I started volunteering in children’s ministry during my senior year of college. Although it fulfilled a school requirement, it only took one Sunday to convince me that teaching kids about God was not only important but also rewarding. But discipling kids presents challenges alongside those rewards.
Where else are you required to put a group of kids, ranging in ages from kindergarten to fifth grade, in the same room? What do you do with kids whose attention spans, Bible knowledge, and family dynamics are as unique as each of our fingerprints? And how do you successfully engage a group of kids without turning into a babysitter or an entertainer?
If you’re a children’s ministry volunteer or leader, you know that despite all its challenges, discipling kids is worth it.
In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus instructed his disciples to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to everyone. Jesus’s words show us that discipleship is important. Moreover, we read Mark 10:13–16 that Jesus welcomed children and blessed them.
While knowing that discipleship for kids is worth the effort, it doesn’t make the challenges go away. Even people who are great with kids may feel ill-equipped at times. But we can make a difference in the life of a child when we make ourselves available.
Here are five practical steps to turn your Sunday mornings into to a discipleship moment.
Depending on how often you serve, it may be challenging to remember the name of every child you serve, so work to remember as many names as you can. To help you remember, make a mental note of their name and something special about them.
For example:
Remembering even small details can make a huge difference when you greet a child by name and ask a specific question about what matters to them.
Pay attention to leaders who connect well with the kids. Take note of how they serve and model what you can after their example. And don’t be afraid to ask for ideas in the areas you feel stuck. You can ask specific questions like:
Ask God for help too. Ask him to give you wisdom and creativity when working with the kids. You may be surprised by how the fruit of the Spirit overflows when you interact with your small group.
As we age, we sometimes lose our curiosity. Kids can lead the way in bringing us back to wonder and the joy of asking questions. You may have a lesson prepared, but then a child asks a question about something in the Bible. Perhaps the better use of your time that morning is being curious about their question.
Sometimes you can’t explore a child’s question right away because you have ten other children and a craft to lead. But even if you can’t pause to wonder, you can validate their curiosity. Praise their question and promise to come back to the conversation.
Whether you can answer in the moment or need to wait, be open to wondering. Chasing curiosity may lead to more fruitful discipleship than the discussion questions you planned for your lesson.
You may be tempted to cover everything you possibly can in the forty-five-minutes (or less) you have with your kids, but it’s more important to start simple. Kids don’t need a theology lesson, but we can teach theology through simple truths.
Repeating easy-to-remember phrases inserts the gospel into their hearts and minds and can make an eternal impact. Some sample ideas include:
No matter your lesson content, if you can return to a simple but solid truth about God, the truth will stick.
After twenty-three years of serving in Kids’ Ministry, I still have a lot to learn. A strategy that works with one group of kids may totally flop with another. Sometimes a well-thought-out lesson doesn’t connect, while a random question not even related to the Bible story leads to a fruitful conversation. In every circumstance, rely on God. When an activity you were proud of doesn’t work out, swallow your pride and course correct. When you have to change how your morning looks because a kid has a meltdown, take a deep breath, whisper a prayer, and steward the situation with grace.
Discipling kids is important work. It’s worthy work. If you find yourself in a classroom on Sunday morning with a lively group of kids, you’re never alone. Lock arms with other leaders and rely on the Holy Spirit to help you lead and love with grace.
Sometimes, what’s most helpful in discipling kids is a resource that makes it easy for us teach the Bible and build relationships. That’s where God’s Kids comes in.
God’s Kids is a biblically grounded and Christ-centered curriculum that helps volunteers engage kids of any age with the truth of the gospel.
God’s Kids is easy to use and covers three key themes:
Each God’s Kids lesson combines engaging videos, a Bible story, a kid-friendly main idea, and hands-on activities. Age-appropriate experiences for preschool and elementary classes ensure every child learns the same biblical truth in a way they can understand and apply.
If you’d like to learn more about God’s Kids, you can start for free or request a demo HERE.
If you’re a decision-maker at your organization, request a free consultation to find out how RightNow Media can equip and inspire your people.
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Tell your pastor about RightNow Media instead.
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