Articles
One in Every Class – Dealing with disruption
It wasn’t that long ago that kids brought apples to school for their teachers. But today it seems they just drive them bananas! For those readers who are teachers or who know teachers this appears to be an increasingly common scenario in our schools today. Statistics from Australia give a window into what’s happening in…
Read MoreSmall Commitments, Big Faith
During many children’s ministry programs, there will be opportunities given for children to respond to what they have learned and heard in that particular lesson. Some responses will be to the Gospel message that Jesus died for our sins to bring us back to God. Some of these responses will be to a challenge about…
Read MoreEnjoying God, Creation and Our Time Together – Children’s Ministry
As children’s ministry leaders we endeavor to teach the truths of Scripture and help the children in our group to understand the Bible so that they can come to know God and live in relationship with Jesus. This is a serious goal with Kingdom consequences and we can have a lot of FUN achieving it……
Read MoreEncountering Jesus – The Child and Spiritual Discovery
How can we be intentional about providing spaces for children to encounter Jesus? In an entertainment driven, visually stimulated, “I’m bored” generation there is a tendency to fill our program time with children with lots of activity, noise and busyness so as to maintain attention and hopefully communicate something of value. While we need to…
Read More8 Ways to Encourage Discipleship Among Children
Children Independently Following Jesus. Irregular attendance at programs is a constant concern of children’s ministry leaders. The reality is that children can only attend our programs when their family enables them. Teaching children to nurture their relationship with God and independently follow Jesus will help them in the wider circumstances of their life when they may…
Read MoreAdventuring with Scripture – the Bible, children and discipleship
Discipleship and scriptural engagement – adventures that belong together. Discipleship is not a theory or an orderly set of doctrines you can transmit or teach like times tables. It is not about signing on the bottom line, ‘Yes, I believe all that.’ Even the devil believes God – and trembles! Discipleship is not learning about Jesus…
Read MoreSeeking After Excellence in Ministry with Children – A Concise Checklist
We will treat each child as a unique individual: whilst ‘ages and stages of development’ material can provide some general help, they do not describe a real child – just trends. We will take the time, and make the effort, to ‘tune in’ to the life of each child it is our privilege to minister…
Read More15 Things You Should Know About Speaking to Large Groups of Children
If you’ve been asked to stand up in front of a group that is larger than your normal group or class, the following principles may help you to captivate and maintain their attention. (Of course, most of these principles apply to smaller groups as well!). This article can be found at max7.org 1. Seating The…
Read MoreWhy Kids Need Systematic Theology
I know what you are thinking “Isn’t that a bit much for kids?” 50 years ago I would have agreed with you even 20 years ago. Today is a different day. There are many reasons for this, but I think DA Carson’s analysis is most concise in this matter. He says,”One generation knows the gospel,…
Read MoreChildren, Church Planting and Ministry to Parents
Last December a Christian mission partnership visited a village in a country not friendly to Christian mission to hold a day’s Christmas celebration with 80 kids. They distributed the Christmas Story with a gospel presentation. Afterwards, a young missionary pastor, who is pastoring a church 4 miles away, organized a Kids’ Club ministry and continued…
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