.
04:00 - Ephesians 6:4 and the responsibility of fathers.
05:13 - Shaping tastes vs. accommodating desires.
06:37 - The "bounce house" church model.
08:14 - The formula for modern church growth.
11:21 - The consequences of prioritizing children's entertainment.
15:45 - The importance of children sitting under the Word.
22:10 - Moving from infantilization to spiritual maturity.

Guest Information:
Chad Vegas is the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Bakersfield, CA. After completing his M.A. in Theology at Talbot, he was called to plant a church with a focus on knowing Christ and making Him known. He is also the founding board chairman of Radius International, which trains individuals to plant churches among unreached language groups. He has been married to Teresa since 1994, and they have two children and one grandson.
Links:

- Chad's Church: bakersfieldchurch.org

Mentions:

- Ephesians 6:4 (Scripture)
- John Calvin (Theologian)
- Radius International (Missions Organization)
- Christian Reformed Church (CRC)
- Westminster Seminary
- Sovereign Grace Church, Bakersfield
- Reformed Theology
- Catechesis

Chad Vegas is the founding pastor of Sovereign Grace Church. After completing his M.A. in Theology at Talbot, and being the high school pastor at RiverLakes Community Church, Chad was called to plant a church in Bakersfield. He is also the founding board chairman of Radius International, an organization that trains people to plant churches among unreached language groups. His passion is to know Christ and to make him known. He has been married to Teresa since 1994, and they have two children and one grandson.

Church: bakersfieldchurch.org