Kids Ministry Curriculum

Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Leadership, Levels of Biblical Learning, Podcasts, Training

August 18, 2016

Bible Studies for Life: Helping Kids Apply The Bible To Real Life

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | RSS

This is the second episode in a series of four podcasts designed to help churches choose and use curriculum. Jeff Land, team leader of Bible Studies for Life Kids joins our hosts, Jana Magruder and Chuck Peters. They discuss how teachers can help boys and girls study the Bible and apply biblical concepts to their life in an age appropriate way. In addition, hear new updates and resources for Bible Studies for Life Kids beginning in Fall 2016.

Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Leadership, Podcasts, Training

August 11, 2016

Choosing and Using a Strategy for Teaching Kids the Bible

By Andy Dukes

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | RSS

Choosing and using curriculum is one of the biggest and most important decisions a church will make. Landry Holmes who leads the kids publishing teams at LifeWay visits with our hosts, Jana Magruder and Chuck Peters about choosing and using curriculum. Listen as they discuss what curriculum is, why it’s important, and essential factors to look for in curriculum for your children’s ministry. This episode is the first in a series of four podcasts designed to help churches choose and use curriculum that best meets the needs of their church.

Kids Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Leadership, Parent Helps, Parenting, Sunday School

June 8, 2016

Helping Kids Use Those Family Resources

By Tim Pollard

If you are like me, you find it difficult sometimes to have those family devotion times together. Life sometimes gets in the way, but it is always easy for you to connect with your family, even if for a few minutes each night.

My church uses Explore the Bible as their main teaching curriculum each week. With Explore the Bible my children come home each week with a Family Card that has an object that my kids learned about in class and the card also has three content related questions that will help us connect to the content they studied. This card is also helpful for my children who can use it to remember the Bible story they heard in class that morning.

If your church is using another LifeWay Kids curriculum line, each comes with a family resource page that will help you connect with your kids about what they studied. Bible Studies For Life has a One Conversation page that gives parents and kids a common point of conversation between what mom and dad studied and the study your kids learned about when they were in church that same day. Bible Studies For Life also has a fun new resource called Take-Home Cards. These neat cards have fun facts and trivia about Bible people, places, and things that kids can use to quiz parents about their own Bible knowledge.

The Gospel Project has an activity page that goes home each week that contains suggestions for a family time that connects with what everyone in the family studied that day. These pages give a point of connection for the entire family if your church uses The Gospel Project for the entire family.

Each of these lines also comes with an app you can download which will give your kids learning activities and games they can play to continue their learning at home. No matter what LifeWay Kids resource you use, there is a family element that is integrated into that resource. If you notice your kids are not bringing home some of those resources, connect with your kids ministry leader and ask about helping your family connect.

Tim Pollard teaches 3rd-6th graders Explore the Bible: Kids Worship on Sunday nights 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.

Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Leadership, Sunday School

May 13, 2016

Biblical Archaeology with Kids

By Kids Ministry 101

By Tim Pollard

One of those classes many years ago in seminary that I think secretly everyone dreaded (but I loved) was biblical geography. I was able to get through this class by memorizing locations and names of biblical cities with a catchy tune my roommate and I took from a popular TV show. The geography tests were always difficult, but I truly loved the study of archaeology that came with it. Archaeology, from a biblical perspective, always put an image with a biblical reference.

It’s very cool now that I get to interact with biblical archaeology from a kid’s perspective. Explore the Bible Kids seeks to introduce boys and girls to the wonderful world that contains the places discussed in the biblical narrative.

Why is archaeology important? Archaeology gives a reality to the Bible places and events that occur through the stories that boys and girls hear. When we can present images of artifacts and places that existed in Bible times, kids can see those images and have a better understanding of what was really going on in a biblical narrative. Images open up a new avenue of learning for kids as they study His Word.

If you aren’t using Explore the Bible Kids take time on your own to pull some resources that relate to the biblical content you are teaching and use those images to help kids be able to understand the context and environment of the story they heard. Teach kids to love the reality of Scripture and to experience it on a whole new level.

Tim Pollard is 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.

Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Resources, Worship

May 6, 2016

From Basic to Blown-Away: Different Types of Kids Worship

By Jeff Land

A few years ago, when we created Worship For Life: Kids, I had a brilliant idea. I emailed our children’s minister and asked if I could start Kids’ Worship at our church. He did have some reservations, but at the time our kids ministry associate at the church was also excited to help start kids worship. With the blessing of the kids’ minister, we proceeded.

Like many churches, our church is configured of several different buildings connected by a labyrinth of hallways. We decided to meet in the choir room so that it would be close to the sanctuary. We had the right technology and a couple of volunteers, so we were set to go. As God often does, he called away our kids ministry associate to serve in another church and soon, there I was, with one other faithful volunteer planning kids worship.

Gradually we have been able to build our volunteer base to a few faithful volunteers so we are no longer in children’s church every week, but it is still a struggle. So, we have what I would call a “basic” kids’ worship. Here are some different ways I’ve seen churches using Kids Worship resources from LifeWay.

Basic: This kids worship option is one where you have rotating volunteers and they are able to read over the session quickly and mainly rely on the videos available. Worship For Life: Kids is a great option for this type of worship. Please note that Worship For Life: Kids is becoming Bible Studies For Life: Kids Worship starting in the Fall of 2016.
Blended: This kids worship option combines the best of both worlds. You have video options, as well as, live host links. In the blended option, volunteers do not rely upon the video options as heavily as they do in the basic option. Explore the Bible for Kids, The Gospel Project for Kids, and Bible Studies For Life: Kids Worship could all be examples of using a blended approach. Using this approach you might use the music videos and Bible story videos provided, but the host or leaders do all of the other teaching segments. The blended approach might also be for churches where kids are in the worship service for part of the time and then move out to children’s church.

Blown-Away: This is a totally produced children’s worship service. Live music, drama, and Bible story tellers. The use of video is limited to countdowns and other bumper type videos. Bible Studies For Life: Kids Worship provides a fully scripted kids worship hour that a church could use for this type of service. For more information about this service, check out this video from an awesome Kids Worship service at SugarCreek Baptist Church in Sugarland, Texas.

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.

Kids Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Parent Helps, Resources, Sunday School

April 29, 2016

Using a Social Media Plan

By Jeff Land

Are you a planner? Do you always want to know “What’s next!”? It seems that lots of Kids Ministers are planners and for a very good reason. We have to have a plan for helping kids know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That plan is effected by what camps we choose, which VBS we use, and the weekly curriculum we choose for our kids to study. Each of LifeWay Kids’ curriculum lines will help you as you develop that plan.

In the past few years, Kids Ministers and church leaders have recognized what we have known for many years: Parents need to be a part of the plan. Apps, take home pages, cards, and other resources have been developed to help bring parents in on the conversation.

There’s another great planning resource that you might not be aware of: it’s a social media plan. Each of LifeWay Kids’ ongoing curriculum lines now offers a social media plan to help you connect parents to what their kids are learning each week in their Bible study classes.

Using the plan is easy:

Find the social media plan that fits the curriculum you use in your church: Bible Studies For Life: Kids
The Gospel Project for Kids (choose the quarter you want and look under “Parent Resources.”
Explore the Bible Kids (available on Enhanced CD)

Decide how you want to share the information. Consider starting a Facebook page, Twitter Account, or Instagram for your church’s Kids Ministry.
Copy the information provided from the Social Media Plan for your chosen curriculum and paste it into the status update bar for your social media site.

Remembering to update your church’s social media every single day could be a confusing and time-consuming task. I like to use Hootsuite, because you can schedule multiple posts to update each day on several different sites. I take time at the beginning of every quarter to use the social media plan on Hootsuite for the entire quarter, then I don’t have to think about it again for three months.

By providing social media posts for your parents to read each day with their kids, you are giving them little nudges toward spiritual conversations with their kids.

Keep up with Bible Studies For Life: Kids and The Gospel Project for Kids on Facebook for all of the latest information.

Bible Study, Kids Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Leadership, Small Groups, Sunday School, Training

April 11, 2016

Using Teaching Pictures to Teach

By Kids Ministry 101

Teaching Pictures are a powerful tool to use in any classroom, or even at your home. There are many styles of artwork to choose from when considering a teaching picture. The style of art you choose to display is up to you, and could be chosen based on your style of teaching, the environment you are using it in, or even just personal preference. Here are a few things to remember when using teaching pictures in your classroom.

None of the figures being displayed are the actual people we are teaching about. These are drawings, not photographs. No matter the style of art, these are only an artist’s representation of what a real person looked like. Each artist will draw the same person differently. We can teach our kids to focus on the setting of the image, and not what the people look like, since honestly, none of us knows exactly what any of those people really looked like. (I secretly think we will all be quite shocked one day!)
Focus on the setting. When we use a teaching picture it should do just that, teach. The art that is chosen for a particular story will serve the purpose of reinforcing the concept or lesson being taught. Use the teaching picture to elicit responses from boys and girls that go beyond the people, to discover what the picture itself is teaching. What does the setting teach about the Bible story? What are the people doing that lead us to learn more about God/Jesus?
The artwork will convey what you help the girls and boys in your group experience through it. Many times I hear leaders criticizing one style of art while praising another style. In reality, kids today are in a very media driven society and are inundated hourly with photographs and real time video. It may take some work on your part to make sure when kids walk away from your group experience they know that the images of the people and stories in the Bible are as much a reality as the photo they saw this morning posted on their favorite social network.

At the end of the day, the teaching picture is a powerful tool. Teaching pictures can open a child’s imagination and transport them to a place in history. Use the pictures to help those learners connect with a Bible truth, and let that truth dwell in their hearts.

Let us hear some of your stories about your favorite teaching pictures and how you used them to open God’s Word in a new way.

Easter, Kids Ministry Curriculum

March 25, 2016

Watch the Whole Gospel Story in 5 Minutes

By Cristy Whitlock

Today as you focus on the extreme sacrifice Jesus Christ made for sinners, remember that the cross is one part of the most beautiful redemption story in history. In this five minute video from The Gospel Project for Kids, you’ll see the whole story of Scripture. Watch below and share with friends as you thank God for his compassion and forgiveness.

Bible Study, Kids Ministry, Kids Ministry Curriculum, Leadership

March 7, 2016

Three Steps to Creating a Curriculum Lab

By Jana Magruder

Children’s Ministry leaders have the very important job of discipling the preschoolers, kids, and preteens in their church. To do this wisely and effectively, choosing a solid curriculum is essential. However, it takes time, effort, and sometimes money to sort through the variety of options out there and make a well-informed decision about which curriculum to use. Consider these three steps to create a curriculum lab for yourself, fellow staff, volunteers, and even parents to utilize as you prayerfully choose a wise plan of discipleship for the children and families in your ministry.

Step One: Capture & Collect

This is the part where it can feel overwhelming. There are so many options on the market, on the internet, in stores for purchase, or online for free. Where do you begin? Start by capturing the content you can get for no cost. Most content providers offer free lessons for preview purposes. Download and print any of these you find for your lab. Consider placing these in folders or binders with labels, making it easy to identify. You might also ask your network of local and social media friends to see if they have portions of a curriculum for you to preview and place in the curriculum lab you are creating. Another option is to do some “window shopping” in Christian retail stores. You can ask the retail workers questions about various products and even ask permission to photograph for your lab. Purchasing various curricula – especially the ones you have an extreme interest in may be in your best interest.

Step Two: Organize & Display

Find some space to display your collection of samples, products, photographs, and notes. Place on tables so that you can invite anyone to peruse the lab and partner with you in making the decision. You might consider making multiple copies depending on how many people will be visiting the lab.

Step Three: Investigate & Collaborate

Designate some intentional time to dig-in and really evaluate the options you have. Collaborate as much as possible with people on your team and other staff members such as the Youth/Student ministry leader, the Education Minister, or Discipleship Pastor—even the Senior pastor. This will help you align a bigger vision for thorough discipleship from birth to adult. You will also want to allow some of your most trusted volunteers and parents to help speak into this important decision! Ultimately, you will make the choice—but don’t do it in isolation. Prayerfully seek counsel and select accordingly.

Choosing a curriculum doesn’t have to be overwhelming, labor-intensive, and expensive. If you remember these three helpful steps, you will be off to a great start to amazing discipleship! The children and families in your ministry are worth it!

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 live in Nashville, Tennessee and enjoy serving in a variety of ways in their local church.