RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

First-time guest families.  You only get one chance to make a good impression.  And it usually determines if they return or not.

We send each first-time guest family a short survey to get feedback about their experience with us.  Here's more information about that.

Last week, we had a family respond that they enjoyed their visit...except for one thing.  The person who checked them in at the classroom door never smiled. 

Yes...she checked their security tags, wrote their names down, and got other important information...but she never smiled while she was doing it.  It came across like an unfriendly business transaction.

This week, I am sending a short training video to our entire volunteer team encouraging them to always remember to smile.  Yes, it's easy to get caught up with getting the children checked in and making sure they are safe and secure...and in the process forget to smile and make a personal connection with the family.

A smile makes a huge difference.  Think about the difference you feel when you walk into a store and you're greeted by a caring, smiling person vs. someone who greets you coldly with no smile.  You remember both, don't you.  And you're more likely to return to the place that greeted you with a smile.

The Bible says in Proverbs 17:22 that "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."

Families will walk in the door of our churches this weekend that are broken and hurting.  They are spiritually sick and looking for help.  A smile can be a medicine that begins to bring healing long before they hear the message.

Let's remind our volunteers and staff how important it is to be intentional about smiling when interacting with families.  

Goliath was a champion by man's standards.  He was the pinnacle of strength, power, and experience.  But David won because he was more than a champion.  In this short video, discover how you can be more than a champion.

David vs. Goliath.  One of the classic stories of the Bible.  So many truths you can glean personally and for the kids you minister to.

And the cool thing about God's Word...you can get something new out of it every time.  Last week, something jumped out at me that I'd never seen before.

Goliath is referred to as the "champion" 3 times in 1 Samuel 17.

"A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp." (vs. 4)

"As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it." (vs. 23)

"When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran." (vs. 51)

Goliath was the ultimate "champion" by human standards.  He was the pinnacle of human strength, training, and experience.    His confidence was obviously in all of the above.  You can hear it in his words.

“Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” (vs.44)

On the other side you have David.  Just a young man.  No experience in battle.  Not a "champion"  in war by man's standards.

But..He was MORE than a champion.  He was someone with God's hand on his life.  His confidence was not in his ability, but in God.  You can hear it in his words.

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.  This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.  All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.” (vs.45-47)

Here's what we learn from this.

• We must not depend on our own strength and ability.
• We must depend upon God for the victory.  Cast yourself upon Him.
• Realize that it's not about you.  It's about God and His glory.
• Be quick to give God the credit when the victory comes.
• Do you feel like you are not talented enough?  Strong enough?  Smart enough?  Skilled enough?  You're just who God is looking for.  He wants to show Himself strong through you.

Be more than a champion!