Monthly Archives: July 2017

The Lord’s Supper and Children

July 26, 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

When people inquire about children taking the Lord’s Supper, I have two perspectives to share with them. The first is that our communion services are open to all present, including children, who are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins and the fulfillment of all His promises to us (including eternal life); and therefore, children are welcome to participate in the Lord’s Supper:

Products

Navigating the Changes in the Nursery Curriculum

July 24, 2017

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 thumbnails of visuals and actions clearly marked in each lesson) and choose to replace their original leader’s editions with the updated Teacher’s Guides. Others decide to continue using the original leader’s editions and just want to add the new material. We have

Teaching Vision Encouragement Parenting

Encouraging Children in Prayer

Steve Watters - July 19, 2017

Children Desiring God Blog // Encouraging Children in Prayer 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.

Worship

Will Our Children Know and Treasure the Great Hymns of Faith?

July 17, 2017

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

Vision Devotional Encouragement

Are We Hindering Children from Coming to Jesus?

July 12, 2017

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.

Teaching Vision Encouragement Youth Parenting

Inspiring Youth to Be Fruitful

Jill Nelson - July 10, 2017

Children Desiring God Blog // Inspiring Youth to Be Fruitful

Parents and Teachers

Here are some great quotes to read and discuss with the young adults in your life:

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.

Teaching Encouragement Bible Skills Parenting

Unchanged…or Changed?

July 05, 2017

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

How easy it is for us to read the Bible, close the pages of this life-changing book…and walk away unchanged. Our response to God’s Word is much like a man who looks at himself in the mirror and forgets what he looks like. When a man forgets his reflection in the mirror, is it because there something wrong with the image reflected in the mirror? Is the mirror faulty? No, and neither is God’s Word faulty, though we walk away unchanged. The problem is with us. We read but we do not apply; we do not consider what God’s words mean for our everyday lives.

Encouragement Parenting

Don't Waste Your Holiday

July 03, 2017

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...