RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

“We must face the sad fact that at the eleven o’clock hour on Sunday morning when we stand to sing, we stand in the most segregated hour in America…and the most segregated school is Sunday school.”   
Dr. Marin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King's statement still rings true in many churches today.  Walk in and everyone looks the same.  This is a problem.  Diversity must matter in churches.  Here's why. 

Diversity comes from God.  We see God's diversity in His creation.  Can you imagine if all flowers looked the same?  If all clouds were the exact same?  If all people were clones?  What a boring place it would be.  God looked at the diversity of His creation and said it was good.

Diversity reflects the heart of Jesus.  During His ministry on earth, Jesus reached across all social, ethnic and economic lines that people had drawn with their prejudices.

Heaven will reflect His heart for all people.  Revelation 7:9 describes the people Jesus has redeemed as they gather to worship Him.

"After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb."

Churches that are really serious about reaching people are diverse.  By 2050, there will not be a majority ethnic group in America.  The churches that God is using to reach people are diverse churches.  This will be even more obvious in the coming years.

Does diversity matter in your church?  Take a look at your congregation and the question answers itself.  If you want it to matter more, in this post I share some steps you can take to champion diversity in your church.

The most important person to affirm on your children's ministry team is the person reading this right now.  You!

If your team is going to be spiritually healthy...you have to be spiritually healthy.  If your team is going to be confident...you have to be confident.  If your team is going to be bold...you have to be bold.  If your team is going to be courageous...you have to be courageous.  If your team is going to walk in God's promises...you have to walk in God's promises.   

Many times we are our own biggest critic, aren't we.  We beat ourselves up...compare ourselves to others...remind ourselves of what we can't do...dwell on our failures...let negativity stay in our thoughts...believe what people other people say about us.

I am...

What would you finish the sentence with?

The next time you are discouraged, feeling worthless, trying to recover from a failure, or even on the verge of quitting...

Finish the sentence with what God says about you...

1. I am the object of God's kindness. (Ephesians 2:7)
2. I am someone whom God shows His power through. (Ephesians 3:7)
3. I am a citizen of heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
4. I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)
5. I am a light in the world. (Matthew 5:14)
6. I am a member of Christ's body. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
7. I am a member of God's household. (Ephesians 2:19)
8. I am a minister of reconciliation.  (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
9. I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
10. I am a personal witness for Jesus Christ. (Acts 1:8)
11. I am a saint. (Ephesians 1:18)
12. I am adopted as God's child. (Ephesians 1:5)
13. I am alive with Christ. (Ephesians 2:5)
14. I am assured all things work together for good. (Romans 8:28)
15. I am blameless in God's sight. (I Corinthians 1:8)
16. I am blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing. (Ephesians 1:3)
17. I am born again. (I Peter 1:23)
18. I am dearly loved. (Colossians 3:12)
19. I am chosen before the creation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4,11)
20. I am Christ's friend. (John 15:15)
21. I am completed by God. (Ephesians 3:19)
22. I am confident that God will perfect the work He has begun in me. (Philippians 1:6)
23. I am crucified with Christ. (Galatians 2:20)I
24. I am dead to sin. (Romans 1:12)
25. I am delivered. (Colossians 1:13)
26. I am faithful. (Ephesians 1:1)
27. I am forgiven. (Ephesians 1:8, Colossians 1:14)
28. I am given God's glorious grace lavishly and without restriction. (Ephesians 1:5,8)
29. I am God's child. (John 1:12)
30. I am God's co-worker. (2 Corinthians 6:1)
31. I am God's workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)
32. I am growing. (Colossians 2:7)
33. I am healed from sin. (I Peter 2:24)
34. I am hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
35. I am holy and blameless. (Ephesians 1:4)
36. I am in Him. (Ephesians 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:30)
37. I am included. (Ephesians 1:13)
38. I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)
39. I am no longer condemned. (Romans 8:1, 2)
40. I am not alone. (Hebrews 13:5)
41. I am not helpless. (Philippians 4:13)
42. I am not in want. (Philippians 4:19)
43. I am overcoming. (I John 4:4)
44. I am part of God's kingdom. (Revelation 1:6)
45. I am persevering. (Philippians 3:14)
46. I am prayed for by Jesus Christ. (John 17:20-23)
47. I am promised a full life. (John 10:10)
48. I am promised eternal life. (John 6:47)
49. I am protected. (John 10:28)
50. I am qualified to share in His inheritance.       (Colossians 1:12)
51. I am raised up with Christ. (Ephesians 2:6, Colossians 2:12)
52. I am redeemed from the curse of the Law.     (Galatians 3:13)
53. I am safe. (I John 5:18)
54. I am sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13)
55. I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 2:6)
56. I am secure. (Ephesians 2:20)
57. I am set free. (Romans 8:2,  John 8:32)
58. I am the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
59. I am united with other believers. (John 17:20-23)
60. I am victorious. (1 Corinthians 15:57)
61. I am confident I can approach God with freedom. (Ephesians 3:12)
62. I am certain of God's truths and the lifestyle which He has called me to. (Ephesians 4:17)
63. I am strong through Christ. (Ephesians 6:10)
64. I am bringing glory to God. (Ephesians 3:21)
65. I am forgiving of others. (Ephesians 4:32)
66. I am able to give thanks for everything.       (Ephesians 5:20)
67. I am walking with a new attitude and lifestyle. (Ephesians 4:21-32)
68. I am able to mature spiritually. (Ephesians 4:15)
69. I am able to stand firm in the day of evil.     (Ephesians 6:13)
70. I am able to understand what God's will is. (Ephesians 5:17)
71. I am near to God through Christ's blood.     (Ephesians 2:13)
72. I am called. (Ephesians 4:1, 2 Timothy 1:9)
73. I am chosen and God desires me to bear fruit.     (John 15:1,5)
74. I am established, anointed and sealed by God.          (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
75. I am justified. (Romans 5:1)
76. I am a recipient of the incomparable riches of God's grace. (Ephesians 2:7)
77. I am filled with God's power. (Ephesians 6:10)
78. I am filled with hope. (Ephesians 1:12)
79. I am walking in power, love and self-discipline instead of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)
80. I am peaceful. (Ephesians 2:14)
81. I am living with a purpose. (Ephesians 1:9 & 3:11)
82. I am redeemed. (Ephesians 1:8)
83. I am possessing the mind of Christ.                            (I Corinthians 2:16)
84. I am sharing in the promise of Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3:6)
85. I am protected with God's peace. (Philippians 4:7)