Tag: sunday school curriculum

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How Struggle Helps us

How Struggle Helps Us

Below is a link to a blog I found at Chuck Swindoll’s web site.  When I look back over my life, I see how the struggles I experienced as a child actually made my spiritual life very strong, because I looked to the Lord for help.  (My father died when I was 9 and I turned to Jesus and he eventually revealed the Heavenly Father to me.)

We never wish troubles on anyone, but when we see children struggling, encourage them to hold unto Jesus more than ever.  What can seem to be a setback can actually be used by God to propel our faith forward, stronger than it would have without the struggle.

https://www.insightforliving.ca/read/articles

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources

 

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Children Church Songs

Hi friends, if you are like me you are always looking for meaningful music easy for the kids to “get into”.  Here is a link for a song which has been around for a long time but is fun to watch.  “Super Hero.”

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources

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Children and Pornography

Children and Pornography

Talk to any of today’s parents and most can testify that their kids, especially boys, have an had an experience of some sort with pornography while they were on-line.   Parents have to be so very vigilent in today’s culture.

As Children’s Church Teachers we can never let up on the message that Jesus gave when he said the light of the body is the eye and if our eye be single then our whole body will be full of light.  Kids will tell you how dirty they feel inside when they have viewed pornography.  Praise God that if we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us.

Remind the kids they can talk to Jesus about EVERYTHING and they should never let shame hold them back from coming to God to deal with these things.  Tell them also to speak to their parents if this has become a problem for them.

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources

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THANKSGIVING PUPPET SHOW

Here is a puppet show for Thanksgiving on Thankfulness

Thankfulness From Curriculum Life of Christ 02  Lesson 1

(Characters:  Stinky and Sally)

Stinky:  I hate my nose!  It’s an ugly nose.

Sally:  I think you have a cute little nose.  Why aren’t you thankful for your nose?

Stinky:  Cause it’s a puppet nose!  That’s why!

Sally:  Would you rather have an elephant nose?

Stinky:  No.  And I hate my poofy hair.  I can’t do anything with it!  Every day is a bad hair day!

Sally:  Why aren’t you thankful for your hair?  Some people I know, who shall remain nameless, don’t hardly have any hair!

Stinky:  Cause it’s puppet hair!  That’s why!  And my long floppy legs, I hate em!

Sally:  Now that’s it Stinky!  I have heard enough of your ungrateful attitude.  Look at me.  I don’t even have any legs!

Stinky:  That’s cause you’re a puppet Sally!

Sally:  So?

Stinky:  I’m a puppet!  Can you believe it?  I’m a puppet!  I always thought I was a real boy.  But Blue Bob, told me that I’m a puppet!

Sally:  (with attitude) And what’s wrong with being a puppet?  I’m thankful to be a puppet.

Stinky:  You always knew you were a puppet and you didn’t tell me I was a puppet?  You just let me think I was a real boy!

Sally:  I thought you always knew you were a puppet.  There’s nothing wrong with being a puppet.  You have lots to be thankful for.

Stinky:  What do I have to be thankful for?

Sally:  You get to come to kids church pretty much every week.  Lots of the puppets backstage never get to come to kids church.  Some puppets have only come to kids church one time in six years, but they don’t have the stinking ungrateful attitude you have.

Stinky:   I’ve never thought about it that way before.

Sally:  God uses us puppets.  We are VIP’s, very important puppets.  We get to give messages to kids.  Kids can learn things from us.

Stinky:  You’re right Sally.  I’m sorry I have been so unthankful.  (to the kids)  Is it okay kids if I’m a puppet and not a real boy?

(Let kids respond.)

Stinky:  I like my nose.  It’s a cute nose.

Sally:  Very cute.

Stinky:  I like my hair.

Sally:   You should!

Stinky:   I like my long skinny legs.  Sorry you don’t have any legs Sally.

Sally:  I’m still thankful.  At least I have hair and 2 eyes and 2 arms.

Stinky:  You have a good attitude Sally.  Will you marry me?

Sally:   Nope.

Stinky:  How come?

Sally:  Cause I don’t like boys.

Stinky:  But I’m not a real boy.  I’m a puppet.

Sally:  It’s all the same to me.

(Sally exits.)

Stinky:  Girls!

(Stinky exits.)

 

Click here for more Children’s Ministry Resources.

 

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BEING A DOER OF GOD’S WORD

BEING A DOER OF GOD’S WORD

 

“Knowledge comes by taking things apart but Wisdom comes by putting things together.”  (E. C. McKenzie, 1800 Quotable Quotes)

So often when it comes to God’s word, people can read it and feel that they know all about God and they know all about the Christian way but really  we only truly understand and gain an appreciation for God’s wisdom when we become a doer of the Word, not just a hearer.

Encourage the kids that we are not here just to get knowledge but to actually do the things that they learn, then they will grow in wisdom.  Then they will see that God’s way is the best way.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

 

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Cost of Children’s Ministry

COST OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

“The bird with the largest bill isn’t the pelican – it’s the stork.”  (E.C. McKenzie, 1800 Quotable Quotes)

 

Of course, this is a play on words, the bill being the cost of something.  In this blog I want to talk about the cost of children’s ministry.

Churches who want to thrive in years to come should put a lot of their budget towards children’s ministry.  Many years ago I heard statistics that said that 80% of the people in the church said they had received the Lord Jesus as savior when they were under the age of 20 years old.

 

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Foolish Things

FOOLISH THINGS

“If 50 million people say a foolish thing over and over is it still a foolish thing?” (E.C. McKenzie, 1800 Quotable Quotes)

We can say YES.  Only God’s word is settled forever.  Anything contrary to his word is a foolish thing.  The most important thing we can teach our kids is that God’s word is true and we are not to be conformed to the world.  We are not always going to agree and we need to accept that.  There is going to be many things that the world thinks is truth and they are going to live their lives by and we are going to go against the flow and say it is wrong, it is foolish thing.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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OPEN MINDS

OPEN MINDS 

“The trouble with most open minds is that they are open at both ends.”  (E.C. McKenzie, 1800 Quotatable Quotes)

It is impossible to believe everything because of the contractions that lie in all the different teachings.  People often try to pick and chose what they want to believe.  After reading the book titled “The 100” (The 100 most influential people in history), I realized that for thousands of years people have been trying to figure out the best way to govern people.

From these thoughts have come communism, democracy, and other forms of governance.  I believe it is important to teach the children the word of God so that they always have something to measure every thought against.  For everything they learn they will be able to say, “What does God’s word say about this?”

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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Saint Patrick’s Day Theme

Saint Patrick’s story is a favourite of mine, especially since I am from an Irish background.

Here is a link to some interesting ideas you could do with your class to celebrate the life of Saint Patrick.

Planning a Kidmin St. Patrick’s Fun Sunday

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources

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Setting High Expectations

Setting High Expectations

Here is an article from Focus on the Family encouraging moms to be firm (mean) in a good way.

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/parenting-roles/why-kids-need-mean-moms

The same principles apply in Children’s Ministry.  I have seen many teachers let the kids “run all over them” in an effort to be seen as “nice”.

The best teachers have class rules and expectations that the rules be followed or there will be some sort of consequence.   Generally you don’t have to dish out the consequences very often before the kids know you mean business.

We all learn best when we have peace and structure.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

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Create What You Love | 7 Habits of a Good Artist | Andrew Price

Create What You Love | 7 Habits of a Good Artist | Based on Blender Foundation Speech by Andrew Price (view full speech on youtube.com)

Habit # 7 Create what you Love

 

As people who are serving the Lord we have a strong sense that we are called to something unique and special for us.  We are not called to do everything.  It is clear in the scriptures that God has given out gifts and not all of us have the same gifts.

 

Andrew says, “You have intrinsic motivation when you are doing something that you love. ”

 

How this related to me in drawing the cartoons is that I have always loved teaching the word of God in children’s church because I know his word will never return void.  It might take my life time to get this project done but I will never stop because it is what I LOVE to do.

 

Find out what you love and start doing it.  Even if it takes you your whole life time to complete, take encouragement that you will always have something to wake up in the morning for.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.

 

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Feedback | 7 Habits of a Good Artist | Andrew Price

Feedback | 7 Habits of a Good Artist | Based on Blender Foundation speech given by Andrew Price (view video on youtube.com)

Habit #6 Get feedback

 

Andrew says, “You want true honest feedback.”

 

In my efforts to cartoon the bible, I found the kids I am reading the stories to, to give me the best true and honest feedback.  I would ask them questions after the story and I could tell whether they were getting the point or if they were confused.

 

I have been really pleased with how many times they would correct me and see inconsistencies in the cartoons or the story.  I would realize from their feedback that I needed to go and do some rewriting.

 

Feedback is pure gold. A humble heart is always looking to do better, especially when we are working for the Lord.  Never take feedback as negative.  Don’t be oversensitive about it.

 

Click here for Children’s Ministry Resources.