RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

When was the last time you took an "away day?"

By "away day" I mean you went somewhere alone so you could spend time in prayer, thinking strategically, soul searching and seeking God's direction and guidance.

Jesus often took some away time.

One of those is recorded in Mark 1.  He had gone alone to spend time with His Father.

The disciples came looking for Him with a sense of urgency.  Here's what they said.

"Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they said, "Everyone is looking for you."

Do you ever feel that way?  Like you can't get away because everyone wants something from you?  An email with your name on it.  A hospital visit.  A phone call in the office.   A text to your cell phone.  A person who wants a meeting with you.   It seems to be never-ending at times.

But, just as Jesus did, it is crucial that you have some "away days."  Days where you disconnect from your schedule so you can connect with God.  Days where you turn off the noise so you can hear the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit.  Days where you get spiritually re-fueled. 

Think about the burdens you carry that an away day can help lift.  Jesus reminds us in Mark 1 to "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."  You may be reading this and you're carrying a heavy, heavy burden.  You hide it from people with a smile, but inside you are collapsing under the burden.  

Take an away day.  Get with God and pour out your heart to Him.  He can bring rest to your soul. 

Think about the blessings that come from having an away day.  When you are busy, you would think the last thing you have time for is an "away day."  You look at your to-do-list and rationally it doesn't make sense to take an "away day."  But just like the tithe works, giving God a portion of your time enables you to get more done than if you hadn't taken an away day.  I know it doesn't make sense on paper, but when you get away and spend time with God, He makes up the difference and even multiplies it. 

Look at this verse in Mark.

But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Think about how your spiritual battery can be re-charged at an away day.  Are you like me?  I hate having to take the time to pull into a gas station and re-fill my gas tank.  My natural inclination is to enjoy driving more than stopping to gas up.  But if I don't take time to pull over to get gas, I will soon run out and not be able to make forward progress. 

If you want to last in ministry, then away days should be placed on your calendar on a regular basis.  Remember this...time spent with God is never time wasted. 

When is your next "away day?"  As we quickly approach a new year, take out your calendar and put in some "away days."  Do this and 2019 will be your best ministry year ever. 

As I read this verse, my heart is stirred.  I want to see God do more in my ministry, don't you?

In Luke 5, we see the story of some people who saw God do far more than they could ever have imagined.  In this passage, there are 7 steps to seeing God do more in your ministry.  Read the passage and then I'll share the seven steps with you.
"One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on Him to listen to the Word of God.  He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fisherman had left them and were washing their nets.

Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water.  So He sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.  When He had finished speaking,  He said to Simon, 'Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.'

'Master,' Simon replied, 'we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing.  But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again.'

And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!  A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell on his knees before Jesus and said, 'Oh, Lord, please leave me - I'm too much of a sinner to be around you.'  For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.  His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, 'Don't be afraid!  From now on you'll be fishing for people!'  And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus!"
Luke 5

Step 1 - MORE JESUS
It was when Jesus showed up that they saw the miracle.  His presence was the difference between no fish and boatloads of fish.  It's His power that brings more!

If you want to see God do more in your ministry, more than anything, you need Jesus' presence and anointing on your life.  Without this, you can labor for a lifetime and you won't see any miracles.  Fun games, high-energy videos, cool videos and awesome class spaces don't change lives.  I'm not against these things, I use them.  But they won't change a kid's life.  Only Jesus' presence can do that.

You see, God can do more in 1 second than we can in lifetime.  When we invite Jesus into our ministries through prayer, we will see great miracles.  You can then walk in Godfidence...knowing that He is going to do more than you could ever imagine or ask for.

Step 2 - MORE OBEDIENCE
When Jesus asked them to go back out into the water and let their nets down, they obeyed...even though it didn't make sense.  Look what Simon says...
You see, more obedience results in more blessings.  What is it that God is asking you to do?  Are you willing to obey even though it may seem unreasonable or not make sense?

Step 3 - MORE FRUIT
They saw Jesus do more than they could ever have imagined.  Two boats full of fish!  You may have reached a lot of kids and families up to this point, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.  God wants to use you to reach so many more.

Step 4 - MORE STRETCHING
Did you notice that their nets were stretched so tight that they started to tear and their boats were so full that they almost sank?  Talk about being stretched!

If you want to see God do more, then you have to be willing to be stretched out of your comfort zone.  Always growing...always learning...always teachable.

The temptation after you've been in children's ministry for awhile is to grow complacent...take your foot off the pedal...put it on cruise control.  Guard against it.  Look what Paul says in Philippians 3:13-14.

"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one things I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude."

Step 5 - MORE HELP
In order to receive all that Jesus had for them, they had to call for some friends to come help them.  If you want God to do more in your ministry, then you've got to prepare by bringing other people to help you receive it.

Build your volunteer base to receive more kids and He will send them.  Check out this verse in Matthew 9:38.

"So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send MORE workers into His fields."
Step 6 - MORE AWE
When Simon saw the miracle, he dropped to his knees in awe.  He realized the power and majesty of Jesus.  It ushered him into a mode of worship.

That is the response that must come from our hearts when we see God begin to work and bless us with more.  We cannot let the "more" that God sends our way cause us to become prideful or begin to be impressed by ourselves.  We must stay humble....realizing that it is His power that is at work and not our own.

Step 7 - MORE OF WHAT REALLY MATTERS
Look what Jesus tells Simon at the end.

"Don't be afraid!  From now on you'll be fishing for people!" 

If you want to see God do more in your ministry, then you must keep your focus on what matters to God...PEOPLE!

Everything we own is headed to the junk yard.  The car we drive...the house we live in...the clothes we wear...the new 80" flat screen HD TV...it will all eventually be trash.  But there is something that will last forever...something that really matters...and that is people!  People whom Jesus died for and loves.  People who need hope and faith.  People God wants to use you to reach.

May God pour out His blessings on you and your ministry.  May He send you MORE than you could ever imagine or ask for!

The enemy is known for whispering lies.  He started in the Garden of Eden and continues to this day.

Here are 10 lies he whispers to children's ministry leaders.  How do I know?  I've personally heard all of these.

1. You're not really making a difference.
2. What you do is not as important as adult ministry.
3. You don't have the ability to do this.
4. You're too busy to pray.
5. You're teaching kids.  If you were a really good teacher, you would be teaching adults.
6. No one wants to volunteer.
7. No one appreciates you and your ministry.
8. That kid or family can't be reached.
9. You're not successful because your children's ministry is not growing.  Give up and quit.
10. God doesn't care.  If He did, He wouldn't have let that child die.

When the enemy whispers these and other lies to you, what should you do?

Do what Jesus did in the wilderness.  Speak the Word of God back to him and stand on God's promises.

1. You're not really making a difference.  
It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.  -Isaiah 55:11

2. What you do is not as important as adult ministry. 
But Jesus said, "Let the children come to me.  Don't stop them!  For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children."  -Matthew 19:11

3. You don't have the ability to do this.
It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.
-Zechariah 4:6

4. You're too busy to pray. 
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.  Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.  -Matthew 6:6

5. You're teaching kids.  If you were a really good teacher, you would be teaching adults.
You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.  -2 Timothy 3:15

6. No one wants to volunteer.
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.  -Matthew 9:38

7. No one appreciates you and your ministry.
For God is not unjust.  He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.  -Hebrews 6:10

8. That kid or family can't be reached.
This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"--and I am the worst of them all.  
-I Timothy 1:15

9. You're not successful because your children's ministry is not growing.  Give up and quit.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.  -1 Corinthians 3:6-9

10. God doesn't care.  If He did, He wouldn't have let that child die.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  -Isaiah 55:8-9

What are some other lies the enemy has whispered to you?  How did you stand against it?

The floor is yours. Share with us in the comment section below.  God will use your words to encourage and help us.