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.
Some of the most popular articles are:
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 |
Looking for something you didn't find here? Let us know!
‹ Back to ZonesLevel | Title | Topic | |
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Sins Nailed to a Cross
Encourage the kids in your ministry to repent from their sins. |
Salvation, Repentance | ||
Speak! Your Audience Listens!
Originally published in Groups CM Mag Professional Edition, Karl challenges your thinking about church communication from "How can I better get information out?" to "Why aren't they listening?" |
Church Communication | ||
State of the Kidmin
So, did you watch the STATE of the UNION address by the President? Regardless of your political opinions, it is a good practice to stop once a year and consider the state of the union. |
Assessment | ||
Stinky Sock Sale
Helps the kids see the importance of how they represent the kingdom through a humorous object lesson. |
Evangelism, Good News | ||
Stress Management Ideas That Work!
Neat ideas on how to deal with stress. |
Time Management | ||
Teaching Character to Three-Year-Olds
Preschoolers are at a strategic age to learn so much about life. Creativity, compassion, patience, confidence, and cooperation are just a few of the many new qualities that begin to develop during these years. |
Parenting | ||
Teaching Children To Trust In The Midst Of Trials
It is much easier to teach a child to trust in a loving God when all is well. However, our children need to learn that God is present and loving even when things are difficult. |
Trust & Trials | ||
Teaching Teenagers
They aren’t kids, but they aren’t adults yet either. |
Teens | ||
Teaching Your Children to Pray Grace-Filled Prayers
Someone once said that the definition of grace is: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Because of what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross, we have all of God’s richest blessings – most importantly – we are saved by His grace from all of our sin. By His grace, God has called us... |
Grace & Prayer | ||
Teen Training Session
Here is everything you need to hold a Teen Training Volunteer Session to inspire, instruct and instill confidence in your youth volunteers. |
Teen Volunteer Training | ||
Thankful for Kidology Customers
Karl says "Thanks" while giving a rare glimpse at the history of Kidology.org |
History of Kidology | ||
The Future of Children's Ministry
This is Karl's contribution to the Greg Baird / Kidmin360.com series. Download the COMPLETE book below. |
Leadership & Discipleship | ||
The Habits of Highly Mediocre Children's Pastors
Highly mediocre children's pastors... Do everything themselves. They would never think of delegating or multiplying themselves in others. Their self esteem relies on being a doer. They get insecure if others around them begin to demonstrate any leadership skills... |
Leadership | ||
The Kidologist Top Influencers
Karl Bastian was selected by Group’s CM Magazine as one of kids ministry Top 20 Influencer’s – but who were his “Top Influencers?” |
Leaders, Influence | ||
The Leadership Rubik's Cube
Whether or not you have ever mastered the Cube - this article will help you solve your Children's Ministry... and maybe the Cube too! |
Leadership | ||
The One Thing: Karl Bastian
Karl answers Greg Baird on what is the ONE THING that is most important aside from his walk with God. |
Leadership | ||
The Power of Choices
Devotional About the Power of Choices, both Large and Small |
Choices, Wisdom | ||
The Power of Encouragement
Karl, the Kidologist has had a note from Phil Vischer's mom up next to his desk for over 15 years... find out why! |
Young Leader Encouragement | ||
The Sunday After September 11, 2001
The Sunday after September 11, 2001 I arrived at church still not sure what exactly I was going to say to my children. I prayed for balance. When I arrived at church... |
911 | ||
The World of Kids: BIONICLES
Learn the scoop on this toy from Lego and how to apply it to ministry! |
Bionicles | ||
Tips for Leading Games
10 Tips for leading effective games, plus a play-by-play example so you can become an expert at leading FUN games that teach a point! |
Games | ||
Tips for Teaching Preteens (Middle Schoolers)
Karl Bastian provides some practical tips on engaging and keeping the interest of middle schoolers when teaching. (Bonus: Comes with a sample middle school lesson.) |
Teaching Preteens | ||
Two Raging Battles
There are two battles raging today in children's ministry. The first battle is for the hearts and minds of our children. It is a battle that we are losing on many fronts. While in many places children’s ministry has "arrived" with its kid-friendly facilities and multi-media "edutainment" style of teaching, there is little evidence that all this "fun" and "excitement" is automatically translating into young, fully-devoted disciples of Jesus Christ. This is a battle that we are all aware of for the most part, and are trying our best to engage and win. |
Partnering with Parents | ||
Vision - I Can See Clearly Now!
Leadership is not about "getting somewhere" it's about getting to the desired destination and vision provides the needed roadmap. During times of change and uncertainty people are concerned about their future and desire some assurance about what is ahead. Vision provides hope and direction for those around you... PLUS lots of great quotes on Vision. |
Vision | ||
Volunteer Evaluation Worksheet
An evaluation worksheet that can be used to help gain feedback as well as help volunteers evaluate their performance. |
Volunteer Evaluation | ||
Volunteer Recruitment is Best Through Relationships
Become more relational with your volunteers while recruiting. |
Volunteers, Relationships | ||
Vote with Your Feet
This opening lesson activity helps to illustrate that while we have many things that make us different... there are some things we can all agree on. |
Fun Lesson Intro | ||
Ways to Get Kids 'In the Word'
Here are some methods you can use to encourage your kids to study their Bibles! |
Bible Study | ||
Ways to Make Kids Feel Special
We all love kids! Here are some very practical ideas of way to SHOW it! |
Shepherding Children | ||
What Happened to the Bible?
A tragedy is happening! The Bible is a rare object in most children's ministries today. What are the steps for action that we need to take? |
Using Bibles in Children's Ministry | ||
What Matters Now: Relationships
Karl Bastian, the Kidologist, made this contribution to the book What Matters Now in Children's Ministry. |
Relationships | ||
What's Your Excuse?
An inspiring story from Karl about at 67 year old that is not making excuses when it comes to ministry. |
Excuses, Serving | ||
When Good People Disagree
Using Halloween as a case study in conflict, this article rises above that issue to provide insight into how Christians should deal with controversial topics, such as Halloween. |
Conflict - Halloween | ||
Who is Edward Kimball?
Edward Kimball dedicated his life to the spiritual guidance of young souls. Little did he know that one of his seemingly unpromising students would later become one of the greatest evangelists in history. |
Evangelism | ||
Why Children's Ministry is the BEST
Longer Results—Children who have just made a commitment to the Lord have their entire lives before them. Adults who accept the Lord have already squandered much of their lives. Children’s ministry is the only place where you can impact one’s entire life span. |
Children's Ministry | ||
Why Children's Pastors Fail
Top Ten Reasons Why Children's Pastors Become Discouraged and Fail |
Leadership | ||
Why Television is Harmful to Children
An educational look at how television is affecting your kids, and then some PRACTICAL things you can do battle the T.V.'s influence! |
Media | ||
Windshield Prayer Cards
Let your ministry encourage the whole church as you give the kids an opportunity to pray. |
Prayer, Ministry | ||
Work Expands to Fill the Time Allowed
No matter how early you start to plan, how much you delegate, or how many volunteers show up, why does it always seem that you can't get ahead on all that needs to be done? If you've ever asked this, then you're in the right place! |
Efficiency | ||
You Don't Have a Recruiting Problem
I hear it often... "I'm having trouble recruiting." May I be so bold as to suggest your problem isn't recruiting. If you focus on something far more important than recruiting, you'll have all the volunteers you'll ever need. You may even have extras! Read on for the secret to building the largest team in the church! |
Recruiting, Volunteers | ||
Are You Called to Minister to Children?
You'll never gain fame or glory in children's ministry. So are YOU called? |
Ministry Calling | ||
Are you discipling your OWN kids?
Discipling our children is not optional. If you have kids (or grandkids) you are discipling them. You might be discipling them for good or bad, but you are discipling them one way or another. |
Family | ||
Can We Keep her?
A child's prayer for a dog teaches Dad a lesson. |
Prayer | ||
Christian E-Mail Etiquette in an Age of Fear
Why do we, as Christians, seem to rush to be among the first to use the medium of e-mail to fan the flame of fear in the hearts of others? |
Computers | ||
Do You Need Photo Permission Slips for Your Kids Ministry?
It is a common children's ministry myth that you need a media release for pictures to be taken of kids in your ministry. This comes up often in social media conversations, so Karl answers this question here. |
Media Releases | ||
Every Child Needs a Daddy to Love Them
A Godly reminder about the reason we serve children in the Lord's name. Many kids have been through a lot and come from broken homes. What a privilege it is to be an instrument in the hand of the Lord to let every little kid we come in contact with, know that they are loved. |
Mark 10:14 | ||
'Gospel' Magic?
Eric Reamer, a professional Christian magician, has studied the origins of witchcraft, Satanism, and many of the cult movements of our time from a Biblical perspective and has been in the full time ministry for over ten years. Here he answers the question, "Isn't magic condemned by the Bible?" |
Gospel Magic | ||
Parent Prayer Warriors
Prayer is a critical line of defense which parents of today must not neglect, overlook or postpone. Here are some important things to consider as you prepare to do battle for your children: |
Prayer | ||
Practical Ways To Encourage Children To Pray
In surveys given to Christian adults about prayer, there are two main reasons given why we don’t pray as much as we know we should. The first answer is, "Because I’m too busy." The second should shake the core of the Church: "Because I don’t know how." Many answering this survey have been raised in Christian homes. |
Prayer | ||
Prayer Evangelism for the Family
Practical ways to fulfill the Great Commission at Hom |
Prayer |