Evangelism – Page 2

Evangelism, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Sunday School

November 11, 2016

5 Keys to Teaching Kids the Gospel

Have you ever felt overwhelmed about teaching kids because there is so much in the Bible to teach, and it’s all important?

I have felt that way at times, but what I have found helpful is to remember the big picture of what I am teaching—the gospel. Our goal is not to teach stories or doctrines in isolation. Our goal is to teach our kids the gospel—the unified story of Jesus that runs throughout the Bible. So let’s look at five keys to teaching kids the gospel based on Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (HCSB)

Know the Gospel (v. 4)

God begins with an important theological statement about Himself—God is One. God is unique, there is none like Him. As we begin thinking about how to teach kids, God invites us first to ponder who He is. Why? Because we cannot pass along that which we don’t have ourselves.

We need to make sure that we are spending time with God, considering who He is and His ways. A big part of this is camping out on the gospel and diving more deeply into its riches to understand the beauty and splendor of Christ. Remember that our best teaching always comes from the overflow!

Love the Gospel (v. 5-6)

There is a natural progression from verse 4 to verses 5 and 6. Spending meaningful time with God will stir our affections and increase our love for God and the gospel.

Don’t miss what we are to love in verse 6—God’s words. We don’t usually think about loving God’s commands, but it makes sense. When we know God and love Him, we understand that all He does is for His glory and our good. We love God’s commands because we know and trust His heart behind them.

Notice, the first three verses all center on us, not our kids. That’s critical. The best way to prepare ourselves to teach our kids is to give God space to work in our own hearts and lives.

Share the Gospel (v. 7)

We are to teach the gospel repeatedly—looking for new ways to help our kids understand its beauty and power on a deeper and more profound level. The original Hebrew in that verse carries the meaning of “piercing the heart,” which is a great visual for us. We want what we teach to get deep down into our kids’ hearts. That is why we have to be sure to teach the gospel—only the gospel satisfies the heart.

This also reminds us of our need to teach the “why” of the gospel, not just the “what.” Teaching is not just transferring facts. Facts tend to get into the mind and not go much farther. The gospel needs to get into the heart as well. And that is why we need to teach God’s heart—the “why” of the gospel.

Live out the Gospel (v. 7-8)

We usually think of teaching in a more formal sense, but that just scratches the surface. Notice when we are to talk about the gospel with our kids. When we sit, walk, lie down, and stand—in other words, all the time. The idea is not that we always teach formally, but that we weave the gospel into our daily rhythm of life. This is powerful! We want our kids to see that the gospel makes a difference in how we think, feel, and live.

Be Marked by the Gospel (v. 9)

When you think of writing God’s words on your doorposts and gates, picture a house address. An address defines your house—it is how a delivery person or guest can differentiate your house from other houses. That is what the gospel should do for us. It should define us and set us apart from others around us. And if we are living out this passage to this point, being marked by the gospel will naturally occur as we live out the gospel and show our kids and the world, the sweet fragrance of Christ.

Evangelism, Kids Ministry, Leadership

September 19, 2016

How to teach the Gospel without “Velcro®”

By Jana Magruder

Heart transformation in kids happens when we center our teaching around the gospel. To some, this means teach a Bible story and then tell the plan of salvation. I call this attachment teaching—almost using the gospel like a piece of Velcro® that we tack on at the end of a lesson. I can’t tell you that there is anything terribly wrong, per se, with this style of teaching.

But we should ask ourselves, is there a better way?

When we tell the story of Noah’s ark to children and then tack on the plan of salvation at the end, have we missed how the gospel represents itself in the actual story? I have been one to use the Velcro strategy before. It’s tempting because we want to share the gospel as often as we can in Kids Ministry. But, place yourself on a carpet square in the story circle for a minute and listen through the ears of a 2nd grader. Noah, God, and Jesus died for your sins. Could this be confusing? There is a better way.

Now don’t hear me say, “we can’t mix the Old and New Testaments,” because that is not true at all. Some seasoned teachers say it will confuse a child if we talk about both in the same lesson. This represents a completely different style of teaching—one that would not talk about Jesus in the same session as Noah and God. So, the gospel is saved for New Testament stories to avoid confusion. I call this the separatist method.

Gospel-centered teaching is neither of the above. It’s not the Velcro method and it’s not the separatist method. So, how do we connect Noah to Jesus without slapping on the Velcro gospel? We show how the story of the flood shows us how God is serious about sin and will not leave it unpunished. But the story of Noah shows us how loving God is because He provided a rescue plan for one righteous man and his family. The story points ahead to a greater rescue! Jesus, the only perfect person, came to provide a rescue plan for us by taking the punishment for sin. When we trust Him, we are saved from the punishment our sin deserves.

Do you see the difference? The Old Testament story is told by pointing to the need for a rescuer through Jesus. Put the gospel at the center of your teaching and leave the Velcro behind!

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of Lifeway Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.

Evangelism, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Ministry

September 2, 2016

4 Ways to Minister to Military Families

By Kids Ministry 101

Welcome guest blogger Sara Horn!

Over one million children enrolled in school today have at least one parent who is active-duty military, reserve, or a military veteran. Even if you aren’t near a military base, there’s a good chance you, your church, and your kids will encounter a child who has at least one parent serving in uniform. Look for ways to support and encourage military families and help equip parents and kids in your church to do the same. By taking a little time to understand the similarities and differences of a military family, you can offer much-needed help and friendship.

Their schedules are busy, too.

Just like any family today, military families are busy. They’re juggling family schedules with military commitments. Just because a service member isn’t deployed doesn’t mean he or she is always home. Weekend or week-long trainings, three-month schools, and even last-minute meetings can call a military member away, leaving the spouse at home to deal with everything else. If a military parent seems standoffish at the idea of a play date or dinner invitation, try not to take it personally, but wait for another opportunity. She may be facing a tough week with no room in her mind for anything else.

Military families are resilient, but they aren’t robots.

Yes, military families know that deployments and challenges come with the job — but we shouldn’t expect them to be able to handle military life without worrying or stressing over those things. Military families are still human. They get tired and lonely, and they worry over many of the same things we all do from time to time. Let military families know they’re not alone. Mail an encouraging note, invite them over for a meal, or stop by with dessert “just because” — these are all simple ways you can let them know you want to be a friend.

Avoid stereotyping.

Children repeat what they hear their parents and leaders say. Some of the most painful remarks military kids hear from other children are questions like “has your dad ever killed anyone?” or “aren’t you worried your mom isn’t going to come home?” Military kids are more aware of the dangers their parents face than others realize, but reminders aren’t what they need—they need encouragement. Make a habit of praying for military families with your kids, especially if you know a military family personally. Emphasize the sacrifice and the commitment military families demonstrate by serving their country and pray for their safety and well-being.

Be friends for the duration.

Sometimes parents are hesitant to let their children be friends with a military child, knowing that child and his or her family will likely move away again. But trying to protect children from sadness in the future also keeps them from enjoying fun experiences with a friend in the present. Military families know the importance of jumping in wherever their next duty station finds them. They find schools and churches and activities their kids can be part of, and they are looking for friends. Don’t miss out on the blessings of a good friendship because of the fear of an inevitable goodbye. You never know when you’ll one day get to say hello again.

Sara Horn is a writer and speaker and founder of Wives of Faith, a ministry for military wives. Her husband, Cliff, retires this year from 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy Reserves, and they have one son, a freshman in high school. Visit her website at sarahorn.com.

Looking for more? Connect with ParentLife online at facebook.com/parentlife. Order at lifeway.com/parentlife.

Evangelism, Leadership, Podcasts, Resources, Training, Uncategorized

June 23, 2016

The Gospel Is For Volunteers Too

By Andy Dukes

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This week’s episode of the Lifeway Kids Podcast features a conversation with John Murchison, the Director of Children’s Ministry at The Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, TX. In our desire to share the gospel with kids, have we neglected to share that same gospel with the volunteers serving with us? The gospel is not just the way to become a Christian, it also sustains and motivates the work of ministry. In this episode John & Jeffrey discuss ways to recruit, train, sustain, and send volunteers with the basis of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Encouragement, Evangelism, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Missions, Podcasts, Resources, Training

May 5, 2016

Reaching the Inner-City with the Gospel

By Andy Dukes

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In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Eric Mason (@pastoremase) at our Kids Ministry Conference in 2015. Dr. Mason is the lead pastor at Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia, PA. He is also the founder and president of Thriving, which is an urban ministry organization committed to training leaders for ministry in cities locally, nationally, and internationally.

In this conversation, we talk about the greatest challenges in our culture to reaching kids and families, especially in the inner-city. Dr. Mason shares his insights on what churches can do to reach across ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural and other boundaries to win kids and families to Christ. Dr. Mason also expounds upon how his church has engaged their culture and some practical things they do to reach families and their community.

Evangelism, Events, Leadership, Resources, Vacation Bible School

April 14, 2016

The Balance of “Outreach” and “In-Reach” in VBS

By Andy Dukes

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VBS is a milestone event in a kids life. We also know from research, that VBS is the #1 evangelistic outreach tool in churches today. Anyone that has helped to lead, plan, and execute a VBS event knows that there is a ton of work involved to pull it off. With all of that work, it’s extremely easy to get caught up in the details, to put more emphasis on the things that have a tendency to distract us from the main goal of introducing kids to life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. So how can we maintain a level of excellence in our execution of VBS, while keeping evangelism at the center of what we do? In this episode, Melita Thomas, a member of our VBS team, joins us to talk about this delicate balance.

Melita Thomas serves as a Content Editor for Lifeway’s VBS and Zip for Kids resources. Melita holds a masters degree in Christian Education/Childhood Ministry which accompanies her passion and expertise as a leader in kids ministry—both in her role at Lifeway Kids and in the local church. Melita is a member of First Baptist Nashville, where she enjoys teaching kindergartners and preteens.

Encouragement, Evangelism, Kids Ministry, Special Needs, Sunday School

February 25, 2016

Special Needs in KidMin

By Kids Ministry 101

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When Jesus commissioned us to “go into all the world,” He knew that that would require us to bend, flex, and make efforts that go way outside of our comfort zone in order to reach that world. Prepare to be uncomfortable.

Whether intentional or not, many churches tend to focus on a narrow range of demographic and people-types, while within reach of their church’s ministry are families who have children who might require some added attention. It’s worth it to consider giving this extra attention. Actually, it’s not merely “worth it,” it’s implied in our commission.

Listen to one of our country’s leading experts on special needs ministry. We had a sit down with Denise in 2014 and, earlier this year, even had a chance to take a walk-through of her ministry halls in Texas. Her ministry is stunning.

The following moments make it worth listening to this brief podcast…

How Denise’s story compelled her into this ministry
How special needs ministry to kids is also a powerful ministry to those kids’ families
Developing a team to lead special needs, including the use of teenagers
How it’s possible to have a strong special needs ministry, whether you are a church of 10 or 10,000

Lifeway Kids offers some powerful tools for ministry to special needs children, including some FREE resources.

You can check them out here.

Denise Briley is the special needs ministry director at Houston’s First Baptist Church.

Evangelism, Kids Ministry, kids101, Leadership, Missions, Parenting, Podcasts

December 18, 2015

On a Mission for God. It’s Not a Calling for Some, it’s a Commission for All

By Kids Ministry 101

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Leaders in the church often talk about missional living. But how do we let this play out when it comes to our kids? Do we cast the vision of living missionally to the families in our churches?

It’s critical for KidMin leaders to lead their families in this calling from Jesus. We often relegate that sharing the gospel and serving our community is something that is left to adults. We also often make the assumption that “missions” refers to prayers and financial aid that we send to a foreign land. While these components are critical, we need to learn how to draw kids into establishing the habits of continually living under the call of the great commission.

In this podcast, we’re chatting with Jana Magruder, who grew up as a PK (pastor kid) and now leads one of the largest children’s ministry organization in the world, Lifeway Kids. You’ll hear us discuss the following…

Suggestions for churches to rethink ministry events and how to better connect with neighbors
The generational component of or our mission
Opportunities “on the way” for families to share their faith

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of Lifeway Kids. Jana brings a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and curriculum writing. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children attend Forest Hills Baptist Church where she teaches The Gospel Project to preteen girls.

Evangelism, Events, Kids Ministry, Uncategorized, Vacation Bible School

December 3, 2015

VBS – Produce Your Own or Use a Complete Resource?

By Kids Ministry 101

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VBS. It’s making a comeback. Churches are realizing that, when good follow-up is executed, VBS is a powerful outreach tool. It can bring families into the church and is a great platform for sharing the gospel with kids. So, the question is, “Is it worth going through the effort of producing your own or is it better to go with a resource that comes complete with curriculum, music, videos, etc.?”

In this podcast, we’ll sit down with a VBS expert who will take a glance at what is required to put on a VBS as well as the choices that a KidMin leader has. You’ll get a glimpse into…

A summary of work that goes into Lifeway’s VBS,
What a fully-produced VBS offers
The Pros/Cons to producing your own vs. using VBS from a trusted provider

It’s right around the corner. Before you consider what you are doing with your kids this summer, listen to this podcast … and check out our VBS and Zip for Kids while you’re at it.

Christmas, Evangelism, Kids Ministry

November 20, 2015

5 Ways Kids Can Share Christ Over the Holidays

By Jeffrey Reed

I didn’t grow up in the church. In fact, I am still the only follower of Jesus in my immediate family. I love it when one of my parents or sister get to visit us at my home. All four of my kids have received the Lord as their Savior, and we get to love on our guests in ways in which they are probably not accustomed. Despite our quirks, our family is a fun group, and my kids talk about God on a regular basis. Our home is a warm and inviting place to hang.

So am I doing anything that might give my kids a chance to share their faith with their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives? I should be. After all, children can be amazing evangelists when they know what they believe. Are there kids in your church who have parents that don’t walk with God? It’s VERY likely. So gear up and get ready. In the weeks leading up to the holidays, here are five things you can do that might allow the children in your ministry to share their faith with their family and friends.

1) Practice some prayers of Thanksgiving at church and encourage the kids to volunteer to pray before a holiday meal using these prayers. Can you imagine what it would mean to a visiting relative to hear this child thank God for them, that they are precious, and that Jesus died for us all? That would be moving!

2) Utilize the tools that come with the curriculum you use. Hopefully, your curriculum has some components that involve interaction with parents/guardians. Instruct the kids in your care to “teach the Bible Story” to their grandparents using the visuals or handouts that go home with them.

3) Memorize scripture in the weeks leading up to the holidays. Try verses about the Nativity. In addition to the tried-and-true John 3:16, there are multiple verse on thanksgiving and gratitude to God. Consider helping kids memorize an Old Testament passage that prophesies the coming Messiah, Jesus.

4) For crafts, work on gifts that kids can give to relatives. Don’t end there. Teach the kids a story that they can tell as they give the gift.

5) Compel the kids to invite their visiting relative(s) to church. It’s easy to turn down an adult. It’s hard to turn down a young child, especially if that child bribes the grandparent or relative by offering to take them to McDonalds after church!

This season, pray not only for the children in your ministry, but also for the impact that they might have on those around them as they take up the mantle of the church’s next generation!

Jeffrey Reed came to Lifeway with a wide variety of ministry experiences including worship leader, director of children’s ministry, and executive leadership in several growing congregations. He, his wife Katherine, and their four kids attend The Church at Spring Hill.

5 Keys to Teaching Kids the Gospel

How to teach the Gospel without “Velcro®”

4 Ways to Minister to Military Families

The Gospel Is For Volunteers Too

Reaching the Inner-City with the Gospel

The Balance of “Outreach” and “In-Reach” in VBS

Special Needs in KidMin

On a Mission for God. It’s Not a Calling for Some, it’s a Commission for All

VBS – Produce Your Own or Use a Complete Resource?

5 Ways Kids Can Share Christ Over the Holidays

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