A Little Lunch and a Lot of Faith…Jesus Feeds 5,000 The story of stretching loaves and fishes is always a hit among miracle lessons. How is it possible that such a small amount of food managed to take care of so many people? This lesson aims to remind students of how God takes care of all of our needs and … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Up and Away in a Chariot of Fire…Elijah passes off the baton After discussing Elijah’s life and miraculous adventures (through a series of lessons or just one or two), it’s plain to see what an amazing figure he was in God’s word. But he knew that he would not be around forever and eventually had to hand off his duties … More Children’s Ministry Resources
There are plenty of wonderful and winning Vacation Bible School curriculum programs on the market today that provide ideas, materials, and pointers to allow the director total ease of running VBS in any sort of church setting. There are also plenty of great slice and bake cookies and canned soups available, but somehow there’s nothing like a homemade product…and the … More Children’s Ministry Resources
How do we know what God is like? Can we know without seeing Him what His traits are? Why don’t we hear His voice loud and clear? In this story, Elijah has an opportunity to feel the full presence of God and be refreshed by His spirit. As Christians, it can be frustrating to feel as though God is far … More Children’s Ministry Resources
The amazing thing about miraculous stories of the Bible is that they tend to be so, well…miraculous! As we view events of Elijah’s life we see him do remarkable things against all odds. In this story, Elijah confronts hundreds of priests and a wicked king and queen, and under seemingly impossible circumstances manages to overcome. Students will see that no … More Children’s Ministry Resources
A little goes a long way when it comes to things like horseradish, cayenne pepper, whiny toddlers…and faith! After all, a mustard seed-sized trust promises to relocate mountains in Biblical advice. God celebrates faith and those who demonstrate it. One of those giants of reliance was Elijah. In this lesson, we see through his encounter with a widow how God … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Following God is not always easy…we have the great privilege and blessing of living in a time and country that are not too threatening for Christians, but this certainly has not always been the case. In the Bible, we see many instances of people suffering for serving God and obeying His instructions. This story is one in a series following … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Whenever Mother’s Day rolls around, we take time to think of all that our mothers have done for us, and to appreciate and thank our moms with expressions of love. At the same time, though, the holiday can join the negative connotation of Valentine’s Day as a day for card companies and restaurants to make money by piling guilty obligations … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Jesus spoke often in parables and metaphors, using imagery of things known to explain things that were harder to understand. We can certainly use that example in teaching young students, using simple things to remind them of important truths. In this lesson, fruit is the main object. We will use real samples to discuss the fruits of the spirit and … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Recently, we hosted a church yard sale fundraiser, which brought to mind the incredible amount of utter junk that some people hang onto…do we really need the one-armed doll, headless ceramic duck, or box of warped cassette tapes from 1983? Why is it so hard to let go of things that for all honesty’s sake we rarely use? This lesson … More Children’s Ministry Resources
There are many wonderful worship songs out there to sing, hear, admire and inspire. For that matter, there are also abundant songs for kids to learn and sing. And modern Christian artists flood the radio with wonderful titles and varieties of music. But sometimes we forget how marvelous and insightful old hymns can be. We tend to see classic church … More Children’s Ministry Resources
We do it in church, before meals, when we need something…but many times students neglect or fail to understand just what prayer is and how to do it. Does authentic prayer require a certain ritual, motion, or series of words? Why bother to pray if God has a plan already? Here are some ideas and elements to cover when exploring … More Children’s Ministry Resources
There are many wonderful illustrations, conversations, and activities that address how outer appearance is not as important as what lies in the heart. Between racial difference discussions, equality emphasizing, and body image talks, students will no doubt be exposed to the “don’t judge a book by its cover” maxim so much it might seem trite and cliché. But there is … More Children’s Ministry Resources
“A person’s a person, no matter how small…” God made them all, the tiny and tall! There is no reason why Sunday School adventures cannot incorporate other classic children’s stories as well as Bible verses. This lesson explores some admirable qualities of a beloved Dr. Seuss character, celebrating Biblical values with whimsical rhyme. Seuss’s works are often more than just … More Children’s Ministry Resources
I recently noticed something interesting and revealing. While I was chatting in the sanctuary after service, we were interrupted by a pair of notoriously rambunctious brothers who sprinted down a pew in a round of “tag.” The Sunday school superintendent with whom I was conversing (who does not hide her frustration with these boys) scolded them strongly, which did not … More Children’s Ministry Resources
“What Next? Christ’s Post-Resurrection Appearances and Ascension” Sunday School Lesson from Luke 24, John 20, Acts 1 It is critical, of course, to study the work and death of Jesus. But all of that is rather meaningless if Christ did not also rise again as He promised. Then what? Following the events of Easter, Jesus appeared to the disciples and … More Children’s Ministry Resources
These “interviews” can be performed as a skit, read out loud, or read collectively within a Sunday school lesson setting. The characters focused on here are some of the lesser-known “unsung” heroes of the story, in hopes that children gain deeper appreciation for the story. An Unexpected Burden: Simon of Cyrene As they led him away, they seized Simon from … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Sometimes everyone needs a bit of refreshment of the spirit, and for me that can often come from a good book. In fact, literature can provide amazing and wondrous insights and inspirations in so many ways. One significant power of stories is how they can shed new light on old lessons and principles. Jesus himself demonstrated this in His usage … More Children’s Ministry Resources
As we approach Holy Week and prepare our hearts for Easter, it’s easy to become caught up in the excitement of egg hunts, palm branch crosses, and chocolate bunnies. It can even grow tiresome to talk yet again about what may seem an “obvious” Christian story. But students can benefit from focusing on details of this time in Christ’s life, … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Sometimes we make the message of salvation more complicated than it needs to be. Or we can become so caught up in Bible stories and individual characters that we neglect the most basic and critical overarching element of what and why we teach. At any time of year, but especially in preparation for Easter, it is helpful to review with … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Anyone who works with children understands that they do not easily tire—of anything. How many times have we re-played “Frozen” and yet it doesn’t seem to ever get old? How long does a toddler play “peek-a-boo” with the same enthusiasm and apparent surprise? Kids appreciate routine and like the stability of predictability. We all feel this way in some aspects, … More Children’s Ministry Resources
Main Point: God is our strength and guiding light; our power comes through faith and we can share this power with others. Materials: Flashlight(s), lantern, glow-in-the-dark stars, Bibles Anyone who has encountered a power outage can understand and appreciate our modern dependence on electricity. When a falling tree limb or storm cuts power lines and homes plunge into darkness, we … More Children’s Ministry Resources
It is no secret that kids tend to have a short-sighted and egotistical view of things, easily impatient and frustrated when results do not immediately appear. We encourage verbal gratitude at Thanksgiving time and for gifts, but do not always extend that attitude to daily life. Young and older children (and even adults!) can often use an extra little reminder … More Children’s Ministry Resources
This Lent lesson explains the 40 days Jesus spent in the Wilderness. It’s perfect for kids to learn about the Temptation of Jesus and what it means to be devoted to God when no one else is around. The lesson download below includes the complete teacher notes, worksheets, coloring pages, and craft ideas. Dedication in the Desert Matthew 4:1-11 Lesson … More Children’s Ministry Resources