Monthly Archives: November 2013

Happy Thanksgiving from Children Desiring God!

November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving from the Children Desiring God family! We hope you enjoy a special day with your family and friends celebrating ways God has blessed you this year. We are thankful for God's grace to us in the past year and for your support and prayers as we spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things so that the next generations may know and cherish Jesus Christ as the only one who saves and satisfies the desires of the heart.

Teaching Parenting

Why This Holiday?

November 27, 2013

For a Christian, every day—even every moment—should be filled with thanksgiving to God, especially as we enjoy the greatest provision ever given to us: the gift of His Son, which secures our redemption so that we might glorify Him forever! But it is not just the Christian who owes heartfelt thanksgiving to God. As Scripture reminds us,

The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. (Psalm 145:9 ESV)

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17:24-25 ESV)

As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, it may be a good time to remind our children of the historical roots outlining the purpose of this holiday. Whether true Christians or not, the

Teaching

Creative Ideas for Celebrating Thanksgiving

November 26, 2013

Thanksgiving Day provides a wonderful opportunity to point out evidences of God's goodness, provision, and grace to our children. So this Thanksgiving Day, consider some creative ways to focus on God's goodness from which expressions of thanksgiving and praise can flow from young and old alike. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

Read a children's book together that commemorates the historical holiday from a distinctly Christian perspective. For example, Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas.
Assign each member of the family to read a "thanksgiving" verse before the meal. Example of verses: 1 Chronicles 16:8-9; Psalm 7:17; Psalm 79:13; Psalm 86:12-13; Psalm 100:4-5; Psalm 106:1; Acts 17:24-25; 1 Corinthians

Parenting

Why Our Children Need the Doctrine of Total Depravity

November 25, 2013

I really resonated with this article by Jon Bloom: “Don’t Raise Good Kids.” I had a very similar experience growing up as a well-behaved, compliant child. It wasn't until late in my teen years that I was presented with the doctrine of my total depravity and my desperate need for a Savior. It was shocking for a "good" kid like me to finally learn and accept the truth after living in an environment that constantly affirmed my outward goodness. Here are some important words to ponder from his article:

Goodness is not behavior that ranks above the median line relative to other sinful people. Goodness is a fruit of faith (Galatians 5:22). When good kids’ behavior isn’t flowing from a deep trust in God, they’re being good for bad reasons. They’re just hellions in a compliant disguise. The good news is that Jesus came to save hellions!

Curriculum Products

Being Good is Not Good Enough

November 22, 2013

If you did not heard our exciting news last week, we have officially released the revised version of Jesus, What a Savior! Jesus What a Savior! is a 40 week Sunday school curriculum designed to teacher Kindergartners about Redemption. In the curriculum, author Jill Nelson shares why she wrote the curriculum.

A few years ago, I asked a class of first grade children, “How does a person get saved from their sin?” Many eager hands went up. The responses of these eager children? “By obeying God,” “By being kind to people,” “By being real good.” Not one child made reference to Jesus' death on the cross for sinners. It was not that these children did not know about the cross and its message, but it was not on the front burner of their hearts and minds. And so, the curriculum, Jesus, What a Savior! was

Teaching Encouragement

This "Experienced" Teacher Has a Lot to Learn

November 21, 2013

For the first time in 28 years, I am not teaching in children's ministries at our church. It feels very weird to not be teaching, but at the same time, this teaching sabbatical has been very good for me. After all these years, I am discovering just how inexperienced I am. Let me explain. This year, CDG is doing a series of regional conferences called Impact: The Next Generation. One of the privileges I have had during these conferences is meeting with teachers. In hearing their stories and experiences, I have to confess: I've had it easy these past 28 years! You see, for the most part, I have had the following experience:

Wonderful leadership that has trained, supported, and encouraged me.
Facilities that were designed with the needs of children in mind.
A fully supplied classroom and with all the additional teaching resources

Encouragement

The Gospel Song—An Animation

November 20, 2013

Wonderful! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoxWSk9fLMU

(Words by Drew Jones, Music by Bob Kauflin, copyright 2002, Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)/Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP), sovereigngracemusic.org, with an excerpt from John Piper's The Gospel in 6 Minutes, copyright 2013 Desiring God Foundation. Used by permission.)

Curriculum Products News

Now Available: Jesus, What a Savior! Revised

November 14, 2013

Children Desiring God is excited to announce the release of the revised version of Jesus, What a Savior! This 40-week Sunday school curriculum is designed to teach Kindergartners redemptive history. We have been working hard to improve the ways in which our curriculum equips teachers, engages students and impacts families:

Updated lessons provide teachers with devotionals and prayer points, incorporate more teacher-student interaction, maintain a consistent length and are formatted in a cleaner format that is easier to teach from.
New and expanded application questions help small group leaders guide children to apply truths taught in the lesson to their hearts. Questions complement the Student Workbook which has been redesigned to be more interactive for children.
Original, full-color visuals capture the attention of young learners and

Grace and Truth—Truth and Grace

November 14, 2013

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 ESV) In his book, The Grace and Truth Paradox: Responding With Christlike Balance, Randy Alcorn makes the following observations that are helpful in examining our hearts, and also in examining what we teach and the manner in which we teach it to our children and students,

Truth-oriented Christians love studying Scripture and theology. But sometimes they're quick to judge and slow to forgive. They're strong on truth and weak on grace. Grace-oriented Christians love forgiveness and freedom. But sometimes they neglect Bible study and see moral standards as legalism. They're strong on grace and weak on truth.

Lullaby Theology 101: Singing the Whole Counsel of God

November 13, 2013

By Sarah House At two years old, David is finding his singing voice. From the backseat he warbles about "The Wheels of the Bus," and in the bathtub he chirps out "The Itsy, Bitsy Spider." But yesterday I found him on our bed, thumbing through daddy's Bible, singing "Jesus Loves Me." We got out the ESV Bible my parents gave David when he was born and sat on the bed, looking at the pictures and singing the songs he had learned about God. One of those songs was Praise Him, Praise Him, All Ye Little Children:

Praise Him, praise Him, all ye little children, God is love, God is love; Praise Him, praise Him, all ye little children, God is love, God is love.

I've sung this many times around a circle of unruly toddlers and over crying babies in the nursery. When David was born, I started singing it to him at home as he sat in his chair and watched