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Kids Ministry

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Christmas, Evangelism, Family, Gospel-Centered

Family Christmas Traditions That Celebrate Jesus

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Christmas is finally here – a warm and welcome sight in a year where the ‘weary world’ is truly ready to usher in the season with eager and open hearts. Because this year has been so difficult for many of us for various reasons, it might be tempting to tilt our focus on things that don’t point to why we celebrate Christmas. We might want to buy even MORE toys for our kids, put up MORE lights around the house and yard, and bake even MORE cookies to devour while watching even MORE Christmas movies!  While I am wrestling with doing more of these inevitable traditions, I want to share some ideas for how families can wrap around favorite traditions to truly help celebrate our Savior, Jesus—now more than ever. 

  1. Celebrate with scripture:  Many families read the “Christmas story” from one of the gospels on Christmas eve or morning.  While this is a beautiful tradition, let me encourage you to maximize it by reading scripture each day leading up to the BIG day!  This can be done through an Advent reading plan or by creating a Jesse tree that highlights stories throughout scripture that have prophecies and promises of the Savior to come. A quick google or pinterest search will lead you to numerous choices for these kinds of reading plans. My family has enjoyed making a Jesse tree for many years by coloring simple ornaments that represent each story and hanging them on a tree made with sticks in a flower vase! 
  2. Celebrate with symbols: Help children of all ages learn about Jesus by calling attention to the Christmas symbols that surround us during the season.  Here are a few ideas:
    1. Hot chocolate with candy canes: As you enjoy a hot cup of cocoa, add a candy cane treat to stir up the goodness! Candy canes represent the shepherds who came to visit Jesus who, no doubt, carried a staff. Even better, they represent that Jesus is our shepherd and we are his sheep. The red represents his blood shed for us and white reflects how he washes our sins away.  
    2. Decorating the tree: Most of us put up Christmas trees (either a real one carefully chosen at a farm or tree lot; or an artificial one put together each year).  As your family places ornaments on the tree, talk about the meaning of an evergreen tree (even if yours is artificial!) and focus on how Jesus gives us everlasting life.  Place a star on top or as an ornament and talk about not only the star of Bethlehem that guided the wise men, but also how Jesus is the light of the world! 
    3. Three gifts: Some families choose to give their children three gifts that represent the three kings who brought Jesus gold, frankincense and Myrrh. While the wise men brought Jesus gifts, Jesus himself is the ultimate gift to us! Don’t miss the opportunity to talk about the gift of salvation this season as you unwrap gifts under the tree. 
  3. Celebrate with service: Jesus came to seek and save the lost, heal the sick, and serve the poor. His last command to us was, “go make disciples.” Christmas is a wonderful time to be the hands and feet of Jesus through serving others.  Help your family find ways to serve in the community around you such as gathering items for a food bank, donating to a homeless shelter or writing letters to those in nursing homes. Even though it may be difficult to serve in person this year, we can still show the love of Jesus through our resources, talents and prayers.

Though many of these traditions are nothing new to us, perhaps this is the year we slow down and truly rest in the simple things in order to prepare our hearts for celebrating Jesus in all that we do for Christmas.  Let this be the year we don’t miss a single opportunity to count every blessing and every trial as pure joy. Afterall, this unspeakable joy comes from Jesus himself. 

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 Peter 1:8 KJV

Christmas

5 Ways to Help Kids Give at Christmas

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Christmas. The most wonderful time of the year. Or is it?

When you’re a kid, it can quickly become the hardest time of the year. Lists are made, hopes are high, sugar is abundant, sleep is scarce, nerves are on edge, and meltdowns abound.

We want the very best for our kids. Sadly though, in an attempt to give our kids the very best, we can unintentionally teach that Christmas revolves around them. Greediness and selfishness can creep their ugly heads into the sweetest of hearts. 

There is no better time than right now to remind kids, and ourselves, of what Christmas is all about – what God demonstrated that first Christmas – giving the purest of love with an unselfish heart that can never be matched.  

This year, let’s commit to help our kids follow God’s example. Let’s bring it all back to His intent—to show love. Here are a few ideas to get you started on this path.

  1. Bring joy to someone who has had a tough year. (That shouldn’t be too hard this year!) Make cards and handmade ornaments to give to neighbors, people living in nursing homes, and others who might feel forgotten. 
  2. Encourage kids to shop for a child who might not otherwise receive gifts. As you shop, challenge your child not to point out things that he wants. If this happens, and it probably will, steer your child back onto the path of giving.
  3. Let your child do chores to earn money to buy gifts. She’ll discover the joy of giving from her own money can be even greater than receiving!
  4. Take your child grocery shopping for food to donate to a food pantry or to take to a family in need.
  5. Challenge your child to secretly do good deeds for family members during the month of December (and beyond)! Teach them that the truest gifts of love are done without praise or the expectation of receiving something in return. 

Enjoy this time teaching your kids and reminding yourself about what makes this truly “the most wonderful time of year!”

Blessings my friends!

Christmas, Volunteers
Christmas, Fun, Uncategorized

Front Porch Secret Santa

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By Ravin McKelvy

For many of us, we have found ourselves having to get creative with our Christmas traditions. With COVID numbers rising and the weather getting cooler, it can be difficult to find new ways to connect with our kids. While there are many things that may not happen, we can still make this a special time filled with good memories. One way your ministry can do this is by having a front porch Secret Santa.

You may not be able to do an in-person Secret Santa, so this is the perfect way to let your kids know you’re thinking of them. Here’s how you do it:

Pull together some fun, small gifts. These can be stuffed animals, fidget spinners, etc. You could also include a pocket Bible or meaningful book.
Wrap your gifts and include a note that says something like, “Merry Christmas from your Secret Santa at [insert church/ministry name].” It may be fun to also add a memory verse or the verse from that week’s sunday school lesson.
Drop the gifts on the front porch of the kids in your class. Be sure not to be seen when you’re dropping them off. You can ring the doorbell or simply leave the gift on the porch to be found.

Although this season may not look like what we’re used to, we can still create special memories for our kids ministries. Have fun with this front porch Secret Santa and reminding kids about the true gift of this season.

Christmas, Evangelism, Uncategorized

A Greater Gift: Talking with Kids About the Meaning of Christmas in a Materialistic World

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by Alyssa Jones

As I worked from the table in the formal-dining-room-turned-pandemic-home-office, I spied my daughter tiptoe into the kitchen. She had paper, glue sticks, and safety scissors we picked up from her preschool teacher in a drive-through procession, and the 2020 Walmart toy catalog. Nearly an hour later, she came to me.

“Mommy, I want these. All of them,” she said, presenting three pages of pictures she cut out from products related to animals, the color pink, and/or baby dolls.

As the weather cools and leaves change, my 4- and 6-year-olds have both had Christmas on their minds. They frequently tell me what they want on their wish lists.

“Hey, you guys,” I stopped them one day. “Christmas isn’t all about presents. Do you remember why we celebrate Christmas?”

My first-grade son stared at me blankly. My daughter shouted, “No! It is about PRESENTS!”

OK, this is not looking good for someone who has spent the last decade writing resources for teaching children about Jesus. In my defense, they are not ignorant to the story of the nativity. Every year since they were born, we’ve talked about the true meaning of Christmas. But this important message is easily lost in a materialistic world. Here’s how I’m planning to help reorient my own kids this year. Maybe these ideas will help you too.

  1. Use repetition.
    Kids learn best from repetition. If my kids see a commercial for a toy, they decide they want it—even more so if they see it multiple times. The world is sending them messages about what is most important, so I want to guide and point them to the most important message of all: Jesus saves sinners. God came into the world as a baby. He is the reason we celebrate. We will talk about this as we make dinner, as we pick up toys, as we get ready for bed. I want them to know that Jesus is my greatest treasure, and I hope they will come to know Him as theirs as well.
  2. Observe Advent.
    Waiting is hard for kids, but we use LifeWay Kids’ Advent Guide leading up to Christmas as a daily reminder of why we celebrate. We prepare our home and our hearts to remember Jesus’ birth and its glorious implications for our lives. We have a small paper Advent tree for hanging ornaments and set aside a special time after dinner for reading the Bible, answering our kids’ questions, and anticipating Christmas.
  3. Give.
    When my daughter finished her three-page wish list, my husband gently suggested, “Wow, those are some neat toys. Do you see any on there we could buy to give to someone else? What gifts do you think your cousins would like?” We talk a lot in our house about thinking of others. “Why are you fighting with your sister? Are you thinking of her or yourself right now?” Every person’s natural bent as a sinner is an inward one, and selflessness must be practiced and learned. We readily see it in our children, but it’s a struggle for us as adults too. Make generosity a family priority and remind kids of our generous God who sent His Son for us.

We give good gifts to our children, remembering that God has given us the greatest gift in Jesus. We will intentionally talk with our kids about the meaning of Christmas in a materialistic world that tells them Christmas is all about family, presents, food, or decorations. At just the right time, God sent His Son into the world. (See Galatians 4:4.) This is good news of peace and joy for a world that so desperately needs it. I’m praying for your kids—and my own—to hear about, remember, and treasure Jesus above all else. He is God with us.

Alyssa Jones worships and serves with her husband at Refuge Franklin, a church plant outside of Nashville, Tennessee. They have three children.

Christmas
Christmas, Kids Ministry

Four Ways Jesus’ Birth Informs Kids Ministry

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Christmas season is upon us, and our focus often immediately is on a baby born to a young couple in a stable with itchy hay and smelly animals. We sing echos of the prophet’s message, “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us” (Isaiah 9:6):

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head;

The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,

The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

This side of the cross, we know that there is so much more to Jesus than infancy. However, as children everywhere sweetly sing this song, we are tempted to view Jesus as a baby without acknowledging the direct correlation of Jesus’ experience on earth and kids ministry today. Yet, there are at least four examples of how Jesus’ earthly life reflects our own human experiences.

  1. Jesus came to earth as an infant. Jesus could have come as an adult as He will do someday, but He didn’t. He entered our world as a human infant. When you provide care for babies and toddlers, are you reflecting the love of the One who “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14)?
  2. Jesus grew just like kids do today. Don’t miss what Luke wrote: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.” (Luke 2:52) That’s exactly how God designed every child to grow: intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially. What are you doing to help the kids in your ministry grow in these ways?
  3. Jesus had some of the same experiences today’s kids have. True, the Bible is silent on Jesus’ life between infancy and his visit to the Temple as a 12-year-old. However, Scripture clearly states that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) How are you communicating to kids that Jesus faced some of the same temptations they face and knows exactly what they are dealing with?
  4. Jesus had an imperfect family. Yes it’s true Jesus is perfect, but His earthly family was not without flaws. Joseph considered not marrying Jesus’ mother. Jesus’s brothers initially rejected Him as Messiah. (John 7:5) His family tree included such rascals as Isaac’s son Jacob and his son Judah, not to mention King David and his son Solomon. (Matthew 1:1-16) How can you minister to the imperfect families of the children in your ministry without judgement, knowing Jesus’ lineage was dysfunctional too?

The infants, preschoolers, elementary kids, and preteens you reach and minister to week in and week out are made in God’s image and are experiencing life in much the same way as Jesus did. But, unlike Jesus, they need to experience God’s forgiveness and receive His gift of eternal life. 

Our job is to help kids discover the Jesus who didn’t stay in the manager but who died and rose again for our salvation. So, as we sing about Baby Jesus this Christmas, don’t miss the hint of what is yet to come: 

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,

And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

May we be faithful to introduce kids to the Jesus who left the manager to redeem us on the cross.

_________________________

Landry Holmes is the Manager of LifeWay Kids Ongoing Bible Studies and Network Partnerships, Nashville, TN, and is a graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The author of It’s Worth It: Uncovering How One Week Can Transform Your Church and a general editor of the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids, Landry is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. He teaches kids at his church in Middle Tennessee, where his wife Janetta is the Preschool Minister. They enjoy spending time with their two adult sons and their wives, and spoiling their five grandchildren.

Advent, Christmas, Family, Fun, Games, Kids Ministry, Parent Helps, Resources

Christmas Activities for Kids: Christmas Tree Bingo

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Looking for a fun activity for your Birthday Party for Jesus or Christmas session? How about Christmas Tree Bingo? This isn’t your normal sit-at-a-table Bingo game. This is more active and way more fun.

Download the Christmas Tree Bingo card here.

Object: Find every item and mark every square on your Christmas Bingo card.

Option if time is limited: Play traditional five-in-a-row or require two Bingos, one horizontal and one vertical.

Preparation and planning:

  • Print one copy of the Christmas Bingo card for each child. Printing two per sheet makes them roughly 5.5-by-8.5-inches and saves paper!
  • Choose 35-40 tree decorations to correspond with your Christmas Bingo card squares. 
  • Print icons or words on a sheet of address labels. Icons are best for younger kids but may be harder to find. Each word should correspond with an ornament on your tree. Using standard size address labels, printed two words on each label then cut them in half. This will be square stickers kids will use to create their Christmas Bingo cards. Click here to download a sample list of some ornaments you could include. 
  • Decorate a Christmas tree with your chosen Christmas Bingo ornaments. Add more ornaments, garland, lights, or other tree decorations for additional challenge and fun.

The last time I played this game, I set our Christmas tree in a place that the children could not touch it. This was for obvious reasons, like I didn’t want someone to knock the tree over, but also to add an additional challenge. Part of my instructions to the kids included “You may not get within reach of the Christmas tree.” Kids had to find the items from a short distance away without touching the tree. There are 24 empty squares on each Christmas Bingo card so my goal was to have 35-40 ornaments, some represented by stickers and some not, and have at least 30 different words/icons on stickers to add variety.

Instructions:

  • As kids arrive, guide them select one blank Christmas Bingo card. 
  • Kids select a different sticker (from the cut address labels) for each square and place it on his/her Christmas Bingo card. Stickers may not be on a card more than once. This allows each child’s Christmas Bingo card to be different, adding challenge and creativity.
  • After each square has a sticker, kids are guided the Christmas tree to look for each item on their Christmas Bingo card. When an item is found, kids should mark that item off on their card. You can use stamps, pencil, or marker to mark off found items.
  • If a kids finishes quickly, she can color her Christmas Bingo card to decorate a border or draw a picture on the back.
  • If desired, have a prize for the first child who gets a “bingo,” or a prize for each child as he completes a “bingo.”

Download the Christmas Tree Bingo card here.

Christmas, Family, Fun, Games, Kids Ministry, Large Group, Parent Helps, Resources, Teaching Kids

Happy Birthday Jesus! 3 Tips for Throwing a Birthday Party for Jesus.

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Kids love birthday parties. At least, every kid I have ever met does. 

Download the free Take the Fun Home card for parents.

Jesus’ birth into the world is one of the most important events in all of history. Even the way we number our years is related to Jesus’ birth. For example,  AD 2020 is “in the year of the Lord 2020.” Jesus’ birth is also, of course, one of the most important events in salvation history. With Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, all the history of the Old Testament would begin to come into focus. Jesus’ birth can also be seen as the launching pad for everything that followed this pivotal moment in time. If this isn’t enough reason to throw a party, I don’t know what would be!

So why not celebrate during the month of December with a birthday party for Jesus? Here are three tips for throwing a Birthday Party for Jesus.

Tip #1 – Make it a PARTY!

  • Celebrate with decorations. Inflate balloons, hang streamers, give out party hats, and so forth. Decorations can be elaborate without being a burden on your budget and will give your space an instant face-lift. 
  • Celebrate with a one-day schedule change. If your kids ministry typically meets in separate classrooms, explore the option to bring everyone together for the party. 
  • Celebrate with invitations. Mail postcard invitations to every child on your roll. Provide additional invitations to each child and challenge kids to invite a friend. Everyone loves being invited to a party!
  • Celebrate with singing. Not just “Happy Birthday,” though I would recommend singing this one too. Sing other Christmas carols that share the joy of Christmas.

Tip #2 – Make it FUN!

  • Make it delicious. Have cake or cupcakes and juice boxes. Few things will raise the fun factor the way passing out cake will. Don’t forget to post an allergy alert and have a quick standby option for those with food allergies. 
  • Make it engage. Wearing party hats and providing noise makers can be an instant hit.
  • Make it memorable. Give out party favors when kids leave. Have a small bag of goodies for each child to take with them. Bonus if each goodie bag item points kids to the gospel (i.e. glow-in-the-dark necklace for “Jesus is the Light of the World”)
  • Make it active. Playing games will likely be a bullseye on the fun target. 
    • Assign kids to teams and play for points.
    • Collect large scraps of paper or buy a pack of colored construction paper, mark a line down the center of your space dividing kids into two teams, and have a “snowball fight”
    • Minute-to-Win It type games are usually easy to prepare and can be a huge hit.
    • Check out Kid Min Toolbox: Great Games that Teach for a great source of quick games

Tip #3 – Make it about JESUS!

  • Don’t forget to tell the Christmas story. Keep it short. Read the Bible passages or show a video, but be sure to include the reason for the party.
  • Keep Jesus at the center. Don’t lose Him in the fun and games.
    • Debrief each game with a gospel connection.
    • Connect each party favor to a Bible truth.
  • When choosing songs to sing, choose songs about Jesus’ birth and other worship songs to focus kids voices and hearts on Jesus.

Bonus tip—Provide this Take the Fun Home card with some suggested ideas for parents to have a Birthday Party for Jesus in their home and invite other families to join together. 

With a little creativity and preparation, kids in your church and community will be engaged in a fresh way with the joy Jesus brings this Christmas season.

Christmas, Teacher Appreciation, Volunteers

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