Kidologist's Zone

This is the place to find things written or submitted by the creator of Kidology.org, Karl Bastian.

Use Karl's creativity to your advantage! Browse his ideas, plans, games, and more. Use them as is or adapt them for your ministry!

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Membership Levels:
Guest Starter Members
Level Title Topic
Starter Keep Christ in Your Ministry

I have no doubt that children's ministry leaders and volunteers will keep "Christ in Christmas" during this season. I am more concerned about whether we will keep a relationship with Jesus at the center of our life and ministry. Christmas serves as a perfect object lesson on this topic because Christ slips away from our ministries the same way He slips out of Christmas.

Keeping Jesus First in Ministry
Plus 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
Plus A Golden Opportunity and an Open Letter to Philip Pullman

Commentary on how Christians should approach Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass.

Thoughts on The Golden Compass
Plus Video: The Kidology Handbook and You!

Why do you need the Kidology Handbook? Maybe it will help you solve the Rubix Cube or Catch a Crocodile!

Product Info
Plus Oh Superman in Grand (SONG)

This is Karl's 'Super Hero' song that is referenced in several Kids Church lessons.

Super Hero Song
Plus Every Day in Every Way (CHANT/SONG)

This fun rap/chant/song will be a powerful worship tool in your ministry  

Cool Chant
Plus Book Report - Postmodern Children's Ministry by Ivy Beckwith

The Kidology Report reviews Ivy Beckwith's book, Postmodern Children's Ministry, and provides practical ideas on how to reach this emerging generation.

Postmodern Children's Ministry
Free Movie Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Thoughts on Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, a film NOT recommended for use in children's ministry.

Movie Review
Plus Book Report - Children's Ministry that Works! by Various Authors

The Kidology Report reviews the book, Children's Ministry that Works!, which gives valuable insight on how to shape a complete ministry by some of the best-known minds in ministry: Jim Wideman, Christine Yount, Craig Jutila, Sue Miller and several others. In a way, this book is the mentor you never had!

Children's Ministry Foundations
Plus Book Report - Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions by George Barna

The Kidology Report reviews George Barna's book, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, and emphasizes the importance of churches catching a vision for kids' ministry.

Children's Ministry Strategy
Plus Kidology Report: On Location - Aurora First Assembly of God (Aurora, CO)

The Kidology Report interviews Andrew VanDerLinden, Children's Pastor at Aurora First Assembly of God (Aurora, CO)

Administration
Plus Kidology Report: Book Report - Rock Solid Kids by Larry Fowler

The Kidology Report reviews Larry Fowler's book, Rock Solid Kids, and discusses the need for churches to give "Children's Ministry" back to parents.

Family Ministry
Free Kidology Report: Looking Ahead - Trends in Children's Ministry

The Kidology Report tackles the "Top 10 Trends in Children's Ministry" that will impact your ministry in the years ahead.

Children's Ministry Trends
Plus Bowling for FAiRNESS

A four-lesson unit on the virtue of fairness

Fairness
Plus The Race of Life

This object lesson was written for an Awana Grand Prix devotional to be used while the judges were determining the winner.

Awana Grand Prix Devotional
Plus Awesome Mind Reading Trick

This trick will make it look like you can read kids' minds! However, you can then talk about how only God can really read our minds.

Mind Reading
Plus Dosango Kids Church Unit

A spin-off of the paper bag commercials for Fandango.com this Dosango Unit is a fun unit that updates the WWJD concept with a fun beach theme!

DO-SAY-GO as Jesus Would
Plus Finishing Well (1 of 5 on Running to Jesus Unit)

A Kids Church unit with five lessons on determination using Paul, noah, Moses, Caleb and Joshua as examples of people who were determined to keep serving God despite many trials.

Determination
Plus Kidology helps send a girl to camp

Camp experience, thanks to the Kidology Foundation

Kidology Grants
Plus Snapshots of Kid U Chicago 2005 (Part 4 of 4)

Relive the excitement and training experienced at Kidology University Chicago 2005!

Photos
Plus Snapshots of Kid U Chicago 2005 (Part 3 of 4)

Relive the excitement and training experienced at Kidology University Chicago 2005!

Photos
Plus Snapshots of Kid U Chicago 2005 (Part 2 of 4)

Relive the excitement and training experienced at Kidology University Chicago 2005!

Photos
Plus Snapshots of Kid U Chicago 2005 (Part 1 of 4)

Relive the excitement and training experienced at Kidology University Chicago 2005!

Photos
Starter A Ministry Lesson from Darth Vader

In the busyness of life and ministry, don't forget your Primary Objectives, because one thing is for sure: your Enemy won't.

Priorities
Plus Dosango: Part 3

Spoof of the Fandango.com movie ticket commericals which use paper bag characters. "Dosango" is an invented word by the Kidologist short for "Do Say 'n' Go".

WWJD
Plus Funny Lego Video

This is just a funny LEGO video to the song Dragostea Din Tei by O-Zone.

Lego
Plus Dosango: Part 2

Spoof of the Fandango.com movie ticket commericals which use paper bag characters. "Dosango" is an invented word by the Kidologist short for "Do Say 'n' Go".

WWJD
Plus Virtual Devotional Walk....

A video I made on vacation after a morning devotional walk, so those too wimpy to join me for morning walks could experience it....

Devotional
Plus JESUS - Name Above All Names

This AWESOME video of the names of Jesus travels through space. You MUST see this!

Names of Jesus
Plus Dosango: Part 1

Spoof of the Fandango.com movie ticket commericals which use paper bag characters. "Dosango" is an invented word by the Kidologist short for "Do Say 'n' Go".

WWJD
Plus Kids Town 'Behind the Scenes'

This video is from a Kids Church workshop - it shows the 'behind the scenes' at the Kidologist's Kids Town set.

Kids Church Set
Plus Attitude of Gratitude

This PowerPoint introduces the discipline of thanksgiving to children. We live in a greedy world – kids will be challenged to develop an attitude of gratitude.

Thanksgiving
Plus Turn Down the Noise!

This PowerPoint introduces the discipline of solitude to children. We live in a busy world – kids will be challenged to ‘turn off the busyness’ and seek God.

Solitude
Plus God's Team 10 - Attitude of Gratitude

This lesson introduces the discipline of thanksgiving to children. We live in a greedy world – kids will be challenged to develop an attitude of gratitude.

Thanksgiving
Plus God's Team 9 - Nothing Can Be Something!

This lesson introduces the disciplines of fasting and simplicity to children. We live in a prosperous country – even our poorest are rich by the worlds standards. Kids will be challenged to think about how they can simplify their lives and focus better on God.

Fasting/Simplicity
Plus God's Team 8 - Turn Down the Noise!

This lesson introduces the discipline of solitude to children. We live in a busy world – kids will be challenged to ‘turn off the busyness’ and seek God.

Solitude
Plus Cheerleader for God

This lesson introduces the discipline of worship to children. Worship is more than singing and praying, it is anything we do to show God His worth to us. It is a Show of Worth.

Worship
Plus God's Team 7 - Cheerleader for God

This lesson introduces the discipline of worship to children. Worship is more than singing and praying, it is anything we do to show God His worth to us. It is a Show of Worth.

Worship
Plus The Nerve to Serve

This PowerPoint introduces the concept of service as a spiritual discipline.

Service
Plus God's Team 6 - The Nerve to Serve

This lesson introduces the concept of service as a spiritual discipline.

Service
Plus Live to Give!

This PowerPoint introduces the concept of giving as a spiritual discipline.

Giving
Plus Talkin’ to the Coach

This PowerPoint introduces the discipline of prayer to children. While we often talk about HOW to pray with children (I hope), this lesson focuses on how to develop the discipline of prayer.

Prayer
Plus Better Than Bubble Gum, Chew on God’s Word

This PowerPoint introduces the concept of meditation to children. While realistic practical application of meditation may be beyond most children, it is still valuable to give them a fundamental introduction to the concept. Those with more spiritual maturity will benefit from it.

Meditation
Plus Spiritual Discipline: The Bible

This PowerPoint introduces the Bible, how to read it, and a challenge to be disciplined in reading and studying it.

The Bible
Plus God's Team 5 - Live to Give!

This lesson introduces the concept of giving as a spiritual discipline.

Giving
Plus God's Team 4 - Talkin' to the Coach

This lesson introduces the discipline of prayer to children. While we often talk about HOW to pray with children (I hope), this lesson focuses on how to develop the discipline of prayer.

Prayer
Free 'Hire Me' Resume!

You can put together a plain 'ol résumé, or you can create one that demonstrates the creativity and effort and zeal that you will put into your ministry once you are hired!

Job Hunting and Resumes
Plus God's Team 3 - Better Than Bubble Gum, Chew on God's Word

This lesson introduces the concept of meditation to children. While realistic practical application of meditation may be beyond most children, it is still valuable to give them a fundamental introduction to the concept. Those with more spiritual maturity will benefit from it.

Meditation
Plus God's Team 2 - Spiritual Discipline: The Bible

This lesson introduces the Bible, how to read it, and a challenge to be disciplined in reading and studying it.

The Bible
Starter God's Team 1- Playing On God's Team (INTRO)

This lesson is an introduction to a unit on spiritual disciplines. The spiritual disciplines will be compared to training to play well on a baseball team.

Spiritual Discipline
The Kidmin Covenant Recruiting Tools - Fishing KidCheck Curls 2025 Gospel Colors 88 Games with 8 Objects Book Kidology's Ultimate Toolbox for Children's Ministr My Awesome Adventure DiscipleTown Unit 9 - How to Build Character Next Steps for Kids Kidmin Talk Podcast
Kidology Curriculum

Kids Church Lessons
written by the Kidologist!

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