Child Discipleship: Sunday Plus Preschool Curriculum

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Wanda

00PreschoolBibleFocus

 

The first service of a two service curriulum

01Nook

02Centers

03RealityCheck

04HearingTheWord

05Craft

06ClosingTime

SAMPLE SUNDAY PLUS PRESCHOOL LESSON

David – The Good and The Bad 

CHECK OUT THE CORRESPONDING SUNDAY PLUS ELEMENTARY LESSON

David – The Good and The Bad

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Child Discipleship: THE PRODIGAL SON(S)

Posted on April 6, 2013 by Wanda

To learn more about SUNDAY PLUS CURRICULUM click here

1HeadingAims

2Nook

3RealityLearning

4HearingTheWord

5Script

6ChatnChew#1

7ChatnChew#2

 

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Child Discipleship: Would Your Children Renounce Christ?

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Wanda
 

 

 So everyone who acknowledges me before men,
I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33
but whoever denies me before men,
I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 10:32-33

If your child was asked to stomp on the face of Jesus would he do it?

A college class was asked to do that recently – only one student refused to do so.

We must prepare our children. Do they know the verses above? Do they understand that there is a cost to walk with Jesus?

And he said to all, 
“If anyone would come after me,
let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.24
For whoever would save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
Luke 9:32-33

Ask your children what they would do if they were asked to stomp on the face of Jesus? Help them to think it through. Challenge them to pray daily for the strength to stand strong with Jesus.

Together think through times in their life today that they might be tested – by teachers, by friends, by relatives. It may be much more subtle than stomping on Jesus’ face. Each kid is going to be faced with different challenges- help your child see where s/he will be tested.

If you have not read the story of how I learned the importance of raising children to walk strong in the Lord read it here My Heart’s Cry – it was an amazing challenge to me to not overprotect my children.

Rob Stroud in his post at Mere Inkling asks the question, “What did the professor want the kids to learn from this lesson?”

Something unbelievable just happened in America.
Something offensive, abusive, and utterly intolerant.

At Florida Atlantic University, one of the professors taught a lesson
so distasteful that, had it maligned any faith other than
Christianity, it would have led to his dismissal.
Instead, the student who challenged it was suspended from the course.

The class is entitled “Intercultural Communication,”
and the instructor happens to be the county
vice-chair of one America’s major political parties.

So, what was the malicious class exercise?
The students were instructed to write the name
“Jesus” in large letters on a piece of paper which they
laid on the floor in front of them. Then, they were
directed to stomp—yes, stomp—on the name of the person millions of people throughout the world regard as their Savior.

Read the whole post

Posted in Child Discipleship, Children and Persecution, Children's Ministry Training, Christian living, Christian Parenting, Church and Home, Equipping Parents to Disciple Children, Family Discipleship, Kidmin Training, Over protecting children | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Child Discipleship: Preschool Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday Lessons

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Wanda

voyagerspictureFree PDF downloads of Preschool Palm Sunday Lesson and the Preschool Resurrection Sunday Lesson.
These preschool lessons correspond with the elementary lessons for Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday.

Easter, also known as Resurrection Sunday, is the greatest celebration of the Christian Church.

Without Resurrection Sunday there would be no Christianity. Everything we believe rests on this historical fact…

The Son of God came to earth, He walked amongst humans, He died on the cross taking man’s punishment for sin and God raised him from the grave.

Jesus Christ conquered death. 

This day of celebration can become ho-hum as we “celebrate” year after year. There can be a tendency to trivialize it as we find ourselves just going through the motions of something we did the year before, and the year before that, etc.

The creator of the universe died an AGONIZING death
for YOUR sake!

Take a moment to ponder that truth. Your eternity is dependent on this truth.

Resurrection Sunday is significant because it is personal. If it isn’t personal it has no meaning.

If you don’t stand back in awe of what Jesus has done for you how will you ever lead the children to that place of awe?

Do you dare to experience His power this week? Do you dare to give Him complete control of your life?

 

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Child Discipleship: “Life’s A Pain”

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Wanda

As we walk through life with children and guide them to walk with the Triune God it is important that we teach them the full truth. . .

Life often is a pain!

What are you teaching the children you serve, or your own children, about pain that never goes away no matter how much they beg God to take it from them?

When we try to sugar coat life we cause more pain. If you have been a follower of my Blog you have perhaps read My Heart’s Cry - the story which taught me the importance of not overprotecting our children.

My pastor, Todd Rettberg, is a pastor who truly pastors – he knows what you need when you are in the midst of pain because he lives with constant, continual pain that never leaves. I know from personal experience that he walks his talk. God has my husband and me on a very difficult journey filled with physical and emotional pain – Todd is walking with us through it.

I highly recommend his new book to anyone who serves children. It is important that we teach children that God doesn’t always answer our prayers the way we want. You can find some answers to share not only with children – but adults who question if God cares when they are in the midst of pain and there is no relief.

JOURNEYING BY FAITH WHEN EVERY STEP HURTS

Life’s a Pain!

But God has treasures to impart through it.

As a pastor who suffers from chronic pain himself, Todd Rettberg knows what it can do to people and families. With straight talk, humor and compassion, he shows Christians how to find God In the midst of suffering.

Available at:

Crosslink Publishing

The e-book is also available at Amazon.

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Child Discipleship: Beatitudes Reality Check

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Wanda

Each Sunday Plus Bible Focus lesson includes a Nook (Gathering Questions and opening game), a Reality Check (where the kids actually experience the concept), Hearing the Word (presentation and breaking down of the actual scripture)click here, and a Craft.

Find a Beatitudes Game to be used in a Midweek Gathering for review or for parents to use for Family Discipleship at home. Click here

 

(15 MT, have several Trek Teams participate together) 

Materials :    God Loves You Booklets (Click Here), toothpicks (round) snack size baggies, sticky paste not glue (if you can’t find sticky paste use flour playdough)

 

  • Reality Check today is going to be the presentation of the Gospel.
  • Only if one is a child of God are the Beatitudes able to be applied.
  • Application happens as the Holy Spirit transforms the individual’s heart.
  • You are doing the Gospel presentation so that you know that the kids who are present have some level of an understanding of the Gospel Message.
    • It does not mean that the Holy Spirit is moving them to accept it.
    • Don’t try and do the Holy Spirit’s job.(John 16: 7-11)
    • Only the Holy Spirit can open the kids’ eyes and hearts to the truth.
    • It is merely your job to present the truth.
  • Count out toothpicks and place in baggies – a baggie per kid.
  • Ask the person who will play the part of “Jesus” to practice adhering the toothpicks so he knows how he will do it.

 

  • Give each kid three round toothpicks.
  • Tell them they are to stack the toothpicks on top of each other.
    • Do not make any statement of a reward if they are able to get them to stack.
    • They are not to use glue or anything else to make them stick.
    • They are not to crisscross them.
    • They are to be stacked one on top of another.
  • Let them work at it for about 3-4 minutes.
    • You want them to get frustrated.
    • Keep encouraging them to try again.
  • Then have another adult come in and offer to help.
    • He goes to each kid and says, “I have what it takes to make these stick together, would you like me to fix it for you?”
    • Do not let them take the paste and do it themselves; the adult has to do it.
      • If they ask for the paste, tell them it is yours and you are not able to give it to anyone else to use on their own – it belongs only to you.
      • This is not about beauty or creating something that is utilizable, it is that the “savior” can do something they can’t.
      • Think through the amount of time needed to accomplish this if you have a large group.
        • You may want to break your group into smaller groups with a different “savior” for each small group.
        • Or use only two round tooth picks and move quickly through the group.
        • You also could begin during Nook, in the Gathering Time,having the kids put their sticks together then, giving the “savior” more time to go around to all the kids.
          • Do it with just one or two kids at a time as they enter.
      • Do not make any promise of a reward if they are fixed.
      • If they don’t care, move onto the next kid.
      • If they say “Yes,” then take the paste and adhere the toothpicks to each other.
    • BE AWARE OF YOUR ALLOTTED TIME!

 

  1. Each Trek Team sits on the floor and goes through the Discussion with the Discipler leading.
    1. As you go through everything be aware of the time.
  2. When you were told to stack the toothpicks did you think that you could do it? Why or why not?
  3. Why do you think you were asked to stack the toothpicks?
    You wanted them to experience something they couldn’t do. It was a useless activity there was no way they could it.
  4.  How did you feel when ­name of person offered to make them stick?
  5. Did you want to do it yourself? How did you feel if you asked to use the paste yourself and he wouldn’t let you?
  6. Give each one a “God Loves You” booklet. (Click here to download booklet)
    1. Tell them that this booklet explains how they can join God’s Family.
    2. Tell them that if they haven’t done so before and want to know more to ask about it in Chat ‘n Chew.
    3. Do not plan to spend time going through it at this time. Most of the kids have probably been through it several times already.
  7. Being good enough to pay the price for our sins is something we just can’t do ourselves. We must humble ourselves and surrender to Jesus. 
Posted in Child Discipleship, Children's Church curriculum, Children's Ministry, KidMin Curriculum, Reality Learning, Sunday school curriculum, Teaching Children Beatitudes, The Beatitudes, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Child Discipleship: What Do Children Need?

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Wanda

Go over this list for each of your children and ask how they are doing in each of these areas. You may give each a score, 1-10, in each area and then repeat in six months. In low areas what can you do to help the child grow? This is not an inexhaustible list – add to it.

Posted in Child Discipleship, Children's Ministry, Children's Ministry Training, Christian living, Christian Parenting, Church and Home, Discipling Children, Equipping Parents to Disciple Children, Family Discipleship, Kidmin, Kidmin Training, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Child Discipleship: We Are Called To Serve EVERY Child!

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Wanda

Below are a couple of links to Dr. Stephen Grcevich’s blog “Church4EveryChild.” These are great challenges to those who claim to walk with the Triune God.

“Families impacted by mental illness are our modern day lepers in the church.
And we all know how Jesus felt about lepers.” Dr. Grcevich

I urge you to read these two posts and ask the Triune God to give you wisdom along with the desire and strength to make your local Family of God available to families who have to daily struggle with these overwhelming disabilities.

How would your church help “Michael” and his “Anarchist Soccer Mom?”

Anarchist Soccer Mom“Michael’s story” had been posted on my Facebook wall yesterday morning by one of my ministry colleagues while I was in church. This story has also been circulating under the title “I am Adam Lanza’s mother.” Here’s an excerpt…

Is autism a form of mental illness?

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Posted in Child Discipleship, Christian living, Christian Parenting, Church and Home, Mental Illness and Children's Ministry, The Family of God, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Child Discipleship: What About Santa Claus? (Reblogged)

Posted on December 5, 2012 by Wanda

Honesty within your family begins with you.

Do you tell your child that she is the greatest soccer player in the world when you both know she isn’t? What will your child think, or at least wonder about, when she deserves a compliment that you give?

Does Aunt Mildred call and you tell your child to tell Aunt Mildred that you aren’t home? What have you now given him permission to lie about to you?

Do you hear your child bragging about something that he has done when you know that is a lie? Do you later talk to him about what was said? Or do you pass it off that he needs to be able to feel good about something – maybe because that is what you do yourself? What is the consequence going to be when the truth comes out?

What is important to you?

  • That your kids win the soccer game or that they play fairly.
  • That your kids get all A’s or that they study hard and do their best – regardless of the outcome?
  • That your kids are popular or that they are known for having an upstanding character?

What is your family tradition in regard to Santa Claus?

A young mother revealed to her 10 year old daughter that Santa Claus was all pretend. The child looked at her mother in shock and asked, “Now are you going to tell me that Jesus is pretend?”

Her mother assured her that Jesus was real – but could there be a doubt that persists in the child’s mind?

There is a strong emotional attachment to Santa Claus for children who believe that he is leaving them their gifts – not unlike feelings towards Jesus. Imagine what goes through their minds when they learn the truth of Santa Claus. If you have been lying to them about Santa Claus what else have you been lying about?

Santa Claus is a fun tradition; it’s okay to have fun, to “pretend” about Santa Claus, the fictitious character based on the historical St. Nicholas, but be clear with your kids about him from the beginning. Always distinguish truth (Jesus) from pretend (Santa Claus). Kids can enjoy Santa Claus and all that goes with him even though they know that he no longer lives. Tell your kids the history of St Nicholas. Explain that Santa Claus is a way we remember St. Nicholas and the good things he did in serving the poor. He did those things because of his love for Jesus. Search for St Nicholas on the internet to discover the history of this generous man who lived in the fourth century.

What should you do in regard to the tradition of Santa Claus? Ask the Lord what His will is for your family in regard to this tradition.

 

Posted in Advent and Children, Advent Celebrations, Advent in Children's Ministry, Child Discipleship, Children's Church curriculum, Children's Ministry, Children's Ministry Training, Christian Parenting, Santa Claus, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Child Discipleship: Yes! It Is Worth It All

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Wanda

Sunday was one of those days I just didn’t want to have to go to church early – was everything prepared? Would someone not show up?

Why am I doing this?

Our first hour is Praise Place and we have two teams that trade off each Sunday. The majority of kids in this gathering attend both hours. Sunday was what I call Creative Gathering. Chris leads the kids in a review of the previous weeks second hour, has a game for them and then Christy and Jackie have a craft. (If you’ve seen the wall they are the ones coming up with the ideas to get the kids involved with “Walking through the Bible” by placing “icons” of the Bible on the wall)

I went in to observe because I love how the three of them engage the kids.

Chris had introduced the new memory verse for the month and led them through a fun game of putting the Popsicle sticks (with the verse written on them) in order. The kids had fun and Chris announced the winner.

Suddenly Michael (pseudonym) – not a regular attender – exploded. He was angry he hadn’t won. I went over to him and started talking to him. I just started telling him how special he is, how much I love him that I am so glad that he is there on Sunday.

The more I talked the angrier he seemed to get -
but something kept me talking.

He lashed out at me, he tried to turn a table upside down, he started to rip his Bible apart. I kept talking.

Then he plopped on the couch – I leaned down and once more told him how much I loved him, that Jesus loved him and created him extra special.

I stood up and needed to go check on other things so left the room. When I came back a while later the kids were busy working on their craft. The minute I walked in Michael walked up to me and said, “I’m sorry I got so angry.” (Chris had talked to him). I told him I forgave him and I wanted him to know I really loved him.

That would have been a great ending but God took it even further.

Between services I’m always running doing one thing or another – we had several visitors so trying to get them settled in is always fun. I saw Heather standing there but there was a parent talking to me and a Discipler wanting something.

Finally I got back to Heather, “Wanda, I just thought that you would like to know that I was standing in the foyer when Michael and his dad were leaving. Michael told his dad that they needed to come to church more often.”

Yes it is worth it!!!

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