Lifeway

Kids Ministry

Dedicated to helping Kids Ministry leaders in their mission of making disciples

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

Gospel-Centered, Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum

What’s the Story with the Story?

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When some kids leaders hear the word story, they hear fiction. It is not surprising then that there is a reluctance to calling what we teach kids a Bible story. Some go further and think it is wrong and even dangerous to use Bible story, believing that it leads kids to think of the Bible as a work of fiction. But is it? There just might be more to this story than meets the eye.

The Gospel Project uses the word story quite a bit. Each session has a Bible story. And we always remind kids that the Bible story each week is part of God’s one big story of Scripture. We aren’t alone in using this phrase; other curriculums do as well. But should we? Are we being unwise, or even harmful, by calling passages Bible stories? Some think we are. 

For some, story is synonymous with a work of fiction. When they hear story they hear fairy tale, myth, or a fable. It is unwise, dangerous, or even wrong then to use story in relation to the Bible. When we do, we communicate to kids that the Bible is untrue. 

Let me pause here and clarify that we at The Gospel Project would certainly hold to the belief that the Bible is absolutely true. That is a deeply held value of ours and it is a big part of what drives our crafting of that resource. Why then do we choose to use story? Because story is a good word to describe the Bible and it is a helpful word to build bridges with our culture, which uses story in many different meaningful ways.

What Story Means 

Here is the first definition of story according to Merriam-Webster:

a. an account of incidents or events

b. a statement regarding the facts pertinent to a situation in question. 

c. anecdote 

As you can see, aside from definition 1c, story is a good word for what is in the Bible. (This will likely blow your mind: myth does not primarily mean something fictional either, which is why you might hear theologians use it at times in reference to the Bible as well, such as the creation myth in Genesis 1-2.) When we use story in relation to the Bible, we are telling kids an account of the incidents or events of God’s plan to rescue people through Jesus Christ. That is one reason why I like story: it connects every passage we study to the overall narrative of Scripture. One alternative word I hear suggested quite often is lesson. That’s not a bad word in many ways, but my concern with using that term is that it can give kids the wrong idea of what the Bible is all about. The Bible is not a collection of unrelated, self-contained lessons to be covered in 60 minutes or so. It is one big story. 

How We Use Story in Our Culture

But let’s move beyond the dictionary and consider how we use story in everyday life. 

When I was a journalist, I wrote news stories.

Facebook has “Top Stories” and a “Stories” feature for people to share what is going on in their lives.

Someone might ask you to tell them your story. You surely would not make up a work of fiction about yourself on the spot. You would know they want to know who you are. 

You might tell your children the story of how you met your spouse or when they were born. 

As we can see, our culture uses story quite often in a way that clearly means real story. This is another reason why I like story: It connects with the people we are trying to reach and it is deep within our wiring. Ever wonder why Hollywood is so successful? Because humans are drawn to stories.  

How We Use Story in Our Faith 

But the case for story gets even stronger when we consider its use in relation to our faith.

The word story appears in some of the beloved hymns many of us grew up singing. “I Love to Tell the Story.” “Tell Me the Old, Old Story.” “You are Called to Tell the Story.” When we sing these hymns, we know they are not positioning the Bible as fiction. We know that story means true story.  

But here is the most important reason why story is a good word for us to use: the Bible uses it. That’s right, the Bible uses story to mean true events. 

  • 2 Kings 8:6 CSB
  • 2 Chronicles 13:22 ESV / KJV
  • 2 Chronicles 24:27 ESV / KJV
  • Psalm 107:2 NIV 
  • Acts 11:4 NIV

If the Bible uses story and many hymns we sang include story without leading us astray, we should not be afraid of using this word. 

Story is not a bad word at all. It is not a dangerous word. And it is not an unwise word. It’s a good word. Do you have to use story? Of course not. But neither should we think those who do are being unfaithful to Scripture. But for those of us who do use story, we need to recognize that the word can be used to mean a work of fiction. Because of this, let’s be wise and pair story with true at least at times. But if the only way the kids know we believe the Bible is true is by our use of a word or phrase to introduce what we are about to read from it, we have bigger issues to consider in what and how we are teaching and how we are living. Our kids should know the Bible is true primarily because they see its truth lived out in and through the story we are living.

Brian Dembowczyk is the managing editor for The Gospel Project. He served in local church ministry for over 16 years before coming to Lifeway. Brian earned an M.Div. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his family live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Gospel-Centered, Kids Ministry, Podcasts

Maintaining a Gospel Focus in Your Kids Ministry

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Brian Dembowczyk discusses practical ways we can guard our motivation in ministry and keep it fixed firmly on the gospel.

Brian Dembowczyk is the managing editor for The Gospel Project and team leader for The Gospel Project for Kids. He served in local church ministry for over 16 years before coming to Lifeway. Brian earned an M.Div. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is pursuing a Ph.D. from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his family live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Discipleship, Evangelism, Gospel-Centered, Podcasts, Uncategorized

Sharing the Gospel with Kids

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Jeremy Echols and Bill Emeott join Chuck on the Kids Ministry 101 Podcast this week to discuss the importance of Sharing the gospel with Kids. Jeremy and Bill talk about how we train our CentriKid Camps staff and how they relate everything back to the gospel. We aim to help kids grow in their relationship with Christ and to present the message clearly for those who don’t have a relationship with Christ.

Earlier this week, we released a free training that was used at CentriKid Camps this summer to train staff and leaders on how to clearly and appropriately share the gospel with kids. You can find that training here!

Jeremy Echols leads the CentriKid Camps and Student Life for Kids teams. He, his wife Emily, and their precious daughter love their church, their neighborhood, and spending time together.  Jeremy loves to read, watch sports, and grill burgers.

Bill Emeott serves as Lead Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Kids. A graduate of Mercer University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Bill has served as a Kid’s Minister and considers himself a professional Sunday School  teacher. He currently teaches 2nd Grade Bible study at his home church in Nashville.

To find out more about CentriKid Camps click HERE!

Gospel-Centered, Kids Ministry, Ministry, Podcasts

Gospel Centered Kids Ministry

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What does it really mean to put Jesus at the center of your Kids Ministry? Bill Emeott, Lead Kids Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Kids, joins the podcast to share how being intentional in four areas can result in a Christ-Centered, transformational Kids Ministry that sticks for eternity.

Gospel-Centered, Kids Bible Study, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Podcasts

The Gospel Project for Kids: New Features and Updates

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In Fall 2018, The Gospel Project for Kids begins a new 3 year cycle.  Jeremy Carroll, team leader of The Gospel Project for Kids, and Landry Holmes, Manager of Lifeway Kids Publishing, sit down with Chuck Peters to discuss new features and updates to The Gospel Project for Kids,. Listen and hear what you can expect to see beginning in Fall 2018.

Jeremy Carroll is the team leader for The Gospel Project for Kids. Before coming to Lifeway, he has been active in local church ministry for nearly 20 years in TN, TX, and AL. Jeremy earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. A Middle Tennessee native, he and his family live in Murfreesboro, TN.

Landry Holmes is the Manager of Lifeway Kids Ministry Publishing. A graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Landry served on church staffs before joining Lifeway Kids. 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 parents of two adult sons and two daughters-in-law.

 

PODCAST RESOURCES:

Big Picture Questions & Answers for Kids

Bible Study, Discipleship, Gospel-Centered, Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Podcasts, Resources

The Gospel Project: When you get it, it changes everything

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The Gospel Project is a Christ-centered chronological Bible study for babies-adults. On today’s podcast, Brian Dembowczyk, managing editor of The Gospel Project, shares the vision of The Gospel Project and why sharing the gospel with children is of the utmost importance.

Brian Dembowczyk is the Managing Editor of The Gospel Project, a Bible study curriculum used by over one million people each week, and the author of Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry: How the Gospel Will Transform Your Kids, Your Church, Your Community, and the World and Cornerstones: 200 Questions and Answers to Learn Truth. Prior to being the managing editor, he served as the Publishing Team Leader for The Gospel Project for Kids. Before coming to Lifeway Christian Resources, Brian served in local church ministry for seventeen years, primarily in family ministry and discipleship ministry. Brian earned a D.Min. from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and an M.Div. from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He, his wife Tara, and their three children live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Gospel-Centered, Kids Ministry, Leadership

Tell It Again!

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Tell It Again!

As ministers to kids, we have one job: to tell the story of Jesus again and again until He returns.

I confess I may have zoned out (just a little) during one recent Sunday evening sermon that I sat in on at church. As I flipped through an old hymnal I ran across a familiar song that people don’t sing much anymore. It’s words caught my attention as I thought about the new cycle of The Gospel Project for Kids that kicks off this coming Fall.

Tell me the old, old story of unseen things above, Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love; Tell me the story simply, As to a little child, For I am weak and weary, And helpless and defiled.

Tell me the story slowly, That I may take it in—That wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin; Tell me the story often, For I forget so soon, The “early dew” of morning Has passed away at noon.

Tell me the story softly, With earnest tones and grave; Remember I’m the sinner Whom Jesus came to save; Tell me the story always, if you would really be, in any time of trouble, A comforter to me.

Tell me the old, old story, Tell me the old, old story, Tell me the old, old story, Of Jesus and His love.

This wonderful old hymn captures the purpose of God’s Word and of what our mission is all about as ministers of the gospel: knowing and telling the story of Jesus, again and again and again. As the hymn says, we must tell it simply, slowly, earnestly, often … and always!

Every Story Points to the One

The continual telling of the gospel story is the heartbeat behind The Gospel Project for Kids. The Gospel Project for Kids unpacks the full narrative of Scripture using a chronological three-year study plan, and every story, every week—from cover to cover, from Genesis to Revelation—points to the ONE. As kids ministry leaders the story of Jesus is one that we are compelled to tell—not just once; not just once a year; but continually.

As kids experience the big story of the Bible through the lens of Jesus, they gain a deeper understanding of the nature of God, of their need for a Savior, and of our great God’s provision for their sin. When we rightfully see the Bible as one big story of God’s redemptive plan to bring salvation to a lost and fallen world It changes how we study Scripture. It changes how we teach kids to read their Bibles. It changes the way we apply God’s Word to kids’ lives. It changes how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we see God. It changes everything. But it’s not enough to tell this story one time. We must tell it again and again and again.

We Cannot Stop Telling the Story

Because of the chronological format of The Gospel Project for Kids, some leaders may initially view it as a one-time, three-year experience. As they approach the end of the scope and sequence, some wonder what to do next after they “finish” The Gospel Project for Kids. When one looks at The Gospel Project for Kids as a one-and-done resource, they are merely seeing a two-dimensional picture of its purpose and potential. The full beauty of The Gospel Project is seen when kids go through the full story of the Bible, not one time, but three times during their children’s ministry experience from preschool through sixth grade.

Kids learn differently at different ages and stages of development. Preschoolers are able to understand simple, foundational ideas and are ‘concrete’ in their comprehension. They are literal in regard to their interpretation of information. Middle kids begin to connect biblical accounts with their lives, communities, and world. Older kids are able to understand more complex and abstract concepts and applications. When children go through The Gospel Project for Kids just once, they experience the big story of the Bible one time with the developmental abilities and understanding that they happen to have during that one three-year window.

The full potential of The Gospel Project is seen when kids go through the full story of the Bible, not one time, but two or three full times during their kids ministry experience. Repetition cultivates a child’s faith to grow both deep and wide. Each time a child repeats the chronology, his ability to understand abstract ideas and truths about God expands wider as he is able to delve deeper into the full narrative of Scripture. Imagine if a child who entered your ministry as a preschooler went through the entire Bible three times before she was promoted into middle school ministry; each time anchoring her more firmly in a Bible-centered, gospel-oriented worldview.

In his sermon, The Centrality of the Gospel, Tim Keller has famously said, “We never get beyond the gospel in our Christian life to something more ‘advanced.’ The gospel is not the first step in a stairway of truths, rather, it is more like the hub in a wheel of truth. The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s but the A–Z of Christianity. The gospel is not just the minimum required doctrine necessary to enter the kingdom, but the way we make progress in the kingdom.”

As ministers to kids, we have one job: to tell the story of Jesus again and again and again until He returns. Everything we do must point kids to Christ. It’s all about Jesus.

You can preview four free sessions of the Gospel Project for Preschool and/or Kids at gospelproject.com/preview

Chuck Peters is Director of Operations for Lifeway Kids. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck has served vocationally & voluntarily in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years.

Bible Study, Discipleship, Gospel-Centered, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Worship

The Big Picture Worship Hour

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Perhaps you have come in contact with The Gospel Project for Kids and seen value in its approach of teaching Jesus’ story throughout Scripture. Even though you see its value, you are not in a position to make a change from your primary children’s ministry curriculum. If you fall into this group, our new Big Picture Worship Hour resource may be for you!

The writing and creative team behind The Gospel Project for Preschool and The Gospel Project for Kids is excited to announce two brand new worship resources: The Big Picture Worship Hour for Preschool and The Big Picture Worship Hour for Kids. The Big Picture Worship Hour products are designed for churches who are looking to introduce The Gospel Project for Kids strategy without replacing their primary curriculum or whose weekly Kids Ministry schedule only allows for a “large group” format.

Each Big Picture Worship Hour is a Christ-centered worship resource that walks kids through the big picture of God’s story—the story of redemption through Jesus Christ. Each week, kids will follow a chronological timeline of Bible events through the Old and New Testaments, while learning how each story points to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each product provides an age-appropriate hour of content ideal for preschoolers/kids worship, mid-week gatherings, or other “large group” settings. For elementary age kids, each worship hour session features a worship guide, Bible story video, music videos, missions video, group game, group demonstration, and more. Our Preschool Hour features a worship guide, Bible story video, music videos, missions video, and activities using a variety of learning styles.

Current customers of The Gospel Project for Kids: If you are already part of The Gospel Project family and use our curriculum in your ministry, The Big Picture Worship Hour is available as the Worship Hour Add-On to our Leader Kit.

If you are looking for a worship resource to integrate into your ministry, we invite you consider The Big Picture Worship Hour from The Gospel Project for Kids team.

Gospel-Centered, Kids Ministry, Leadership

Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry

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Recently I had the opportunity to sit down with author Brian Dembowczyk about his new book, Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry.

WS: Who did you have in mind when you wrote Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry?

BD: Kids pastors, ministers, and directors are the most natural audiences, but this is not a book just for them. I hope senior pastors would also read this book so they can embrace an enlarged vision for kids ministry. We need pastors to champion our kids ministries. At the same time, kids teachers and leaders in the trenches would benefit from reading it as well. That is one of the reasons we included questions for reflection and discussion at the end of each main section—we hope that this book serves as a helpful team-building resource.

WS: Why do we need another kids ministry book?

BD: I hope that this book stands out in how it encourages and motivates churches to raise the bar for kids ministry. I am concerned that while churches won’t say this, many act as if kids ministry is about keeping kids entertained while mixing in some good Bible teaching.

There’s nothing wrong with our kids having fun and certainly Bible teaching is critical, but I have to believe that God’s plan is far greater than that! I believe that God sees our kids as an essential part of the church right now—not just as the church of tomorrow. Our kids ministries need to reflect that. We need to grasp the weightiness of our kids ministries and remember that we are training our kids as missionaries in their context right now. I hope that Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry casts a compelling vision of what that looks like.

WS: What is the main idea of the book?

BD: Our kids desperately need the gospel. We need to teach our kids the fullness and beauty of the gospel in age-appropriate ways without watering it down and position them to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit as He transforms them by the gospel and sends them out to join Christ on His mission right now. This is what I believe we have missed too often resulting in the staggering dropout rate and rampant legalistic Christian moralism in the church.

WS: What are the distinctives of a gospel-centered ministry?

BD: There are five core distinctives of a gospel-centered ministry, which provide the basic structure of the book.

  • Gospel teaching: showing kids that the Bible is one gospel story of Jesus.
  • Gospel transformation: focusing on a changed heart that leads to changed living.
  • Gospel mission: encouraging and equipping kids to be on mission now.
  • Gospel leaders: demonstrating gospel change and mission to our kids.
  • Gospel parents: partnering with parents and families to help them in their role as primary disciplers.

WS: What is your hope for this book?

BD: I almost walked away from the church in college because I grew up in a legalistic Christian moralism context. My hope is that kids leaders and pastors read this book and do whatever they can to anchor their ministries on the gospel so that no kid walks away again—because they see the beauty of Christ and want to follow Him with joy no matter what.

Gospel-Centered Kids Ministry is available for purchase HERE!

William Summey is the Publishing Team Leader for ParentLife, kids devotionals, and short-term products. He is a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Vanderbilt University. William lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, Christy, and two boys.

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