Articles Zone

Practical and insightful articles about Children's Ministry.

Looking for some expert advice? This Zone is a treasury of Children's Ministry expertise from the Kidologist and other veterans in children's ministry.

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Getting into the Home | Mailbox Ministry | Discipline that Disciples | Entering the World of Kids | First Steps for a New Children's Pastor | The Great KID Mission |

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All Access Becoming An Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher - Part 4: Be Biblical

What is your comfort level with the Bible? Are you more at ease with your teacher guide than you are the Scriptures? It's okay if you answer is yes. Teacher guides are familiar friends which help us to know how and when to deliver the various elements of our lesson. But it is the Bible that comes alive for us and for the kids in our care. But you knew that. So how do we wean ourselves away from replacing the Bible with the guide in our classrooms? Keep reading....

Becoming An Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher
All Access Becoming An Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher - Part 5: Be Joyful

Are you joyful? Really, truly joyful in the biblical sense of Romans 5 and 12? Does your joy translate into your ministry? Or are there competing factors attempting to rob you of your joy?

Becoming An Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher
All Access Becoming an Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher - Part 6: Be Friendly

What makes an effective teacher a memorable teacher? What is that intangible quality which elevates her in the hearts and minds of her students, even into their adult years? I believe one aspect of it is friendliness.

Becoming an Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher
All Access Becoming an Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher - Part 7: Be Relevant

We have about two minutes to make a first impression concerning our relevance to the life of a child in the eyes of that child and his parents. Décor, child-friendly sounds and music, cleanliness and orderliness, and friendly, competent, prepared staff all play a part in presenting an image of relevance which is then backed up by substantive proof. The first two minutes set the stage. The remaining time provides opportunity to form a lasting impression.

Becoming an Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher
All Access Becoming an Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher - Part 8: Be Creative

Some of my readers will consider the topic of creativity in children’s ministry and say, “Duh.” In fact many of you are far better suited to write such an article, amazingly creative innovators that you are. Yet here I am and you along with me as we consider for a moment the role of creativity in becoming an excellent children’s ministry teacher.

Becoming an Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher
All Access Becoming an Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher - Part 9: Be Yourself

Who are you? Yes, you. Not who do you want to be, or who do you look up to, as helpful as those questions might be. No, who are you? Place your hand over your heart. Do you feel your heart beating? That is your heartbeat, doing its thing as a matter of course behind the scenes. It is one aspect of who you really are. It doesn’t try to beat faster just to impress others. It doesn’t swell really big to show off its size, and that is a good thing for your health! It simply beats, moment by moment, causing your blood to circulate throughout your system. Likewise, God is calling you to be yourself, the person whom he made fearfully and wonderfully.

Becoming an Excellent Children's Ministry Teacher
Starter Better Transitions in Children's Church

Understanding children's capacity for making transitions - for a better children's church experience

Transitions in the Children's Church - and at Home
All Access Book Review: The Gospel According to Harry Potter

A Book Review by Larry Shallenberger on The Gospel According to Harry Potter by Connie Neal.

Book Review
All Access Capture Your Child's Heart

Capturing Your Child's Heart

Parenting
All Access Children's Ministry Lessons from the Crocodile Hunter

Like most folks, I was saddened to hear of the passing of the "Crocodile Hunter", Steve Irwin. As I was reflecting on his impact, I remembered that I had often used the "Crocodile Hunter" as an illustration of qualities we look for in children's ministers.

Qualities of Children's Ministers
All Access Children's Ministry or entertainment

There is a difference between Ministry and entertainment. Our services can be very entertaining but we cannot forget about the ministry.

Children's ministry services
Starter Choices and Discipline

A practical strategy for confronting the choices that children make and the subsequent consequences.

Discipline
All Access Church Minded Vs. Kingdom Minded

What is our motivation in evaluating events in our ministry? Is it to see our church grow or the big picture of Kingdom growth?

Children's ministry events
Free Courageous Leaders - Part 1

In order for some of us to be courageous leaders we need to do some things right up front. Here is a quick list!

Leadership/Vision
All Access Creative Strategies for Dealing with Problems

Getting stuck in a rut is almost as bad as sitting there like a bump on a log - tackling a problem creatively will open a world of opportunity to you! Take a risk! try something new!

Dealing with Problems
Starter Creativity as Spiritual Formation

I argue in this article that creativity is not limited to the arena of the arts, and that it can provide a context for spiritual formation, even in those who at first blush seem to lack noticeable talent in specific creative endeavors.

Spiritual Formation
All Access Date Night

I have been holding a monthly date night for the parents while we have a blast with the children. Kids bring money for food while parents go out on "a date" from 6-10 pm. We play games and do a bunch of fun stuff. It's a blast!! Parents and kids love it because we have a bunch of fun. It's a way for us the church to promote the sanctity of marriage.

Marriage, Parents
All Access Dealing with Conflict

Conflict is hard, but it doesn't have to be impossible. If we approach it well - we can get through it.

Conflict Managment
Starter Dealing with Feedback

Navigating the various kinds of feedback you might receive with a view toward crafting appropriate responses.

Leadership
Starter Entering the World of Kids

If you seek to be effective in your ministry with children, it is essential that you make the effort to learn and understand the world of kids. As kids see that you are interested in what interests them, they will in turn become interested in what interests you, namely, God and His Word! Having a working knowledge of the world of kids not only provides you with a pathway right into their hearts, but it's a lot of fun too!

Relational Ministry
All Access Eternal Investments: A Devotion on Children's Ministry

Did you know that Children's Ministry is in the business of investments? That's right, investments. But our investments are far more important than any monetary one could be. We invest in the eternal lives of children.

Investing in the Lives of Children
All Access Faith for the Schedule

Do you often cry out for help with staffing? Do you find yourself asking God for more workers on a consistent basis? Do you question if God cares about this area of children’s ministry?  

Encouragement
Starter Family Landmines

In this article I compare hidden sin to improvised explosive devices found in fields of battle. I briefly explore the effect this has on our families when the spiritual IEDs are planted and not dealt with properly.

Hidden Sin
Starter Five Things that CM Leaders Need

Sometimes we forget that children's ministry leaders are humans and that they have needs just like any other church member. In this article I explore some of those dynamics with a view toward gaining realistic expectations and developing appropriate support systems for the CM leader.

Leadership
Starter Five Things That CM Volunteers Need

I believe there are a number of ways in which children's ministry volunteers need support from their leaders. In this article I briefly explore five key things that seem relevant in just about any ministry context. Use these ideas to spark creativity in your own leadership.

Leading Volunteers
Starter Four Key Thoughts on Family Ministry

Here are four key thoughts on family ministry as I strive to figure out how to apply it to my ministry context in light of the broader conversation occurring in the Western Hemisphere. They represent some of the concerns I face heading into a new season at my church.

Family Ministry
All Access Fretters Anonymous

The kids in our children's ministries deserve to see faith in you. Fear over the future will not bring victory. Kids do not need to pick up on your fear of the future even if you feel justified in your "concerns."

Key Concepts for Ministry
All Access God Doesn't Use a Paddle

Everyone makes mistakes - God's Correction and Blessings come with our ability to walk out obedience

Encouragement
All Access God's View of His Sheep

God loves children more than anything. This is a snapshot of references in the Bible where God talks about kids.

How God Feels About Children
All Access History of the Wordless Book

The Wordless Book has no words or pictures but it shouts the gospel message loud and clear through the familiar language of colors.

The Wordless Book - From 1866 to Today
All Access How to Peel a Bible Story

Bible stories are easier for kids to understand and apply if you break them down and serve them in small parts.

Key Concepts for Ministry
All Access I'm Doing This For the Kids... Or Am I?

Helpful advice for every Children's Ministry worker to determine his/her priorities and purpose for ministry.

Purpose for Ministry
All Access Internet Safety

Parents can protect their kids from online dangers while teaching them about the importance of accountability in the Christian life -- Covenant Eyes accountability software

Monitoring and Filtering
Starter Is your Nursery and Pre-School Curriculum Age-Appropriate?

Wing-tipped shoes are outdated.  What about the methods you use to teach young children?

Preschool, Nursery
Starter It Was a Dark Time for the Children's Pastor

A very short parable in the form of a mini-screen play based on Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, relating to children's ministry leadership, apathy, and volunteer appreciation.

Leadership
All Access It's More Than Just About The Kids

Leadership
All Access Jesus used object lessons

Jesus used objects lessons all the time!

Teaching ideas
Starter Key questions about children's and family ministry in small churches

Here is a list of questions concerning children’s and family ministry in small churches with which I am currently wrestling.

Small Church CM
All Access Lessons from a 'Rookie' Children's Pastor

What lessons did the Kidologist learn early on in ministry besides not playing games with marshmallows in a room with red carpet?

leadership / ministry
All Access Making Memorization More Memorable with Icons

Scripture is inspired, contains authority over our lives, is a guide in spiritual matters, is significant in knowing God and His will, and is useful for explaining and defending our beliefs. But having kids memorize scripture is crazy hard. Read how the use of a mnemonic tool really works in helping get God's word memorized.  

Scripture Memorization
All Access Making Room for Response

The importance of providing a time of response for children who have heard the Gospel message or who want to respond to the message or pray for others.

Altar Calls
All Access Making the Cross Real for Children -- Response to The Passion movie

Helpful hints on how parents can bring the reality of the message of the cross to their children in a relevant and appropriate way.

Parenting
All Access Ministering with the end in mind

Are we ministering with the end in mind? Here’s is what I mean by that. Do we have an end goal in mind for a child as they grow up through our children’s ministry, then through our youth ministry and then on to adulthood. Another words we can say we want a young person to be able to do this or say this when they are all grown up.

Family Ministry
All Access Of Fish Heads and Tiny Squid

Harrowing and hilarious children's ministry moments may contribute to some grey hair and wrinkles, but God gives strength, energy and a sense of humor for the ride!

humor
All Access One of These Things is NOT Like the Others

A comparison between Santa, the Easter Bunny and Jesus

Parenting
All Access PJ's Box

A creative way to encourage children and parents to communicate with their children's pastor/leader.

Organization/Communication
Free Preschool Ministry Out of the Closet

Preschool Ministry can appear to be be scary if you are not prepared. Preparation for it is simple though and through this article I will try and walk you through coming out of the closet of maybe some past assumptions to current relevance.

Preschool Ministry
All Access Purpose of Music

Music has a way of getting into the depths of a person’s emotions and affecting their thinking, actions, and moods. God has given us the gift of music, so let us use it wisely for Him.

Music
All Access Putting Your Vision Out There

Effective ways to let others know about your vision for ministry.

Using Your Vision
All Access Quick Reference: How to lead a child to Christ

Here is a step-by-step way of leading a child to Christ that I wrote for the volunteers at my church.

Leading a child to Christ
it Bible Curriculum Recruiting Tools - Fishing KidCheck Toddler Kid Conversation Cards U-Turn Cards Gospel Presentation Learn about DiscipleTown My Awesome Adventure DiscipleTown Unit 19 - Memorization U-Turn Cards Kidmin Talk Podcast
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Kids Church Lessons
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