Tag: children

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SOUR RELIGION

The church has had 2000 years to win the world by religion, and many times the religion is “sour”.  Religion by rules never worked in the Old Testament under the law.  People do well under love and grace.  Jesus was the friend of children and sinners.

 

For many who grew up in church as children, all they remember was a bunch of rules.  The church ought to be a joyful, accepting warm place especially for children.  In most cases they equate Jesus with how we represent him.  Tis a great responsibility.  We want children to see Jesus as “sweet” not “sour”.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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WE CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT THE LORD

WE CANNOT DO IT WITHOUT THE LORD

A Blog by Rev. Grace Verrier

After many years of ministry, and having my “congregations” change every six years (I taught children 6-12 years old) I became very familiar with the curriculum I taught.  My goal in presenting the six-year curriculum was to familiarize children with the layout of the Bible and teach them how God used individuals and groups of people to accomplish his purposes.   I also wanted to show the children how all of this information is still relevant today and we can use it in our own lives.

After many years of “working” at fulfilling my writing and teaching goals, I felt that I had accomplished what I had set out to do and I began to get rather complacent.  One morning with only minimal preparation and a hurried prayer I stood before the children fully convinced I was ready to teach.  (During worship time the Lord seemed to say to me, “Do you really think that you are that good that you can minister to children without me?”  I heard what He said, but I really didn’t take it to heart.)

We left the sanctuary and went to class and it was as if the children had been given a pound of chocolate and had an extreme “sugar high”.  It took me about 15 minutes to get them settled.  Then they became complacent, staring off into space and taking no part in the program.   Finally one said out loud, “This is boring!”  That is when I quickly repented and asked God to “take over” the class.  Needless to say I learned my lesson and appropriated the scripture, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain who build it.”  (Ps 127:1)

When I was a new Christian I thought, “I am doing a really good job for God.”  After about five years of knowing Christ, I thought, “God and I are really doing a good job together.”  Now I know that, “God is doing a good job and I am just along for the ride.”

 

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.