Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Another Prayer For Children's Ministry . . . Pray for Children to Grow in Jesus!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Object Lesson - Amazing Make-Your-Own Snow
I love object lessons because they tend to get the attention of children! I especially like them when they are activities we can allow children to do with us! So, when I was browsing on Pinterest and saw this link for making Erupting Snow - I had to share it with you!

Follow this link and you'll find the ingredients and directions for making "snow" and for having it "erupt"! Simple and fun, this is a project children will love, remember and want to show to others!
There are so many possibilities for making an object lesson with this cool project, consider the following:

Follow this link and you'll find the ingredients and directions for making "snow" and for having it "erupt"! Simple and fun, this is a project children will love, remember and want to show to others!
There are so many possibilities for making an object lesson with this cool project, consider the following:
Monday, April 28, 2014
Awesome, Fun and Simple Gospel Object Lesson
Another Prayer For Children's Ministry . . . Pray for the Laborers!
I firmly believe no one cares more if we have the "laborers" we need in our ministries than God does. God went to great lengths and sent Jesus so we could be forgiven and learn to know and walk with Him; clearly this is a message He wants others to hear! We need volunteers in our ministries so we are able to reach children and families. These are simple facts. So, we need to make praying and asking God to send us the laborers we need a regular part of our prayers! Consider the following -
Sunday, April 27, 2014
How Do We Pray For Our Children's Ministry?
A number of years ago I heard a sermon by Dr. Ed Dobson - he was the dean of students at the college I attended and ended up the Senior Pastor at Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, MI. He was preaching on prayer and said if we personalize and pray Scripture it is one of the best ways for us to learn how to talk with God. I decided to give it a try and found he was right . . . at least for me! So, I thought I'd share a personalized Scripture prayer for children's ministry with you! This prayer is a prayer for salvation . . . of course while we can not pray the prayer for salvation for a child, we can pray and ask God to make their hearts tender and open so they will choose to believe and be saved!
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Open Our Eyes
Friday, April 25, 2014
Take God at His Word!
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Special Give-Away - Let's Go Explore Books
If you, like me, have not personally visited any of these places, books can be wonderful resources to help the children in your ministry be able to picture and better understand what these places are like and better understand what it might have been like to live there as well. Of course knowing these things can help children to have a fuller understanding of the Bible, so resources like the "Let's Go Explore" books from Zonderkidz are worthwhile books to have in your children's ministry classes or your library. I'm very happy today for the opportunity to let you know about these books and to give some away!
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
What Are You Afraid Of?
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Teach Your Class to Sign!
If you are looking for something fun, useful and engaging which you could do with the children in your class, consider teaching them some American Sign Language. Sound interesting? It is really pretty simple to do if you just take one or two words or a sentence at at time.

Last year I taught the children in my first grade Sunday School class one word a week which connected with the point of our Bible lesson - the kids loved this and each week we reviewed the words/signs from previous weeks!
Last year I taught the children in my first grade Sunday School class one word a week which connected with the point of our Bible lesson - the kids loved this and each week we reviewed the words/signs from previous weeks!
Monday, April 21, 2014
I Have a Winner!

God's Grace Requires Us to Show Grace
Today, before we all get back to our day-in-day-out lives, I want to share something with you which I read from UpWords with Max Lucado. He said, "So, how often do you sin, hmm… in an hour? For the sake of discussion, let’s say ten times an hour. Ten sins an hour, times sixteen waking hours, times 365 days a year, times the average life span of 74 years. I’m rounding the total off to 4,300,000 sins per person! How do you plan to pay God for your 4.3 million sin increments? You’re swimming in an ocean of debt. But God pardons the zillion sins of selfish humanity. He forgives sixty million sin-filled days. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where He always wanted us to be. And He did it by the grace of Jesus Christ."
If we are Christians, then we have been the recipients of God's incredible grace, pardon and forgiveness - which we all celebrated yesterday. Do we freely offer this grace, pardon and forgiveness we have received to those who hurt, offend, upset or wound us? Are our lives marked by grace - not only receiving it, but in generously giving it to others? Consider the following -
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Christ the Lord is Risen Today! Alleluia!
Today is Resurrection Sunday - the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus! I thought I'd share Glad's performance of the classic, Christ the Lord is Risen Today - enjoy and remember . . . because He is risen today, you can raise your joys and triumphs high and sing because death no longer has a sting or victory! Jesus did fight the fight and the battle is won because Jesus lives again! Alleluia!
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Jesus is Bigger Than We Think!
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Jesus is alive, He is bigger than we think and He is able to do ever so much more than we can even imagine; but do we live our everyday lives as if we really believe this? Do we serve in our children's ministries as if we really believe this? Or, do we become overwhelmed and frustrated with all there is to do and think there is no way we can actually do all the things we need to do?
Friday, April 18, 2014
What Curriculum Do You Use and Why?
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I have actually used a number of curriculum lines throughout the year; but not all of them. So, I'm asking you to please get involved with this year's Curriculum reviews. As I post the reviews, please comment if you have used the curriculum in the review. Please tell us why you chose it, what you like the most about it and if there is anything you might like to see be different with it.
My reviews focus on the features of a curriculum, the type of curriculum and it's strengths. Your comments can truly serve to help those of us who are trying to find our best curriculum fit by hearing first-hand from people who are using the curriculum; please share your perspective! Thank you!
Sunday School Curriculum Reviews - Why Make a Curriculum Change?
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Jesus and the Bible are Not Boring; Why do Children Think They Are?
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So, since Jesus is not boring and the Bible is not boring, why do so many children think they are? Why do so many children think the Bible is just a book they take to church with them and then leave in their van all week until they are on their way back to their Sunday School class? Why do so many adults think these things, too?
There are probably several reasons for this, but I think some of them are . . .
Sunday School Curriculum Reviews - Think About the "Tools"!
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Sunday School Curriculum Reviews - What "Type" of Curriculum is Your Best "Fit"?
As you look for your best "fit", keep in mind, the Bible is what you are teaching. Not a particular curriculum. Curriculum is only a “tool” to help you engage children so they experience, remember, understand and live God’s Word for truly changed lives. If it is Biblically sound, any curriculum can be made effective – some curriculum just provide better, more effective tools than others. We select curriculum because it is the best “tool” for our volunteers to utilize so our children will be truly engaged and know how to live God’s Word; not because it has fun gadgets, DVD’s, or colorful artwork! Make sure the curriculum you select provides tools to not only teach the Bible facts – which are important and we do want our children to learn – but also engages children so they understand what these “facts” mean for their everyday lives!
When finding your best curriculum “fit”, keep in mind the different types of curriculum as they each utilize specific teaching styles and tools. Think about what will best help you accomplish your vision/purpose for children’s ministry.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Sunday School Curriculum Reviews - How to Find Your Best Curriculum "Fit"
Once again, during the month of May I'll be focusing on Sunday School curriculum reviews. I like reviewing curriculum in the Spring so you can make your decision about which curriculum is your best fit by the beginning of the Summer. This allows you to have time to fully train your volunteers so when the Fall begins they are ready to use the new material! With this in mind, today I want to talk about how to find your best curriculum "fit".
There are many curriculum options available on the market, so how do you find the best curriculum “fit” for your church; and once you determine your best “fit”, how do you know when or even if you should ever make a change?
Too often we base our curriculum choices on familiarity, marketing and even tradition rather than the carefully thought through and prayerfully considered vision and purpose for our children’s ministry. When we make our curriculum choices based on “familiarity” or marketing, we end up changing curriculum so often the children in our ministry never receive a complete understanding of God’s Word, as no one scope and sequence is completed. When we choose our curriculum based on tradition, we may find ourselves utilizing a teaching model no longer as effective, resulting in our children not really understanding or living God’s Word. Consider the following components to help you find your best "fit" . . .
Too often we base our curriculum choices on familiarity, marketing and even tradition rather than the carefully thought through and prayerfully considered vision and purpose for our children’s ministry. When we make our curriculum choices based on “familiarity” or marketing, we end up changing curriculum so often the children in our ministry never receive a complete understanding of God’s Word, as no one scope and sequence is completed. When we choose our curriculum based on tradition, we may find ourselves utilizing a teaching model no longer as effective, resulting in our children not really understanding or living God’s Word. Consider the following components to help you find your best "fit" . . .
Monday, April 14, 2014
Get Rid of Gossip
Yesterday I wrote about gossip and shared some excellent information from Maralee McKee
about how to stop gossip. I also said, "Gossip is something I hate. Gossip is not "harmless". Gossip is not something those of us who serve are okay to "participate" in. Gossip causes pain and is something we must not only be on guard for, but it is something which we must be resolute in having nothing to do with it."
I understand how it can be extremely easy to find yourself in a situation where we not only hear others gossip, but where we take part in the gossip as well. But, we must be on guard for gossip and see it for the vile and hurtful thing it is, rather than something harmless which everyone does. When we allow gossip to be part of what we and our ministry does, we will have ministries which cause damage.
In the past I was at a church where the pastor in charge of the children's ministry not only listened to gossip, but he justified doing so as, "part of his job". He mistakenly thought it was acceptable for him to listen to gossip because as a pastor he thought he should be hearing what others had to say. Sadly, he allowed gossip to form his opinions of others and then he spread the gossip. As you might suspect, this caused significant damage because when he, as a pastor, said something about someone else, others believed him; even when what he said was not the truth.
Whether we are the pastor, children's director or a volunteer in the children's ministry, we absolutely must have a zero tolerance for gossip. We must see it for the vile and hurtful thing it is. We must be absolutely committed to not only be a person who does not speak and spread gossip, but to also be a person who does not listen to gossip for the following reasons . . .
about how to stop gossip. I also said, "Gossip is something I hate. Gossip is not "harmless". Gossip is not something those of us who serve are okay to "participate" in. Gossip causes pain and is something we must not only be on guard for, but it is something which we must be resolute in having nothing to do with it."
I understand how it can be extremely easy to find yourself in a situation where we not only hear others gossip, but where we take part in the gossip as well. But, we must be on guard for gossip and see it for the vile and hurtful thing it is, rather than something harmless which everyone does. When we allow gossip to be part of what we and our ministry does, we will have ministries which cause damage.
In the past I was at a church where the pastor in charge of the children's ministry not only listened to gossip, but he justified doing so as, "part of his job". He mistakenly thought it was acceptable for him to listen to gossip because as a pastor he thought he should be hearing what others had to say. Sadly, he allowed gossip to form his opinions of others and then he spread the gossip. As you might suspect, this caused significant damage because when he, as a pastor, said something about someone else, others believed him; even when what he said was not the truth.
Whether we are the pastor, children's director or a volunteer in the children's ministry, we absolutely must have a zero tolerance for gossip. We must see it for the vile and hurtful thing it is. We must be absolutely committed to not only be a person who does not speak and spread gossip, but to also be a person who does not listen to gossip for the following reasons . . .
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Gossip - Stop It.
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My friend, Maralee McKee wrote an excellent post about gossip, which I'm going to share a bit of with you and link to the full post so you are able to read it all. Please take the time to do so.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Summer Ministry Possibilities - "Freshen Up" Your Vacation Bible School!
Okay, Vacation Bible School is almost a "given" for many, if not most, churches when they think about Summer Ministry Possibilities . . . but there is a very good reason for this! VBS is one of the most effective outreaches - and for many churches - their only outreach of the year, so as we consider Summer Ministry Possibilities, we need to first of all take a good look at Vacation Bible School. Why is VBS a good Ministry Outreach Possibility? People expect it. While this might sound like a negative thing, it is actually a very good thing because since they expect it, the people in your church are more likely to volunteer to help with it and the people in your community will be watching for the dates so they know when to send their kids.
Friday, April 11, 2014
Do You "Roll Up the Sidewalks" or "Kick it Into High Gear'?
Thursday, April 10, 2014
A Prayer For Your Ministry - Pray For the Most Important Thing!
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Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Dream a Little - Part Two - Get Others In On the Dreaming!
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Prayer . . . a Wide Road and a Narrow Road Approach in Children's Ministry - Help Children Pray!

I don’t want to try and give you a “prescription” or “formula” for children to follow when they pray. I have found these things only kept my prayers “stunted” and “robotic”. Consider trying the following to help children learn to take the “narrow road approach” and learn to have a deeper walk with God!
Be So Very Careful . . . Don't Be A "Sponge"!
When we serve in children's ministry - or any area of the church - it can become very easy for us to accept the kindness of others . . .
- A kind word to lift our spirits when we are tired - don't you typically have at least one person who speaks kindly to you each week?
- Free babysitting
- Invitations for dinner
- Gift cards, meals, books, other gifts
- The prayers of the people in the church
Monday, April 7, 2014
The Jesus Bible - I'm Giving One Away!
I Have a Winner

Take the "Narrow Road" Approach to Praying in Your Children's Ministry
Today, I want to look at the “narrow road approach” and share a few “mile markers” to help us keep “on track” as we think about prayer. I also want to encourage you to take time when you pray to find at least one Scripture verse and then personalize and pray it back to God. By doing this, you will find you are able to keep your prayers focused and will learn to pray in accordance with God’s will; after all, what can be more in accordance with God’s will than Scripture?
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Beware the "Wide Road Approach" to Prayer in Children's Ministry
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Saturday, April 5, 2014
I Have a Winner!

Dream a Little!
Friday, April 4, 2014
Take the Blinders Off!
Okay - today I'm writing about something I care so very much about . . . children's ministry. Some of you who read this need to know, what I'm writing doesn't really apply to your children's ministry . . . but before you read a bit further and decide your ministry isn't the ministry I'm talking about, read the whole post and ask God to remove your "blinders" and help you honestly evaluate to see if there might be at least some of what I say which applies to your ministry.
I don't have horses . . . the one time I rode a horse the entire camp laughed about it all summer long (I was a counselor at a camp and they thought it would be nice for the counselors to have an opportunity to ride the horses . . . I just couldn't get my horse to go straight and we kept getting "stuck" in the bushes - it was an experience!) However, even though my personal horse experience is limited - and not highly successful - I do know about "blinders". They are put on some horses to help keep them from being distracted by the things around them. Blinders can be good, but I think in children's ministry they can also keep us from being effective.
Far too often we don't know what we don't know. We think we know what we are doing and we move forward, but when we look back for results - children and families with changed lives - we see our youth ministries still ended up being a "salvage ministry" because we really missed the mark in our children's ministry. So, what can we do to keep from "missing the mark"? Consider the following -
Far too often we don't know what we don't know. We think we know what we are doing and we move forward, but when we look back for results - children and families with changed lives - we see our youth ministries still ended up being a "salvage ministry" because we really missed the mark in our children's ministry. So, what can we do to keep from "missing the mark"? Consider the following -
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Why Make a Change?
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Free Resurrection Sunday Lesson
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But in fact, Jesus has been raised from the dead and in Him we shall be made alive! This is absolutely something worth celebrating! I'm delighted to give you a free Resurrection Sunday lesson for Preschool/Early Elementary and a free lesson for Elementary age children. You could use them in your Sunday or Mid-Week ministries . . . or anywhere you like!
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Let's Plan a Volunteer Recruiting Month! - "Glorious Day" Theme!
I like to recruit with a theme; and find songs which connect with my theme to build my recruiting around. Most of the songs I select to build a theme for my recruiting month have a strong message about serving and while Glorious Day from Casting Crowns doesn't have this message, the message of the song is the reason we do what we do in Children's Ministry. It is the message of Jesus and this song, for this very reason, would make a wonderful song to build a theme around for a month of recruiting!
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