Teach and Tend Young Hearts 6 Feb 2024 7:30 AM (last year)
Just as seeds develop differently in various soil types, children respond differently to God’s Word. Some initially embrace the message, others eventually give up on God, some become captivated by the world, and still others produce a bountiful crop (see Mark 4:1-20). Six environments shape your child’s understanding of reality. Each one can cultivate health and growth, or disease and death. These environments have the power to draw like a magnet—either attracting kids to God, or repelling them from Him. True Story As a gregarious youngster, friends were a huge part of my upbringing. My Mom often told me, “Who
What Happened to the Bible? 18 Oct 2023 11:48 AM (2 years ago)
Let me ask you a few questions related to children at your church and the Bible. After each, please pause and reflect on the answer. RE: Children and the Bible Do your children bring their Bibles to church? Do your children USE their Bibles at church? Are Bibles needed by your children during your programs? Do you have Bibles available for children who don’t bring or have one? When is the last time you saw a child reading their Bible on their own? Do your lower elementary children know the books of the Bible by memory? Can your upper elementary
5 Small-Church Children’s Ministry Strategies 3 Oct 2023 11:30 AM (2 years ago)
Small Church, BIG Challenge God uses churches of all sizes to accomplish His purposes. There is a lot of information for and about larger churches, yet 90 percent of churches have less than 350 attendees and the median conservative Protestant church in the U.S. has 117 regular participants in worship on Sunday mornings. So what do you do when only two kids show up on Sunday, and they’re 4 and 12? In this week’s newsletter, Greg Baird encourages us to start by thinking S.M.A.L.L.: __ Janice hurried through the building checking each of the three classrooms. She’d invested several hours
Five Reasons to Be Prudent About AI 23 Aug 2023 2:34 PM (2 years ago)
“The naïve believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps.” – Proverbs 14:15 When writing came along to the ancient world, Plato lamented that people would no longer commit things to memory or engage with each other. Chinese philosophers warned against the danger of a new technology called “books.” With each new invention, there are growing pains while society learns to adjust and humanity works out how to glorify God with the new technology. Today ChatGPT and other large language model AI’s have quickly become an overnight sensation. Those that promote and defend this kind of AI say that
Empower Your Volunteers! 9 Aug 2023 11:40 AM (2 years ago)
Empowering volunteers is a critical, yet challenging process. Failure to empower others inevitably leads to the “do it yourself” mode. This culminates in volunteer under-utilization and leadership exhaustion! The solution is simple. To create a culture where volunteers are enabled to solve problems without requiring constant supervision, they need intentional, hands-on training. Volunteers who internalize the mission, heart, and policies of the church can make decisions based on those values. Your Empowerment Strategy: the “Three E’s”“Three E’s”—Engagement, Equipping, and Empowerment—will help your nursery leaders strategically prepare and train volunteers. The tutoring process is much like coaching a team of motivated
ABCs of Family Discipleship – Abide in Christ 31 Jan 2023 8:16 AM (2 years ago)
Remain in me, and I will remain in you.For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine,and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. (John 15:4, NLT) Discipleship Truth: Abiding in Christ is simply remaining in constant communion with Jesus. That concept is very basic, but it can also be quite challenging. Apart from staying connected to Jesus, all human efforts to become godly are useless and ineffective (John 15:5-6). Believers who abide in Christ also bear fruit—the proof of discipleship (15:8). As Christians allow Jesus to direct their lives, He provides daily energy
Presenting the Gospel to Children 28 Apr 2022 1:39 PM (3 years ago)
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14, NIV). How Kids ThinkSome people say, “Children need to grasp the Gospel’s deep significance before they should be given an opportunity to respond.” This thinking marginalizes the power of the Good News. As a result, those kids miss out on the privilege of receiving new life and enjoying Jesus’ companionship during the difficult challenges before them. Approximately half of the people in America who come to faith in Christ respond to the Gospel before
The Fragrance of Easter: Free Download 13 Apr 2022 9:31 AM (3 years ago)
Free Easter Resource: The Fragrance of Easter by Mark Steiner Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus. She is one of only a few who ministered to Jesus directly. In a moving gesture that demonstrated her deep devotion and gratitude, Mary opened her alabaster jar and … Click Here For An Immediate Download
Cultivate a Spiritual Climate in Your Nursery 8 Feb 2021 5:00 AM (4 years ago)
Trish and Javier were amazed when their toddler recited her simple Bible verse and sang the new song about Jesus. Other church nurseries they had visited had been safe and warm, but offered scarcely any spiritual input! Two-year-old Kaeli was like a sponge at home—always eager to learn new things. Trish and Javier knew she could grasp simple spiritual truths at the church nursery, too. Grateful for the very basic Bible instruction for Kaeli, Javier and Trish looked forward to coming back the following Sunday. Of course, the church nursery must be a caring, nurturing place that addresses the physical
Families Abide in Christ 13 Oct 2020 8:53 AM (5 years ago)
Remain in me, and I will remain in you.For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine,and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. (John 15:4, NLT) Discipleship Truth: Abiding in Christ is simply remaining in constant communion with Jesus. That concept is very basic, but it can also be quite challenging. Apart from staying connected to Jesus, all human efforts to become godly are useless and ineffective (John 15:5-6). Believers who abide in Christ also bear fruit—the proof of discipleship (15:8). As Christians allow Jesus to direct their lives, He provides daily energy
Faith Foundations 8 Sep 2020 12:26 PM (5 years ago)
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen… And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:1, 6, ESV). How Kids Think“Can you prove it?“ Some kids are taught to believe that the scientific method is the ultimate test of validity. That worldview belittles people who believe in miraculous events, calling them simple-minded and uninformed. Faith is viewed as a weakness that cannot stand up to scientific reasoning. This is contrary
The Blessing of Boundaries 21 Feb 2020 11:39 AM (5 years ago)
“Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:26-27). How Kids Think Kids complain, “My parents won’t let me do anything!“ As children grow older, they want fewer restrictions and more freedom. Kids cannot understand why parents don’t trust their judgment. They view parental boundaries as roadblocks to their independence. How God Thinks Boundaries provide both security and freedom. At birth, children are entirely dependent upon their parents. As kids grow, they begin testing their will and