RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

I've read and taught the story of the five loaves and 2 fish many times.  But as I was reading it again last week something jumped out at me that I had never noticed before.

Another of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” John 6:8-9

The bread and fish were small.  Small means small in the Bible.  The child didn't have a five pound bass.  It was a small fish.  And we know that Jesus took that small fish and did a big miracle.  

From this we learn that...

• Jesus is looking for people with small talent that will make a big surrender.  Jesus is more concerned with the size of the surrender than He is with the size of the talent.
  

• Small Talent + Big Surrender = Big Miracles.  He loves to use the small to accomplish the miraculous.  This results in the glory going to God instead of man.
  

• Jesus will continue to use those who stay small after they see Him do big things with what they've surrendered.  In order to continue to be used by God, you must remember it is His ability and not yours that causes the miracles to happen.
  

Do you feel like what you have to offer Jesus is small?  That's just what He's looking for.  Place it in His hands and watch Him do the miraculous.

A study was done involving over 140 elementary students.  Their personality traits were evaluated and documented.

40 years later, they were evaluated again.  The traits they exhibited as adults mirrored the traits they had exhibited as children.

The most interesting thing to me...the researchers said though personality plays a big role in how kids turn out as adults...they also documented that life events are also a major determining factor.

The first five years of a child's life are the most formative.  Much of what a person becomes is developed during this time with the first three years being the most critical.

As a children's ministry leader, you have the unique privilege of influencing children at the most important time in their life.  What you teach them will not only make a difference in their lives now, but will stay with them for the rest of their lives.  You are helping shape their future.

John 15:16 says you will bear fruit and your fruit will remain.  The awesome thing about serving in children's ministry...you will bear fruit now and later.  You get to see the kids you invested in grow up and become adults who are serving God and making a difference. 

Be encouraged.  The fruit you see now is just the beginning.  When you influence a child...you influence them for a lifetime.  Now that is fruit that remains!

If you haven't seen the video "Now and Later" check it out and share it with your team.

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)