Reviews

It’s important to find the right children’s bible for your family. Zonderkidz has released a new edition of their kid-friendly NIrV translation.  This Bible is inspired by the popular Minecraft video game. It features block style cartoon illustrations that children will enjoy. To help get the word out about this book, they sent me a free review copy. The “Minecrafters Bible” is set to release June 7th. My first thought was, “Ugh, another fad to sell Bibles.” These things

Recently, I received a copy of Daniel Darling’s new book, The Original Jesus: Trading the Myths We Create for the Savior Who Is.  (Available on Amazon.com) Published by Baker Books, Darling takes on an interesting subject–the  Christian’s concept of Jesus. If your shopping for a children’s Bible, be sure to see the our new articles reviewing the top choices for your kids. I have to admit, I was intrigued right away and unfortunately, in some ways, I could see

I’m trying to keep clear of posting too many book reviews. That’s because our website is really focused on helping churches and ministry leaders with zero budget. But I do make some exceptions, especially for ministry friends like Glenys NELLIST. She’s written a beautiful and engaging book for children titled, “Love Letters from God.” It’s something of a story Bible, but each section has a fold-out “letter” where the main point is emphasized by a personal message

Last week I received a copy of the new CD from Seeds Family Worship. From the first listen, I was impressed. This is the 8th volume of their scripture based praise music for children & families. All the songs in this edition relate to the theme of God’s Word. Here’s a track listing. The Word of God (Hebrews 4:12) Your Life is Hidden (Colossians 3:2-3) Impress Them (Deuteronomy 6:4-7 ) Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11) Breathed

Fellow children’s pastor Mark Jones just sent me a copy of his book, “A Dad’s Gotta Do What a Dad’s Gotta Do.” I normally don’t write book reviews, but Mark is a friend and this book was a fun read with my kids. So, here’s what I like about this book: I’m a grouchy dad, especially in the morning. This book helps me think about my morning routine and ho w I might do better showing love

There are lists of Kidmin books that every personal in children’s ministry should have.  They include titles from people like Jim Wideman, Sue Miller, Reggie Joiner, Dale Hudson, Ryan Frank and many more.  Chances are that you have some or all of them on your shelves already.  The purpose of this post is to give you a list of books that have little or nothing to do with Children’s Ministry that you should also have in your

There is a brand new resource that you need to order today, if you haven’t already. Children’s ministry pioneer, Jim Wideman, has released Kidmin Leadership.  This book is unique because it is filled with leadership lessons for children’s ministers written by children’s ministers, based on what was learned in two years of mentoring with Jim. I was privileged to be a part of this awesome group and contribute a couple of chapters. Here is why I think you

Most of us in kids ministry get excited about sharing the Gospel with the next generation. In fact, telling about Jesus and his love is the #1 motivation for me. But sometimes in the busyness of church work, our message can become compromised. There are forces in the world at work to marginalize, distort, and replace the biblical good news with counterfeits. The scary part is how many sincere believers have accepted these impostures as the real thing.

On the heels of her incredible book Spiritual Parenting, author Michelle Anthony has a new DVD resource series now available through David C. Cook Publishing. Dr. Michelle Anthony is Pastor of Family Ministries at ROCKHARBOR Church in Costa Mesa, California. A former professor at Biola University and Talbot School of Theology, Dr. Anthony has written over a dozen resources for Christian Education and Family / Youth Ministries. She is also the Family Ministry Architect for David C.

Recently, I had the opportunity to interview Jeffery Smith, author of Four Panels: A Prayer Pups Compilation and creator of the Prayer Pups, a Comic strip starring 5 adorable pups each sporting their own unique personality. This Christian comic is a fun way to introduce Bible truth to children. Several years ago, Jeff was working on a comic strip idea called “Stinky Shark.” But as he doodled, he felt the nudge of God to to use his

24 Hours That Changed the World is Adam Hamilton’s acclaimed study, taking us through Jesus last week on Earth. A church-wide study available for adults, youth, 9 – 12 year olds, and 4 – 8 year olds. In this review, we will take a look at the 7-lesson curriculum for the 4-8 year olds. The lessons are broken down into 7 separate lessons as follows. Palm Sunday, Jesus Washes Disciples’ Feet, The last Supper, The Garden of

Flyte, the new preteen curriculum from Lifeway is described by Lifeway’s Jeff Land on their website as “a curriculum to call their (preteens) own. If you ask them, preteens would tell you they’re not “in between” anything. They are facing puberty, drugs, sex, acceptance, and self-esteem issues every day. They do not need a “sophisticized” children’s curriculum, nor do they need a simplified teen curriculum. Flyte is a curriculum that’s all theirs, one that speaks to what

As I walked into the classroom, I noticed the simple white shelves that blended right into the walls. I was drawn like a magnet to the materials on these invisible shelves. The different hues of the natural woods, the heft of the brass, the richness of the velvet. Each material was placed on its own tray, organized and respected in their placement. As I walked the perimeter of the room, I realized that each of these were

9 Things They Didn’t teach Me in College about Children’s Ministry promises “practical advice, inspiring stories, and interesting interviews with others involved in children’s ministry.” This pocket-sized composition book look-alike is a cute little package, but inside, it’s spot on and sobering. Author, Ryan Frank, strikes a chord with statistics like “the probability of five-to-twelve-year-old children accepting Christ as Savior is 32 percent. That number drops to 4 percent between the ages of thirteen and eighteen.” He

Long Story Short is written to present a Biblical Gospel from cover to cover to aid parents in passing the Bible on to their children, day by day. To pass on a clear Gospel message showing children how every story in the bible points forward or back to the gospel of Jesus Christ and God’s story of salvation.” Author Marty Machowski delivers just that. Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church, a Sovereign

I just finished watching four online preview videos of Theo Presents. The following statements in quotes are included in the press kit prepared by Whitestone Media. I respond to each paragraph based on my observations. Theo Presents is centered around the adventures and teachings of the main character, Theo, a student of God’s Word and a theologian. Theo lives in a cozy corner of a quaint English village, in the heart of the Cotswolds, and entertains many guests, including two

Overview: Journey to the Cross is a powerfully moving, multisensory family event that guides people along the path that Jesus walked during his last days on Earth. Activities focused on Jesus’ love and forgiveness demonstrate the real meaning of Easter: our risen Christ’s victory over death! Designed specifically for parents and their children to experience together, this even teaches about the life-changing message of the cross in a way that everyone can understand and no one will

This story of a little girl who turns to God to clean her heart so she can see others through God’s eyes is the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day! What better way to say “I love you” to your kids than to give them insight into how to have their heart feel love and joy! Jackie Chirco Cogswell is a Family Physician and mother of three. While searching for entertaining Christian books, she was led by the

When I first received this book I immediately thought, “this could be the perfect holiday book.” Soon I discovered it was even better after the holidays. This is not just another Christmas book. It’s the story of a young man who understood how Jesus wanted us to reflect Him in our lives; to love others, to help others and to do it in “secret” to show who God is… Once in a while you come across a

This book begins with a personal invitation to the reader. “He is waiting… Not just for anyone, God is waiting for you!” Make no mistake, this book is about more than information. It’s about God and helping kids to know Him in their everyday lives. Ten Things Every Kid Should Know About God – Life Applications to Build Your Child’s Confidence in Salvation, by Tina V. Bryson and published by Leeway Artisans Inc. “presents foundational truths in language your

The Spark Story Bible, published by Augsburg Fortress is a hardcover 550 page Bible Story book for children ages 2 – 8. It is a great resource to consider for, not only the Sunday School classroom, but as a family treasure at home. The book contains 150 of the best-loved bible stories from both the new and old testament. Old testament favorites include Noah and Moses of course, but Deborah and Micah as well, stories you don’t

“The Big God Story” is a children’s picture book beautifully written by Dr. Michelle Anthony, and exquisitely illustrated by Cory Godbey. A great enrichment resource to “Spiritual Parenting,” or a stand alone story for children to see God at work through history. The text is very simple and focuses on the flow of the story as opposed to great detail. It is a fast-paced, descriptive narrative of God’s redemptive story and how we are a part of