Category Archives: Children’s Ministry

Anyone in children’s ministry knows the challenges of maintaining classroom discipline. It becomes even more difficult when we have a “problem child” who constantly disrupts the class. We can become frustrated by it and simply apply a quick solution, or we can seek real change.

The Objective Will Determine if We Seek Real Change or Apply a Quick Solution

If our objective is mere crowd control and somehow making it through the lesson, we’ll tend to apply quick fixes. We’ll do whatever it takes to quiet the child or get them to stop their negative behavior. Often that involves bribing them. Or, we might throw our hands up in despair and permit children to do as they please.

When our goal is to help the child truly learn and grow, we’ll look at discipline problems as opportunities to disciple them. We will want more than external conformity, so we’ll work with the child to correct the problem from the inside out. This means we take the time to identify and address the root cause of the problem.

Results of Our Approach to Classroom Discipline

Quick solutions leave unresolved issues which could become worse and keep the child from learning and growing. Bribery in classroom discipline could translate into them thinking the Christian life is about mere outward conformity rather than heart transformation (1 Sam. 16:7; Ps. 51:10; Lk. 6:45; Rom. 12:2). Ignoring misbehavior can give license to other children to do the same which can eventually erupt in chaos. We’ll find ourselves merely tolerating the “problem child” rather than loving them.

When we seek to use discipline problems as learning tools, we’re helping children learn for the future. We’re getting beyond temporary external conformity. In so doing we’re communicating that we truly care and want what’s for their good. — “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:11)

Get help with pursuing real change in classroom discipline:

The Classroom Discipline Bundle will provide a comprehensive understanding leading to a greater likelihood of accomplishing real change through discipline efforts. Each of the resources in this bundle can be ordered separately.

As children and teenagers head back to school, as well as young people to college, they have increased opportunity for outreach, to share Jesus Christ with their friends, to be a witness in word and deed. But, do they see school as a mission field? … a place to reach out and share Jesus Christ as His ambassador?

Difficulty Seeing School as a Mission Field

It isn’t easy for kids to take a stand unpopular with so many of their peer. (Let’s be honest: It isn’t easy for adults either!) We live in a volatile world that doesn’t look favorably upon what Christians believe. Fear of ridicule and rejection makes witnessing seem overwhelming and stressful. Then, on top of that, we have government regulations and school policies setting limitations on what they can do.

How Can We Help Kids Reach Out in Their Schools?

Recognizing the difficulties of viewing school as their mission field, we need to come alongside of students with the support they need. Here are six ways we can do that:

1) Disciple, or train, them on how to reach out.

Feeling better equipped in knowing how and where to start can alleviate some of the insecurities they might feel.

Resource: Discipling Students in Outreach Worksheet

2) Prepare them by including apologetics in your Bible teaching plan.

Having a better understanding of some of the hard to understand issues, will enable them to be more ready to answer questions and objections they will undoubtedly face. (1 Pet. 3:15)

For Help, Go To: Apologetics Resources

3) Pray for them consistently and let them know you’re standing with them in prayer.

Sensing this kind of support from others encourages them.

4) Pray with them, not just for them.

Taking them to the throne of grace where they’ll find the help they need (Heb. 4:16) serves as a reminder of God’s power available to them.

5) Be a role model, letting them see the adults in their lives sharing Jesus with others in their mission fields (i.e., neighborhood, workplace, unsaved family).

Hearing reports of God’s activity as we witness in our spheres of influence helps them gain a realistic perspective of how life in Christ infiltrates all we do as believers.

To Read: Making an Eternal Difference in the Workplace?

6) Encourage them to get involved in some sort of on-going campus ministry.

Knowing they’re not alone can give them added boldness.

For some popular campus ministries, go to: Back to School Resources

7) Provide tools and resources to help them.

Having something in their hands can help them feel more ready when opportunities come:

Ideas: Tools for Teachers to Share the Gospel (same tools listed in this article could be good for students to use)

The bottom line?
Don’t just tell kids they should be witnesses at school. Help them in practical ways to be ready.

Since the only qualification the Bible puts on who gets spiritual gifts is that they are a follower of Jesus, it’s important to teach children to serve. They are part of today’s church, not merely the church of tomorrow.

Also Read: What about Children and Spiritual Gifts?

Ways to Teach Children to Serve God Using Their Spiritual Gifts

You may want to implement the following ideas before considering the use of a spiritual gifts test with children since their experience-base is so limited.

1. Provide teaching about spiritual gifts and God’s design for the church.

Help young people to understand God’s purposes for the Church and for their lives which include serving. Help them realize that they have a part to do right now, not just when they’re older.

2. Provide opportunities for children to serve.

Children need to develop a base of experience in ministry so they can begin to identify how they may be gifted. Encourage them to get involved in a variety of ways. Offer a consistent diet of ministry opportunities. Involve them, as you can, in the various aspects of total church life where they can work side by side with adults. Suggest that families serve together as teams. God will use these opportunities to grow passions within their hearts and to surface and develop their spiritual gifts.

3. Provide children with affirmation and feedback.

When Jesus sent out his disciples to minister, He took the time to discuss how it went with them. Why would we do any less with the children and youth whom we deploy into ministry of any kind? First, they should be included in training opportunities. Second, they should be affirmed in what they are doing. If there seems to be an area in which they do particularly well, tell them. Third, provide feedback afterward. Evaluate with them what happened, both the positive and the negative. Offer suggestions on how they might improve. Or, if they just don’t seem to be suited for a particular type of ministry, help them find something that may be a better fit.

4. Provide these young believers with role models.

Adults must set a good example for the kids. So many adults, however, do not do their part. This can send a strong message to them contradicting all your verbal teaching about why they should get involved. If you expect young people to get it, you better work at making sure the adults get it.

5. Provide prayer support.

Develop a prayer base for the children and youth of your church that goes beyond praying for only the troubled ones. Pray also for those who seem to be doing well and who want to be a part. They need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit in whatever they do just as much as an adult. Let’s not grow kids who are self-sufficient and self-reliant in their Christian walks, starting their life of service learning to do it in the flesh. Both their motivations and means of serving need to be an outgrowth of abiding in Christ who said “apart from Me you can do nothing.”

6. Provide a starting point for identifying their spiritual gifts.

While using spiritual gifts tests with children may prove inconclusive due to their lack of experience, a test geared to their age can be a starting point. Using a test would be most beneficial after having provided all of the above first.

Check out Your Gifts for Children: Kid-Friendly Spiritual Gifts Adventure by Church Growth’s Team Ministry as a tool to introduce children to spiritual gifts.

Or, if you’re in youth ministry, you’d be interested in Your Gifts For Teens: The Easy to Use, Self-Guided Spiritual Gifts Survey.

The Bible is an adult book, written in adult language with adult concepts. Some therefore question if we can really teach children Bible truths, especially young children.

Scripture Response to Question about Trying to Teach Children Bible Truths

The Apostle Paul answers that question in his words to Timothy:

… from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:15)

So, even if you serve in a church nursery, it’s possible to communicate Bible truths even to babies.

Paul goes on to in the very next verse to provide the ways God’s Word helps us.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

What better source to teach, rebuke, correct, and train children of all ages than the Bible. The words of Scripture carry more authority and power than anything a parent or teacher can communicate.

How Children Best Learn the Bible

The question is not “if” children can learn the Bible but HOW.

1. Begin by understanding their age level traits. Take into account the whole person when planning what to teach and how to teach it — spiritual but also physical, emotional, mental, and social traits.

The PowerPoint presentation, Teaching the Bible to Children, helps you know “how” to teach Bible truths in accordance with their age level characteristics.

Also check out:

• Age Level Characteristics: Early Childhood Module
• Age Level Characteristics: Grade School Module

2. Do not underestimate the role of consistency and repetition when teaching children.

• a consistency between what’s in the parent’s heart and what they say (also true for teachers)

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. (Deut. 6:6)

• a consistency between what’s taught formally and informally

Impress them on your children. Talk about them when … (Deut. 6:7-9)

• a repetition of truth in a variety of settings, using a variety of methods, teaching both verbally and visually

Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deut. 6:7-9)

For More: Children’s Ministry Resources

Having had to do a lot of recruiting when I worked in a church, I am well aware of common attitudes toward being a nursery worker. For some it was an easy way to get involved … just babysitting. For others it was viewed as a hardship … they did their time and didn’t want to be stuck in the nursery.

Hurtful Perceptions About Being a Nursery Worker

I quickly picked up on three hurtful perceptions about being a nursery worker that needed to be overcome:

1) These young children were not seen as an important age group to serve. Ouch!

2) Being a nursery worker was not seen as an important role to fill. Ouch!

3) Serving in the nursery merely fills an immediate need. Ouch!