by Pastor Clarke Clemens
Children’s Pastor, RLC Grandville

People often feel that when teaching kids, creativity and content can’t coexist.  Either you have to go all-out in being fun, energetic and creative, at the expense of really teaching good content, or you have to hammer home Biblical points in a way that sacrifices creativity and inevitably leads to a room full of bored kids.

In RezKidz, we feel that you need to do both.  We encourage our children’s church volunteers to teach solid, Biblical lessons, and to do so in as creative a manner as possible.  In fact, we often state that it is the sin of children’s ministry to not use props, stories or other means by which to make the Biblical truths you’re teaching unforgettable.

Below are some ideas that can help your lessons come alive:

1. Props – Most of the props you can use are free!  Bring items from home to illustrate points – from the garage, your basement, kitchen, whatever – kids love to see you holding stuff while teaching.  It focuses their attention on an important point you want to make, plus it gives you something tangible to hold as you teach and seek to make a point memorable.
2. Family Photos – Bring photos of yourself – especially when you were a kid – your family, pets, vacations, etc.  These are especially useful when telling a story about yourself that you’re applying to a Biblical truth.
3. Google Images – Whether you have an overhead projector or a more expensive mounted projector – use free photos from Google Images to illustrate your points.  You can download photos of Biblical sites or simple items like animals, vehicles or people.  Whatever topic you’re teaching on – simply type that in the Google Images search window and see what turns up.  As you teach, put those photos up on the screen behind you.  (Whenever I’ve taught in rooms without a projector, I’ve simply printed the photos and held them up in my hands for the kids to see.)
4. Google Earth – Check-out this resource and load it on your laptop to allow kids to see that cities, rivers, oceans and nations in the Bible are actual, real-life places.  Kids and adults who haven’t seen this before will be amazed to see a ‘map’ come alive in front of their eyes.  And it’s free!
5. Stories – Kids love stories, especially about yourself when you were their age.  Even if you don’t consider yourself a storyteller, jump in and try out something and see how effective it can be.  When telling a story, try to mix the different points of the story with your teaching points.  End a ‘phase’ of your story right at a moment of suspense – then talk about a lesson point you want the kids to learn.  Then, when you feel they are getting restless, go back to your story and you will have the kids attention immediately!  Continue stopping at moments where the kids really want to know what’s going to happen – talk about another point from the teaching – then jump back to where you left off.  You will be amazed at how well you’ll be able to hold the kids attention – even those not known for listening quietly.
6. Video Clips – One of the best things I taught myself to do a couple years ago was to learn the Windows Movie Maker software that comes pre-loaded with most PCs.  All you need is a basic camcorder from home and your PC to make basic – yet creatively powerful – videos of your own!  Windows Movie Maker is about as basic as you can get with editing software – though some patience will be needed as you learn how to use this.  But the rewards will be great and you’ll soon find yourself eagerly desiring to make more videos.  Typically, I’ll make a 3 – 5 minute video to illustrate a point – sometimes by making it at home, outside, around church, in your car, wherever – just get creative. Kids will stay engaged and it gives you a few minutes in your teaching to get a breather, look at your notes, then jump back in.  You’ll get hooked on this teaching resource in no time!

These are just a few examples we’ve used to good effect over the years.  We’ve discovered that by making a children’s church lesson that is both chock full of good content, and creative and exciting, you will get and keep the kids attention, while helping them grow closer to Christ.  You will also expand the vision of your volunteer team of what they can do to bring the message the Lord has given them to new heights of effectiveness and fun!

For many more ideas, plus alot of other information about children’s ministry, I highly recommend the book The Fabulous Reinvention of Sunday School by Aaron Reynolds.

By Pastor Pat Binish
Resurrection Life Church, Grandville

What effect does a nursery have in a church and in families?

There are two very equal yet opposite view points of children in church.   One says children should worship with their parents as a family unit through the entire service experience.  The other view point says that children should have their own ‘children’s church’ where they can learn and grow in an environment geared around their age and learning ability.  Both these view points are correct and should be respected as the parental belief and desire.  These two view points have many variations in between such as having the children attend the Praise and Worship, and then are taken to their children’s rooms when the preaching begins.

So what is correct?   I have been honored in observing and assisting thousands of nursery and preschool aged children advance in their understanding with God over the past 15 years.   Like any other adult, I have formed a preference in which style is most effective for developing strong young teens and adults in later years, while fully respecting others styles and practices.  But what does the Bible lead us to?

There is a passage found in Matthew 21:14-16 which says, “Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.  But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”  And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” NKJV

Jesus  quoted to them Psalm 8:2 which says  “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength,  because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.” NKJV The words ‘ordained strength’ or ‘praise’ used here is defined as “Loud outward singing and shouting praises onto God”.  Jesus’ response lets us know they were indignant with the children’s actions and words.   

A church’s nursery and preschool areas are to be a ministry and not a daycare facility.  Children in these early years are formidable and sponges to take in the Word of God.  There is another scripture which does a beautiful job at describing how children should learn.   Isa 28:9-10 and13 “Who does Isaiah think he is,” the people say, “to speak to us like this! Are we little children, barely old enough to talk?  He tells us everything over and over again, a line at a time and in such simple words!”   …   “So the Lord will spell it out for them again, repeating it over and over in simple words whenever he can;”  TLB

Isaiah’s words, applied to our churches nurseries, will bring God’s Living Word into children’s lives early and effectively.   Bring forth the elementary teachings to children to build a foundation in them.  Do it with repetition, simplicity and consistency.  A nursery ministry fulfills Gods plan to bring His Word into the babes and nursing infants, and prepares them for a lifetime of serving Him.