Monthly Archives: August 2013

• Word ministry: We teach children the Bible.
• Prayer ministry: We help children listen to and pray to the God of the Bible in Jesus’ name.
• What if your ministry could be summarized by Psalm 119:2, “Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,”?

^“I am going away,” (14:28) “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming.” (14:30) ^“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (15:13) "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” (15:18) “I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (15:19) “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (15:20) ^“ They will put you out of the synagogues…” (16:2) “…the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.” (16:2) "A little while, and you will see me no longer…” (16:16) “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament,...You will be sorrowful,…” (16:20) “….you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone.” (16:32)

As parents, we have the incredible privilege and responsibility of instructing our children’s minds, engaging their hearts, and nurturing their faith. Using Truth78 materials at home can be an effective tool in teaching and applying the most important truths that our children need to know and embrace—the truths communicated in the Bible.

Although our materials are designed for use in the church, we believe there are many advantages of presenting this material in your home:

• Children have more time to listen, absorb, and interact with what they’ve been taught.
• Parents are best suited to make the most meaningful application of these biblical truths when, as a family, they “walk by the way” (Deuteronomy 6:7).
• The whole family can learn together, providing opportunities for children and parents to encourage and minister to one another.
• Fathers and mothers can work together in their God-given roles as they train

This is the fourth in a series of posts to help you prepare your staff, volunteers, classroom, and parents for fall Sunday School.

Jan Golias has served as Team Leader in a Sunday School classroom for over 15 years. We asked her a few questions about the role of Team Leader and her experience in the classroom.

Q: What challenges do you face while serving as team leader?

A: It is really important for the church to partner with parents, working together to see faith grow in their children. One of the biggest challenges I face is helping the small group leaders connect

Ministry leaders and parents: Here is a word from David Michael reminding us about the importance of being "vision-" oriented rather than activity-oriented. https://vimeo.com/72770166 See the full seminar here.

This is the third in a series of posts to help you prepare your staff, volunteers, classroom, and parents for fall Sunday School.

God stirred my own heart in so many ways. One great challenge was PRAYER—Bud Burk's workshop on Utter Dependency on God. All the seminars I attended were so so good! Especially the seminar about the importance

This is the second in a series of posts to help you prepare your staff, volunteers, classroom, and parents for fall Sunday School.

Jan Golias has served as Team Leader in a Sunday School classroom for over 15 years. We asked her a few questions about the role of Team Leader and her experience in the classroom.

Q: Jan, how would you describe your role as a Team Leader?

A: As a team leader in a first grade Sunday school class, I focus on showing Christ’s love to my team. (My team consists of two teachers (co-teaching the lessons), one worship leader, seven small group leaders, and two helpers, all of whom work together to serve a class of 30-35 first graders.)

I also encourage the team to show Christ to the children in our class as they

As parents, we all wrestle with how to answer this question, and I've found there are usually two extremes that need to be avoided. The first is made worse by a lack of discernment shown in many churches when they routinely extend altar calls to 4- or 5-year-olds, ask them to raise their hands if they love Jesus, and then baptize them as converted followers of Christ. The second is often a reaction against the carelessness of the first. This extreme prevents both parents and also pastors from being willing to affirm a child's conversion until they are adults, independent of their parent's authority and care. While reluctance on both counts is somewhat warranted, I believe a middle ground must be approached in order to discern clear biblical evidence that a child, teenager, or young adult has become a new creature in Christ.

As much as we care about good, God-centered, Christ-exalting curriculum at Children Desiring God, the curriculum itself is only a tool. The heart of the one using the tool is of utmost importance, too. Here are some wise words from Tedd and Margy Tripp:

Our homes are the laboratory of life for our children. They will believe that Christian faith is the genuine article if we know God—not just know about God. As children grow to young adulthood in our churches, they are searching for a faith that has warmth and vitality of close relationship with the living God, and the sure footing of sound doctrine that will stand the storms of life. Relationship with God is the passionate assurance that the Sovereign God of the Bible can be known by his people in all the experiences of life. Our relationship with God will beckon our children to draw near to him as their source of comfort and rest. (Instructing a Child's Heart, copyright 2008, page 29)