Who remembers the 90’s cartoon ‘Pinky & the Brain?’ I was in college when the show was airing, but I work with kids and therefore I am not too proud to admit to regularly watching cartoons. My favorite part of the show was a conversation that happened in every episode.
PINKY – “Gee Brain, what do you want to do tonight?”
BRAIN- “The same thing we do every night Pinky, try to take over the world.”
As children’s ministry leaders, and as believers, we should have as narrow of a focus as Pinky & the Brain had. No, we shouldn’t physically be trying to take over the world, but our singular goal in all things should be the proclamation of the Gospel to the ends of the earth…taking over the world with the truth of the Gospel.
Next week marks the start of the new school year for my church. As we start this year, I have one goal, and it’s the same goal as last year, and the year before, and the year before that. My goal, as always, is to faithfully proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the children and families of my church. 2 Timothy 4:1-4 has always been the passage I get my inspiration from this time of year.
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Timothy 4:1-4
What are believers called to do? Proclaim the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19-20). What are children’s ministry leaders called to do? Preach & teach the Word while kids are listening. Verses 3 & 4 are a sobering truth that the day is coming when people will stop listening. Our time with the kids in our church, our time with our neighbors, our time with everyone we meet, is short. Let’s make the most of the time that we’ve been given!
In the children’s ministry at my church we strive for kids to see, hear, read, sing, pray and discuss the gospel every week. Songs are carefully chosen, gospel conversation is written into every lesson, and activities are designed for kids to interact with the gospel. With that in mind, for the first week of new classes, I thought it would be fun to send the kids home with a gift to remind them of Gospel truths. Each kid is getting one of these cards (download, print & laminate) and a small pack of skittles. I actually took the small packs and made 2 1/2 smaller packs out of each one using small craft bags – to save money and decrease the amount of sugar the kids were getting.
- Click on the preview image below to download the printable cards
On the back of the card is a description of what each color of skittles represents and verses for kids to look up and discuss with their families.
Good News Skittles
- Yellow = God is Forever
(Genesis 1:1, John 1:1-3, Exodus 15:18, Psalm 100:5) - Green = God Made the World
(Genesis 1-2, John 1:1-3, Acts 17:24, Hebrews 11:3) - Purple = People Sinned and Broke God’s Law (Genesis 3, Romans 3:10-12 & 23)
- Red = Jesus died to pay for sin
(Romans 5:8, 6:23, 1 John 4:10)
- Orange = ORANGE you glad you’re coming to church to learn these truths!
Wow thank you for that. I will never look at skittles the same again. We will be distributed at our next tutoring session. Thisis where we minister to the children. You have given me so many ideas. God bless you.
Great lesson and focus for our AWANA kids and there theme night “Wear your team color” – it was at the beginning of the year! Thank you so much.