Leadership

Discipleship, Leadership, Parenting, Worship

October 27, 2021

Remembering Worship for Children

By Sarah Humphrey

I recently started taking piano lessons for the first time in my life. As a high schooler, I learned how to read music in choir class, and I enjoyed the process of singing in tune with my classmates. Over twenty years have gone by since I finished those choir classes and started an adult life that did not consist of intentional music. It wasn’t that I purposely left the music out, but it was simply that other things took its place. Whether it was classroom studies, a new job, getting married, or having children, music didn’t seem so much in the forefront of my brain as did learning all that I needed in order to “survive” growing into adulthood.

What I’ve noticed since being back in music has been life changing. By learning something new, which strikes cords and creates melodies, I have found that I am a much better woman, wife, mother, and teacher. I have found my interactions with children to be increasingly more fun, full of grace and joy, and easily patient.

As I sat at the piano keys to learn a simple song that most six years olds could learn, I found my eyes looking to the notes with increased intention, brain waves moving, and a whole new appreciation for the learning curve of children. It was another reminder to slow down, give plenty of room for process and transitions, and to encourage children in their small steps of faith.

As an adult, it might be easy for us to read a Bible story and understand it right away. Perhaps it’s easy for us to pray or drop to our knees in confession when we’ve done something wrong or when we have been desperate for God’s help. Maybe we can honestly have relational conversations that turn our hearts towards Jesus, and so it might be difficult for us to understand why children, other adults, or even family members don’t seem to be able to follow through with a healthy lifestyle.

In this stage of church history, we are being called into an increasingly patient, truthful, and merciful stance as believers. Our interactions with the children we teach need to be equally graceful and calm. A lot is being presented to us for the first time to figure out, and we need God’s guidance to worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

If you are a Sunday School teacher, caregiver, ministry leader, or anything of the like, consider asking the Lord if He might want to teach you a deeper walk in worship in this season of challenge. If you’ve never played a musical instrument, prayerfully think about it! If you create structure, plans, safety, and education for kids, ask God to touch their hearts in a way that gives them a much needed boost during the chaos of this time of history. If you find yourself overwhelmed with the needs of the children around you, ask God to take you to a deeper place in Him.

What our children need from us most is joy, truth, and teaching them a lifestyle of worship that is full of grace and presence. As we learn how to slow down, remember the ways of music, and humbly take a seat where our kids daily live, we can find deep truths that will nourish our souls even in the midst of challenge and heartbreak.

The little things are really the big things. I’m so grateful for an increase of His care for me as I remember myself in Him. I’m looking forward to how that will also impact the children around me in pleasant and surprising ways.

Sarah is a wife and homeschool mom to three kids while also working as an artist, author, life coach, and voice actor. Her writing and doodling can be found in her devotional, “40 Days to a Joyful Motherhood” and her voice in several commercials, children’s books, and audiobooks. Her education and love for holistic science also leads her to teach small workshops on health, wellness, and creativity. She loves encouraging women and kids to embrace self-care, utilize their gifts, and become leaders in the community around them. Her latest devotional for tweens, “Solomon Says” releases this November. Until then, you can follow her Instagram @the.table.and.bath!

Leadership, Ministry, Uncategorized

October 18, 2021

The Team Dream

By Chuck Peters

5 Time-Tested Tips for Building a Powerful Sense of Team in Your Ministry

Right now you may not have what you would call a “dream team” (or maybe you do!) but in my experience, every leader has what I would call a team dream. Leaders long for the people they recruit to play key positions on their ministry teams to share in the passion, purpose and plan for reaching and teaching kids for their good and for God’s glory. Simply getting people to serve does not guarantee that they will see themselves as members of a team, or feel any sense of belonging or ownership of the ministry. Those things do not happen by accident. As leaders, we need to be intentional about building a sense of ‘team culture’ for our leaders to plug into.

Here are 5 time-tested tips for building a powerful sense of team for your ministry’s leaders.

Clothing – Teams wear the same uniform. This is true of 4-year-old T-ballers and NFL players. The uniform both identifies and unites the players. If your church is a T-shirt-friendly church, I highly recommend printing custom shirts for your kids team to wear every time they serve. This identifies your leaders for kids and their parents. If anyone has a question to ask, they can look for someone wearing the yellow (or blue, or red, or green) leader shirt. The shirt lets others know who is officially on the team.

It also unites your leaders as members of the team. That simple shirt gives your leaders status and value and a sense of belonging (more on this later). Just wearing the shirt places importance on the wearer.

If your church is more inclined to formal dress, you can bestow a similar sense of identity and unity by creating a wide and colorful lanyard that your leaders can wear around their necks. The goal is to provide your serving team members with a distinct wearable uniform piece that is unique to your team.

2. Coaching – Members of sports teams don’t just show up on game day without preparation. They have a coach who helps them practice, plan and prepare. As ministry leaders, we do well to think of ourselves as coaches to our volunteers.

Coaching is different from managing. It implies awareness and attention and the offering of insight and encouragement to improve each player’s performance. While all players on the team have the same coach, the coach may lead each player differently depending on their personal talents, needs and potential.

As ministry leaders we need to stay in close communication with our team members. They need to know that we are on their side, and that we are available to help them succeed.

Huddles – Football teams huddle before every play. They circle up, link arms, look each other in the eye, and talk about their game plan for that moment. Huddles are a great tool for you in leading your ministry team. Huddles don’t last long, but they are extremely important for getting everyone on the same page, and for executing a winning strategy.

Make a habit of circling your leaders at the start of each ministry hour for a brief stand-up meeting where you can link arms, look each other in the eye and remind everyone of the importance of what’s about to happen. You might use this time to reinforce the big takeaway of the day’s lesson that you’d like every child to understand, and lead a brief prayer asking for God’s blessing on the day.

I like to end huddles by having everyone put their hands in the middle and doing a quick, “1-2-3 Go team!” sort of cheer. It is amazing how building a cultural expectation of huddling before ministering, even if that huddle time is very brief, can transform your leaders into a team.

High Fives – When any player on a sports team scores, the whole team celebrates with high fives. We would do well to borrow this practice too. All too often our victories happen in isolation and we fail to celebrate victories with the larger team. For instance, when a child in the 3rd grade group makes a decision to trust Jesus, or a 5th grader decides she would like to be baptized, the whole team has reason to whoop it up, even those who happen to serve in the 2nd grade area.

Volunteers need to know that there are spiritual points on the board as a result of their efforts. When volunteers know that the ministry that they serve in makes a difference and generates Kingdom results, they rightly feel that what they do really does matter, and they will be more inclined to stick with the team for a longer duration of service than disconnected leaders who do not share in the ministry’s victories.

The point isn’t to elevate the volunteer who leads the child to Christ or the person who has that pivotal baptism conversation, but rather to celebrate every victory together in a way that directs glory to God and brings praise to His name for what He is doing in the hearts of children in your church.

Belonging – The ultimate goal is to create a compelling culture of belonging for everyone who serves on your team. Your leaders need to know that they are not ‘on their own,’ but that each one plays a key position that makes the whole team better.

I don’t know if anyone has ever done this, but I love the idea that perhaps when a new volunteer joins the team there might be a moment of whole-team celebration wherein the new member is ceremonially given their team shirt or lanyard and welcomed by the bigger team.

As leaders, we need to intentionally connect our leaders to one another so that they have something to belong to. They need to understand that every person is important; everyone contributes to the ministry and shares in each victory. They need to know that they are valued and honored and appreciated. Ultimately, my hope is that every person who serves feels a sense of ownership of the ministry and identity with the team.

Chuck Peters is Director of Lifeway Kids. Before his role at Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer and on-screen talent. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck, and his wife, Cris, have served in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Prayer

October 13, 2021

The Importance of Prayer in Children’s Ministry

By Tim Pollard

Sometimes I feel like the most overlooked aspect of planning and preparation for (me personally) teaching Bible study is often prayer. Prayer is critical in our plan to teach boys and girls the deep truths of Scripture and without an intentional prayer life we may struggle to plan. The good news is that the Bible itself gives us great encouragement about prayer. Here are a few things we can learn from Scripture about prayer.

Jesus is our example. Many places in the gospels record Jesus separating Himself from the crowds and seeking the Father in prayer. Here are just a few for you to consider, but feel free to find more examples on your own. Matthew 14:23; 26:36; Mark 1:35; 6:46; 14:32; Luke 5:16; 6:12. Jesus’ example of prayer shows how important prayer is to a healthy spiritual life. As we plan, we should take Jesus’ example and seek God consistently in prayer.

Jesus prayed for children. Three of the gospel accounts show Jesus’ care and concern for children as these snapshots talk about a time when parents were bringing their children to Jesus so He could bless the children. Check out Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; and Luke 18:15-17. Jesus knew the importance of praying for children. As we prepare for teaching, we should share Jesus’ love and concern, and pray by name for each and every child whom we teach.

Prayer is commanded. Many places in Scripture give us encouragement on prayer. Sometimes we might not know what to pray, but God, through the Holy Spirit, will help us do that too (see Romans 8:26.) We should always be in an attitude of prayer, trusting God to hear us and answer us as He wills. See a few other verses that encourage prayer. Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; and 1 Timothy 2:1.

I love to tell kids that prayer is just a conversation with God. One definition defines prayer as “talking to God and listening to Him.” This definition evokes a conversational attitude where two people are talking and listening to each other. Our communication with God is not just important in the quiet times we spend with Him, but we should be the outward example of that communication as we lead boys and girls to discover how to talk to and listen to God. As we begin helping kids discover a closer relationship with God through prayer, they will grow deeper in their understanding of and relationship with Him!

What are some ways you are praying for the boys and girls you teach and how can we pray for you?

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.

Kids Ministry, Leadership, Ministry, Uncategorized

October 6, 2021

To See and Be Seen at Church

By Jana Magruder

The familiar phrase and notion, “to see and be seen” is often intended to suggest something that is socially motivated. There are plenty of engagements such as Christmas parties, family gatherings, bridal showers and business lunches that are designed to be a “pop-in” event where people spend more time getting dressed for the occasion than actually attending it! Surely you have some of these in mind. Some church goers also have a reputation for this mindset—making sure folks see them at Easter and Christmas, checking a box that suits their reputation. Certainly we’ve all had times where we’d like to show up, take our name tag, shake a few hands and hug a few necks—and then slip out the back. As long as we see the people we need to see (and they see us), then we are good to go!

Though this phrase may sound shallow in nature or potentially like a bad thing, I want to make the case for seeing and being seen as something good—particularly when it comes to children. In light of all the isolation and social distancing, the kids we are serving in our churches are craving tangible real-life relationships. They need to feel seen and known by their church family and they, in return, need to see smiling, friendly, godly adults who are ready to welcome them inside.

How can we ensure this is happening in our ministry? Perhaps we could reframe the phrase “see and be seen” as a coaching principle for our volunteers and leaders. The goal would be to make certain they “see” each child and that they are “seen” as an adult who that child can trust and know each time they are there. If those two things are accomplished by each person, then you can be sure the culture of your ministry is going to be one where kids feel like they belong to their church—not just attend. They will feel seen and known and be excited to see their leaders each time they come back. So, maybe give it a try this week and see how it goes! Let’s make kids ministry a place to see and be seen, laying a foundation of relational trust that sets the stage for sharing the love of Jesus.

Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway Kids in Nashville, TN. With a background in education, publishing, and ministry, she loves championing the local church to help families disciple kids of all ages. She is the author of Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith. Jana and her husband, Michael, are native Texans planted in Tennessee and love to explore both states with their three teenagers.

Bible Study, Devotional, Encouragement, Leadership

October 4, 2021

Busyness Does Not Equal Godliness

By Kids Ministry 101

By Brooke Hill

I’m a big-time planner. In fact, I keep my very filled-out planners from college so that I can look back and reminisce about all the fun things I filled my time with. To this day, whenever I make a plan, I have to add it to my calendar to make sure that I don’t forget about it and that nothing will overlap because there’s just so much to do!

I’m finding myself in a season of busyness again right now. Summers are always busy with fun and traveling and soaking up the sunshine, and with fall and the start of school comes the time when it feels as if somebody presses the “resume” button and everything picks up again all at once. As leaders, it’s often easy to find ourselves stretched thin between leading our kids, trying to lead/be a part of our own community groups, serving, working, and making time to prioritize relationships in our lives. It’s easy for me to feel filled and accomplished because I’m constantly doing something. But what good is that if I’m so busy that I can’t seem to find thirty minutes of my day to sit in silence with the Lord? How can we lead if we’re too busy to spend time with the Creator that we’re spending most of our time encouraging others to turn to?

There is nothing that will make us more Godly apart from humbly allowing the Lord to sanctify us. It all goes back to Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

God won’t love you any more than He always has just because your schedule is filled. Your busyness doesn’t make you a better Christian or make God love you any more than He already does. Yes, we are certainly called to make disciples and to lead others to Christ. But that call doesn’t negate the call to spend time with the Lord and to rest. God loves the woman who spends most of her nights at home alone being still and finding rest in Him just as much as He loves the leader who spends almost every night at the church or in people’s homes. God set forth the example of rest by taking a Sabbath after creating the universe; so, too, should we set an example for our girls by showing them the importance of taking time to slow down.

Have you ever noticed the verbage in Psalm 23:1-2? “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” To me, it sure sounds like God knows that we tend to keep going and not rest. He has to make us do it. It sure is more fun to take the initiative to proactively plan rest before we get so sick or worn out that our bodies literally force us to rest (or God brings something else along to force us to rest). Exhaustion is not God’s best for us.

What makes you love God more? Appreciating His creation by taking a walk through nature? Playing instruments or singing? Reading a book about Him? Spending time listening to Him while running or exercising? Rest doesn’t have to look like sitting on the couch doing nothing or getting extra hours of sleep. We must be filled so that we can help others be filled. In the midst of the busyness, we must prioritize setting aside time to spend with God. It doesn’t make us any godlier to be so worn out by the end of the weekend that we’re dreading another approaching week. God loves you and He loves your heart for kingdom activities, but He also won’t love you any less for keeping one night a week for yourself.

Make time for some quietness and calm in your week. Let Him make you lie down and lead you to still waters this week.

Brooke Hill is a recent Baylor University grad who lives in Nashville, TN. She joined the Lifeway Students team as a content specialist after graduating and is excited to contribute to equipping churches with content to help students love Jesus more. She’s led student small groups since she was a freshman in high school and still loves it today! Brooke enjoys finding ways to serve in her community, reading a good book, marveling at God’s creation through traveling, and a cozy night in with some yummy pizza.

This post originally appeared on the Lifeway Girls blog.

Discipleship, Encouragement, Leadership, Prayer

September 29, 2021

Prayer for the Empty Chair

By Chuck Peters

As fall arrives, many of our ministries will re-gather, perhaps for the first time in a long time. Maybe you intend to kick things off with a large family event, followed by a fresh introduction to kids gatherings in Sunday school classrooms and in large groups for children’s church. Many of us will have new volunteers and new visitors and new opportunities to engage in ministry. Let’s absolutely make sure to appropriately celebrate those who attend. Greet her warmly, look him in the eye, call them by name, and let them know that they are welcome and wanted and valued. But even as we celebrate those who are present, I want to challenge you to also make an effort to be aware of those who are not there.

I like to make a practice of praying over an empty chair. You can do this alone, with your volunteers, or even with the children in attendance. By praying over the empty chair we acknowledge that there is always room for one more, and that we want the Lord to bring someone into the group and fill the empty seat.

The empty chair may represent someone who had been a regular attender who is no longer able to come to gatherings, or it may represent someone new to the area who is looking for a place to belong. It may represent someone who has never attended church before at all.

By praying for the empty chair we make it known to all involved that our desire is to invite, welcome and celebrate those that God wants to bring to himself. It also lets children know that we pray for them even when they are not with us.

As you return to gathering for ministry this week, consider starting a new practice of prayer for the empty chair. And ask God to bring newcomers into belonging in your church and in His family.

Discipleship, Kids Ministry, Leadership

August 30, 2021

The Ongoing Reformation

By Brian Dembowczyk

The Reformation was a movement centered on correcting the beliefs and practices of the church 500 years ago. In this post we will consider that the Reformation is far from just history—the values of the Reformers should be the same values we place in our kids ministries.

On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther, a professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg in northeast Germany, nailed what has become known as the 95 Theses on the city’s church door. This action is widely accepted as the starting point of what has become known as the Protestant Reformation—a movement desiring to course correct the church’s theology and practice. While Luther gets the credit for beginning the Reformation (whether right or wrong), he was far from the only leader of this diverse movement. But one thing that united these Reformers was a shared goal summed up in a five-fold slogan known as the Five Solas (Latin for “alone”).

Five hundred years later, these Five Solas which the Reformers fought and even died for should continue to unite God’s people together and should be hallmarks of our kids ministries. Here are a few tips on how to do that:

Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura). This Sola addresses the Bible as our highest authority in belief and practice. Of all the Solas, this one might be the easiest to see our ministries as fulfilling, but we shouldn’t be so quick to check it off and move on. The issue is not whether we use the Bible, but how we value it too. Just because a curriculum, for example, includes the Bible doesn’t mean all that it teaches comes from the Bible. Sometimes, the Bible is merely a springboard. As kids ministry leaders, we want to be diligent to scrutinize all that is taught by our leaders to ensure that all matters of belief and practice come directly from the Bible. We also want to look for other ways to elevate God’s Word. Do our leaders read from the Bible or the curriculum’s leader guide? Do we help train kids on how to read the Bible? Do we encourage them to bring their Bible with them?

Faith Alone (Sola Fide). This Sola affirms that we are saved by faith in Christ alone. Like Scripture Alone, this Sola might seem like a gimme but once again, we shouldn’t be so quick to move on. Sure we teach that salvation is only through Jesus, but do we make Jesus the hero of all we do? Not a week should go by where Jesus is not clearly taught in our Bible study time, especially when it comes to application. It is easy to lapse into biblical moralism and teach behavior apart from Jesus, but we need to protect against this strenuously. We want our kids to know that being right with God is based on faith in Jesus alone—not our conduct. Right conduct flows from right relationship, not the other way around.

Grace Alone (Sola Gratia). This Sola asserts that we are saved by the grace of God alone. What a cause for celebration! And humility. We are not saved because we deserved it. We are not saved because we earned it. We are saved because of the kindness and goodness of God. And the same grace that initiated our salvation preserves it. This is why we cannot stop talking about God’s grace even once a child is saved. We need to help our kids live in trust and peace knowing that their salvation, from start to finish, is secure because of God’s grace.

Christ Alone (Solus Christus). This Sola positions only Jesus as our Lord, Savior, and King. There are many other things that challenge for this role in the lives of our kids—even some good things. But what we want to do is to help our kids understand, and love, the truth that Jesus is our Lord, Savior, and King. He is in charge. And that is a beautiful thing. Help your kids not only accept, but appreciate, what it looks like to live in submission to Jesus.

The Glory of God Alone (Soli Deo Gloria). This Sola reminds us that all we do is to be done for the glory of God ultimately. One of the greatest needs of people—including our kids—is to know their purpose in life. What is it all about? Why do we exist? One of the greatest gifts you can give to the kids in your ministry is to help them understand that their purpose is to bring God glory. And that is something they can do right now—they don’t have to wait. Help your kids understand that God created them to make much of Him and how they can do that in their neighborhoods, schools, homes, and beyond.

Brian Dembowczyk served in the local church ministry for over 16 years. 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.

Leadership, Ministry, Sunday School, Teaching Kids, Training

August 23, 2021

Teacher Preparation 101

By Brian Dembowczyk

Preparing for a session is one of the most important aspects of a teacher’s ministry. In this post, a suggested rhythm of preparing throughout the week is offered to teachers to help them maximize their time with kids each week.

We all know the stereotype: the teacher who opens up the leader guide on Saturday evening to begin preparing. While there may be times when a crazy week’s schedule requires this, preparing at the last minute should be the exception, not the norm. It’s a matter of value—we need to value our kids, the Word of God, and the gospel enough to do this right, and putting off preparations surely is not doing it that way.

If putting off preparing until the last minute is the worst approach (well, not preparing at all would take that crown), the best approach is to sit in the session plan all week long, at least for 10-15 minutes each day. Here is one suggested schedule to do that:

MONDAY: Read the Bible passage. That’s right, don’t even crack open the leader guide yet, except to know what Bible passage is covered for the week. Grab your favorite Bible and read the Scriptures themselves. Be sure to read the background passage, not just the focal passage. Focal passages are chosen, in part, for space. So you will want to read as much around that focal passage to know the context. Reading the Bible passage first thing in the week gives you room throughout the week to sit in what you are teaching. You give the Holy Spirit time to work in your mind and heart so He might solidify the beauty of the gospel you will later share.

TUESDAY: Read the leader guide. Now it’s time to read the leader guide. Take your time through the session, being sure to focus on the “why” of the session. Why does this session matter? What is its big take-away? Be sure you understand how you get to it from the Bible passage itself. Once you feel good about that, drill down on the specific activities, games, crafts, etc. to understand how they work and how they support the session’s content.

WEDNESDAY: Use the additional leader resources. Most curricula provide additional teaching tips and resources to help leaders prepare. Use these to either deepen what you already know or, perhaps, to broaden your focus for that session.

THURSDAY: Read additional Bible translations and commentaries. By this time, you should have a good grasp of what you are covering this week and how best to cover it. So it’s time to put the curriculum resources aside again. Read at least the focal passage in a few different translations (the Internet and Bible apps make this so easy these days). When I study, I like to use the CSB, ESV, NASB, and at least one paraphrase that is more thought-for-thought like the NIV. This is also a great time to read through some commentaries on the passage, especially if anything is not quite clear to you. Even if you are studying an aspect that you are pretty sure you will not cover with your kids, it is important you dig into it so that you have the confidence you need—and you never know where the Holy Spirit might guide the conversation with your kids.

FRIDAY: Collect supplies. It’s time to get practical and collect the supplies that you will need for the session. As you do, review the activity, game, or craft that the supplies are for to be sure you understand it and how those supplies will work.

SATURDAY: Review and connect. Spend some time reviewing the session, focusing on any rougher spots that you are not as comfortable with. Try to touch base with your kids and/or their families to share that you are looking forward to seeing them the next day.

SUNDAY: Rely on God. Be sure to get a good night’s rest and wake up with plenty of time for your morning routine. As you go through your morning ritual, pray for your session and each kid by name. Arrive on time, ready to greet your kids and their families and then enjoy watching God use your time of preparation for His glory.

Encouragement, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Volunteers

June 28, 2021

The Really Good Reason I Serve in Kids Ministry

By Kids Ministry 101

By Aaron Armstrong

Let me tell you about why I serve in kids ministry. Correction: let me tell you about the one really good reason I serve in kids ministry. I’ve been serving in kids ministry more or less from the time I started following Jesus right to the day I’m typing this, with only a few small breaks in between (so, give or take, about 14 years).

That’s hundreds of lessons taught to hundreds of children, all with particular needs. It’s hundreds of times being asked for a snack or a drink of water. Hundreds of times being asked for a trip to the bathroom. And, of course, hundreds of times being interrupted with a non sequitur about a pet, sibling, or something fun that happened that weekend.

For a lot of us, kids ministry is exhausting. It’s the place where we work the hardest to find volunteers and always come up short. It’s the place where we are never sure if kids are actually getting anything from our teaching. It is so often seen as little more than an add-on, as childcare at best—glorified babysitting where kids do a craft, hear a story, and maybe get a snack, too.

So why do I serve there? Simple: I serve in kids ministry because it is valuable—it matters! Kids ministry matters because it is all about making disciples of Jesus! It’s a place to make sure kids are getting the same things we all need to grow.

THEY MUST BE FED

Spiritually speaking, children need all the same things we do in order to grow: they need to know the Bible, too, and sometimes in even greater abundance! But we must remember the command Jesus gave to Peter, to feed His lambs (John 21:15).

Like Peter, we are commanded to instruct people in the faith. We are to teach them the truth; to “feed” them from God’s inspired Word. And that necessarily includes children.

WHAT KIDS NEED MOST

Kids need the truth in order to grow, just as much as adults do. No truth, no matter how big or small, should be excluded from their understanding. They need to know:

How God judges the world

How He demonstrates His love through the sending of His Son Jesus to die for us

That all stand before God guilty of sin, and only Jesus can take it away

That Jesus is coming back to judge the living and the dead, and bring about the new creation

That God sends His Spirit to live within all who believe, giving them new life and desires that please God

Kids need to know all these truths and many more besides. But whether kids realize this need or not isn’t the point. It also doesn’t matter if they respond right away or not.

And while we should never make the gospel or the Bible seem boring, our goal isn’t to be entertainers when we teach. The children in our ministries aren’t here simply to have a good time—they’re here for good news. Just as children need healthy food in order to grow physically, they need sound teaching to grow spiritually. Teach “the little ones the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” as Spurgeon wrote. That’s what kids need most.

And here’s the good news: they can handle it! Taught in an age-appropriate way, they can handle the tough truths of the Bible. They can handle the big story of Scripture. They can handle the passages that sometimes make us adults uncomfortable. What God has revealed, kids are capable of grasping.

INSTANT GRATIFICATION

But what kids need often challenges what we desire. We are shaped by an instant gratification culture where social media, important leadership wisdom, and, let’s be honest, our own sin, have transformed us into dopamine junkies, itching to get the next hit of temporary satisfaction.

But kids ministry, properly understood, is opposed to the quick hit or the easy win. Kids ministry is intentional, relational evangelism and discipleship. It is a slow burn, with a capital S-L-O-W, where we truly do live in light of the parable of the sower, scattering the seed of the gospel indiscriminately, not knowing what sort of soil it will ultimately fall upon.

GETTING A GLIMPSE

Nevertheless, even though instant gratification isn’t a thing in this ministry, it doesn’t change the goal. And it doesn’t mean we don’t get little glimpses of what God is doing in the hearts and minds of the kids we serve. Sometimes, God, in His kindness, does exactly that.

A few years ago, the Christmas before I moved to the U.S. from Canada, one of the girls I taught stopped me in the hall. She handed me a little card she had made. Inside it simply said, “Thank you for teaching God’s Word to us.” At the time, she hadn’t professed faith in Jesus, but she understood at least one thing: that I cared enough to teach her about Him.

And that’s enough. It has to be.

Aaron Armstrong is the Brand Manager of The Gospel Project, and the author of several books including Epic: The Story that Changed the World, Awaiting a Savior, and the screenwriter of the documentary Luther: the Life and Legacy of the German Reformer. Follow him on Twitter.

Encouragement, Kids Ministry, Leadership, Ministry, Reaching, Teaching Kids

June 14, 2021

3 Reasons Kids Returning to Church Need Extra Care

By Landry Holmes

Disclaimer: I am neither a licensed counselor nor a psychologist, just an untrained observer of human behavior. However, over the past few months—as preschoolers, elementary kids, and preteens have returned in-person to church gatherings—I either have noticed first-hand, heard from others, or just sensed personally that something is different.

I truly believe that our communities and churches have yet to see the lasting impact of lockdowns, long-term online learning, lengthy hospital stays, deaths of friends and family members, cancellations of extracurricular activities, lack of appropriate physical touch, shortage of kidmin volunteers, and constant mask-wearing. If present realities are any indication, we’ll experience a continuation of these three issues: anxiety, anger, and antisocial behavior.

Anxious. Kids have a lot to be anxious about: losing loved ones to COVID-19, completing school work, maintaining their lifestyle with one or both parents out of work, etc.
Angry. Kids are angry that they can’t play team sports, go to parties, be with friends, go on vacation, or eat at their favorite restaurant.
Antisocial. Kids have spent a lot of time at home. They have lost the skills necessary to “play nice” with others. They haven’t had opportunities to share their stuff, and they haven’t been challenged to resolve interpersonal conflicts.

Lest we believe that only children are anxious, angry, and antisocial, think about the adults you come in contact with. Many of them probably have these same issues. Adults have learned how to cope, and in some cases, mask their feelings. Kids, however, are more transparent. And, these issues may seem to be amplified in kids because children are external processors. In other words, as a kidmin leader or volunteer, you will most likely be the recipient of that anxiety, anger, and antisocial behavior.

The question then is, “How do we provide extra care for preschoolers, elementary kids, and preteens who are anxious, angry, anad antisocial?” Among possible solutions, I suggest the following:

Take care of yourself mentally and physically. Dealing with kids who are struggling behaviorally will be less reactionary and more lovingly responsive if we as adults get adequate rest, eat healthy foods, exercise, and nurture our minds.
Take care of yourself spiritually. Spending time in God’s Word and prayer prepares us to love and care for kids. The more we are in tune with the Holy Spirit, the more we will exhibit “the fruit of the Spirit [which] is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Take care of yourself socially. This may sound antithetical, but we as adults need to spend time with other adults in order to sharpen our social skills. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.” After over a year of attending church online, working from home, having our groceries and other purchases delivered to our homes, and consuming all forms of entertainment at home, our social skills are rusty at best and non-existent at worst. How can we expect to care for kids if we ourselves don’t know how to relate to people outside of our households?

I truly believe most of us are anxious, angry, and antisocial to some extent. If we take care of ourselves through the power of the Holy Spirit, then we can provide extra care to kids who have these same behavioral challenges. Paul said it best when he wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5) Let’s receive God’s comfort and then give comfort to the kids in our ministries, in the name of Jesus.

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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.