Tuesday, August 21, 2012

One of My Deepest Desires




How sweet your words taste to me;
they are sweeter than honey.
Psalm 119:103

One of my deepest desires as I serve in children’s ministry is for our kids to fall in love with the Word of God.

Most kids are not reading their Bibles on a regular basis. When I asked my small group girls why they weren’t reading, they gave a wide variety of answers from not having a Bible to not understanding what they are reading. We need to everything we can to encourage and engage our kids with God’s Word. More than just putting the scripture on a screen during service on Sundays.

Here are some ideas:

Provide Bibles for every child that walks through our doors. – If they don’t have one, they can’t read it.

Train kids on how to use their Bibles. – If they don’t know how, they won’t read it.

Provide families with devotions to use at home. – If they don’t understand it, they’ll stop reading it.

There are several things that I am doing to encourage my small group girls to get into the Word.

◦I am rewarding them for bringing their Bibles every week.

◦We are using our Bibles during small group. We highlight our memory verse to share with our families.

◦I am buying Bibles for the girls that don’t have one.

How are you engaging kids in your children’s ministry when it comes to God’s Word?

29 comments:

  1. Hi Wendy, I love your post because that is one of the greatest desires of my heart also; that my children and the children of my church will, indeed fall in love with the Word! It is hard, when so many children in our church live in broken homes where reading the Word of God is not a priority. that's where the church comes into place. As you so well stated it in your post, there are many things we can do to help. I particularly liked the idea of providing children with Bibles. So many of them have no real access to any. That would be a great ministry, Bibles for children so they could all have one. Thanks again and have a blessed day!

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    1. Thanks so much Gisela! Have also been thinking of those families that can't afford to buy their children Bibles. Would be fantastic to supply everyone who walked through our doors at the church with a Bible. And then to take it one step further and supply them with resources to help them read it at home. Blessings friend!

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    2. I know, that would be wonderful, indeed. I also thought about a children's ministry at our church where we could do something too. It is an after-school program on Wednesdays and I thought to bring up at one of their meetings the idea of providing Bibles for all the children. I tell you, your post has caused me to really think of ways to make this a reality, to put a Bible in every child's hand...what an amazing thing that would be. Praise the Lord! thanks again.

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    3. LOVE that you all are doing an afterschool program. Would be so fantastic to give out Bibles to them there. LOVE the idea of every child having access to His Word! Would love to hear more about your children's ministry and afterschool program. Blessings!

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  2. This is great advice! The Word must be SO central in everything we do as Christians, and you are absolutely right to make it a top priority as you minister to children! You may never know the power and influence you have had by simply sending a Bible home with a child. Entire families come to know Jesus in that way! May God bless you in this ministry, and I hope that the depth of your influence in these kids' lives is far greater than you will ever see!

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    1. Thanks so much Tyanne! I LOVE what I get to do serving with children! Such a blessing to be part of their lives and get to share Jesus with them! Blessings!

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  3. I love your advice here, Wendy. We take time to read verses or passages that are meaningful to us at dinner with our boys. Sometimes they respond with interest and other times they act like they want us to hurry up and let them get back to their dinner. It's a constant battle to persevere, but we're trying. Great post!

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    1. Thanks Beth! You know we have had the same thing with our boys. But we stand on the promise that His Word never comes back void. That in hearing the Word their faith is growing. Keep doing what you're doing! It's fantastic! Blessings!

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  4. I think this is great advice. I think impressing on parents the importance of teaching their children how to implement God's word is so crucial. But, oftentimes the parents are in love with His word. My heart is to disciple women and hope that trickles down to their kids.

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    1. Jen I so agree on the importance of reaching parents. After all they are called to be the spiritual leaders of their homes. I think what we do in children's ministry is more about coming alongside them equipping and encouraging them in what they do at home and being an additional voice in the lives of their children. Blessings!

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  5. Great ideas and advice, Wendy!
    We must lead by example and encourage parents to help their children hide His word deeply in their hearts. Yes, it may be challenging, but it's our responsibility.

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    1. Thanks Stefanie! Love being able to encourage parents in what they do at home. Blessings!

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  6. Bless your precious heart for children.

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    1. Thanks so much Denise! Blessings to you friend!

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  7. Excellent ideas to help with your gals. I am sure in the long run they will be eternally grateful!

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    1. Thanks Kathleen! The reward is seeing them get excited each week to learn more and share with their families at home what they are learning. To see their eyes light up with understanding of His Word...priceless. Blessings!

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  8. What great ideas! Thank you for sharing and linking up at Simply Helping Him! Blessings!

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    1. Thanks Misty! Blessed to connect with you! Have a wonderful week friend!

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    2. I can't figure out how to leave a comment, so I'm leaving a reply! These are great ideas. With my preschoolers in Sunday school, I try to always open the Bible to the page our story is on and let them touch it. I want them to remember that the story comes right from the Bible and is true.

      Thanks for linking up with WIP Wednesday!

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    3. Mary Beth I love that you have them physically touch their Bibles. It gives them something tangible to associate with the scripture you're teaching them. And preschoolers are like little sponges when it comes to learning scripture. They are so blessed to have you teaching them! Have a wonderful week friend! Blessings!

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  9. Hi Wendy:

    I'm visiting from Word Filled Wednesday. Just prior to my coming here, I visited Stefanie who challenged us to pick five ways we can show Jesus to someone. One of the things I said was to teach the children.

    Blessings on you and your ministry.

    Joan

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    1. Oh Joan thank you so much! I am so blessed to be part of their lives. Yes it is so important to share Jesus with our children. Most will make a decision to turn their lives over to Him by the age of 12. That is why I am so passionate about children's ministry. Blessings to you too!

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  10. I love this. I can tell you are doing great things with your ministry!
    I must admit that although I have been a Christian since I was 7, and although I have read the bible, I still struggle with it and I struggle even more on teaching my young teen daughter. I bought her a devo book for her birthday and think I will probably buy another one this year for Christmas. Those really help I find.

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    1. Thanks so much Sherri! I struggle at times with my sons too friend. Just know that you are planting seeds no matter the tools you are using. It is a wonderful thing that you are doing and He promises that His Word never returns void. Everytime you share scripture with her or talk about the devotion or just sharing about Him plants a seed and waters it. Blessings to you!

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  11. What a beautiful ministry you have! No greater gift that the His Word in hand and heart to nourish weary souls. Thank you so so much for sharing with us at mercyinkblog.com keep serving with such joy--- it shines through!
    by grace,
    lauren

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    1. Thanks so much Lauren! I really am so incredibly blessed to have these girls in my life. Love linking up each week and am so thankful to get to know you more! Blessings!

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