Kingdom Cash

Jesus famously said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35) Do you ever wonder why we so often rob our kids of this blessing? We unwittingly train our kids to be little takers instead of givers. It permeates our culture in America. Kids can’t go out for lunch (which, in itself, should be a treat) without clamoring for a toy to go along with the meal that was purchased for them.

Years ago, for our Wednesday night program, our system was to set up a “store” in which our kids could “spend” the credit they earned by memorizing verses. The result? Kids pick out two or three trinkets that would wind up under the back seat of the SUV before they arrived home that night. At best, it was a momentary perk; at worst, we were valuing the Word of God with a ten-cent plastic ring or smiley face pin.

Then we stumbled onto to something better. Much better. We can’t take credit. We borrowed the idea from another church who graciously answered all of our questions. Now our kids earn the ability to give to those in need. Yes, they still get a chocolate kiss for instant gratification, but long term, they save up paper dollars (one earned for every verse recited) and a few times a year, they choose items to buy for others. Whether it’s a mosquito net to protect a family in India, a baby chick that will grow up to supply eggs for a family in Nairobi, or a soccer ball for a school in Peru, our kids are giving items that matter. And oh how they love it.

This is not an inexpensive venture, as our beloved congregation substitutes a real dollar for every dollar earned. But as we see our kids excitedly pooling their resources together and debating which items would help someone the most, our spirits bear witness to the truth Jesus spoke, and our kids feel the blessing.

Don’t Lose Your Balance

You may have heard it said that a person’s greatest strength is often their greatest weakness. You probably see this principle played out all the time. For example, someone at work is incredibly efficient. You rely on his ability to get things done (and done right). However, he might come across a bit too pointed and direct when it comes to personal matters. Or maybe you know someone who is the life-of-the-party type. And while you love hanging out with her at social functions, you have given up on expecting much deep one-on-one time with her.

Now, no one can be all things to all people, and God has certainly given each person specific gifts. But there is something beautiful about being well-rounded. If we are gifted in one area, we cannot allow that gift to go unchecked and become a stumbling block to others. I once heard a woman declare of her lack of compassion, “I have the gift of prophecy. I can’t even spell mercy!” She meant this in jest, but still, I believe Jesus would have us strike a balance (Colossians 3:12-17). Paul says our goal is–along with unity and faith–to “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” – Ephesians 4:13

So self-evaluate. Ask those who know you best what your strengths are (and if you’re very brave, ask about your weaknesses too). See if your strengths have overpowered what should be a well-tempered tool used for God’s glory.

When pairing small group leaders, it’s a great idea to match up two leaders who have different gifts. Partner a social butterfly with a Bible Scholar. Match up a talker with a thinker. First of all, they will balance each other out, giving their small group the best of both worlds. And secondly, they will learn each other’s traits, making each of them a more balanced person.

When to Address Behavior Issues During Worship

We've all been in the situation. It's time for corporate worship with our kids. Most of our kids are singing, perhaps doing motions, lifting praise to God. But there are a few kids who are distracted (or distracting). When is the right time to intervene?

Worship is responding rightly to the revelation of God, and we believe it’s an integral component of kids' ministry. The best thing you can do to encourage kids to worship is to teach them the amazing goodness of God. Then, during worship time, be engaged yourself. Kids will follow your example. If leaders are hanging back and talking to each other, kids will naturally assume it’s time to talk to friends. But if they see you focusing on the Lord and singing His praises, they will likely do the same.

A good rule of thumb is: Of course you can’t force a child to worship, but you should step in if he or she is distracting another child from worshiping. (The same could be said of listening in large group or participating in small group.) If a child is talking, rough housing, or otherwise calling attention to himself, a gentle correction is in order.

I remember walking into our middle school room during a beautiful worship set one morning. Almost every student had their hands up or eyes lifted upward, singing and considering the goodness of God. But as I slipped in through the back door, something quickly caught my eye. About four rows from the back, one of the boys was reaching over several other boys in an attempt to grab a friend’s baseball cap. With the grabbing and wrestling that ensued, every eye in the four rows behind them was focused on them, not on God. This is a time to intervene.

But rather than giving a sharp word or disapproving look, take time to get to the heart of the matter. Gently pull the disruptive child aside and with genuine concern, say something like: “You know, worship is the time when we give God the attention and gratitude He deserves. All of the kids around you want focus on God right now. But when you draw attention to yourself, you are actually stealing the attention that God deserves. I would hate for you to be in the position of taking something that belongs to God, so why don’t you stay with me and we can worship together.” (Malachi 3:8) This approach shows your love and concern for the child while you quell the distraction.

Is Your Church a Cruise Ship or a Battleship?

We have a saying around here: Church can either be a cruise ship or a battleship. It can either be a place of light entertainment, or it can be a place to ready its inhabitants for combat. If this sounds over-dramatic, please consider the words of Jesus, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” (John 10:10a) Our kids are under assault. The enemy craftily conspires to steal their innocence, destroy their families, and take their very lives. And the weapon he most readily uses is deception. He can accomplish his mission when he entices our kids to believe his lies. The only counter to lies is truth.

This is not to say we don’t have fun! Quite the contrary, our kids love coming to KidzLife and they often invite their unchurched friends. Our evenings are loud with the style of music kids love, and it’s even crazy at times. We incorporate technology and we strive for excellence in all that we do. But we never lose our focus of presenting God’s truth, because the enemy is on the prowl.

So often children’s workers believe we need more bells and louder whistles, when what we really need is truth. Rest assured, the truth is irresistibly attractive when we teach it accurately:

The God of the universe is so crazy about you that He gave His very life to make a way for you to enter His kingdom (Romans 5:8-10). He wants you to live a righteous life because it is the best possible life, and the only way for you to be fulfilled (Proverbs 13:9). His way is not a list of rules that we strive to keep through our own power (Romans 3:21-28). His way is a changed heart set free from sin and empowered by His very Spirit (Romans 8:2). As Jesus concludes, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b)

Our kids have been prepared for the battle. They have been groomed for victory. They are armed with the truth of the Living God. Therefore, we should not be afraid for our kids to step out into the world; the world should be afraid of our kids!

What’s More Important Than Raising Good Kids?

Our entire walk with the Lord comes down to one key principle: Belief.

And when He took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. - Revelation 5:8

While this passage is deep with symbolism and meaning, consider this one simple thought: God keeps our prayers. In gold bowls, He keeps our prayers. Why do our meager thoughts and utterances mean so much to the Creator of the Cosmos? It may be because our prayers are ultimately proof of our faith. When we pray we are telling God that we trust Him. Why else would we ask for His help? Why in the world would we waste our time and energy coming to Him if we were not convinced that He IS and He holds all the power? Indeed, our prayers are little scraps of evidence that we believe. Therefore, He stores them like precious mementos in a treasure box.

Belief is what God wanted from Adam and Eve in the garden. We can almost imagine God begging the question (in a very humanized paraphrase): “I told you this would harm you. I know best. Why won’t you believe Me?” And several millennia later, Jesus echoed His Father’s sentiments. When asked what works could be done to please God, Jesus answered, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one He has sent.” (John 6:29).

This core principle of belief is what we must impart to our kids. Our goal is not moral kids who tow the line and look clean-cut on the outside. That would be far too shallow an outcome! No, we want kids who BELIEVE God. When they truly grab hold of His goodness, they’ll trust His instruction, and their behavior will (super)naturally fall in line. And, much more importantly, they will live in relationship with God as He designed it to be (Leviticus 26:12, John 15:4).

Keep It Simple when Teaching Kids

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a hundred times. “If you give them too much, they’ll walk away with nothing.” And it bears repeating one more time. “If you give them too much, they’ll walk away with nothing.” This could be said of any age group, but we have found it to be particularly true for teaching kids.

You’ve certainly heard of this experiment: Put twenty random items together on a table. Have someone examine the contents for thirty seconds. Then have him close his eyes, wait a minute, and then list the items. The average person can recall a few. But what if there was only one item on the table? With only one item to look at, is there any way the person wouldn’t recall the singular item? This method is certainly applicable to teaching Bible lessons to kids.

The problem (if you want to call it that) is that we have so much rich, transformational material to teach from God’s Word that sometimes teachers find it difficult to know when to stop. A good rule of thumb for large group is to teach just one main point per session, and be sure that every Scripture, story, and illustration expounds on that main point.

Resist the temptation to dissect every word or every point in a passage. You’ll have other times to teach those wonderful points. And remember that you are teaching children. We never, ever water down truth, but we do narrow the scope. Even though you may have found an amazing, insightful cross-reference to the passage you are teaching, or you uncovered a complex theological doctrine, sharing it with your young audience might just muddy the waters for them. (These insights might best be shared in an email to fellow leaders or parents.)

To keep you on track and off the rabbit trails, write out your main point and refer to it often as you prepare. Ask yourself, “Does the illustration or personal story I’m planning to tell demonstrate this point?” If not, save it for another lesson. Remember, kids (K-5th grade) can usually sit for 20-25 minutes. If you keep them longer, it’s possible that the only thing they will remember is how long your lesson was!

How Did the Disciples Share Their Faith?

We often hear the phrase “share you faith” in the context of evangelism, using a gospel presentation such as CWT or Romans Road. But consider how the disciples shared their faith in Acts 3.

Peter and John headed to the temple to pray. On their way, they passed a man who had never been able to walk. He could only beg for his basic needs because someone placed him next to the temple. Day in, day out, he knew the drill. As he sat on the ground, his line of sight, if you can imagine, was fixed on all the healthy legs walking past him. He had no hope of ever walking himself. He was resigned to the cold, hard, fact that he was–and would remain–a cripple. His highest expectation was a coin tossed in his direction. Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” This fellow had no confident assurance that he would ever walk. But along came two who did!

Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. – Acts 3:4-8 NIV

Peter didn’t have material wealth to offer; he had something far greater! He had faith. He was certain that Jesus would heal this man. Where the beggar had no hope, Peter reached out and shared his, as if saying, “I am sure. Lean on my assurance.” And sure enough, the no-longer-lame man’s faith exploded! Then he had faith to share (verse 10).

That’s what we do. As parents and as children’s ministry workers, we share the confidence and hope that God has given us with those who come behind–those who haven’t experienced what we have, those who need a faith to lean on.

We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders… so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and they in turn will teach their own children. – Psalm 78:4,6 NLT

How Does a Personal Story Affect Your Lesson?

One pastor said, “I could give the same sermon with a different personal story, and everyone will think I’ve given a completely new sermon. But if I tell the same personal story with a completely different text, everyone will think I’ve told the same sermon twice!” Funny enough, it’s the stories that stick.

Why do personal stories strike such a chord? I believe it’s because kids want to know these things can really happen. These aren’t just ancient stories. These supernatural truths don’t just apply to bearded men wearing robes. Kids want to see the principles of God’s kingdom being lived out now–in our time, in our town, by real people.

Bible lesson teachers, telling kids that Jesus wants us to forgive is fantastic (Luke 17:4). Expounding on that truth by sharing a specific story of when you forgave someone is even better. Tell them about the knots that gripped your stomach each time you heard the offender’s name before you forgave. Tell them how the Holy Spirit nudged you (or dragged you) to the point where you knew forgiveness was not just an option but a necessity. Explain to them the process by which you laid the offense at the foot of the cross, because, after all, Jesus came to bear every offense. And express the joy you felt afterward–the crushing weight that was lifted off your shoulders. By telling your personal stories, you are testifying to the truths in Scripture. This teaching model is stated clearly by Paul, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

And don’t just share the “good stuff.” Certainly we want to tell kids about the times we’ve seen God work, and the times when we were submissive putty in the Potter’s hands. But do not be afraid to tell of the times you missed the mark. Kids are incredibly forgiving of your faults, and they will learn from your mistakes. They will appreciate your honestly and be encouraged that you failed once and rose to make better choices another day.

The next time your young audience starts to fidget, engage them with a personal story. Watch what happens when you turn Biblical principles into a narrative that captures their imaginations.

What Does That Mean?

The Psalmist cried out, “Lord, give me understanding according to your word!” (Psalm 119:169)

Have you ever read a verse to kids and then realized the words were way over their heads? I still remember, several years ago at church, a 3rd grader recited Hebrews 10:7 to me verbatim. Job well done. But when I asked, “Do you know what ‘atonement’ means?” he shrugged his shoulders with a very matter-of-fact, “No.” In fact, most of the words in the NKJV translation he had committed to memory were foreign to him. He might as well have been studying another language. And the saddest part was, he had grown so accustom to this practice, he didn’t even seem to realize that the words might actually have meaning behind them.

So I began to explain each word and its definition. Now, there is nothing more fun than describing the incredible work of Jesus–especially to a child! But what I realized was, I was basically translating the translation he had memorized. I became a “middleman” of sorts. I was, on the fly, pulling words together to replace the words that were encrypted in his mind. Wouldn’t it be better for him to memorize words he already understood? I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.

Our team set out to find a translation that kids could more easily understand. We discovered the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), which is written on a fourth grade level. Based on the NIV, but referring back to the best and oldest copies of the Hebrew and Greek, the NIrV is simple and easy to understand. Shorter words are used in place of long or complex ones, and lengthy sentences are shortened. The highly skilled translators of this Bible poured over the original texts for untold hours and used the most appropriate words they could find. When a child reads this version, he understands for himself. When he memorizes it, he gets the meaning, and it can begin to transform his heart, and therefore his actions–no “middleman” required!

Why Do We Ask So Many Questions in Small Group?

When we look at how Jesus taught in intimate settings, we see questions–hundreds of questions.

“Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:13

“Why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

“What do you want me to do for you?” Matthew 20:32

“Why are you thinking such things in your heart?” Mark 2:8

Certainly, Jesus knew every answer! He wasn’t asking to gain knowledge for Himself. The point is: He wanted the pupil to ponder. He wanted the student to dig down deep to uncover what belief filled his heart.

Noting the open-endedness of Jesus’ questions, we strive to follow suit. Rarely will we ask a question like, “How many disciples where in the boat?” That is academic; our goal is application. Rather, the questions are more along the lines of: “How do you think the disciples felt when the boat started rocking?” Followed by, “Why?” And then, “When do you feel afraid?” The deeper we dig, the more good it will do. Every action is born out of a belief held (James 1:15). Without knowing what we believe, we cannot change to align with God.

In KidzLife small groups, the line of questions we give always has a direction, but in asking questions, we leave the Holy Spirit plenty of room to work. After all, it’s God who searches the heart. No matter how well-intentioned, no leader truly knows everything about a child. We can’t know who they haven’t forgiven, the fear they hide from everyone, the small bit of unbelief they may cling to. But when we ask, and the child considers, the Holy Spirit can uncover.

Some might argue that it is easier for a leader to enter small group with a bullet-pointed list of Biblical truths to disseminate. But “easy” rarely changes a life. So ask questions to get to the heart of the matter, just as Jesus did. And trust that He will bring about the change and full life that He promises (2 Corinthians 5:17, John 10:10).

Does Your Face Light Up?

“What a child really wants to know is: does your face light up when they walk in the room?” (Toni Morrison) Our volunteers often joke that everything seems to go wrong on Wednesdays. Files get mysteriously deleted at work, cars run out of gas, and kids accidentally leave a much-needed textbook at school. Stress can run high as we rush to church. But if you have the honor of working with kids, do your best to leave your stress at the door. Prayer is the very best way to do this. Seriously. If you’ve had a rough day, sit in your car for a few extra minutes and ask God to clear your mind, fill you with joy so much that it overflows, and help you to see His kids the way He does.

As a teacher of Bible Lessons for kids or a small group leader, you have been given a precious opportunity. You are Christ’s messenger. “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us.” – 2 Corinthians 5:20a

The very next sentence begins, “We speak for Christ…” Let that sink in for a minute. For a period of time, ordained by God, you will be His mouthpiece. What will you say–and just as importantly, how will you say it? Will you be short and impatient, or will you speak with understanding as Jesus did? Will you listen intently for the answers to the questions you ask? Will kids leave your presence knowing that they matter to God?

Keep in mind that some of your kids (usually the ones who are giving you the hardest time) are dealing with very difficult situations. We live in a fallen world with broken people. Sadly, our kids are not shielded from the cares that affect us all. Let’s show them that there are Biblical solutions to the problems they face, and let’s echo the Father’s joy as He sings over each child (Zephaniah 3:17).

Transparency Leads the Way

A KidzLife Small Group leader recently told us this story:

During our small group, we were talking about times that it is hard to really believe what God says. Even though my co-leaders and I were asking great questions, none of our kids would open up. I had prayed about sharing something personal, and I felt that perhaps if I shared my own struggle, the kids might open up. So I told the kids that I had started smoking when I was a teenager. Over the years, I have tried to stop many times. But this time, as I am trying to stop smoking, I am believing God for His help and His power. Some of the kids (and the other leaders) were shocked that I admitted this problem, but I felt that it was really important for me to be honest with my struggles. It was really cool to hear the kids, one after the other, share stuff that they were dealing with too. In church, as an adult leader, it's hard to admit short-comings because we so want to be a role model to our kids, but I am learning that part of being a good leader means that I have to be honest and willing to admit areas in my life where I truly need God's help.