RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Did you know kids love to unbox things?  I think it's the mystery and excitement of what might be in the box. 

Think about opening presents at Christmas.  Even as adults, we feel the wonder and anticipation of what is waiting for us inside the wrapping.

Another example is baseball or football trading cards.  Kids (and adults) purchase a pack of these cards and eagerly await to see what lies inside the wrapping.

It's the mystery of what is in the box that makes it irresitible for kids.

And did you know that some of the top kid YouTube stars are based on the theory of getting kids excited to see what's behind the packaging?  One of the top "unboxing" stars is a 7-year-old boy named Ryan.  He unboxes toys and reviews them in front of a camera.  His short, simple unboxing videos have helped him gain 17.3 million followers and 26 billion views as of March 2015.  According to Forbes magazine, he has become the highest paid YouTube star, earning over $22 million in the 12 months leading up to June 1, 2018.

The mystery format and immersive experience of opening boxes of toys has beome almost as important as the toy itself. 

This got my idea generator working and I believe you can use this same concept to share the Gospel with kids.  This can be done in any size setting or format.

What if....

• you give each child in your class a small to medium size box that is sealed

• inside the box you place wrapped toys or objects that represent the plan of salvation

• kids open their box and you have them bring out the wrapped item that is in the shape of a cup

• when they open it, it's a dark blue plastic cup that has a ping pong ball inside it

• you have the kids place their cup in the middle of a table or on the floor

•  they try to bounce the ping pong ball into the cup from a few feet away

•  if they make it, have them continue to play until everyone has missed at least once

• explain that this is like us, we have all missed the mark of being perfect like God

• we have all sinned (Romans 3:23) - explain what sin is

• look at the blue cup - it's a reminder that our sin makes God "blue" or sad

• have kids set the cup and ball to the side

• next have the kids get out the next wrapped item (show them which one) and have them open it

• inside the wrapping is a cross

• explain to the kids that Jesus died on the cross for our sins - He took our place - He paid the price that we owe for our sins (Romans 5:8)    

• then have the kids pull out the item that is wrapped in birthday party paper - inside the paper can be any item or small toy that you want to wrap (you can get small toys or items from www.orientaltrading.com for a good price)

• share with the kids that inviting Jesus into your life is like accepting a birthday present - it's free for you - but you have to reach out and accept it before it is yours

• explain that you invite Jesus into your life by praying to Him and asking Him to be 3 things for you (Romans 10:13)

• have the kids bring out the small wrapped item and open it - it's an eraser - you first ask Him to be your FORGIVER  - when you do this He forgives (erases) your sins forever (John 3:16)

• have the kids open the next small wrapped item - it's a whistle - next you ask Jesus to be your LEADER - like a coach - have kids blow the whistle - you tell Jesus you will follow Him and obey Him like you would a coach - He wants to be the coach, the boss of your life (at this point you may have to collect the whistles so they don't continue with the noise - ha)

• finally have the kids pull out the last item and open it - it is an envelope - inside the envelope is a card that says "I want to be your best friend" - Jesus - explain that Jesus wants to be their best friend. (Proverbs 18:24) 

This is just one example of how you can use something that kids (and adults) love to connect them to Biblical truth.  The unboxing method can be used to teach kids Biblical truth.  The possibilities are many.  Let the unboxing begin!

If you are looking for a way to share the Gospel with the kids and parents in your ministry in a setting that brings them together, check out Starting Point.  It's a class that is being used by churches across the country to reach kids and parents for Jesus.  More info. here about it.

I am deeply concerned about where the big C church is leading children.

We are spending more time teaching children how to be good than we are teaching children about the Gospel.

Teaching kids about positive character traits is a good thing, but I don't believe it is the best thing to teach kids at church.

I believe we must keep the Gospel at the center of everything we teach kids.  It's the transforming power of the Gospel that enables kids to live out the fruits of the Spirit.

We have such a small window of time to teach kids.  The average family is only in church 1-2 times a month.  We must make every Sunday count.  What will you focus on for those weeks?  Being good?  Being kind?  Being cooperative?  Being thoughtful?  These are good things for kids to learn about, but with a limited number of weeks, I don't believe they are the best things for kids to learn.

The church must focus on the centrality of our message.  The Gospel.

And so I would encourage you to take a hard look at what you are teaching.  Does it take kids to the cross?  Does it show kids that all our righteousness is like a dirty rag without the cleansing blood of Jesus?

Being good points kids toward themselves, while the cross points kids to Jesus and what He did to redeem us.

When we point kids toward themselves, we will produce good kids.  When we point kids to the cross, we will raise kids who love Jesus and depend upon Him. 

The danger of focusing kids on being good puts them at the center of the story.  God becomes a divine therapist whose chief goal is to make them happy.  They become the center of the story, rather than Jesus being the central focus of everything they are involved in.

We know that 85% of people who come to Jesus, do so before the age of 18.  If we are going to reach the next generation, then we must share the Gospel on a regular basis and make it the centrality of everything we teach.

If we don't, we will produce a generation that is good, but are void of the power of the cross to change lives.

Want a new curriculum that will put the Gospel at the center of the lessons?  Then Connect 12 is just what you are looking for.  Each month, the Gospel is clearly explained.  A clearly explained pathway for kids to accept the message of the cross is woven throughout the lessons.  You can get more info. and see lesson samples at this link. 

Starting Point is a class that kids attend with their parents to learn what it means to follow Jesus.  In one year, the class was used to see 480 kids and many parents come to Christ and follow Him in baptism.

Yes, we need kids to be good.  But more than anything, we need kids who have been born again through the Gospel and are prepared to go and share it with others.

Good kids?  Gospel kids?  Which do you want?  Remember...being good will not change kids' lives.
But accepting the Message of the Gospel will enable kids to live for Christ.

Paul put it like this...

"For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."  1 Corinthians 2:2

Your turn.  The floor is yours.  Do you think churches must focus more on the Gospel?  Does your curriculum take kids to the cross?  Share your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below.  

Summer is in full swing now, which means many of you have either had your VBS (or whatever you call it) or you're preparing for it.

There's a lot of planning, resources, energy, promotion and prep work to get ready for VBS.

When it's over, you breathe a sigh of relief.  You're exhausted, but it's a good exhausted, isn't it?   You saw God at work in the lives of kids and parents.  Doesn't get any better than that.

But it's not over yet.  What you do coming out of VBS can have a big impact on your ministry.  Let's look at 7 key steps you can take coming out of VBS that can help the momentum you gained continue for the rest of the year. 

1. Debrief  - Do you want your VBS to be even better next year?  Gather a group of key leaders and do a debrief.  Ask questions like this...

• What went well?  
• What needs to be changed or tweaked? 
• What needs to be stopped?
• What's one thing we can change to make it better next year?
• What was missing?
• What was confusing?
• Where did you see God at work?

Write down the answers and use it to improve your VBS next year.  Another way to get feedback is to send out an online survey to volunteers and parents.  You can send free surveys at www.surveymonkey.com.

It's also a good idea to get the kids' feedback on VBS.  You can gather a group of kids and ask them quesions like this...

• What was fun?
• What was boring?
• What would you add to make it even better next year?
• Can you tell me what you learned from the lessons?

Gather all the feedback you can.  Receive it as a gift that can help your VBS be even better.

2. Follow up with guests.  You probably had guests that came to your VBS. It's important to follow up with them, if the goal is to get them connected to your church.  There's lots of ways to contact them.  A phone call.  Text message.  Letter.  Email.  Postcard.  Whatever strategy you use, here are a few tips to help.

• Follow-up should be done through the child's parents.  Think about how you would respond if a stranger called, wanting to speak with your child.  Avoid this awkward situation.  Also, focus on the unchurched families who came.  

• Have something special for VBS guests when they come to your weekend services.  Some ideas are...

• gift for each child / family
• reception after the service for VBS guests
• start a new teaching series that will be relevant to unchurched people

3. Follow up with those who made a decision for Christ.  If you shared the Gospel during the large group time, then it's crucial to follow up with the family.  I highly reccomend that you offer a class for those who indicated they wanted to follow Jesus and enter a relationsihp with Him.

I believe it is critical to include their parents in the process.  The Starting Point class has been used to help thousands of kids and parents enter a relationship with Jesus.  You can get it at this link.

4. Clean up.  Services are still happening on the weekend.  The rest of the church will appreciate it if you clean up.  If you're not going to use it again, then get rid of it.  We don't want to have to come to your church to film an episode of Hoarders.

One way to clean up while at the same time being a blessing to other churches, is to donate your leftover resources, stage decorations, game items, etc. to these churches.

Enlist people to help with clean up ahead of time.  If you don't, you may be cleaning up by yourself.

5. Thank those who volunteered.  Make sure you show your appreciation for the people who volunteered.  A handwritten note that is personalized is gold.  You can also include a small gift.  Perhaps have a cookout the next week for them.  However you do it, say "thank you."

Another great thing to do is share a report with them about what God did during VBS.  Decisions that were made.  New kids that came.  New parents that came.  Offering for missions total.

All of these can be used to show volunteers how God used their serving and giving.  This is the "why" of their service.  This is their "pay" for serving.  Make sure you pay them.

6. invite new volunteers to join your team on a regular basis.  You probably have some volunteers who served for the first time during VBS.  After VBS ends, call them and invite them to join the team on a regular basis.  I've had as many as 85% of volunteers who served for the first time at VBS, to join the team and start serving during weekend services.

Of course, if you want to hear a "yes" then you've got to give them a great "first-time serving" experience.  Place them with your best volunteers.  Don't shove them in a room with 30 preschoolers and a teenager and expect them to have a good first experience.

7. Stop to celebrate what God did.  It's easy to move quickly on to your next event or program.  But it's also important to slow down and celebrate what God did.  Share the stories of life change.  Share about the kids who made a decision for Christ.  Share about how many first-time guests came.  Share about families that came on Sunday because of VBS.

The angels in heaven are celebrating.  Why not celebrate here on earth?

Your turn.  What are some other things you do coming out of VBS?  Share your thoughts and insight in the comment section below.

Christmas is just around the corner.  It's such a great time to share Jesus with kids and their families.

That's why we created a special stand-alone lesson for the Christmas season.  It's called "The Christmas Gift" and it follows the heart-warming story of a boy named Andrew who discovers the true meaning of Christmas and is given the greatest Christmas gift ever...Jesus.

Kids find out that because Jesus came, our sins can be forgiven and we can have eternal life when we accept His gift of salvation.

I used this lesson in our local church and we saw many children and their parents come to Christ as a result. 

The lesson includes...

• graphics for posters, social media, promotion, etc.

• graphic slides for Power Point, Pro Presenter, Media Shout, Keynote, etc. 

• 5-minute countdown video

• lesson videos that capture kids' attention

• lesson plan that can fit formats such as large group, small group, large/small group, traditional classroom, family service, mid-week and more

• lesson is hands-on, interactive and connects with many learning styles

• includes games, crafts, activities and more

• lesson is flexible and editable to fit your specific ministry context

• easy to use with little prep

The lesson is delivered electronically as an instant download.  Below is a lesson sample and a clip from one of the videos.  The lesson is available for download now at this link.

Click here to see sample of lesson.