Category: Wisdom for Children’s Ministry

Wisdom for Children’s Ministry is a collection of blogs containing wisdom gained over many years in Christian ministry to children.

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HOW TO TEACH A MEMORY VERSE

HELPING CHILDREN “HIDE THE WORD IN THEIR HEARTS” (Memory Verse)

A Blog by Grace Verrier

I remember when I was a child going to church and I would get a star on my chart if I could memorize a particular scripture and be able to repeat it the following Sunday.  Because I was diligent I received lots of stars.  However, the majority of the class “lost” the memory verse paper before they arrived home and consequently had nothing to say when it came time to repeat the verse the following week.  When I became a Children’s Pastor I realized that there had to be a better way to get the children to “hide the word of God in their hearts so that they would not sin against Him” (Psalm 119:11).

The first thing I did was make sure the children totally understood the meaning of the verse I was teaching.  I always chose a pivotal verse that was the centre of the day’s teaching.  I made sure I used it several times (with its address) during the presentation.  Then I would play a game where each participant had to read the memory verse in a loud voice before they could play the game.  For example in one of the games, I placed two masking tape lines on the floor approximately 12 feet apart.  A child first said the memory verse in a loud voice and then he blew a ping pong ball between the two lines (not using his hands) and I would time the endeavor. Each week we would hold a different contest. The winner always got a small prize or I fed them a treat such as a gummy worm.  The children had already memorized the scripture before they left for home.

Some Sundays would be “Memory Verse Review Time” where I might write out part of the verses they had learned and see who could fill in the blanks.  These would reinforce their memory work.  The children always had fun playing memory verse games.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources

 

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RESPECT OTHER POINTS OF VIEW

Have you ever noticed that in many marriages opposites have indeed been attracted to each other and yet it works?  Why is that?  Because over time the couple have learned that true success is NOT a tug of war.  When all parties are confident that each person is looking out for the BEST interest of the group, then every perspective is important.

 

God has poured out giftings on his children and those giftings are diverse yet compliment each other.

 

Respecting other points of view can save you a lot of troubles.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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EFFECTIVE STORY TELLING

EFFECTIVE STORY TELLING – MAKE IT EXCITING

A Blog by Rev. Grace Verrier

Some of the stories I read to the kids in my class were good ones but often I would lose the attention of the children (and of course we know what happens then).  I decided to research how other children’s pastors could keep kids on the edge of their seats when they were reading or telling stories.  These are some of the things I learned:

 

  • You should be very familiar with the story before you read it.  Read it through several times on your own first.
  • Give each character who speaks a different voice appropriate for the personality of the character.  For example if a child is speaking, use a child’s voice.  If it is an old man, use an old man’s voice during the appropriate dialogue
  • If the emotion is tense or exciting speak that way.  If the emotion is slow speak slowly.  Be sure to exaggerate the emotions.
  • Use sound effects.  For example when someone in the story knocks on a door, make a knocking sound.
  • If the story has an unusual ending that is a bit of a cliff hanger, tell the children you will finish the story the following week.  After they beg you to finish right then, do it.
  • Ask them to fill in blanks as you are telling the story.  For example, “He came upon a large animal with big ears and a long nose.  What do you think it was?”  That way the children are actually involved in the story telling.

 

When I began to incorporate these methods, the children would beg me to tell them stories.  It made it fun for them and of course it was so much easier for me.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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MAKING LEADERS

John the Baptist said of Jesus, “He must increase and I must decrease”.

 

I have the philosophy in my capacity as volunteer leader of the kids club outreach, that I would like to work myself out of a job.  Nothing pleases me more than to see the kids we have ministered to, rising up and taking responsibility for different aspects of the program.  Making leaders is the most rewarding thing we can do.

 

Our greatest resources for future workers, are the children themselves.   As they become confident readers, begin to use them as puppeteers, in music and skits etc.   Use them as greeters.  New children feel most comfortable when greeted by children.

 

Teenagers and new Christians are also a good source of help for your children’s ministry.  I have often had adult new believers thank me for recruiting them to children’s ministry because the bible stories and principles were taught in such a simple to understand way.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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ADVANTAGES OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

ADVANTAGES OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

A Blog by Rev. Grace Verrier

On occasion my husband has lost the attention of his congregants while he is preaching.  It is always obvious to me that he has done so, but he never seems to notice.  Adults are so polite when they find something you are speaking about uninteresting.  However, children will soon let you know when you have lost their attention.  They are so honest.  All you have to do is change your way of ministering and they’ll be right back in tune with you.  You can be totally honest with them, even telling them not to talk while you are talking.  (I wonder what would happen if the pastor did that in adult church?)  They can be so funny in their questions and reactions to what you are teaching and so innocent when receiving God’s word at face value.  Best of all they definitely forget your mistakes.  Once I made a mistake and said there were 10 spies who went into the promised land.  (Imagine how that would have gone over in adult church!)  To correct myself the following week all I said was, “Last week what I told you was wrong.  There weren’t 10 spies – there were 12 spies.”  The children answered, “Okay.”, and that was the end of it.  So simple!

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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FINDING LIFE PURPOSE

There is a Ted Talk that I recently watched and really enjoyed (Meg Jay:  Why 30 is NOT the new 20).  Essentially the counsellor says that many people in their 20’s have put off doing important things, believing that there was no urgency.  This mindset delayed significant life milestones such as finding life purpose, marriage and family.   Needless to say their stress levels go through the roof when they get into their 30’s and they realize they have wasted a decade of their lives.

 

As followers of Jesus, we should live always cognizant that each day has a purpose.  There will be no greater joy for the believer than to hear Jesus say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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HOW TO LEAD A CHILD TO JESUS

LEADING CHILDREN TO JESUS

A Blog by Rev. Grace Verrier

My husband and I often compare pulpit ministry after the a.m. service.  The first question we ask each other is, “How many people came to know Jesus personally during the service?”  He will tell me his number and I will tell him mine.  Mine is always bigger.  It is so easy to lead a child to Jesus.  Children’s hearts are always open to God’s Spirit as He draws them.  All that is necessary is that they fully understand the way of salvation.  For example, after telling what Jesus did for them I ask them, “Who wants to ask Jesus to be the boss of their life?”  Their response is always “I do.”  Then I help them with a simple prayer like, “Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross to take away the bad stuff in my life.  I ask you Jesus to come into my heart and be my boss forever.  Thank you that you do it right now and you will never go away.  Amen”.  I just wish leading adults to the Lord was as simple.  Matthew 19:14  Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

 

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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TEACHING AND TRAINING

TRAINING CHILDREN

A blog by Rev. Grace Verrier

Did you know that Abraham was chosen to be the father of a great and powerful nation because God knew he would instruct his children in the ways of the Lord?  (Genesis 18:18-19)  Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”  I have heard some say, “Don’t teach children the Bible.  Let them decide when they are adults if they want to study the Bible and become Christians.”  To me that is like saying, “Don’t give children skating lessons.  Let them decide when they are adults if they want to enter the Olympics.”  Proverbs says “train” a child and we often equate that to “teach” a child.  However, training and teaching are different activities.

When teaching you are telling someone why and how to do something.  When training, you cause someone to do something.  For example, when my children were small and my object was to get them to pick up their toys, I would first instruct them to do so.  Then I would go and train them how to do it sometimes using fun-type encouragement and other times taking their little hands in mine and “helping” them to pick up.  (My own mother was fully versed in training children.  To this day my tea towels do not fit into my towel drawer efficiently because my mother trained me to fold them into thirds instead of quarters.  And when I was old I did not depart from that training.)  I often use training  methods to  encourage children to worship God.  I might say,

“Touch your toes

Touch your knees,

Touch your nose,

Touch your fleas,

…and now that your hands are in the air let’s lift them to God”

 

(Can you picture the pastor doing this in adult church?  ( However, I am sure he might want to on occasion because many adults still need to be trained in how to worship God.)  Some might think that we are only teaching children to copy us.  However, that is like saying you only give children swimming lessons in order to have them copy you.  When children are taking swimming lessons they are being trained in the laws of survival.  When children are being taught and trained in the ways to worship God, they are learning spiritual survival.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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ARE WE WILLING AND AVAILABLE TO SERVE GOD?

AVAILABILITY – A Blog by Rev. Grace Verrier

I was teaching a workshop on Children’s Ministry when I first met Patti Loranger.  She told me later that when she saw how I taught children at their own level sometimes using outrageous methods, she questioned my validity.  However, as we got to know each other (and she eventually moved to the city where I ministered regularly) she not only appropriated everything she could learn from my experience but she greatly surpassed me in Children’s Ministry.  I knew that the day she went on her own and immediately started a bus ministry and neighbourhood out reach programs, that she was not going to just stay in her church to teach – she was going “into all the world” as Jesus instructed.  (Matthew 28:18-20)

I thought about my own call to Children’s Ministry.  I remember I didn’t really like children except my own.  However, the church I was saved in had a shortage of Sunday School teachers and was about to ask me to teach (because they thought I would learn the Word as I taught it).  The day they were about to ask me I slipped down the church steps and my children and I took a tumble.  I was furious at my husband for not helping and I yelled at the top of my voice chastising him.  (Remember I was just a new Christian.)  Needless to say they couldn’t have someone like me teach Children so I got to sit in the adult teaching session and learn the Bible for over a year.  Then I asked God to use me in any way He wanted.  I heard in my spirit that He wanted me to teach children.  I argued that I only liked my own children and anyway, the Pastor’s wife had witnessed my outburst the previous year so she would never approve it.  She was the Sunday School Superintendent and because I felt I heard God’s voice I cautiously approached her and asked for her position.  She just stared at me open mouthed.  Then she waved to her best friend, Esther, and in front of me said, “Well, it seems our prayer was answered.”

The pastor’s wife had been feeling a tremendous amount of pressure because she had too many duties in the church and the day before, she and Esther had called out to God to send someone to help her.  They had asked God to have the right person approach them and ask for the job of Sunday School Superintendent.  (I am sure that they would not have even considered me as a prospect if they hadn’t asked for God’s confirmation.)  Needless to say my application was accepted and I knew I would have to study teaching methods and organizational methods to do the job and I began research immediately.  I was uncertain if I could do the job properly, however, one day God spoke so clearly to me, “It is not your ability I look for – it is your availability!”  I have never looked back.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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How to Keep Your Audience’s Attention

Here are a couple of ideas that really help to keep your audience’s attention.  Daydreaming is something we all fall into sometimes, but especially kids.  Daydreaming is generally good except when we should be focusing on something important.  To bring the daydreamer back online with your lesson, have the children repeat key phrases in your lesson.  If you want to really imprint this information on their minds, have them repeat each phrase a few times.

 

The other method to bring the daydreamer back to the lesson is to call them by name and ask them a question.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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HOW CHILDREN LIKE TO PRAISE GOD

A blog by Grace Verrier

My parents told me, “Children should be seen and not heard.”  They often quoted this poem to me:

When company is here my girl
I think you ought to know
They didn’t come to see a silly clown
Put on a silly show
They didn’t come to see you dance
Or stand upon your head
Or summersault around the room
Before you go to bed
They came to have a quiet talk
And sip a cup of tea
And not to watch a silly ape
Act like a chimpanzee

 That was many years ago and the world is much different now.  I actually delight in visits with my grandchildren when they perform for me on the trampoline or dance around the room and do gymnastics.  However, some of the old generational thinking is still in the church.  Although I am sure we don’t mean to, we often seem to belittle children in our midst.  Once I heard someone say, “Last night 2-1/2 people were saved!”  He went on to explain that there were two adults and one child saved.  I found that reasoning difficult to follow.  After all, the two adults have only 1/2 of their lives to live for God.  The child has his whole life to live for God.  Another statement that I often hear is “Children are the church of the future.”  I do not feel that way at all.  Children are a valued part of the church already.  They will be future church leaders.  Just as many children were discouraged and curtailed from their exuberant expressions in previous times, children sometimes are discouraged and curtailed in their God-given expressions because we as a church expect a certain behaviour from them.  Yes, of course children must show respect to others by not running through the sanctuary or pounding on the instruments.  However there are ways that children can express themselves that people and God totally approve of.  For example we can show children how to worship God as stated in Psalm 150 or as David did when he brought up the ark.  (II Samuel 6:14)  David danced before the Lord with all his might.  Now, that can be a bit strenuous for adults but children revel in it.  This is HOW CHILDREN LIKE TO PRAISE GOD.

 

Click here for Children’s Church Curriculum.

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What is “Success” in Children’s Ministry?

What is Biblical “Success” in Children’s Ministry?

For many years I never gave much thought to the above question.  I think in the back of my mind that if my ministry was growing in numbers, then I must be “successful”.  If some of the children I was ministering to grew up and became ministers of the gospel themselves, then I must be “successful”.   One day though a verse from the bible jumped out at me, and I gained a whole new perspective.

1 Timothy 1:5New King James Version (NKJV)

5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

 

From this verse I saw that the purpose of the word of God we are teaching.  If the children we minister God’s word to:

  1. Become people of Love
  2. Keep tender consciences
  3. Have sincere faith in God

Then we have experienced “success” in Children’s Ministry.  Whatever the children grow up to do and whatever their great exploits will emanate from what it is their hearts.

THIS IS HOW I SEE IT – Patricia Loranger, Author of Rocksolid Curriculum and Bible Stories

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.