Looking for some fun gift ideas to show appreciation to your volunteers? We’ve got your covered! Click below to download some fun ideas.
Soapin’ you have a merry Christmas!
9 Tips for Family Devotions
Family Devotions are a time of worship. They look different for each family. One family’s devotion time may look different than another family’s devotion time. The family’s schedule, number of children, and age of children are some of the factors impacting what the family devotion looks like. Typically, a family devotion time includes, reading a Bible story from the Bible, singing songs, and praying, Use the nine tips below for beginning and maintaining a regular family devotion time:
- Intentionally Schedule Devotions. Make this time a priority by writing it on your calendar. While looking at the calendar, select a time that works best for your family, such as at breakfast, in the evening, or during the day.
- Be Realistic. Keep in mind the ages and developmental stages of your children. Devotions with young preschoolers will look very different than families with school-age children. Family devotions can range from a few minutes up to 15 minutes.
- Plan your time together. Consider using your child’s activity pages from church as a starting point. Select a Bible story to read and review. Choose a Bible verse to learn together as a family. Write down worship songs your family can sing together.
- Be Flexible. Family devotions will not always go according to plan. The important point to remember is that your family is spending time with God.
- Give Yourself Grace. If you miss the family devotion one day, give yourself grace. Start back fresh the next day to help establish the routine.
- Be Creative. If a family member isn’t able to be present due to travel or schedule, use technology to include him/her in the family devotion time. Technology can also be used to include grandparents and other out of town family and friends from time to time.
- Keep Devotions Fresh. Include variety in your family devotions. After reading the Bible story, incorporate activities such as making a Bible marker or playing a game to review the Bible verse.
- Focus on the Bible. The Bible is central to the family devotion. Use a Bible translation your child can understand. Allow him to hold the Bible, and to help find and read the Bible passage.
- Reinforce Lessons During Daily Activities. As opportunities arise throughout the day, remind your child of what you have been talking about and learned during family devotions.
Helpful resources to use in Family Devotions:
Read to Me Bible: Use the prepared Bible stories to read to your preschooler.
The Big Picture Interactive Bible: Use the downloadable free app to scan the illustration to watch and hear the Bible story come to life visually and audibly.
Bible Skills for Kids and Levels of Biblical Learning: Resources to help parents understand age-appropriate biblical skills and concepts.
LifeWay Kids Curriculum App: This free app includes games, puzzles, and content to help reinforce kids’ Sunday School lessons at home.
In Deuteronomy 6:4-7, the Bible shares that parents are to teach their children about God. They are the primary spiritual leaders of their family. Parents have the most significant influence on a child’s life and development. When parents make family devotions a priority, children learn to love the Lord their God with their heart, their soul, and their strength. What other ways can we as kids ministry leaders support and equip parents?
Delanee Williams serves as a Ministry Specialist with LifeWay Kids. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.
Can’t We All Just Get Along? Navigating Teacher-Child Conflicts
Teach preschoolers or elementary kids long enough, and you’ll discover that not all children think you hung the moon. In fact, you may have difficulty even liking an individual child. Not liking a child doesn’t mean you don’t love him or her. However, if you find yourself hoping that a certain child is on vacation every Sunday of the year, then maybe you have a problem with liking that particular kid.
Fortunately God loves the child you are in conflict with, and God loves you. Because of that love, God sent His Son Jesus to rescue both you and the child who seems bent on making your life miserable. Most the time that kid doesn’t intend to be your nemesis. The child’s actions that lead to conflict are seldom, if ever, premeditated.
Through the years, I have taught workshops on classroom management, discipline, and positive guidance. There are definitely some techniques that equip us as teachers to navigate teacher-child conflicts. However, what do you do when none of those techniques work? When the conflict seems to be ongoing, week after week? I offer five suggestions:
- Make your goal teaching kids the Bible, not being liked by every child.
- Remember that conflict with a child is the direct result of a sinful, fallen world.
- Pray for the child’s heart, not for self-preservation.
- Practice biblical classroom management, even when nothing seems to be working.
- Focus on the child’s strengths and positive traits.
Above all, remember that Jesus loves you even when your own actions are at odds with God’s Word. Extend to challenging kids the same grace that God offers you through Christ Jesus.
Landry Holmes is the Manager of LifeWay Kids Ministry Publishing, Nashville, TN. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Landry served on church staffs before coming to LifeWay. He is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. Landry also teaches children at his church in Middle Tennessee. He and his wife Janetta are the grandparents of two adorable grand-babies.
Why Relationships are Important
I’ve been involved in some type of ministry to children for over 25 years. I’ve seen many kids grow from infants to now having children of their own. One of the more challenging adventures in children’s ministry, but the most rewarding, is building relationships with the kids you minister to. If you are lucky enough to stay in a ministry environment for any length of time, you get the added benefit of building those relationships on a deeper level.
Relationship can be defined as the connection between two or more objects, ideas, or people. The root idea of relationship comes through connection. The key to building those relationships lies in making valuable connections with the kids you minister to. These relationships are important as you get to know kids and build their trust. Once they trust you, they will better hear and listen to your teaching and ministry goals.
Here are a baker’s dozen tips in building those lasting relationships.
- Respect: Respect is a necessity for any type of relationship you form to be successful. Showing respect to kids is a valuable tool in building a relationship of trust and security, something that all kids need to feel while at church. That respect will also grow both ways as girls and boys begin to show you the same respect you show them.
- Experiences: As someone in ministry you get to create the experiences that boys and girls have while at church. Those experiences, and your participation in them, will be a great tool in making connections with kids.
- Learning: Be an active learner of the kids you minister. Find out their likes and dislikes. Know what they read, watch on TV, and play on their game consoles. Be a learner.
- Active: Kids ministry is active. Anytime you can, within reason, participate actively in games and other adventures kids are involved in.
- Truthful: This should go without saying, but you need to always be truthful with kids. Kids know when we are not being truthful and may begin to doubt and thus hamper the relationship building that is taking place.
- Imaginative: Kids have wonderful imaginations and, as a leader in their ministry, affirm ideas that they come up with. Try new things no matter how silly they might sometimes seem. Playing along with imaginative play will go a long way in building those relationships.
- Observant: Be observant of a kids demeanor and attitude. Has something changed? Can you pinpoint what it is? Talk about it with kids. As you are observant kids will appreciate the time you spend taking notice of them.
- Nice: Again, this should be fairly obvious but you should always be nice. Sometimes we like to joke around with kids and in a way may inadvertently hurt someone’s feelings. This ties back in with respect from earlier and as we talk with and share with boys and girls we should always do it in a nice respectful manner.
- Sticky: Being sticky simply means that relationships are a tight knit bond. If you are a sticky friend, you will not leave someone in need without a helping hand. Sticky friends have great relationships.
- Helpful: Be helpful. If you see someone in the hall struggling to carry things, jump right in there and help them out. If you see someone down in the dumps, jump right in there and chat with them. Being helpful is a subtle way of telling someone that they are important to you and will certainly build that relationship bond.
- Individualistic: You surely know that each person is an individual and has her own specific needs and desires. Treat each kid you connect with as an individual and don’t compare them to other friends, siblings, or adults you know.
- Polite: Just another catchy way of saying respect! Politeness shows a respect of others and is another strong way to build relationships.
- Supportive: Supports are used to make sure a structure doesn’t fall over. As a supportive friend you help a child maintain his ability to stand tall and not fall over. Support a child’s dreams and aspirations and be known as someone who will keep them firm and solid.
Work to build those relationships with boys and girls and watch as they begin to share with you in many new and exciting ways. As an example of Christ to the girls and boys you lead building strong relationships will serve them well.
Tim Pollard teaches 3rd graders at Tulip Grove Baptist Church. He’s passionate about helping kids dig deep into Scripture, which he pursues through his daily work as leader of the Explore the Bible: Kids team. Tim lives with his wife and daughters in Mount Juliet, TN.
These Three Things: The Eternal Importance of Faith, Hope, and Love
Welcome guest blogger,
Amy Parker!
“But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13 HCSB).
From those seven words, the book How Big Is Love? was born.
But later, as I read that verse in context: “Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love,” something struck me. Who knows how many times I had read those words before? But this time, I was urged to dig deeper.
“These three remain.” What exactly did that mean?
The NASB says, “Faith, hope, and love, abide these three.” The NLT translates, “Three things will last forever . . .” And I realized then—as a mom, as a children’s author—if these are the three things that “remain,” that “abide,” that “last forever,” shouldn’t these be the three things our children learn first and foremost? Even above colors or numbers or letters, these three things will be carried into eternity. These are not things simply to teach to their minds; these are things that we need to impart to their souls.
With that realization, my job as a mom and an author grew infinitely more important. And so I began.
With simple questions, asked by curious children and answered by loving parents, these three books give little ones a safe place to explore these three things that they’ll carry with them throughout eternity.
“Mama?” Little One whispered. “Where do you find faith? Is it far, far away?”
“Papa?” Little One asked. “How high does hope go?”
“Mama?” Little One asked through a yawn. “How big is love?”
I am not a perfect parent. (Oh me. SO not.) I am so very not a perfect author. But I do know that I got this right.
These three things: this is where we begin.
With these three things, we lay the foundation for everything else—our relationship with God, perseverance through this crazy world, and how to treat everyone we’ll encounter along the way. Everything in this world and the wonderful world that awaits comes down to these three things.
Faith. Hope. Love.
These three things remain . . . abide . . . last forever.
Let’s start there.
Amy Parker has written more than twenty books for children, teens, and adults including My Christmas List, the best-selling A Night Night Prayer, and two Christian Retailing’s Best award winners. Amy and her husband have two children.
4 Ways to Encourage Kids to Spend Time with God
Welcome guest blogger, Dixie Walker!
Hide-and-seek is a familiar childhood game. The point is for one person to search out every possible spot of the given area in order to find the concealed person. Children have so much fun playing this game! The anticipation of finding the one hidden is what makes the game so enjoyable.
When it comes to seeking God, we don’t always think about discovering the wonderful surprises He has in store for us when we open His Word or pray to Him. This ongoing conversation with the Lord is vital to growing stronger in relationship with Him. And this is something important for children to know as they, too, are growing in their faith.
Consider these 4 ways to encourage kids to spend time with God and pass them on to parents!
- Fuel it! Pour the Word of God into the lives of your kids. Read it, listen to it, sing it, and talk about it. Make sure each child has a Bible and choose an age-appropriate devotional or reading plan to guide the way into the great adventure of knowing God. (Check out LifeWay’s devotionals More, Adventure, and Bible Express here.)
- Share it! Nothing motivates someone to pray more than hearing how God has answered the prayers of others. Your answered prayers will become a positive reinforcement for your child to pursue answers to life events. Your child will learn that seeking the Lord’s will is a natural, enjoyable aspect of the Christian life. A great Bible promise for children to learn is: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
- Model it! Demonstrate consistent prayer and Bible study in your own life. Keep ongoing prayer concerns/requests in your conversations. Your relationship-building with God will become evident in the eyes of your kids, and in time they’ll want to follow your lead in it.
- Journal it! Encourage your child to write down any questions and answers she is currently seeking from the Lord during her quiet times. Assure her that her prayer journal is a private matter between herself and God. Writing down God’s answers to prayer will encourage her to continue building a close relationship with Him.
Seize moments to teach children to seek the Lord. He wants to be found and delights in relationship with all who know Him!
Dixie Walker has been in childhood ministry with families and teachers for the past 20 years. She and her family currently reside in middle Tennessee.
Looking for more? Connect with ParentLife online at facebook.com/parentlife. Order at lifeway.com/parentlife.
Greatest Wins in Children’s Ministry
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Leadership can often times be challenging and discouraging. Any seasoned leader will tell you that having community with other leaders is vital. It’s critical for a number of reasons, but often times, that community is where is an encouraging word that can lift up your spirit as you seek to follow God’s direction to lead the ministries He has entrusted to you. On today’s podcast, we sit down with 3 children’s ministry leaders and ask them one question: What is your greatest single win so far in your ministry? We believe their answers will surprise you. Our hope is that what God is doing in the lives of these leaders will be a catalytic moment in your own ministry & leadership. Today’s guests include Heidi Hensley, Chad Overton, and Chad Owens.
Mother’s Day Craft
Mother’s Day is just a few short weeks away and teachers everywhere are scrambling to find the perfect craft for their classroom kids to make. But, unfortunately, too many of these teachers will be spending hours upon hours doing all the prep work for these perfect “handmade” gifts themselves.
Moms everywhere would tell you: “STOP THE MADNESS!” We’d much prefer to have something truly made by our kids. Give us the simple hand-drawn pictures; messy, but painstakingly, painted masterpieces; or even just a page of questions that capture the thoughts of our kids about life with mom.
To help make your life easier, here are links for a couple of easy-to-do treasures your kids will be proud to give their moms. A great book about mom (or even grandma!) that kids can make.
And how cute (and easy!) are these “pinecone flowers?”
And for fun, we’ve included a quick and easy page for you to copy and record those precious, funny, and sometimes too revealing answers kids share! All About Mom
Thank you for all you’re doing to make some tired moms feel very special!
Klista Storts serves as an Editorial Ministry Specialist for LifeWay Kids. She has served as Director of Preschool Ministries at churches in Oklahoma and Tennessee. Klista has a passion for equipping leaders to share the love of Christ and lay foundations for conversion in the lives of kids.
Spring Teacher Appreciation
There’s never really a bad time to show your volunteers that you appreciate them. With all of the new life that comes around during the Spring season, it just seems like a perfect time to tell your volunteers what they mean to you! Here are a few ideas.
UR ReMARKable
Supplies:
- Multicolored dry-erase markers
- Colored sheets of felt
- Glue gun
- Mason jar (optional)
- Labels
Directions:
- Cut a 12-inch long strip of felt about ¾-inch wide. It doesn’t matter if it is perfectly straight. (In fact, it’s better if it isn’t!)
- Roll the felt into the shape of a flower, gluing it into place along the way.
- Glue the flower head to the bottom of the marker.
- Place several flowers in a mason jar and give a bouquet of markers. The felt acts as an eraser, so this makes a great gift for volunteers to use in their Bible study rooms!
JELLY – Jesus really loves you!
Supplies:
- Jelly beans
- Cellophane bags (ziplock bags work, as well!)
- Stapler
- Labels
Directions:
- Fill bags with jelly beans.
- Fold top of bag over to seal.
- Attach a label with a stapler. Write a short note on each label and tell each volunteer something you love about her.
“GRAPE”ful
Supplies:
- Grape flavored Ice Cubes gum
- Cellophane bags
- Ribbon
- Labels
Directions:
- Place 5-10 pieces of gum in each cellophane bag. I found bags of 100 pieces at Wal-Mart in the candy section.
- Tie bags with ribbon.
- Write a note to each volunteer telling him why you are “grape”ful for him on individual labels. Attach labels to the ribbon with a stapler or by punching a hole through the ribbon.
Jeff Land serves as the Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies for Life: Kids. Jeff holds degrees from Mississippi College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jeff has served as a Children’s Minister and teaches kids weekly in his church.
Family Worship – Simply Put
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We don’t know how to begin this post. We can only say that you need to listen to this above almost all of the podcasts that we’ve posted in the last year or so. What is one of the best gauges of your success as a parent? It’s not your heritage, those that came before you. It’s your legacy, those that you leave behind. How well will your kids live out their faith when you’re gone? Mike and Ami Shroyer were experts in family ministry…and GREAT parents. Both have been involved in several projects with LifeWay Kids, including music, devotionals, studies, musicals, and our conference.
Sadly, Mike passed away over the holidays. We’ve included a link here to Ami’s Facebook page. You can go back in time and see their journey, including Mike’s mysterious passing. His kids are already experts on family ministry and The Lord. He leaves behind a legacy…and it just might stem from his philosophy on family worship…that HIS family DID life AND ministry together. It’s powerful. Lean in. Listen.