Children’s Bibles are abundant in the United States. We are spoiled for options. According to Christianbook.com there are 903 listings under the heading “Children’s Bible.” There are colored Bibles, story Bibles, Bibles for different ages, Bibles with special artwork, Bibles with cartoon characters on the cover, and a host of other options. Yet in this [...]
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Gever Tulley likes to build things with kids. Tulley is the author of 50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do) and Beware Dangerism. He also founded The Tinkering School, a week long camp where kids get to play with their own power tools (and build things like a working roller coaster and walking [...]
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I love pizza. Survey a group of children in your church, and chances are, they do too. But do they respond as enthusiastically when asked if they like Sunday school? Many churches—large and small, rural and urban alike—implement a classroom based Sunday school format for youngsters on Sunday mornings. How can this school-like system facilitate [...]
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The summer is a fantastic time to focus on memorizing a passage of Scripture. This summer I’ve been working on Colossians 3:12-16. Let’s see if I can type it from memory: Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive [...]
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I am privileged to participate in the What’s in the Bible? Blog Tour ,”Race to the Finish.” WITB, after months and months of effort, will be completing the curriculum for the Old Testament with the release of Volume 9 God Speaks! (Isaiah, Jeremiah & The Prophets) in August. Leading up the release, bloggers across the [...]
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I am fascinated with the teaching and learning process. As children’s and family ministry leaders, part of our work is educational so being attenuated to issues related to learning theory is critical. In Approaches to Training and Development, Dugan Laird posits that the vast majority of knowledge (75%) is learned through seeing. God created our [...]
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The purpose of this series is to equip leaders in children’s and family ministry with tools and resources from the digital world. We’ve covered theological topics, leadership issues, volunteers, worship and music, research, budget, and social media. Today I want to introduce you to a concept that completely changed my work style and effectiveness. Whether [...]
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I will never forget an online exchange I had years ago with a prominent figure in church leadership. He argued that seminary was a complete was of time because its role was to “help people answer questions no one is asking.” According to that leader, a seminary education was irrelevant to “real” church leadership. Without [...]
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Children’s ministry of any kind (large group/small group, kid’s church, Sunday School, kid’s choir, club programs) requires volunteers. The need for volunteers is constant and pressing in our field. Last week I spent some time presenting a webinar sponsored by David C Cook’s Tru Curriculum with three creative geniuses: Matt Barnes from Rock Harbor Church, [...]
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For decades, animation has won over audiences both young and old. From the first animated film, Snow White, to the Toy Story trilogy, animation has become one of the most powerful storytelling tools in our culture. In the early days of children’s ministry, a church producing original animations was inconceivable. The time, cost, and expertise [...]
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