Monthly Archives: July 2017

Sooner or later, a child who is regularly sitting through a Sunday morning worship service is bound to ask something like, “Why can’t I have a ‘snack’ like everyone else?” So it is not surprising that the second most-frequent question I am asked in children’s ministry is, “When should my child take the Lord’s Supper?”

A General Response 

There are some wonderful updates in the newly revised A Sure Foundation nursery curriculum, but some of our customers have had questions about what to order from among the various resources offered. See this blog post for specific information on how we have refreshed and expanded our nursery curriculum. Some of our customers have asked what they should order to add to their current resources. Many appreciate the new format (with ... More

What kind of pray-ers will our children be? That is a great question to think about. If we want them to be serious about prayer, they must not only be taught but also shownhow prayer is to be woven throughout everyday life. Here are some practical tips from Sally Michael to encourage your children in prayer.

• Gather your children when you hear of a prayer need and ask them to pray with you.
  • EXAMPLE: When a problem comes to your attention, pray about it… “Susie, let’s pray for the people who were in the earthquake.”
• Take advantage of unexpected moments for prayer—spur of the moment prayers.
  • EXAMPLE: When you see an ambulance, pray for the person who has the medical problem.
• Ask your child to pray for you. Give him specific things he can pray for.
  • EXAMPLE: "I’m having a hard time with a project I am working on for my job. Would you pray for me?” 
• Give your child a list of topics to pray for.

It is amazing to me how many times—especially in life’s most difficult situations—the words of great hymns come to mind to guide my thoughts and emotions.

…though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet…Jesus who died shall be satisfied, And earth and heaven be one.—This is My Father’s World

 …The prince of darkness grim, We tremble not for him—His rage we can endure, For lo his doom is sure: One little word shall fell him.—A Mighty Fortress

 …Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love: Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.—Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing ... More

In his message “Let the Children Come to Me,” Pastor John Piper examined Luke 18:15-17 and made the following statement, Disciples of Jesus should remove all hindrances that keep children from coming to Jesus. He then went on to spell out some hindrances that we should try to remove in ministering to children. Here are excerpts from four of these:

1. Pride ...If you are receiving the kingdom yourself like a little child, then you will not do anything to hinder little children from coming to Jesus. But if you are trying to enter the kingdom some other way than by receiving it like a child, then you will probably be a hindrance to children. If you are not childlike toward God, children will probably be beneath you and not worth your time. So there is a very close connection between your own humility and your ability to lead children to Jesus. The great hindrance to effective ministry to children is pride, and the great gift for ministry to children is humility.

Parents and Teachers

Be careful young people that you don't postpone the burden and blessing of fruitfulness in your life because you use the excuse, "I am only a youth." God said to Jeremiah, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go." There are some younger than you that you can lead, and there are some older than you that you can serve. But do not say, "I am only a youth," as though the only thing you are good for is watching videos and playing games, as though there in no ministry for you to do.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.—James 1:22-25

What's your plan for the 4th of July? A day at the lake? Grilling brats and burgers in the backyard? A bike ride? Camping? Time with family and friends? Getting caught up on some yard work? And fireworks, especially if you have children?  All of these can be great ways to spend your 4th, but it might also be good to consider spending 10 or 15 minutes reminding yourself and your children about God's great gift to us called "government." What we in the USA call "Independence Day" should, in reality, be called "Dependence Day," as we acknowledge that it is ultimately God who establishes thrones and rulers—or removes them at His will. It's important to teach our children some basic things about government. Consider the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 13. He lived under Roman rule—a government that promoted pagan beliefs and persecuted the early church—and yet he reminds us of the following... ... More