**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net In my last post, I offered many reasons for small churches (or church plants) to launch a preteen ministry. In this post, I’m going to share a few ways they can effectively reach preteens. 1. Split up preteens for weekend services. Ideally, it’s the best way to go. If preteens meet separately, you can design programming and an environment that is age specific. As a result, you maximize
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Many churches everywhere are realizing the need for a preteen ministry. Most large churches see the need for a ministry specific to 4th, 5th or 6th graders. Sometimes because of the large amount of kids in attendance and other times in an attempt to target the specific needs of preteens. However, many small churches and church plants miss out on effectively reaching preteens. Not having a high attendance,
This is lesson continues our curriculum for preschoolers about knowing Jesus. Each lesson is based on a passage in the Gospel of Mark. You can read the series introduction for more explanation and links to the other lessons. This particular lesson is from passages in Mark 14 and covers the events in the Garden of Gethsemane. Preschoolers will know Jesus was fully human, and in His humanity did not want to suffer and die, but chose to be obedient
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net After 8 years of fighting the idea, I finally agreed to get a family dog. Her name is BonBon and she is a Chihuahua and Dotson mix, Chiweenie for short. After the first week, I quickly became attached to her. Good thing, since I am usually the one to give her a walk in the evening. Attached to a leash, she goes absolutely nuts. It’s like she’s
How many times have you thought, “My pastor just doesn’t get it” or “my pastor just doesn’t care about kids’ ministry”? Do you struggle with feeling supported by your pastor? I think we all do from time to time, and some of us feel that way all the time. Most pastors are not wired in a way where kids are their first priority. But most pastors are the same in that they really do want your ministry
Bullies aren’t what they used to be. When I was growing up in the seventies and eighties, I earned names like “freckle-face” and “meatball.” Those labels broke my seven-year old heart but they are nothing compared to the words kids hear regularly today. According to a recent article by Focus on the Family, the old ideal of standing up to a bully for character-building can put your child in harm’s way. Vicious, violent scenes of children beating
Every parent and teacher knows, if given a choice, kids would rather get up and play than sit still for long periods. However, some children have difficulty behaving even if attending a fast-paced, exciting children’s church. There are plenty of reasons why a kid would feel a compulsion to behave badly but a frazzled parent doesn’t have time to stop for counseling sessions in the middle of a service. If you are having difficulty getting kids to
Once the pictures are drawn and the lesson is over, the children of your ministry will be looking for something to do. Keep busy hands out of mischief by having activities for Sunday School read-to-go whenever you need them. Activities for children don’t have to be expensive, but they should engage the young learner’s senses. These Sunday School activities for children can be “tweaked” for special holiday lessons or theme ideas. Guess the Beans Fill a clear
Last week a reader asked us for advice on comforting a mourning child. She wrote about her close friend and ministry leader who was dying from cancer – they expected the Lord to call her home this week. She asked, Do you have any material that would help us deal with this loss to our children? My main goal is for the kids to “KNOW” that our friend is in heaven with Jesus! I want them to find
This free lesson for older elementary Sunday School class focuses on Daniel’s realization (based on studying Jeremiah) that the time for Judah’s captivity is almost over. The lesson emphasizes the importance of studying God’s word and having God-focused prayers. Bible Story: Daniel Understands the Times Scripture: Daniel 9 Target Age Group: Age 9 – 11 (U.S. 3rd – 5th Grade) Learning Context: Sunday School Target Time Frame: 60 minutes Printer Friendly Bible Lesson: [print_link] this lesson plan You Can
This lesson plan is based on Daniel chapter 5 and the famous handwriting on the wall story. It recounts how Belshazzar did not learn from the consequences of his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar’s pride. As this story ends, the prideful king loses everything. This Bible study was created for older students and can be adapted for other ministry needs. This is a free guide to help give you ideas in your preparation. We welcome your ideas and comments below. Bible Story:
This lesson is about the humbling of King Nebuchadnezzar from Daniel chapter 4. The powerful king has a disturbing dream about a tree and then God teachers him humility. The students will discover that a life that pleases God requires a humble heart. The lesson was prepared for older students and can be adapted for younger students. This is only a resource to aid you as you prepare for your ministry’s needs. Bible Story: King Nebuchadnezzar is
This printable lesson plan is designed to teach preschool aged children the story of how David defeats Goliath. It could be used in any setting with children age 2-5 at church, including a preschool Sunday School class or a preschool children’s church class. This is a modified version of our kids David and Goliath lesson. Here is the link to browse all our preschool lessons. We have included enough activities to offer some choice in your lesson
The story of David his victory of Goliath is one of the most popular in the Old Testament. This free Children’s Church lesson plan will help you teach it to your children. It was originally written for elementary aged students. It would be ideal in your children’s church or Sunday School class. Be sure to consider your own ministry context and modify it as needed. We’ve tried to include enough activities to allow some choice in your
Fifteen years ago, I nearly gave up on teaching because of a group of unruly students. I was a student teacher in a first grade classroom gone berserk. My college supervisor was observing that day and this is what she saw: complete and utter chaos. I remember that day like it was yesterday. A classroom of 74 six and seven-year olds (or so it seemed), squirming and pinching one another; whispering, poking, throwing whatever they could get their hands on; laughing and
This Easter lesson is based on John 20:10-21:25. It was prepared for older students but can be adapted to your ministry’s needs. The lesson focuses on how Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope as we face any difficulty. It includes several additional learning activities that are optional, depending on the time you have for your class. This is only a suggested guide to help you as you prepare for your students. For more ideas, be sure to browse
This lesson is about Paul’s journey to Jerusalem. Every place that Paul traveled the Holy Spirit warned him that prison and hardships were facing him. Paul perseveres in the mission of sharing the Good News because he is enabled by the Holy Spirit to do the work he has been called to do. Students will learn that believers who obey what God tells them to do are enabled by the Holy Spirit to face any situation. This
This post features notes from Ryan Golias at the Children Desiring God Conference 2011. Click here to see all the sessions. Your Testimonies are My Delight: Kempton Turner And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach. (Mark 3:13-14) During His three-year ministry, Jesus’
This lesson covers the whole chapter of Acts 19. Depending on your class you can just focus on the riot in Ephesus. Our class covered the entire chapter as part of the curriculum we use. To tie it all together the focus is when God’s Word is taught, the Holy Spirit gives light to the hearer. The hearer can respond to the light by believing in Jesus or they can reject the light by not believing. The
This free Children’s Church lesson plan was first written for elementary aged students. It covers the story of Gideon and how God used him to save his people. This material could also be used as the Bible lesson plan for children’s Sunday school. Be sure to consider your own ministry context and modify it as needed. For younger children, you might prefer our preschool version of this Gideon Sunday School lesson. Bible Story: The Story of Gideon
The children gathered excitedly in front of me, sitting on their little red or blue plastic chairs. There were about thirty kids, ranging in age from three to seven years old. I sat my large dalmation Firedog puppet from Amaze Healing Wings on my right knee. A previous generation of kids I pastored long ago had named him “Scruffy.” As the children quieted down, I began to interact with him. Normally, I do not try to do conversational ventriloquism; I usually have the
This is the 5th lesson of a 5-part series based on the life of Moses. This free Children’s Church lesson plan was first written for elementary aged students. It covers the 10 Commandments. This material could also be used as the Bible lesson for children’s Sunday school. Be sure to consider your own ministry context and modify it as needed. Click here to view the series index, or you can leave a comment to add your ideas
This is the final installment in a 5-part series on the life & ministry of Moses. This printable lesson plan is designed to teach preschool aged children the 10 Commandments. It could be used in any setting with children age 2-5 at church, including a preschool Sunday School class or a preschool children’s church class. As always, consider your own ministry context and modify it as needed. Bible Story: The 10 Commandments – Exodus 20:1-17 Learning Objectives:
Children can learn the 10 Commandments. Our free resources will help you explain God’s Law to even the youngest kids. Ten Commandments Song Kids’ Bible Study on the Ten Commandments Compare Translations Ten Commandments Coloring Book Learning Activities on the Ten Commandment Children’s version of the Ten Commandments Teaching the Ten Commandments with Hand Motions We absolutely love teaching Bible memorization with ASL sign language for memory cues. There is not better way to help young children,
