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Children's Ministry
Running a children's ministry comes with new challenges every day. We’ve collected our expert tips and advice to help you plan, problem-solve, and generate ideas for your programs.
How to Lend a Hand with Children’s Ministry
Here are ten ideas for how you can continue to support and serve the children’s ministries of your church. Read more…
How to Ask Questions That Make Kids Think
Questions are posed as a model for creating wonder and excitement as the learner and the content intersect. A sense of wonder and prediction enriches a child’s ability to gather and retain information. The following are some factors to think about as you craft your own “wonder” questions. Read more…
Storytelling Basics for the Sunday School Teacher
Everybody loves a good story. It makes us laugh. It makes us cry. Sometimes it teaches us about the world around us, about our neighbors, and about God. Maybe that’s why Jesus chose telling stories as the main way he taught his followers. Like Jesus, Sunday school teachers are called on to tell stories on a regular basis. The good news is that you have everything you need to tell stories. Read more…
Affirming Children in the Classroom
Jesus gave personal moments to children with himself and communicated with them on a level they could understand. He provided a safe place for them to feel important and loved. The very work of affirming children in the classroom is the work of Jesus. We build relationships with children by recognizing them and affirming their gifts. Read more…
Welcoming Children with Disabilities
Disabilities are incredibly common. Disabilities affect people of all racial, ethnic, economic, and family backgrounds. Yet despite these widespread effects, it’s not uncommon for churches to find themselves unprepared to integrate children with disabilities into their children’s ministries. For churches striving to love and fully include all of God’s children, these challenges can feel insurmountable. But there are some guidelines that can help churches wherever they are on their journey to welcome children with disabilities. Read more…
Respecting Diversity In Sunday School
We all know too well the regularity with which children are offered messages that are harmful to their self-worth. These harmful messages must be rejected and countered with positive affirmations, especially at church. We can help by being attuned to the prevalence of these harmful messages, intervening immediately whenever they are communicated, and following up with activities that counter the societal stereotypes that underlie these messages. Read more…
How to Have Worship Time in Class
We are given the opportunity to share worship with our children each week. Though we may vary what we do and how we do it to meet the needs of our children, worshiping with children can be a source of joy and understanding of who they are. Read more…
Many Teachers in One Classroom
It is often necessary to have three or more teachers teaching a Sunday school class. The teachers take turns teaching a Sunday each month. When a class has many teachers, keeping consistency and communication are key to success. The following are ways consistency can be maintained. Read more…
The Importance of Volunteer Team Meetings
For a director or coordinator of a Sunday school ministry, holding a Volunteer Team Meeting for all the teachers, shepherds, and other adult volunteers can seem like an added stress to an already overloaded volunteer team. They may wonder: Is it realistic to ask volunteers to attend another meeting, in addition to their hours of teaching and prep work? Is it really worth it to plan time for this? In my experience, stressed and overwhelmed volunteers are precisely the ones who can benefit the most from a Volunteer Team Meeting. Read more…
Children and Worship Service
While churches have different points of view about how to provide children’s worship, nearly all congregations acknowledge that they must do something. Most churches value children’s sense of awe and wonder, their appreciation of visual elements, and their desire to be actively involved in worship. When worship happens in the community of faith, it becomes a celebration of belonging. Read more...
Reading the Bible with Children
Inviting parents and caregivers to be involved in engaging Bible stories with children is a great way to help them understand their important role as faith partners with children. Help them see how making a commitment to reading the Bible with children each day can become a ritual that supports the growing life of faith in adults and children. Read more…