Children's Ministry Blog

The Wise Man and the Foolish Man Action Song

2012-01-25T05:00:00.001-08:00

After telling the Bible story of the two builders from Matthew 7:24-27, read I Corinthians 10:4. Say, "Jesus said, 'People who hear what I say and obey Me are like the wise builder. When problems come, they will be safe. But people who hear me without obeying what I say are like the foolish man. When problems come, they will be in BIG trouble.'"

"When we obey Jesus, we are like the wise builder. Many times in the Bible Jesus is called our Rock. This means that those who love and obey Jesus will be kept safe. He is our 'solid foundation.'"

"Some people think they are as safe as a house built on a rock, just because they hear Jesus' words and study about Him in Sunday school or Bible club. But Jesus said that in order to be safe we must obey His Words as well as listen to them."

Sing the following song with your students to the tune of THIS OLD MAN:
     This wise man, he built well (pretend to hammer)
He built well upon a rock;
     When the rains came down
And the floods came up (lower and then raise hands),
     This man's house stood firm and strong.

Foolish man, he built wrong;
    He built strong upon the sand (pretend to hammer);
When the rains came down

     And the floods came up (lower and then raise hands),

This man's house came tumbling down (fall down).
For another fun activity to reinforce this Bible story, try this action lesson, The Wise and Foolish Builders.

Why Worry?

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

Matthew 6:25-34 is one of the most frequently quoted Scripture passages in discussions about money and work. Sadly, there are some who use this text to imply that Jesus was against earning money and that He considered work a distraction from things that really matter. Nothing could be further from the truth.

A careful examination of these verses reveals that Jesus was condemning worry, not work. He called us to make God the object of our faith, for He is the one who ultimately supplies our physical, material, and spiritual needs. The following are seven reasons why we should not worry:

The same God who created life in us can be trusted with the details of our life (verse 25).
Worrying about the future impedes our efforts for today (verse 26).
Worrying is more harmful than helpful (verse 27)
God does not ignore those who depend on Him (verses 28-30)
Worrying shows a lack of faith in understanding of God and His love for us. (verses 31-32).
Worrying keeps us from real challenges God wants us to tackle (verse 33).
Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry (verse 34)

These are concepts we can start to instill in our youngest students as they watch us live them out in our own lives. So when we're tempted to worry, we can turn to God's Word instead!

Think of Yourself As a Tour Guide

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Think of yourself as a tour guide instead of just a teacher. Now picture your students as your tour group. You are actually life's tour guide for the children in your care. Your task is to plan the itinerary, show the children the places of learning, and then let them explore and discover God's Word for themselves. As you open Biblical places, scenes, people, and adventures, you can remind them that these are true stories from God's Word, the Bible. Help your older students understand that God's Word is not a fairy tale.

Hold your open Bible when you say a memory verse or tell a Bible story. Say, "This is a true story (or lesson or adventure) from God's Word, the Bible." Point out the rich history of the places you mention. Use maps, charts, and visuals to help your students picture the people, houses, clothing, food, climate, and landscape.

Talk with your students like a tour guide. For example, while finger painting or sculpting clay, talk about the color and texture of the materials. Describe what you and the children are experiencing. Let your students share their own descriptions. Linking language with sight, sound, and activities teaches important pre-reading skills to your preschoolers and helps reach students of all ages who learn in different ways. In fact, the more senses students use to experience a lesson, the more likely they are to remember the lesson long after it's over.

(If you're looking for Bible lesson ideas, visit ChristianEdWarehouse for suggestions.)

"Jesus Is Born" Action Rhyme for Preschoolers

2011-12-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun action rhyme to help your students remember the Christmas story. Read Luke 2:1-17 from your open Bible.

The birth of Jesus related in this passage emphasizes God's plan of salvation through His Son, Jesus. For instance, when the angel appears to the shepherds, he declared the Christ child to be the Savior and Messiah. He would bring peace and goodwill to humankind.No wonder the shepherds were so excited to share this wonderful news with everyone they saw (Luke 2:17-20).

Encourage the children to follow your motions as you do the rhyme:

Shepherds watching, watching, watching(use hands as pretend binoculars),

Watching over their flocks by night.

(Fold hands under head as if sleeping.)

Comes an angel, angel, angel

(stand tall and strong with hands on hips),

And the sky shines big and bright.

(Spread arms and wiggle fingers.)

The angel says, "GOOD NEWS!"

(Use a loud voice for capitalized words.)

The angel says, "GOOD NEWS!"

(Cup hands around mouth.)

The Son of God is born! (Clap, clap.)

Family Devotion for Christmas

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here’s a family Christmas devotion you can use at home or in your church services this week. Use an advent wreath (with greenery and a sprig of berries or red flowers or ribbon, if possible). Place four candles around the wreath with a fifth white candle in the middle (or place the candles as your wreath allows). If you use purple and pink candles, the pink one represents joy. Adjust the speaking part below depending on your wreath. Copy this devotion so each participant has a copy. (Do not leave lit candles unattended.)

This devotion is taken from A Church Family Christmas Celebration (Item #3031) © Christian Ed Warehouse, www.ChristianEdWarehouse.com. Reprinted with permission.

Leader:

During this time before Christmas we are preparing for the arrival of God’s Son, Jesus. Because God loves us, He chose His Son to be born on earth.

The candlelight wreath is round. The circle reminds us of God. God has no beginning and no end; He is eternal. The evergreen part of the wreath stands for life and hope. Jesus is the hope of the world. Red berries or flowers remind us that Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood so that our sins could be forgiven. The white candle(s) reminds us that Jesus has forgiven (or cleansed) us of our sins so that we may have eternal life.

Scripture:

(To be read by an adult or older child)

Luke 2:11-13, 21; John 1:9, 12 — “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger . . . . And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb . . . . That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world . . . . As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

Candle Lighting:

Gather around the candlelight wreath. Have one person light the first candle as another says: The first candle we light is the Promise candle. God promised to send His Son, Jesus, and that promise came true.

Have another person light the second candle while someone else says: The second candle is the Bethlehem candle. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, was born in a stable at Bethlehem. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace.

Have someone light the third candle, while another says: The third candle is the Angels candle. The joy and praise of the angels should be our joy, too, during this Christmas season and all year long.

Have another person light the fourth candle while someone says: The fourth candle is the Shepherds candle. Just as the shepherds told others about Jesus, we, too, should share the Good News of Jesus’ birth with others.

Have someone light the fifth candle while someone says: Today we light the final candle, which represents Jesus. This candle reminds us that Jesus Christ is God's Son, the Light of the world. We celebrate the arrival of the long-awaited King, born as a Baby in Bethlehem.

Song: Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,

The little Lord Jesus laid down

His sweet head.

The stars in the sky looked down

Where he lay.

The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

Reading: (To be read by a leader, child, and adult or older child.)

Leader:

The candle in the center of the wreath represents Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Even before He was born, the angel told Mary the Baby's name. When the days were accomplished, Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem.

Child: They presented Jesus to the Lord.

Adult:

We thank God for His wonderful Christmas gift to us. We thank Him that Jesus Christ came to be the Light of the world. We can spread the light of His love to everyone we meet.

Song: Silent night, holy night, all is calm,

All is bright.

Round yon virgin, mother and child.

Holy infant so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Sharing:

Ask family members to share their thoughts and feelings about what the birth of Jesus means to them personally. Talk about Christ, who is God's Son, having to be born into our world of sin. Talk about His love for each of us.

Prayer:

(To be read or spoken from the heart by one or two family members)

Dear God, We thank You for Jesus, the Savior of the world, who was born as a Baby in Bethlehem. Thank You that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that You raised Him from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 10:9). Help us to spread the Light of Christ’s love wherever we go during this Christmas season. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

(Have a family member extinguish the candles. Never leave lighted candles unattended.)

For more Christmas devotion and outreach ideas, take a look at the Church Family Christmas Celebration program. Everything you need to easily plan and organize a community-wide Christmas celebration. Includes CD-ROM with lots of reproducible coloring sheets, invitations, bulletin inserts, planning sheets, recruiting ideas, thank-you notes, and lots more.

Free Christmas Lesson

2011-12-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

Use this FREE Christmas lesson to help your elementary students act out the story of Jesus' birth. Printable activity sheets to go with the lesson are included as your Christmas gift from all of us at Christian Ed Warehouse.

Have several children act out the parts. You will need an angel, Mary, shepherds, wise men, and King Herod. The children will act out the story as you read it. Simple costumes are optional. Hold your open Bible as you tell the story. Explain to the children that the Bible is God's Words and it is true. Click on the image below to download the complete lesson with activity sheets.

JESUS IS BORN

Scene 1: (Luke 1:26-35) Mary and the Angel

At a special time, God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth, to a young woman planning to be married to a man named Joseph. The woman’s name was Mary. (Have the angel walk over to Mary, who lies down.) The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings! You are a very special person to God! The Lord is with you.”

(Mary sits up in “bed,” looking up at her visitor.) Mary was afraid to suddenly see and hear an angel in her room. But the angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for God has chosen you for something wonderful. You will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will make Him a King whose kingdom will never end.”

“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am not yet married?”

The angel answered, “God will be the Father of your special baby. Your Son will be called the Son of God.”

Scene 2: (Luke 2:8-12) Shepherds and the Angel

When the time came for Mary’s baby to be born, there were shepherds out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. (The angel stands in front of several shepherds who bow to the floor.) An angel of the Lord appeared to them, a bright light surrounded them, and they were frightened. (The shepherds sit on the floor, looking at the angel.)

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you Good News of great joy that will be for everyone. Today in Bethlehem, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. You will find the Baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

Scene 3: (Matthew 2:1-12) Wise Men and King Herod

(Three wise men walk over to the king.) After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and asked King Herod, “Where is the One who has been born the King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” King Herod found out the exact time the star had appeared and sent the wise men to Bethlehem to find the child Jesus.

(Wise men leave the king and walk to the side of the room, pretending it is the house of Mary and Joseph.) The star they had seen in the east led them to Jesus’ house. On coming to the house, they saw the child Jesus with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him (wise men bow and kneel down). Then they presented Him with gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh.

(Click on the image above to download

the complete lesson.)

Also check out the other lessons for elementary children we've developed as part of our Online Bible Activity Lessons series. Each lesson is just $5.95. Save $1.00 per lesson when you order 10 or more lessons (use Coupon Code BACT10). Save even more when you order 25 lessons (with Coupon Code BACT25). You can print as many teacher's guides and activity sheets as you need so there's never any waste.

We hope you enjoy sharing this lesson with your students. May God bless you and grant you a Christ-filled Christmas season.

Five Steps to Creating a Stress-Free Christmas

2011-12-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas is a wonderful time of celebration as we remember Jesus' birth and God's gift of love to us. However, the hectic pace can be overwhelming at times. With all the extra hassles and responsibilities for those of us involved in children's ministry, the Christmas season can seem like a flurry of activity. Here are few tips for creating a stress-free Christmas (or at least one that's not quite so stressFULL).

Spend time with God. Don't give up your daily prayer and devotion time. Now's the time to fit in some extra moments with God, asking for His wisdom and guidance as the year comes to a close and you begin planning for next year. Your overflowing calendar combined with the hectic pace of the holidays can easily begin to encroach on your time the Lord. And Satan is more than pleased to see that happen. Instead, schedule extra time on your calendar for just you and God. Thank Him for sending His Son, Jesus and for all the blessings He has brought into your life.
Plan time for family. During this busy season, when we're trying to fit in school, family, church, office, and neighborhood activities, it can be easy to go our separate ways as family members. So plan some family time—a weekly game night, dinners together, advent devotions, plus whatever additional activities your family enjoys doing together.
Save time for yourself. As parents and ministry leaders, we can get in the habit of thinking and doing so much for others that we forget to take care of ourselves. Go for a walk or a run, enjoy a hot bath, read a short story, window shop, call a distant friend, sip a cup of peppermint green tea (or an espresso)—just take some time for you. Turn off your cell phone and place a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your office door, if necessary. After a brief break, you'll be energized and refreshed to meet the tasks at hand.
Enjoy the place where God has you planted. When we're tired and overworked (and dealing with broken microphones and torn costumes), it's easy to become grumpy and complaining. Ask God to help change your lousy attitude to one of gratitude. Thank the many volunteers and parents who work behind the scenes to help with the myriad of details that make your Christmas events possible. And be sure to thank your coworkers and church staff members (don't forget the custodians and pastors) who lend a hand all year long.
Thank God for each little one in your care. Cover each one in prayer during this Christmas season. And ask for prayer support from your coworkers and volunteers. Through the power of God's Holy Spirit working in you, enthusiasm and the love of Jesus will be felt by everyone you come into contact with this Christmas!

Safety First in Your Classroom

2011-11-28T05:00:00.001-08:00

Safety Guidelines for Preschool Teachers

To ensure that each child’s experience in your class is a safe and happy one, each teacher and helper should know and practice these simple safety guidelines:

Beware of balloons. A piece of broken balloon or an uninflated balloon can easily be sucked into a child’s windpipe and cause suffocation.
Make sure all leaders and helpers know basic first-aid techniques and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, including rescue procedures for choking. Encourage them to learn CPR for children also.
Have an established way of summoning the parents out of their class or activity in case of an emergency or inconsolable crying. If the parents are not in the church at the time your class meets, know how to reach them.
Do not release children to anyone but the designated parent(s) at the close of the class, unless the parent has notifiedyou in advance.
Do not ever let a child out of your sight. Do not allow a child to go to the bathroom or leave the room without an adult.
Latch the classroom door with a latch that is above the children’s reach but can be opened from both sides of the door.
Attach chimes or bells to the classroom door so you will hear when it is opened.
Keep all electrical plugs capped when not in use.
Keep all plastic bags high above children’s reach. When using plastic bags for dirty diapers, be sure to dispose of them out of reach.
Do not carry any medications into the classroom in your purse or pocket. Put your purse, including makeup, nail files, sharp objects, and the like, on a high shelf.
If you have plants in your classroom, be sure they are not poisonous.
Do not allow children to run with anything in their hands.
Do not give any medication to someone else’s child. Ask the parent to come back at the appointed time to give the medication.
Do not have any glass bottles, drinking glasses, or other breakable objects in the room.
Toys and supplies should be no smaller than 1½ inches in any dimension to prevent swallowing. If the object can fit through a cardboard toilet paper tube, it is too small.
If a child is injured, however minor, administer first aid and call the parent to the classroom immediately.
Wash a cut under running water, letting the cut bleed. Cover the cut with gauze and call the parent to apply antiseptic.
You should have a fully equipped, standard first-aid kit in your room.
For additional safety tips, including first-aid and playground safety, visit the National Safety Council website at nsc.org.

FREE Elementary Thanksgiving Lesson

2011-11-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

The Thanksgiving season is upon us. Stores have begun selling pumpkins, dried gourds, and cranberries. Leaves on trees are turning from green to red, gold, and brown. These colorful leaves are starting to fall, creating soft piles to jump into. This is a wonderful season to teach your students about giving thanks to God for the many blessings He's given us. Of course, we also want to emphasize that we should be thanking God every day of the year—not just on Thanksgiving!

Try this Thanksgiving lesson with your elementary students. It's completely reproducible and includes student sheets, visuals, and lots of creative ideas. Download your FREE elementary Thanksgiving lesson. Then check out the other 10 lessons for elementary children we've developed as part of our Online Bible Activity Lessons series. Each lesson is just $5.95. Save $1.00 per lesson when you order 10 or more lessons (use Coupon Code BACT10). Save even more when you order 25 lessons (with Coupon Code BACT25). You can print as many teacher's guides and activity sheets as you need so there's never any waste. Click on the image on the right to go to the free lesson page.

We hope you enjoy sharing this lesson with your students. May God bless you and grant you a memorable Thanksgiving season.

Connect With Us

2011-11-08T12:44:00.000-08:00

We want to make it easy for you to receive valuable hints, tips, insight, and specials on everything related to Children's ministry!

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Blessings in your ministry,
Your friends at Christian Ed Warehouse

Let Your Light Shine Bible Lesson

2011-11-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Help your students understand what it means to let their lights shine. Use these verses from Ephesians for a quick and easy Bible lesson. For more lessons similar to this one, take a look at Bible Foundations reproducible Bible lessons for Early Elementary.

Copy and cut apart the Ephesians verses from below. You will need a large round mirror, a strong flashlight, and a ball or round piece of cardboard. Brace the flashlight on a table or stool so that it is shining on the mirror. Hold the ball while you speak, moving it between the flashlight and the mirror.

Say, "We’ll pretend this flashlight is the sun and this mirror is the moon. This ball will be the earth. See what happens to the moon when the earth comes between it and the sun." Move the ball slowly, stopping a couple of times to make a half-moon, etc. Let several children try it.

"God’s Word (hold up your Bible) tells us that when we receive the Lord Jesus as our Savior, He becomes the light in our life. Jesus is like the sun shining on the moon. Jesus’ light shines on us. When we do kind and helpful things, other people can see the light of Jesus shining in our lives.Those who don’t have the Lord Jesus in their lives are living in darkness."

"God tells us to live as though we have His light in us. Do you have the Lord Jesus in your life? Are you living a life that obeys God and lets His light shine? When God’s light shines, then the kind things you do and say remind people of Jesus."

"The bad things we do and say cause a shadow to hide our light. When we do not obey God, the light of Jesus does not shine through us."

Give each Ephesians verse slip to a student to read in turn. Prompt the children at the appropriate time.

Dark Shadows Hide the Light

(Ephesians 4:25-32; 5:1-2, 4, 6)

God says we should have nothing to do with bad things that are done in darkness. Now we will take turns reading some verses from Ephesians 4 and 5, which are paraphrased (worded so you can better understand them). After each verse is read, I will ask if the things mentioned would shadow, or hide, the light of Jesus. (Explain that wrong actions hide the light of Jesus from shining in our lives. Good, kind, and helpful actions help Jesus’ light shine in our lives.) If the action is not good, the person who answers may move the earth (ball) to make a shadow on the moon. Listen carefully so you will know the correct answer.

Ephesians 4:25
“Therefore each of you must stop lying and speak truthfully to others, for we are all members of one body.”

Does lying hide your light? (Yes.)

Ephesians 4:26
“If you are angry, do not let it become sin. Get over your anger before the day is finished.”

Does anger hide your light? (Yes.)

Ephesians 4:27
“Do not let the devil start working in your life.”

When Satan works in your life does he hide your light? (Yes.)

Ephesians 4:28
“Anyone who steals must steal no longer, but must work, doing something good with his own hands, that he may have something to give to those in need.”

Does stealing hide your light? (Yes.)

Ephesians 4:29
“Do not let any bad words come out of your mouth, but only say things that help others grow as Christians.”

Do bad words hide your light? (Yes.)

Ephesians 4:30
“Do not make the Holy Spirit of God be sad about the way you live. The Holy Spirit has put a special mark on you for the day you will go to heaven.”

Does making God’s Holy Spirit sad hide your light? (Yes.)

Ephesians 4:31
“Get rid of all bad feelings about other people, temper and anger, loud talk, and talk that hurts others.”

Do bad feelings toward others and mean words hide your light? (Yes.)

Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind and nice to one another. Forgive other people, just as God forgave you because of Christ’s death on the cross.”

Does forgiving others hide your light? (No.)

Ephesians 5:1
“Do just as God would do, as God’s dearly loved children. Live a life that shows love to others.”

Does doing as God does hide your light? (No.)

Ephesians 5:2
“Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a gift on the altar to God.”

Does loving others hide your light? (No.)

Ephesians 5:4
“Do not tell bad stories or talk foolishly. These things are not for you to do. Instead, give thanks for what God has done for you.”

Does telling bad or mean stories hide your light? (Yes.)

Ephesians 5:6
“Do not let anyone lead you in the wrong way with foolish talk. The anger of God comes on such people because they choose to not obey Him.”

Does disobeying God hide your light? (Yes.)

Say, "In order to let our light shine for Jesus, we must not do many of the things we just read about. These are called “worldly” things, because people who do them love the things of the world more than the things of God. Maybe you only do one of those things. Would that hide your light? (Yes.) What can we do to let our light shine?" (Stop doing things that don’t please God. Confess your sins to God — let Him help you get rid of those sins.)

All-Stars Accessories Overstock Sale This Week!

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

Save 15% on all All-Stars for Jesus Pennants, T-shirts, ball caps, award books, and more. Plus get FREE shipping on your All-Stars order. Use Coupon Code ASFJ15 in the coupon box when you order online or mention the code when you call.

Don't miss this chance to stock up on those fun items and incentives for your Bible club. It's easy to start an affordable Bible Awards Program for your kids. Encourage Bible learning at home, no matter which curriculum you're using! The students learn important Bible verses and Biblical concepts while completing a variety of fun and creative activities and projects. The All-Stars for Jesus stand-alone awards program gives your leaders a chance to work one-on-one with kids and involve parents in your program.

The optional Awards Program is an important part of an All-Stars for Jesus Bible club. Completing a variety of activities in the award book (memorizing Scripture, at-home-projects, puzzles, etc.) reinforces what a child has been learning at All-Stars for Jesus, and gets the family involved, too. Children may earn colorful T-shirts, caps, pennants, and iron-on awards by working in their award books. Take advantage of this limited-time sale offer and order your accessories today. Visit ChristianEdWarehouse.com to view all of these great items.

Healthy Snacks

2011-10-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

As you plan your Bible lesson, look for healthy snacks for your students. Make sure none of your students have allergies to any of the foods you serve. If someone does have an allergy, it's best not to bring that food into your classroom at all. Here are a few tasty and healthy snack suggestions to serve your students:

Fruit slices
Cheese and crackers
Yogurt and carrot sticks
Cucumber slices
Canteloup and watermelon
Pita bread quarters with turkey
Jicama sticks with hummus
Grapes and berries
Applesauce with pretzel sticks
Flavored gelatin
Granola bars
Blueberry or bran muffins
Fruit smoothies
Frozen fruit pops
Red and green sweet pepper slices
Snap peas with light ranch dip
Tortilla chips with guacamole or salsa
Olives, fig or date halves
Mango slices and strawberries or raspberries

Before eating, have your students thank God for providing such an abundance of flavors, colors, and textures for us to enjoy eating. Encourage the children to try just one bite of new and different foods. Have your older students take turns serving each other and saying "please" and "thank you." Even your youngest students can be encouraged to throw away their napkins and paper cups in the trash when they are finished. Compliment the children for being helpers.

Halloween Alternatives

2011-10-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for halloween alternatives, harvest ideas, a Thanksgiving program, fall festival games, crafts, and outreach ideas, take a look at the Church Family Harvest Celebration outreach program with lots of reproducibles on CD-ROM. (Including the coloring pages shown below.)

This easy-to-use program guide with CD-ROM tells you all you need to know—whether you've been planning church events for 25 years or this is your first time! Includes promotion and programming ideas, recipes for refreshments, games, craft instruction sheets, recipes, and lots more. Take a look at the contents and view sample pages from the Church Family Harvest Celebration.

Here are just a few of the ways you can use this flexible program:

Fall Festival, Thanksgiving, or Halloween alternative suggestions
Harvest puppet show script
Christ-centered games and crafts
Pumpkin-carving ideas
Instant Harvest pageant on the story of Ruth
Step-by-step instructions for planning and set-up
Reproducible instruction sheets and patterns
Quick and easy decorations and centerpieces
Missions project ideas

Try out these FREE coloring pages from the Church Family Harvest Celebration. There are two separate coloring pages in this file. Each coloring page has a memory verse. There is a coloring page in the file for the New International Version and a separate page for the King James Version. If you use a different Bible version than the ones given, feel free to cut off or white out the verse and replace it with the version you prefer.

You can make as many copies of these coloring pages as you need for your children's program. Click on either image below to download the harvest coloring pages. Visit our Sunday school downloads store for more coloring pages, crafts, and puzzle downloads—many as low as $3.99 each! We even have coloring pages and crafts designed especially for your VBS program. Visit our VBS downloads store for more inexpensive downloads especially for vacation Bible school. May God bless you as you prepare to teach children (and their families) about the harvest season and how much God loves them.

Step by Step Memory Verse Learning

2011-10-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Psalm 37:23-24 — “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” (KJV)

“If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.” (NIV)

Give each of your students a sheet of construction paper and a marker. Help each child trace around his shoe with the marker and cut out the construction paper footprint. Help each child print one or two words of the memory verse on his footprint. Make sure each word of the verse is included on a footprint. If you have an extra footprint, include the reference, too.

Have a student read the verse aloud from the Bible. Talk about the meaning of the verse. Then have the class repeat it several times. Take the footprints and mix them up. Have a volunteer put them in the right order. After he has, have the class say the verse. Mix up the footprints and have another volunteer do the same thing, followed by class recitation of the verse. Continue as long as interest continues.

SAVE on Classroom Decorations This Weekend Only!

2011-10-07T17:06:00.000-07:00

Use Coupon Code WOW to save an extra 15% on bulletin board sets and classroom decorations this weekend only. You'll even save on those sets already marked down to 50% off. Simply type the code into the Coupon Code box when you check out or call us at 1-800-854-1531 first thing Monday and mention Coupon Code WOW (we open at 8:00 Pacific time). Some quantities are limited and may run out quickly. Bulletin boards are sold on a first come, first served basis.

Jesus, the True Vine: Bible Lesson

2011-10-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a Bible lesson you can use with your students to help them understand that God takes care of us just as a gardener takes care of his garden and Christians grow spiritually when they read the Bible and stay connected to Jesus.

Bring a bowl of raisins, a bowl of grapes, and some napkins. Print out the visuals below and cut them apart. Put a circle of tape on the back of each one and give each visual to a different child. Hold your open Bible on your lap. Explain that this is a true story from the Bible.

JESUS, THE TRUE VINE

(Read John 15:1 and 5.) God says that He acts like a gardener. A gardener helps plants grow. God helps us live right and grow as Christians. In Bible times, many people grew grapes. A grape plant has several parts. First, there is the vine. (Have the child who has the Grape Vine place it on the wall.) Whose name is on the vine? (Jesus) The Bible calls Jesus the True Vine.

On the vine are many branches. (Have the children with the Side, Bottom, and Top Branches place them on the vine.) Good branches produce grapes. These grapes are called the fruit of the vine. (Pass around napkins and a bowl of grapes and let each child take a napkin and some grapes.)

God is the Gardener in the garden of life. Jesus is the Vine who grows good branches. Christians are those branches. If you have asked Jesus to be your Savior, you are like a branch on a vine in God’s garden.

What happens to a branch if it is cut off the vine? (It dies; it doesn’t grow anymore.) That’s what happens to anyone who isn’t a true follower of Jesus. The person may look like a Christian, and even act like one (by going to church and doing good things). But, if this person hasn’t invited Jesus into his life, he’s a fake Christian. He may fool other people, but he can’t fool God.

Branches need water and food to grow. How do the branches get these things? (through the roots) The vine sends food and water from the roots to the branches. Then the branches send food and water to the flowers that will produce grapes. (Pass around a bowl of raisins and let each child take some.)

Once the vine has been taken care of and well watered, it makes grapes. Some grapes are dried like these. We grow spiritually when we get food from the Bible (read the Bible and memorize what it says) and stay connected to Jesus. We don’t make grapes, but we do make good actions that remind people of the way Jesus acted. Our good actions are called spiritual fruit. Jesus gives a promise that helps us stay close to Him. (Read Matthew 28:20.)

This verse is part of the Great Commission, the last command Jesus gave before He went to heaven. Jesus promises to be with us always. Jesus will never leave us, just as a vine never leaves the branches.

(If you have children who are interested in becoming part of God's family and having Jesus as their Savior, talk with them individually after your lesson.)

Click on the image above for a larger view.

(This lesson is an excerpt from Elementary Bible Activity Lessons. Try a FREE sample and then choose your lesson by topic or Bible story. Each lesson is just $5.95 each and includes a teacher's lesson plus 4-6 student activity sheets. Copy as many as you need for your classes. Quantity discounts are available when you purchase ten or more lessons.)

The Art of Storytelling

2011-09-07T19:05:00.000-07:00

Storytelling is an art. Everybody can do it and the only way to get better is to practice. So before telling your story, read it over and over so you can tell it with ease. Then feel free to improvise and personalize the story so it becomes your own. If you're telling a Bible story, hold an open Bible. Explain that the story is true and is from God's Word, the Bible. Don't deviate from the facts. Here are some additional tips to improve your storytelling:

1) Eye contact is vital — practice telling the story in your own words instead of reading it.

2) Let your facial expressions convey the story.

3) Tell the story facing a mirror; it will let you see what the children are seeing.

4) Let your voice reflect the emotions in the story.

5) Practice telling the story and have it recorded; it will let you hear what the children are hearing.

6) Above all, don’t be discouraged. Like everything else, if you practice, you will get better and, more importantly, you will communicate your story lesson more effectively.

This blog post is taken from the eBook, 101 Hints, Tips & Great Ideas for Children's Ministry. Order it today for just $4.99 at ChristianEdWarehouse.com.

Giving Positive Feedback to Your Students

2011-08-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

All students respond well to positive feedback. The key is to teach your point in a positive way, even when you feel like saying something negative. Following are a few tips for teachers:

• Positive feedback must be a result of student behavior. This tells students that you are aware of their performance individually and in a group. Students will begin to see that you give feedback to the best performance of every individual.

• Positive feedback should be given matter-of-factly. Flowery, emotional praise can embarrass students, especially preteens. Positive feedback should not imply that you are treating students any differently from the way you would treat an adult.

• Use descriptive statements that briefly tell students what was worthy of comment. Praise their accomplishments or their efforts, not their personalities.

• Positive feedback to individual students should be relatively private. Students can be embarrassed by comments that single them out as the “teacher’s pet.”

• Give feedback to student groups whenever possible. Frequent group praise helps establish a sense of cooperation and community among your student group.

• Eliminate pauses after giving positive feedback. For some students this can be very uncomfortable. Instead say, (Julie), good job on reading that Scripture, now let’s turn to…

• Be persistent. Some students feel uncomfortable with praise because they have had so little. But every student needs to learn that he or she has enough self-worth to accept recognition from someone else.

• Give students choices as much as possible. For example, "Would you like to do the craft first or the pencil puzzle?" Or, "You can turn in your project on time and I'll grade it this week or you can turn it in late and I'll grade it in a few months."

• After giving students lots of choices, you can ask them to do what you're asking as a favor to you. For example, say, "Now that I've let you choose the activities today, I'd like you to pick up these papers as a favor to me."

• When a student expresses anger, let him calm down before you respond. Let him know you're busy right now but you can talk tomorrow (or later). Show empathy toward the student. For example, you could say, "That's a bummer. Let's talk about it tomorrow. Don't worry about it." There is usually no need to take sides or make suggestions or give consequences on the spur of the moment. Often the students will come up with their own ideas after having a chance to think things through.

• Give negative feedback in private, and make sure it's constructive and the student has ownership of the situation. For example, "I'm sorry you decided to turn in the project late. What were the consequences for a late project? That's right, you won't get a grade for a few months. I'm sorry about that. But don't worry. You can decide when to turn in the next project. Conclude in prayer with the student.

Being Thankful in All Things

2011-08-20T22:21:00.000-07:00

Being thankful is an important part of our Christian faith. The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:6-7 to pray with thanksgiving and let our requests be made known to God. I Chronicles 16:8 tells us to give thanks to God, call on His name, and make His deeds known to others.

The Bible is full of stories about people who gave thanks. In I Chronicles 16:4, King David appointed Levites to thank and praise God before the ark of the Lord. Daniel thanked God for wisdom in Daniel 2:23. In Matthew 16:36, Jesus thanked God for wisdom for the food before He broke seven loaves and a few fishes that fed a multitude.

Paul thanked the Thessalonians for their growing faith (II Thessalonians 1:3). The writer of I Corinthians 15:57 thanked God Who gives us the victory through Jesus Christ. God commands us to give thanks to Him in all things. What a great example we set for our students when they see us giving thanks in all circumstances!

A Timeless Message

2011-08-14T22:23:00.000-07:00

Children growing up today face a very different world than the one faced by their parents. It is a complex world with gadgets and gizmos that were never even imagined twenty years ago. And yet it is still a world of people trying to relate to their God.

Pray that even as your students’ minds are full of the complexities of learning to read and do math, of computers and cell phones, of YouTube and iPods, of entertainment and so much push-button technology, that they will understand the simplicity of the Gospel. Your lessons will help your students realize that God loves them and sent His Son to be their Redeemer and Guide.

Pray that as they remember God’s faithfulness to believers in the past, they will be aware of His faithfulness in their lives today as they face problems and challenges. For lesson ideas to help your students grow closer to Jesus, check out our Bible Foundations Reproducible Sunday School Lessons. Try a free lesson for Preschool, Early Elementary or Upper Elementary.

VBS Clearance Sale This Week

2011-08-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

We're clearing out our warehouse and you'll save 30%-80% on leftover VBS items this week. Hurry! Quantities are extremely limited. We have Pandamania Sing and Play Music CDs, Panda Pal's Bible Play Pack, Gold Rush Super Starter Kits, MegaSports Go the Distance Water Bottles with Gospel Balls, SonSurf Magnets, High Seas Outdoor Banners, and lots more!

These items will sell out quickly so don't miss the chance to save big. Visit our VBS Sale to see all the items on clearance. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis. We will notify you if anything you order is out of stock.

As our blog readers, we're giving you advance notice of the sale. For you, it begins today. Visit our VBS Sale now.

Helping Young Children Feel Welcome at Church

2011-07-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Young children often cry when brought to church and left in the classroom because irregular attendance makes each week a new and strange experience. Others simply want to express their displeasure at being separated from their parents. To help alleviate the child's anxiety, be sure an adult devotes some personalized attention to each child as he arrives.

Stoop down to the child's level and welcome him by name. Help him say goodbye to mommy or daddy. Do not let his parent slip out unnoticed. Rather, say, "Mommy will be back later to pick you up. Say goodbye to Mommy. See you later, Mommy." Then help the child wave goodbye. Next, guide the child to place a sticker on an attendance chart. Then gently lead the child into the selected learning center or to a free play area. Many children can become diverted by toys or a good book once their parents have left the room.

Memory Verse Craft: Let Your Light Shine

2011-07-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun craft to help your students learn Matthew 5:16. Click on the NIV or the KJV craft below depending on which memory verse version you use.

Print a set of candles in the version you prefer and cut them out. Before the lesson, cut two empty bathroom tissue tubes into four sections so you have eight sections. (Or cut one paper towel tube into eight sections.) Glue one word strip around each tube section so the candles stand up. Glue the verse reference on the same tube as the words "in heaven." Copy the candle page for each child and bring two empty bathroom tissue tubes or one paper towel tube for each child..

During your lesson, read Matthew 5:15-16 aloud from your Bible (or have an older student read it). Choose non-reading students to hold the candle visuals in front of the group. Let the children help them stand in the correct verse order. Then, together with the children, read verse 16 from the visuals.

Ask, What does it mean to let your light shine? (To do good deeds so people see the love of Jesus through you.) Why should we let our light shine? (So people will see the good things we do and will want to know Jesus, too.) Can people see good things in us if we are doing bad things? (No.) When people see us do good things, then they will want to know Jesus and our heavenly Father.

Give each child a copy of the visuals. Hand out scissors, glue, and 2 empty bathroom tissue tubes for each child. If you have young students in your group, cut the empty tubes into four sections before the lesson, so each child has eight sections. (You may need to tape some of the sections to reinforce them.) Let the child glue one word strip around each tube section so the candle stands. Have him glue the verse reference around the same tube as "in heaven."

Say the verse together twice. Change your “candle holders” around, and have a volunteer put them in the proper order. Read the verse again; then mix up the holders and repeat.

Matthew 5:16 — “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (KJV)

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (NIV)

Click on the image above to download the craft page.

NIV is on the left and KJV is on the right.

Bible Lesson: Love One Another

2011-07-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

Help your students learn the memory verse I John 4:7 — “Let us love one another.” Before your lesson, cut a big heart from red poster board and a small heart from red paper. Mark your Bible at the Bible Words with the small heart. Post the large heart on a wall or bulletin board at the children’s eye level. Bring blueberry muffins for each child. Make them from a mix or use the recipe below. (Make sure to have extra muffins for visitors and helpers.)

During class, point to the large heart. Ask, What word do you think of when you see a heart? Say, Here in the Bible it says, “Let us love.” Do you know whom the Bible tells us to love? Read the whole verse. Say, We can begin by loving everyone in the room.

Give each child a piece of paper and crayons or markers. Let the children draw self-portraits. Let each child tape her picture near the heart. As each child does this, say the Bible Words. Substitute the child’s name for “one another.” When all the pictures have been posted around the heart, have the children say the Bible Words together. During the lesson, compliment those children who use kind words and thoughtful actions toward the others.

Have the children wash their hands. Now bring out the muffins along with napkins and small paper plates. Serve water or juice to drink. Say a prayer of thanks for the snack. Also thank God for His love for each person. Let each child choose a muffin and hand it to the person on his right. Talk about how when we show respect and kindness to others, we are showing love to each other. Say the memory verse once more as the children finish eating.

For more lesson ideas, take a look at Bible Foundations Sunday School Curriculum, available for Preschool, Early Elementary, and Upper Elementary.

Blueberry Muffin Recipe

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix 8 ounces vanilla yogurt or sour cream with one egg (if you omit the egg, add 1/4 cup water), 1/4 cup orange juice, two tablespoons canola or vegetable oil, and one teaspoon vanilla flavoring. Mix well.

In another bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour with 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix well. Make a well in the center. Add wet ingredients and stir just until moist. Gently fold in one cup fresh or frozen blueberries.

Spoon batter evenly into 12 muffin cups sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle sugar on top of each muffin. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden brown. Let sit five minutes. Use a knife to loosen muffins from sides of pan. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack. Yield: one dozen muffins.

Tips for Teaching the Bible with Crafts

2011-06-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

When you turn your art projects and activities into learning experiences, you give the children worthwhile lessons that will be with them long after the project is gone. Here’s how: focus on what the children can learn rather than what they can make. As the children work, talk about the Bible lesson or theme of the day. Keep the focus on the Bible story or the memory verse. Tie the craft back into the day’s point.

Help the children have a fun time. Don’t let them get frustrated. If a craft becomes too difficult, switch gears and adapt the craft to the child. For example, if threading yarn becomes tedious, stop the threading. Chenille wire stems are much easier for a young child to thread than yarn. Let him try using chenille wire, if you have some on hand. If not, let the child add stickers to the craft or decorate it with markers or jewels. Turn your time with the child back into a fun experience. If a child finishes early (or just gives up), let him move to a free play area or begin a coloring project.

Allow each child to be the creative being God intended. Encourage creativity by:

1) Allowing the children to make their own creations, even if they vary from the suggested pattern.

2) Explaining to the children the sensations they are feeling as they experience their creations. (Saying, “This clay feels smooth on my hands. It’s fun to make things with clay. I’m glad God gave us hands to feel clay.”)

3) Describing to the children the colors and shapes they are seeing as they create their art projects. (Saying, “These colors are beautiful. I see blue, red, and green. I’m glad God gave us eyes with which to see such wonderful colors.”)

4) Pointing out acts of helpfulness and relating them to what the Bible says about being helpful. For example, you might say, “Taking turns is one good way to be helpful. I like the way [Niko] is helping his friends by waiting patiently for his turn with the red paint.”

5) Commenting on the process (or asking the child to comment) rather than focusing on the finished product. For example, saying, “I like the way you are molding the clay into such fun shapes” or “Tell me about your colorful creation” rather than asking, “What is that?” or incorrectly guessing what it is.

6) Tying the craft into the Bible lesson by including a memory verse with it. If you teach young children, print the memory verse on a sticker they can add to the finished craft. Say the verse together as they work. Including the memory verse or Bible point somewhere on the craft can help parents understand the lesson theme, even when the child isn’t able to verbalize it.

7) Talking about the Bible story or the lesson theme as the children work. Read through the Bible story the week before your lesson. Then pray throughout the week, asking God to work through you to help the children understand His Word and to prepare their hearts for what He wants them to learn. Briefly review the Bible story or theme while the children finish their crafts.

As you help your students with their crafty creations, enjoy the experience and let God's love shine through your attitude and actions. After all, you're not just encouraging children to be creative, you're teaching them God's Word!

7 Steps to a Successful Sunday School Program

2011-06-21T05:00:00.001-07:00

1. Pray

This is a big job, so meet with your Christian Education Director, Children’s Pastor, and Sunday School Superintendent. Begin with prayer, asking the Lord to direct you and give you wisdom as you plan for your Sunday school program. You may want to organize a prayer team who will continue to pray for your program before your fall registration, during your kick-off week, and on a regular basis (monthly or weekly) as needs arise.

2. Plan

Once you have a budget, order your Sunday school starter kits and print some sample lessons to determine which curriculum will work best for your church. Return the kits you won’t need or keep the extra kits to use as a filler when the sermon runs over—or any time you need an extra lesson. Your kids will enjoy the fun crafts and games anytime. Visit our Sunday school store to see a Sunday School Comparison Chart and print out a Scope and Sequence and sample lessons. Check out the affordable downloads and reproducible Sunday school programs available for all ages.

3. Recruit

Ask the Lord to direct you to the people whom He wants to teach your precious children. Ask Him to prepare the hearts of these people to be receptive to becoming Sunday school teachers or helpers. Then make a list of qualified people who might be interested, and make an appointment to visit them in their homes. Explain the Sunday school program and the responsibilities of a Sunday school teacher or helper. Ask him or her to pray about the decision, and if desired, leave a specific job description with him or her. To ensure your children the very best experiences in your Sunday school program, look for leaders and teachers with the following qualifications:

• Are dedicated Christians who seek to live for Christ daily, who study God’s Word, and who know the plan of salvation

• Are tuned in to kids, and able to build upon their natural interests

• Enjoy sharing in the children’s joy of discovery

• Are warm, outgoing, and have a genuine love and sensitivity for children

• Appreciate and seek to follow God’s command to teach children

• Have a basic understanding of children in terms of their physical, mental, and emotional development, and their spiritual needs

• Are reliable and disciplined to prepare for each meeting

• Are suitable role models for children

4. Prepare

Before you begin signing up children for your Sunday school program, print registration cards onto heavy stock. We've created some free Sunday School Registration Cards you can download. Design your own or use these and simply add your church logo. Give the cards to parents when they register their children. Have parents fill out a registration card for each child attending your program. The card should contain emergency information and a place to list allergies and other medical conditions of your students. For any child with allergies, create a special, brightly colored name badge with the allergies listed so all leaders and helpers are aware of the allergies and don’t inadvertently give the child something that might cause an allergic reaction.

5. Be Creative!

Creativity may not be your strong suit, but no doubt your church is full of creative talent just waiting to be put to good use.

Someone who can paint classrooms, another person who can concoct inexpensive yet healthy snack options, a seamstress who can design skit costumes or puppet show decorations, a musician who can accompany your songs or lead the children in singing along to the CDs, a crafty mom who can modify the suggested crafts into easy-to-prepare keepsakes made from household supplies—all of these people can play a role in kicking your Sunday school program up a notch. The key is to tap into their talents without giving them overwhelming responsibilities. Check out our Classroom Decorations Store for lots of fun bulletin board sets and attendance charts to make each classroom a welcoming and creative place for your students.

6. Pray (Continually!)

Schedule a regular time (weekly or monthly) to have volunteers gather at your church for praises, prayer requests, and a time of prayer for the children, parents, teachers, and helpers. You may want to provide coffee and juice. Use your Sunday school theme for a brief devotion, then make announcements, share prayer requests and praises, and conclude with a time of prayer (for each other, for the children, and for God’s wisdom and discernment). For a complete collection of teacher devotions and training tips, view samples from the book, Refresh! Teacher Training and Devotions by Joyce Tepfer. During your prayer time, encourage your volunteers to share stories of how God is working during Sunday school. Then take time to thank Him for the ways He is using each person to spread His Word and change lives.

7. Consider Having a Preschool Sunday School Program

Sunday school is a great way to introduce young families to your church. Consider including 2- to 5-year-olds in your Sunday school program so they have a Bible curriculum rather than just a babysitting hour. Younger children can have their own learning centers, games, and age-appropriate crafts. The preschoolers can join the other children for your opening song time and then go their own preschool rooms for the rest of the morning. If your Sunday school hour begins with everyone together for an opening song time, be prepared to have one or two helpers take younger children to your preschool classroom for free play if the large group setting becomes overwhelming. Read other blog articles for more ideas on including preschoolers. (See the post, "Using Learning Centers with Preschoolers".) Visit our Sunday school store to take a look at Bible Foundations Reproducible Curriculum and the Preschool All-in-One Kit—Sunday school curriculum written especially for your two- to five-year-olds.

And Finally…Evaluate!

Before the end of your Sunday school year (or quarterly), have thank-you notes and evaluation forms ready for your helpers. Gather feedback about what worked and what didn’t so you can make changes for next year. Make notes so if you are not involved, you can pass them on to your successor. Thank God for the ways He worked to change lives during Sunday school. Be sure to let your volunteers know how much they were appreciated. While they’re still excited about the great things that happened during the past year, ask if they would be willing to consider being a part of the team next year. (Just to get an idea, not for a firm commitment.) Then follow up around May or June to have them start praying about volunteering for your next year of Sunday school. For tips on recruiting Sunday school teachers, visit our Recruiting blog post.

Our Responsibility to Nurture Kids, Part 2

2011-06-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Mark 9:36-37 — “He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.”

Jesus explains that when we receive a child into our care in the name of Jesus, we are receiving Jesus Himself. The importance of nurturing children, loving them with Christ’s love, and providing them with strong Bible teaching cannot be over-emphasized.

Luke 18:15-17 — “They brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”

It’s interesting that even though the disciples tried to push the children out of the way, Jesus welcomed the children into the center of things. And isn’t that just where children want most to be – right in the middle of whatever is happening. As a church, we can encourage children to be right in the middle of our programs and our congregation – stressing the importance of bringing children to Jesus and exposing them to God and His Word at every opportunity.

II Timothy 3:15 — “From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Paul mentions that Timothy developed his genuine faith as a very young boy. The children who come into our household of faith can be taught to know the Scriptures at a very young age, so they can become wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

I Peter 5:2 — “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.”

God calls elders of the church to be shepherds of the flock that is under their care. Some of the flock are children, and God tells the church to feed and nurture these little ones while they are in our care. We have a responsibility to give children the best Christian care possible, introducing them to God and His Word as soon as they come into our flock, no matter how young they may be.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 — “This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

This is our prayer for each of the children we minister to. Our top priority is to see that children come to know God through His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Our Responsibility to Nurture Kids According to God's Word

2011-06-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 — “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

God instructs us to get to know His commands on a personal level. Parents are to teach God’s Word to their children; we are to talk about God’s Word in our homes, our neighborhoods, and our communities. As a church, we have a responsibility to help parents learn God’s Word so they can teach it to their children. We also have a responsibility to teach God’s Word to all who enter our doors, children included. Part of our responsibility is to share God’s Word with the surrounding community of adults and children alike.

Proverbs 22:6 —“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

God commands us to train up a child in the way he should go so God’s Word will stick with him as he grows older, and he will continue to follow God’s way. Children who are grounded in God’s Word and who have Christian examples to follow are much less likely to stray from it.

Matthew 18:5 — “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”

Jesus compared our attitude toward children with our attitude toward Him when He said, “Whoever receives one such child in My name, receives Me.”

Matthew 18:10-14 — “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”

Jesus instructs us not to look down on children, for God does not want any of them to be lost. As the church, we have a responsibility to train up children in God’s way so they can come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Matthew 19:13-15 — “Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.”

Jesus gathered the children to Him and blessed them. He let the children know how much He loved and valued them. Jesus reminds us that children (even preschoolers) are an important part of the church right now. He did not say, “Let the children come to me when they are old enough to read” or “when they reach the age of accountability.” There were no conditions on His acceptance of children. Rather, Jesus welcomes all children

just as they are. All children are stars in Jesus' eyes!

For a PDF version of this post, download the full article: Our Responsibility to Nurture Children.

Reach New Kids with a Harvest Outreach Program for Your Church

2011-05-31T19:50:00.000-07:00

VBS is still around the corner, but it's not too soon to start planning for a follow-up program. Get new families to come to your church with a fun, faith-building fall festival or Halloween alternative. On the last day of your VBS program, hand out invitations to your fall festival. (Reproducible bulletin inserts, posters, and flyers are included on the CD-ROM.)

This flexible program can also be used for a Thanksgiving service of Psalms, an easy-to-do pageant about the story of Ruth, an optional puppet skit, ice-breakers, service projects, and more!

If you're looking for harvest ideas, a Thanksgiving program, fall festival games, crafts, and outreach ideas, take a look at the Church Family Harvest Celebration outreach program with lots of reproducibles on CD-ROM. (Including the coloring pages shown below.)

This easy-to-use instruction guide tells you all you need to know—whether you've been planning church events for 25 years or this is your first time! Includes promotion and programming ideas, recipes for refreshments, games, craft instruction sheets, recipes, and lots more. Take a look at the contents and view sample pages from the Church Family Harvest Celebration.

Here are just a few of the ways you can use this flexible program:

Perfect for Back-to-School, Thanksgiving, or Halloween alternative
Step-by-step instructions for planning and set-up
Reproducible instruction sheets and patterns
Christ-centered games and crafts
Quick and easy decorations and centerpieces
Missions project ideas

Try out these coloring pages from the Church Family Harvest Celebration. There are two separate coloring pages in this file. Each coloring page has a memory verse. There is a coloring page in the file for the New International Version and a separate page for the King James Version. If you use a different Bible version than the ones given, feel free to cut off or white out the verse and replace it with the version you prefer.

You can make as many copies of these coloring pages as you need for your children's program. Click on either image below to download the harvest coloring pages. Visit our Sunday school downloads store for more coloring pages, crafts, and puzzle downloads—many as low as $1.99 each! We even have coloring pages and crafts designed especially for your VBS program. Visit our VBS downloads store for more $1.99 downloads especially for vacation Bible school. May God bless you as you prepare to teach children (and their families) about the harvest season and how much God loves them.

Jesus Heals the Blind Man

2011-05-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Provide blindfolds for one or two children to use at a time. Tie one gently around the child’s head, covering his eyes, yet loose enough for the child to pull down as desired. Do not force any child to wear a blinkfold. Be sure to caution the children to move about the oom slowly and carefully (to avoid any crashes). Have the children pay attention to how it feels to be “blind.”

Then say, This is a good time for us to show our love to Jesus by singing a praise song. Sing the following words to the tune of THE FARMER IN THE DELL. Begin the song with the children seated. Encourage them to clap with you.

God gave me eyes (point to eyes)

To see (clap, clap).

God gave me eyes (point to eyes)

To see (clap, clap).

I stand and praise my God above (stand and point).

God gave me eyes (point to eyes)

To see (clap, clap).

Sing the song again several times as the children do the motions. Let volunteers lead the group in the song. Comment that in today’s Bible story, the children will be learning about a blind man who met Jesus.

Talk with the children about what it would be like if they could not see. Then have the children close their eyes while you keep talking. Walk around the room and talk about the things you see. After each thing you notice, say, If you were blind, you could hear me talk about it, but you couldn’t see it. Do this for a few minutes. Then have the children open their eyes. Say, Now it is time to listen to a Bible story about someone who could not see. Encourage the children to shake their heads every time you mention that some people do not believe. Tell the story with feeling.

NOW I CAN SEE!

Step, step, step! Jesus and His friends walked along the dusty road. “There’s a man who can’t see!” one of the men said. “He’s been blind since he was born!” (Show Jesus and the Blind Man visual.)

“I will help him,” Jesus said. “God’s power can make blind people see.”

Jesus knelt down and spit on the dry, dusty ground. Then He made a wad of mud. He put the mud on the blind man’s eyes. “Go wash in the pool,” Jesus told the man.

Splash! Splash! Splash! The blind man washed the mud away from his eyes. Then he stood and blinked his eyes in the bright sunlight. (Show the Blind Man Healed visual.) He looked around, then he shouted, “Now I can see!” (Pull the tab so the man’s eyes open.)

The man born blind rushed home. He wanted to tell everyone his good news.Some of the man’s neighbors stared at him. “Isn’t this the blind man who used to sit at the gate?” they asked.

“No,” others said, “this man only looks like him.” (Show the Blind Man Healed visual.)

The man who had been blind said, “Yes, I am the man you’re talking about.”

The neighbors looked closely at the man’s eyes. “Then how can you see now?” they asked.

“Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes,” he told them. “He told me to go wash in the pool. I did, and now I can see!”

Some people still didn’t believe this man had been blind (shake heads). “Let’s ask his parents,” they said.

So they asked the man’s mother and father, “Is this your son? Was he born blind? How is it that he can see now?”

“We know he is our son,” the man’s parents answered. “And yes, he was born blind. We know he can see now, but we don’t know how it happened. Ask him. He can tell you.”

The neighbors did not believe the man’s parents (shake heads). They asked the man again, “Why can you see now?”

“I’ve already told you,” the man said. “All I know is that I was blind, but now I can see!”

Some people still didn’t believe him (shake heads). “Go away!” they yelled angrily.

The Bible says that the man went away. Then Jesus saw him again. “Do you believe in God’s special Servant?” Jesus asked him.

The man answered, “Who is He? Tell me so I may believe in Him.”

Jesus answered, “I am God’s special Servant!”

Immediately, the man fell down on his knees and worshipped Jesus. The man did this to show how much he loved Jesus. The man wanted to thank Jesus for helping him to see.

Clay Pot Craft

2011-05-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

Give each child a blob of modeling clay on a piece of wax paper. You may want to use air-dry clay so the pots will be dried overnight. Say, "You have been given a blob of clay. Even though it doesn’t look like much, we’re going to change this blob into a clay pot —something attractive and useful.

Before we become Christians, we may not think we’re very special. But God can change us into something special and useful. God can help our lives produce good fruit. We can do good and helpful things for Christ.

First, roll half the clay into a long rope or snake. Wind your snake around itself in a spiral to form a circular bottom for your pot. Now coil the rope on top of the outer circle of the bottom. This will form the sides of your pot.

To make the lip of the pot, coil the rope sides into a smaller circle for a few coils. Finish by laying a couple of larger circles of the rope on top. Now carve your initials in the bottom of the pot using a plastic knife or pencil tip.

Place your pot somewhere where it will remind you that God can change you into something special and useful. We can do good and helpful things for Jesus when we follow Him.

If any children have questions or would like to know more about changing their lives into something special and following Jesus, talk with them individually.

Action Rhyme for Preschoolers

2011-05-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's an action rhyme you can sing with your preschoolers as you do the motions together. We've added some verses to make them appropriate for Sunday school and to emphasize that we are created by God.

Open, Shut Them
Open, shut them, open shut them
(spread fingers wide and then close them into fists),
Give a little clap (clap hands).

Open, shut them, open shut them

(spread fingers wide and then close them into fists),

Hold them in your lap.

Walk them, walk them
(walk fingers from toes to chin)

Walk them, walk them, right up your chin.

Open wide your great big mouth

But don't let them go in (place hands over mouth).

Walk them, walk them
(walk fingers from chin to toes),

Walk them, walk them way down to your toes.

Then you give a great bit jump and land upon your nose

(jump fingers to land on nose).

Walk them, walk them
(walk fingers from chin to knees),

Walk them, walk them stopping at your knees.

God made fingers, God made toes,

And God made all of me!

God's Love Gift Box

2011-04-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Help your students focus on God's love for them with this special craft. Let the children create heart boxes in which to hold reminders of God's good gifts to them.

Before your lesson, cut a large facial tissue box in half so each child can have one half. Bring paint, paint brushes, newspaper, scissors, construction paper, markers, paint smocks, glue, tape, wet wipes, and one clothespin for each child. Let each child paint the outside of a box half and cut hearts from construction paper to glue onto the box. You can also purchase colorful heart cut-outs, Item #1840 (pictured) to save time.

On one heart have him print "[Jason's] Gifts from God." Help him stand the box so the completely open side faces up and the partially open side faces him. He can glue and then tape one flat side of the clothespin inside the front of the box (the partially open side) so it appears to be standing. Then he can glue the heart with his name on it to the front of the clothespin.

Have each child cut a few extra hearts (or paper strips). On the extra hearts or strips, let him print gifts from God for which he is thankful (one gift per paper). Younger children can draw pictures of those gifts.

Let the child place those hearts or paper strips inside the box, placing one of those hearts in the clothespin "teeth." Encourage the child to choose a new heart to place in the clothespin each day as a reminder of God's love for him.

New Preschool VBS: Jesus in Nazareth

2011-04-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

Use this new Jesus in Nazareth Preschool VBS from Christian Ed. Publishers to supplement your elementary Hometown Nazareth VBS program this summer. Written especially for 2- to 5-year-olds, this five-day preschool VBS program from Christian Ed Publishers includes Bible stories, snacks, crafts, and games with reproducible student sheets and colorful visuals on CD-ROM. Your little ones can travel to the Marketplace before the older children but can also enjoy the stories of Jesus (from birth to the resurrection) written at their own level. Crafts and games in the Preschool Leader’s Guide are preschool-friendly.

The preschool VBS program is completely flexible and makes a wonderful supplement to your elementary program. So if you want to have your preschoolers play some of the “Pyramid Playground” games planned for the elementary children, they can! (The Fun and Games Leader Manual and the Shopkeeper Leader Manual for the Marketplace are sold separately.) Jesus in Nazareth Preschool VBS is a great way to include your younger children with activities written just for them.

The Preschool VBS Leader’s Guide includes decorating ideas, tips for working with preschoolers, a suggested rotation schedule, and a reproducible preschool sign-in sheet. The CD-ROM contains separate job descriptions for your Snack Leader, Bible Story Leader, Games Leader, and Crafts Leader. You can print instructions for the leaders each day of your VBS so they can collect any needed supplies and decide which options to use. The CD-ROM also includes registration cards, safety tips, a course overview, coloring pages with NLT, NIV and KJV memory verses, “How to Lead a Child to Christ,” storytelling tips, recruiting ideas, and lots more.

Preview samples and take a look at the contents of this VBS written especially for preschoolers. Jesus in Nazareth Preschool VBS from Christian Ed. Publishers includes a Preschool Leader’s Guide plus CD-ROM...all for only $29.95! Or, if you need it tomorrow, order the download version. Bring the feel of ancient Nazareth to your preschool VBS this summer, and help your little ones understand that God sent His Son to live and die and come alive again for them. May God bless you as you begin your VBS adventure in Nazareth and teach children (and families) about God's Son, Jesus!

Prayer Bulletin Board Ideas

2011-04-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

The National Day of Prayer will be held on May 5, 2011. Get your classrooms ready for this special emphasis with colorful bulletin boards that encourage your students to pray. (For more ideas on celebrating the National Day of Prayer plus a free coloring page, see our blog post from February 21, 2011.)

Use the One Nation Bulletin Board Set to give your room a patriotic flair.

Place a flag of your country next to the Christian Flag. Teach your students the Pledge of Allegiance along with the Pledge to the Christian Flag:
   I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag
   And to the Savior for whose kingdom it stands.
   One Savior, crucified, risen, and coming again
   With life and liberty to all who believe.

You may want to give your students a Pledge to the Flag Bookmark or a God Bless the USA Wristband as an incentive to learn the pledge. The bookmark includes the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag, the Pledge to the Christian Flag, plus the Pledge to the Bible.

Point out the symbols on the flags. Have a child lead your students in saying each of the pledges together. Have a volunteer thank God for letting us live in a country where we can freely worship Him. Have another volunteer pray for those in other countries who are persecuted for their faith.

Mount these Showers of Blessings Up-Down-and-All-Arounds across the top of your display. Place star borders around your bulletin board or door frame.

Give each child a Stick Kid Airplane Cut-Out (these come in packages of 36) and let him write a prayer request or praise on the banner. Each child can add his Airplane Cut-Out to the display as the class prays for his request.

Set an example of prayer by praying for each of your students by name. Ask God to open their ears to hear His Word. Thank God for the gifts and abilities He has given each child. Finally, praise God for bringing them under your watchcare so you can model the love of Jesus to each one.

Prayer Puzzle

2011-04-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a puzzle sheet you can copy for your students to reinforce your lesson on talking to God in prayer. (Click on the image at the bottom of this post to download the free puzzle.) Share some verses from the Bible on prayer. Explain that Jesus talked to God in prayer and God is pleased when we talk to Him, too. Help your students understand that they can talk to God any time and any place, and God hears us. Tell them that prayer is like knocking on God's door. God is never too busy for us. He is never gone away on vacation. When we knock on the door by talking to God in prayer, he will open the door and hear and answer us.

Let your students brainstorm some of the things about which they can talk to God (praises, prayer requests, thanksgivings, things that make us sad or happy, worries, problems, etc.). Help them understand that when we seek or look for God, we will find Him. God wants to hear about all the things happening in our lives—the good and the bad.

Give each student a puzzle sheet and a pencil. Let the students work in pairs, if you wish. Read the directions aloud. Have a child read the first sentence. Choose a volunteer to read the correct answer. Have another volunteer read the complete sentence. Let the children explain what it means. Do the same for each sentence or let the children work independently. After all the sentences are completed, have the children print the circled letters in order in the squares at the top of the page. Have a child read the page title and then the completed answer aloud. (Talk to God in prayer. He will answer.) Point out the At Home Project at the bottom of the page. Encourage the children to make their own prayer reminder. If you have time, bring the supplies so they can start it during your lesson.

Close your time in prayer. Let the students pray, if they wish. Thank God for being available to listen to us whenever we talk to Him in prayer.

Click the above image to download the puzzle.

VBS Coloring Pages 2011

2011-03-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some coloring pages we’ve created for the 2011 VBS programs.

For each program, there is a coloring page for every day of VBS—a total of five pages. Each coloring page has the daily memory verse and the Bible theme. If you have younger children, you can feel free to shorten the verse by whiting out (or taping over) the final phrase before copying the coloring page. Each coloring page shows a picture to complement the Bible memory verse or Bible point for that day. The coloring pages come in sets of five pages for just $4.99 per set. The best part is, you can make as many copies as you need!

For Nazareth, there is a set of coloring pages for the New Living Translation, a separate set for the New International Version, and a separate set for the King James Version. (The NLT is the version used on the Bible memory makers.)

(Click on the images above to go to the download pages—NLT is on the left, NIV is on the right, and KJV is on the bottom.)

For your SonSurf VBS, there is a set of coloring pages for the New International Version and a separate set for the King James Version. (The NIV verses are used on the Connection Cards and other SonSurf printed materials.)

(Click on the images above to download the pages—

KJV is on the left and NIV is on the right)

For the Main Street VBS, every coloring page has a portion of the daily memory verse, I Timothy 4:12. Each day we've added a few more words to the verse so by Day 5 the entire verse is shown. There is a set of coloring pages for the New International Version and a separate set for the King James Version. (These are the versions used on the Bible memory posters.)

(Click the images above to download the pages—

KJV is on the left and the NIV is on the right)

For the PandaMania VBS, there is a coloring page for the New International Version and one for the New Living Version. At the end of your VBS week, your students will have all five of the memory verses—a fun keepsake reminder of their week at vacation Bible school.

(Click images above to download the PandaMania coloring pages—

NLT is on the left and the NIV is on the right)

If you’d like to take a look at any of these VBS Starter Kits, visit VBSstore.com for more information and to order your starter kits. Watch for more coloring pages coming soon (Gold Rush, Mega Sports Camp: Go the Distance, and Kickin' It Old School).

Easter Card Craft

2011-03-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Download this FREE Easter Card Craft to help your students understand the Easter story and share it with their friends and family members.

Copy the craft page below for each child. Give it to the child along with crayons or markers, scissors, and a paper fastener. If you have young students, read the directions aloud for them. You may also want to pre-print stickers with "Jesus lives!" on them if your students are too young to print it themselves. Read the words aloud as you point to them. Help each child make an Easter card. Tell the Easter story as the children work. When the cards are finished, let the children help you retell the story and use their cards to seal the tomb and then roll the stone away when you indicate.

Encourage the children to tell the Easter story to their friends and family members as they give them the cards. You may want to have them give out the cards a week or two before Easter and include an invitation to your church's Easter service.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Click on the image above to download the craft.

Preschool Lesson: God Planned for Families

2011-03-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Help your preschool students understand that God has a plan for parents to care for their children.

Download the free lesson below. Cut out the visuals of Moses, Basket Lid, Moses in Basket, Miriam, Jochebed, and Pharaoh’s Daughter from Teaching Visuals 45A and 45B. Cut a slit in Jochebed’s arms, as shown. Cut a 5” x 3” piece of construction paper and trim it to look like grass or reeds. Glue flannel or felt to the back of each visual. Bring a flannel board.

Ask the children to name people who help take care of them. Then say, I’m glad God planned for people to care for us. Let’s listen quietly to a Bible story about a boy whose mother loved him very much. Hold your open Bible on your lap. Explain that this is a true story from God's Word, the Bible.

A MOTHER’S LOVE

Amram [AM-ram] and Jochebed [JOCK-uh-bed] had a secret. Big brother Aaron and big sister Miriam had a secret, too (place Miriam visual on the flannel board). They had a new baby boy in their house, but they couldn’t tell anyone. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, thought there were too many Hebrew people. Pharaoh said that all new Hebrew baby boys had to be killed.

When Jochebed’s baby was born (place Jochebed visual on the board), Jochebed knew God had given her a special child (place Moses visual in Jochebed’s arms, sliding it into the slit). Jochebed loved her baby very much. She did not want her baby to die, so she hid him in the house. She took good care of the baby and he grew bigger and stronger. Soon he could cry loudly, and Jochebed knew it was not safe to hide him in the house any longer.
Jochebed had an idea. She took a strong basket and made sure that no water could get in it — not even one drop. Then Jochebed lovingly wrapped her baby in a blanket. She gently laid the baby in the basket (remove Moses visual and place Moses in Basket in Jochebed’s arms).

“Come, Miriam,” Jochebed said to the baby’s big sister. “I need your help.” (Move Jochebed and Miriam visuals to the middle of the flannel board.) Miriam and Jochebed went to the river, and Jochebed put the basket in the water near some tall grass (place grass visual to the right of Jochebed; place Moses in Basket to the right of the grass; place the Basket Lid on the basket).
Jochebed pointed to a nearby spot. “Now, Miriam,” she said, “stay here. Watch the basket and see what happens to our baby.” (Place Miriam visual slightly behind the grass.)

Soon the princess, Pharaoh’s daughter, came to the river (place Pharaoh’s Daughter on the board). The princess looked out into the river, and saw something strange floating in the water. It was the basket!

When the princess opened the basket, the baby was surprised (remove Basket Lid and move Moses in Basket beside Pharaoh’s Daughter). The baby began to cry.

The princess was surprised, too. “Look,” she said. “This is a Hebrew baby. I feel sorry for him. I want to keep him.”

Just then Miriam came out of her hiding place and ran to the princess (move Miriam next to Pharaoh’s Daughter).

“Would you like for me to find a Hebrew woman to help you feed and care for the baby” she asked.

“Oh, yes,” answered the princess.

Miriam ran home (remove Miriam). She told her mother what had happened and brought her to the princess (place Miriam and Jochebed on the board).

“Here, take the baby,” the princess said to Jochebed. “Feed him and take care of him until he is old enough to live with me. I will pay you.”
Jochebed agreed (remove Moses in Basket; place Moses in Jochebed’s arms). She took her own baby boy home. She did just what the princess told her. God helped her so she was able to care for her own little boy. When the boy was old enough, Jochebed took him to live with the princess. The princess named him “Moses.” Moses grew up to be one of God’s great helpers.

Close by talking about some ways your preschoolers can be helpers at home and church.

Download the full preschool lesson: A Mother's Love.

Giving Thanks At All Times

2011-03-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Before your lesson, print the Mayflower picture from below. Tell your students the following story:

Today we are going to be talking about thanking God. We have an example of some people long ago who thanked God. These people are the Pilgrims. They thanked God in good times and in bad times.

How did the Pilgrims get to the New World? (In a ship called the Mayflower; show the Mayflower picture.) That trip was very hard. Storms tossed the ship. The Pilgrims didn't arrive in the new World until November, too late to plant crops before winter. So that first winter in the New World was very hard. Many people got sick. In fact the captain of the Mayflower stayed through the winer and Mayflower became a hospital ship. But the Pilgrims thought their hard times were God's way of testing to them to see if they had courage and faith. Let's pretend we are Pilgrims. It is winter, and it is cold. You are trying to build little cabins for the people to live in. (Have all the students stand and pretend to build.)

During the middle of winter, many people got sick and died. Many of those were children. Some days, as many as three people died. (Pull out three students and have them stand to one side.)

Now there are fewer of you to work. Some people were sent to the Mayflower because they were so sick. (Pull out three more students and have them stand in another area. Have the remaining students keep working.)

By the end of winter, half the people had died. (Send half of your students to stand with the first three.)

Do you think the Pilgrims gave up after that first year? No, they had a celebration to thank God. They invited their friends from the Wampanoag tribe to celebrate with them. That is how our first Thanksgiving Day started. If the Pilgrims could thank God through their hard times, we certainly should be able to thank God through our hard times, too.

(Have everyone sit down. Let the students share some of the things for which they're thankful.)
We have all felt grateful to God for something at some time. Perhaps you have felt grateful when God allowed something good to happen to your family like a new baby or someone who was sick getting well. Other time, we must thank God even when we don't feel thankful. God wants us to thank him when we're in a hard situation or when we feel depressed or sad. During those times, it's harder to thank God.

(Talk with the students about some of the hard times they or their friends have gone through. Share a time in your own life when you thanked God during a difficult situation.)

For most of us, thanking God is hard because we can't think of things to say. We forget about all the wonderful things God has done for us. Or, if we do notice them, we often forget to thank God for them. Let's talk about some things for which we can thank God right now. (Mention a few of your own praises, too.)

(Encourage the students to pray brief prayers of thanks for each thing mentioned by the others. Thank God for each student. Ask that each child will remember to give God thanks on a regular basis. Remember to pray for each child during the week.)

Click the image above to print the Mayflower

Build a Bible Verse

2011-02-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

Play a verse builders game to help your students memorize the Bible verse for your lesson. Have the children sit in a circle. (If you have a large class, divide into several small groups.) Have a child read the verse aloud from the Bible. Pronounce any difficult words before he starts reading. Review the memory verse together several times. Begin and end with the reference since it's often the hardest part for children to remember.

Then designate a child to begin. That child places his hand (palm down) in the center of the floor (or table) while saying the first word of the verse. Proceeding clockwise, each child takes a turn saying the next word in the verse while placing his hand on top of the previous player's hand.

Proceed clockwise. Each child takes a turn saying the next word in the verse while placing his hand on top of the previous player's hand. After everyone has his hand in the pile, the bottom hand is removed and placed on top as that player says the next word of the verse. Continue in this manner until the verse is complete. The next three children say the book, chapter, and verse. Then have everyone say the verse together as they lift their hands together. Repeat, using different children to start.

National Day of Prayer 2011

2011-02-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

This year the National Day of Prayer will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2011. The theme is "a mighty fortress is our God." Here's the prayer written by Joni Eareckson Tada for this year's National Day of Prayer (used by permission, National Day of Prayer). For more resources, visit the National Day of Prayer website.

2011 National Prayer
by Joni Eareckson Tada, Honorary Chairman
National Day of Prayer

Almighty God, you are our Mighty Fortress, our refuge and the God in whom we place our trust. As our nation faces great distress and uncertainty, we ask your Holy Spirit to fall afresh upon your people — convict us of sin and inflame within us a passion to pray for our land and its people. Grant the leaders of our country an awareness of their desperate need of wisdom and salvation in You until sin becomes a reproach to all and righteousness exalts this nation.

Protect and defend us against our enemies and may the cause of Christ always prevail in our schools, courts, homes, and churches. Lord God, send a spirit of revival and may it begin in our own hearts.

Remember America, we pray. Remember the foundations on which this country was built. Remember the prayers of our nation’s fathers and mothers, and do not forget us in our time of need.

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

You can do things to remind yourself and your students to pray each day of the year. Whether you give your students “God Bless the USA” Wristbands to wear, decorate your classroom with patriotic décor, place a flag at the front of your room, or anything else you may think of—just PRAY!

You can use this God Says Bulletin Board Set (#CD210008) to remind your students to pray regularly. Encourage your students to pray for people in different countries. Post a world map on the bulletin board. Surround it with the bulletin board set. Each week choose a different country. Find out a few fun facts about the country and the people who live there to share with your students. Let everyone take turns praying for the various needs of that country. (Do not force any child to pray.) Cut out heart shapes from construction paper. Let each child write a simple prayer or prayer request on a heart and add it to the bulletin board. You can use a different color of construction paper for each country's hearts, if you wish.

Print out the coloring page below for your students. Feel free to copy it and pass it on to your coworkers and friends. Younger children can memorize the simplified verse from Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the LORD." Older children can learn Psalm 91:2, the theme verse for the National Day of Prayer 2011. You may want to cut out the child's head and let each of your students draw a self-portrait and print "Pray every day" under the Bible verse. Let the students say the verse in unison a few times. Close with a song such as "Jesus Loves the Little Children."

THEME VERSE:
"I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'"— Psalm 91:2

Click on the image above for a larger view.

Bulletin Board Basics

2011-02-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

When preparing a display for your classroom, you don't actually need a bulletin board. Just frame a large area of one wall with bulletin board borders or trims. However, backgrounds are vital. Besides colored construction paper, use textured fabrics, felt or flannel, crepe paper, newpapers, aluminum foil, sandpaper, colored cellophane, or maps.

Borders make the bulletin board. Use corrugated paper, twisted crepe paper, yarn or rope, pictures strung together, paper muffin cups, scalloped strips of poster board, wallpaper samples, and designs printed from your computer.

Lettering conveys the message. Make your letters big, and keep the message short and simple. Mounting the same letters in two colors, one on top of the other, gives a shadow effect. Cut your letters from corrugated paper, sticky-backed felt, patterned paper (such as that used for scrapbooking), textured paper, Form letters from colored feathers, and drinking straws bent into letter shapes. You can add a short Bible verse or your lesson theme to the bulletin board.

Variety adds spice to your display. Add a third dimension to your bulletin board by placing a thick piece of cardboard or foam core behind the lettering. You can also glue cotton balls, twigs, feathers, yarn, rope, colored paper plates, holiday trims, or an old lampshade cut in half to your board. Make sure you take a photo of your completed board so you can easily recreate your artistic masterpiece in the future.

For pre-made bulletin board sets and lots of fun bulletin board ideas, visit our Classroom Decorations Store. You'll also find attendance charts, posters, borders, lettering, stickers, and lots more—many items 30% to 50% off.

Bible Memory Verse Treasure

2011-01-31T05:00:00.000-08:00

Use this memory verse game to help your students understand that God's Word is like a special treasure. Words from the Bible can teach us to act in ways that please God.

Before your class, print each word of your memory verse (including the reference) on a 4-inch round piece of cardboard or yellow poster board cut to resemble a gold coin. Print one word per cardboard circle. Number the backs of the circles in order, if you wish (or print one set with numbers and one without).

Decorate a box to look like a treasure chest or purchase a cardboard Treasure Chest (Item #CTP5999). See the picture above. Print the memory verse on a chalkboard, whiteboard, or poster board (or have an older student print it for you). Have a child read the verse from the Bible. Point to each word as it is read. Have everyone say it together.

Discuss the meaning of the words, and have the children read the verse together several times. Then give your students the memory verse coins (one coin per child). Have the children stand in the order of the verse (choose two children to help them get in order, if you wish). Let the children drop the coins in the treasure chest one at a time, in order, reading each word as it is dropped in. Do this several times so everyone has a turn. Repeat (with the unnumbered coins), if time allows.

Say, "The Bible is God's Word. Every word of the Bible is true. God's Word is like a special treasure. There are wonderful things in the Bible to teach and train us how to live to please God!"

More 2011 VBS Themes Announced

2011-01-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

The 2011 VBS themes are now in! It's not too soon to begin choosing your VBS for next summer, and we’re here to help! Take a look at the Bible themes and highlights from some of the 2011 programs…keep checking back for the latest information or visit VBSstore.com. (Check out our June 14, 2010 Blog Post for an overview of Gospel Light's SonSurf Beach Bash VBS and Group's PandaMania VBS.)

In a world that is always searching for the “next big thing”, some things will never change and can never be improved upon. God, His promises, His Word, and the Gospel are unchangeable, which is why the Go Fish Guys invite you to KICK IT OLD SCHOOL!

With Kickin’ It Old School, the Go Fish Guys continue their concert theme, but with an 80s, retro hip-hop influence! Once again, your leaders and kids will be “hands on” with the Bible. This program is not dependent on the theme, the music, or the Go Fish Guys. It’s all about the Bible which means that it WILL be effective!

Using classic hymns from their new CD Kickin’ It Old School, your kids will love the new songs, videos, and karaoke times! Watch the videos.

Your kids will travel through the Old Testament as well as the New Testament to learn several attributes of God. From Adam and Eve to the Passover to the building of the tabernacle to Jesus on the cross, your kids will learn how God’s holiness and separation from sin have never changed. Kids churched and unchurched alike will hear and understand the Gospel in a whole new way. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It’s time to kick it old school!

Kickin' It Old School VBS Starter Kit: $150.00

Here's an overview of the Kickin' It Old School VBS program. Click on the image below for a larger view.

Below is a list of the daily themes that go along with each day of the Kickin’ It Old School VBS (hi-res posters are FREE in digital format with curriculum). You can also download the Day 1 Bible Lesson for FREE by visiting our website, ChristianEdWarehouse.com.

Day 1 - This Is My Father's World - God Is Our Creator

Day 2 - Before The Throne Of God - God Is Our King

Day 3 - I Love To Tell The Story - Jesus Is Our Savior

Day 4 - I'm A Soldier In The Army Of The Lord - God Is Our Truth

Day 5 - The Solid Rock - God Is Our Rock

New for 2011, Gold Rush VBS: Discovering the Rock of Ages from Answers in Genesis helps kids learn the answer to the most important question Jesus asks: “Who do you say that I am?”

Howdy, Partner!

Grab your bandana, dust off your boots, and get ready to mine for true gold.

Our children must decide among many “gods” every day. In media, in school, and in books, they’re taught that all roads lead to heaven. They’re told to “believe what you want and it will be true for you.” These dangerous lies are drawing our kids away from the truth—that Jesus, the Rock of Ages, is the way, the truth, and the life! Salvation is found in Jesus alone! Gold Rush VBS uses the New King James Version for Bible memory verses. A KJV Supplement with student books and posters in the King James Version (works with the Super Starter Kit and the Starter Kit) is available.

Each day, children will see more of the truth about who Jesus is—our Creator and Redeemer. They’ll hear the Gospel and will be challenged to follow Jesus. Gather your gear and join us for unforgettable discoveries!

Gold Rush VBS Super Starter Kit: $189.99
Gold Rush VBS Starter Kit: $99.99
Gold Rush KJV Supplement: $19.99
(The supplement works with both the Super Starter and Starter Kits.)
Super Starter Kits are available with your choice of contemporary or traditional music recordings.

Group's Hometown Nazareth VBS helps kids walk with Jesus. It's the Bible in motion! Welcome kids into the ultimate VBS Bible-times experience. They'll visit with Mary, Jesus' mom, and hear about Jesus' childhood adventures. Everyone will learn Bible truths that they can't wait to apply to their lives and share with others.

Nazareth VBS teaches kids to love God and His Word . . . like you do.
Hometown Nazareth VBS Starter Kit: $119.99

Take a look at the Hometown Nazareth VBS course overview. Click on the image below for a larger version. Check back for VBS updates each week. Visit VBSstore.com to see all of the 2011 VBS programs and special offers.

With Main Street VBS from Standard Publishing, kids will be drawn into stories Jesus told about everyday people in everyday situations. But His stories were anything but ordinary! Jesus turned lives upside down and hearts inside out through parables that challenged people to look at themselves and others in new and unexpected ways.

So come join us on Main Street, for an inside-out, upside-down experience like no other...and let Jesus make a difference in YOU!

Main Street VBS Power Pack: $199.99

Here are the Bible points kids will learn each day on Main Street. Click on the image below for a larger view.

New for 2011, Mega Sports Camp: Go the Distance from Gospel Publishing House encourages kids to run the race of life God's way, all the way. Five sessions focus on key character traits that help them become better athletes and followers of Jesus. Welcome kids into the ultimate sports-camp experience. Everyone will learn Bible truths and good sportsmanship as they participate in a sports camp lead by Christian mentors.

A simple Key Point each day helps kids remember the point of the day, even if they have no prior church attendance or experience. The theme verse for 2011 is "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day." — 2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)

Go the Distance Mega Sports Camp can be used in addition to your traditional VBS, providing a way to reach neighborhood kids who might not attend Vacation Bible school, but who would be interested in signing up for a sports camp. It's also a great way for kids to invite their friends who wouldn't be willing to come to a weekly church event.

Go the Distance Mega Sports Camp teaches kids to run the race of life God's way, all the way.

Go the Distance Starter Kit: $129.99

Take a look at what's included in the Go the Distance Mega Sports Camp Starter Kit. Click on the image below for the themes.

Check out our VBS Tips Blog for VBS updates each week. Then visit VBSstore.com to see all of the 2011 VBS programs and special offers.

God, Our Firm Foundation

2011-01-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

Help your students understand that God is our firm foundation, and God can help them in any and every situation of their lives. Say, "God's power is greater than anything and everything. He understands everything we're going through in our lives. God is ready to help us at any time, in any place. God's Son, Jesus Christ, is our firm foundation, and our lives should be built on Him." (Talk individually with any child who has questions or wants to learn more about Jesus. See the March 10, 2010 blog post, Leading a Child to Christ for suggestions.)

Give each student markers, scissors, and three sheets of construction paper. Have him draw a large brick-looking rectangle on each sheet and cut them out. On each brick, have the student write a word or phrase that shows God's power or mercy (healed my sick grandmother, provides food for us, forgives my sins, protects me from evil, helped dad find a job, etc.). When all the bricks have been filled in, use them to build a wall of bricks on a bulletin board or wall. The bottom layer should be a long strip of construction paper with GOD IS OUR FIRM FOUNDATION written on it. Let the children help tape their bricks on top of the construction paper to form a wall. Have them sign their names around the foundation, if they wish.

Explain that the wall represents our lives and the help and power God provides us every day. Say, "Just as a foundation holds up a wall or building and keeps it from falling down, so God holds us and protects us and keeps our lives from falling apart, even when bad things happen. With God's power through His Son, Jesus, there is noting we cannot do. There is no problem we can't tackle. God can help us get through even the worst times. God is all-powerful!" Say the Bible verse below together (Psalm 28:7).

Pray individually with any children who have special prayer needs. Share one or two times in your own life or the lives of your family members when God has brought you through tough times with His great power and mercy.

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." — Psalm 28:7

Every Child Can Be an All-Star for Jesus

2011-01-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

God loves his children. He commanded parents to "train up a child in the way he should go" (Proverbs 22:6). We want each child to know that he or she is a star in Jesus' eyes, no matter what the child's skills and abilities are. Jesus loves children just as they are.

All-Stars for Jesus Bible Clubs are designed to help churches and parents teach children to know God, to believe in Jesus as their Savior, and to live for Him. All-Stars for Jesus Bible Clubs help children to feel loved and accepted so they, in turn, can share the love of Jesus with their friends and families. Researchers say that 43% of people who are Christians accepted Christ as Savior before the age of 13! We want to help you reach that 43%...and more!

Bible clubs also offer a non-threatening place for children who might never attend a regular church service or Sunday school class to learn about Jesus in a fun, casual atmosphere. In a whole where children are exposed to a variety of bad influences coming from all directions, All-Stars for Jesus Bible Clubs are places of love and encouragement, where kids can safely learn how to say no to those bad influences and learn how to live a victorious life in Christ!

So...what exactly IS All-Stars for Jesus?

All-Stars for Jesus provides everything you need for an exciting ministry to children!

All-Stars for Jesus is:

A multi-use Bible curriculum in a fun club environment for age 2 through grade 6, with an optional awards program.
A program that provides solid Bible teaching in a fun and interesting way for kids—one that directs them to know and follow Jesus.
Curriculum that is easy to teach and includes helpful options for teachers, giving you maximum flexibility.
Age appropriate memory verses to help children hide God's Word in their hearts.
Bible- and curriculum-based, rather than activity-based. Each part of the lesson focuses on God, Jesus, and God's Word.
Age appropriate and fun for kids of all ages.
Bible-centered—every activity helps kids focus on God's Word and begin to share what they learn with others.
A way to help churches reach the children and families in their communities for Christ.

The All-Stars for Jesus Bible Club program is designed to lead children from age two through sixth grade to a personal faith in Jesus, to teach them about God's love and care, to encourage them to grow spiritually, and to give them a solid biblical foundation for their lives.

All-Stars for Jesus partners with churches to extend their outreach from just Sunday school to mid-week, Sunday evening, or other times children can gather to learn about Jesus. All-Stars meetings are fun, less formal time with a variety of interesting and fun activities to direct the child's attention to God's Word. The optional awards program offers a further way to extend the Bible learning into the home.

What unique features does All-Stars for Jesus have?

Each All-Stars for Jesus age-level Flex-lesson Leader's Guide has everything you need for two meetings a week—to use for Sunday morning and mid-week, Sunday evening and after-school Bible club, or whenever great Bible lessons are needed. Or, you have extra options for one meeting a week!

Easy-Trac meeting plans direct the leader step-by-step through each weekly program, and let you see at a glance which activities and materials to use.
The optional awards program provides more opportunities for kids to learn about Jesus by completing Bible learning activities in their award books at home. When each activity is completed, children earn colorful awards to place on a cap or pennant. Plus, each child could have ALL first-year awards for as low as 82 cents per week!
All-Stars for Jesus offers not only five age-level programs for children age 2 through grade 6, but also the All-Stars Explorers program for combined grades 1 through 6 in one classroom and the Preschool All-in-One Kit for combined ages 2-5 plus reproducible activity sheets.
There are no membership fees, dues, or doctrinal requirements—just fun, Bible-based, solid Christian learning.
The All-Stars Promo Kits (included with your Starter Kits) offer great resources to promote your clubs: promotional posters, clip art, fundraising ideas, and club kickoff plans!
All-Stars for Jesus offers lots of colorful "fun stuff" as gifts, awards, and promotions.
All-Stars for Jesus is an affordable program. The Flex-Lesson Leader's Guide provides two lessons a week!
Christian Ed Warehouse offers Standing Orders on All-Stars for Jesus quarterly curriculum so you don't even have to remember to order! Plus, Standing Orders receive a 10%-%15 discount every quarter. We'll send you an email reminder so you can make changes before your curriculum ships.
There is no requirement that you use all available materials—just choose the options that will work best with your group and your finances.

Does all this sound like something you would like for your church? Visit AllStarsforJesus.com and order your Starter Kits for a 60-day risk-free review! Or download FREE samples of each age level and order a FREE Lesson Sampler to review with your church. May God bless you as you lead children and their families to a personal relationship with Jesus.

2011 VBS Coupons

2011-01-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

It's not too soon to start planning for your Vacation Bible School program. Here are some Vacation Bible School coupons you can use over at Christian Ed Warehouse.com. Just type in the coupon code when you check out or mention the code when you call us at 1-800-854-1531. But hurry! These coupons expire April 30, 2011. You'll also receive some FREE gifts when you order early.

The VBS website is VBSstore.com. While you're online, check out the new 2011 VBS Starter Kits and free gifts with your order. You can also download a FREE Planning Guide and Comparison Chart plus listen to music clips and download samples.

(Click image for a larger view)

Storytelling Tips

2010-12-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

By Brenda Mills

Everyone loves a story. Children move to the edge of their chairs when they hear, “Let’s have a story.” Use this method of teaching to reach young hearts with Christ’s love. It’s your responsibility to become the best storyteller you can.

Note that we said storyteller. Reading stories to children is an art in itself to be discussed later. First we’ll concentrate on the techniques of telling the story.

A GOOD BEGINNING
Prepare your introduction carefully. Begin your story smoothly. If you fumble through your first few statements, you’ll become frustrated and may lose your train of thought. If you stammer to a stop and have to start over you’ll want to leave the room and never return! Never memorize a story word for word. But if it makes you feel more comfortable, memorize the first few lines for a snappy opening.

An introduction with interest-catching appeal will capture your listeners from the first word. “Mac had been Peter’s dog for as long as Peter could remember, and they were real pals.” Doesn’t that sound like a lot more fun than ‘Peter had a dog named Mac?” Use your imagination and knowledge of the group to make your introduction sparkle.

PROCEED TO CLIMAX, CONCLUSION
Progress naturally from the introduction, building to the climax or most exciting or interesting portion of the story. Then finish the story with a brief conclusion. Don’t attempt to delay the conclusion, for once the climax of the story has been reached, listeners’ interest drops. A story is a unique teaching tool. Most contain a moral or teach a lesson. Let the story do it! Don’t attempt to tack on your own “sermonette” on the end of the story. Weave the moral into the plot in such a way that your hearers can’t miss it as you tell your story. When you’ve finished telling the story, stop!

BE NATURAL
Being yourself is important. Thorough preparation and practice will lead to naturalness in storytelling. You’ll probably feel most comfortable if you sit in a circle or semi-circle with your listeners. It suggests intimacy with the group and conversation at their level. If you must stand, due to a large group, stand naturally and relaxed. Never hide behind a podium.

A LITTLE ACTION, PLEASE
Use gestures such as the shrug of the shoulders, a raised hand, a finger over the lips to indicate quietness. But don’t force or overuse them. And by all means, use facial expression. Raise your eyebrow, smile, frown, show enthusiasm. Try to portray the feelings of the story characters.

Some storytellers show pictures while telling their stories. This is fine, but don’t show 27 pictures during a four-minute story! Have several attractive illustrations to use at the appropriate times. Display them so all can see, then put them aside.
Place your hands quietly in your lap when you aren’t holding a picture or gesturing. Avoid the “gymnastics” of too many hand motions. They only draw attention to yourself. Beware of distracting habits, such as playing with a string of beads or a button on a jacket. Remember, you are the means to help your listeners SEE the story in their minds. The less they see of you, the better! Thorough practice, perhaps in front of a mirror, will help you know where and when to use gestures effectively. If well used, they can add life to the story. If overused, they can distract and spoil the story.

LISTEN TO YOURSELF
Your voice tells the story. Use your natural voice. By all means avoid a whiny, monotonous, or honeyed tone. Practice to develop variety in inflection. Let your voice reflect wonder, strength, sadness, etc. Imitate noises and sounds indicated in the story, such as “Buzzzz — was the sound Kate kept hearing outside her bedroom window.” Practice these sounds beforehand so they resemble the natural sounds. Pause to impress or to increase suspense. Work on projecting your voice. Record your own voice — it may surprise you!

Use dialog or direct discourse frequently to bring your characters to life. Make them speak to your hearers , rather than always telling your hearers what the characters say. “Hi, Mom!” is much more realistic than, “Jerry greeted his mother when she entered the room.” Change the voice to indicate the different characters. Use action verbs and colorful adjectives to tell your story. Never use words your listeners may not know.

If you suddenly discover that you’ve left out an important point, don’t try to correct it by saying … “Oh, I forgot to say…” Continue on, and if it is an integral part, weave it in. But don’t interrupt your story to apologize for your goof!

When you’re telling a Bible story, hold your Bible so all can see it. This especially impresses little children with the fact that your story is from God’s Word.

“Let’s have a story.” Do your students’ eyes brighten at the sound of those words? Use these helps to make story-time an exciting high point in your class.

Free Christmas Coloring Pages

2010-12-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here are some coloring pages we’ve created for the Christmas season. There are two separate coloring pages in this file. Each coloring page has a memory verse. There is a coloring page in the file for the New International Version and a separate page for the King James Version. If you use a different Bible version than the ones given, feel free to cut off or white out the verse and replace it with the version you prefer.

You can make as many copies of these coloring pages as you need for your children's program (or your friends and family). Click on either image to download the Christmas coloring pages. Visit our Sunday school downloads store for more coloring pages, crafts, and puzzle downloads—many as low as $1.99 each!

If you're looking for even more Christmas program and outreach ideas, take a look at the Church Family Christmas Celebration outreach program with a candlelight service, crafts, puppet skits, a Christmas pageant, fellowship ideas, and lots of reproducibles on CD-ROM.

Visit our Classroom Decorations store for some fun Christmas and new year's decorations to liven up your classrooms. Here are just a few samples of the large variety of bulletin board sets and trims available. Many are on sale for 30%-50% off.

May God bless you as you teach children (and their families) about the Christmas season and God's Son, Jesus, the best gift of all!

Decorating for Christmas

2010-12-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

In some churches, decorating the church building with pine boughs and wreaths is an annual tradition called the “hanging of the greens.” Decorating your classroom for the season doesn’t have to be an expensive or elaborate proposition. Here are a few money-saving ways to involve parents, friends, and your little ones in sprucing up your classroom for Christmas:

• Spice up a small tree with the wonderful smell of cinnamon sticks. For each ornament, tie three or four cinnamon sticks together with ribbon. Glue a cluster of three cranberries to the sticks for a festive touch.

• Cut doves, angels, stars, manger scenes, and other items from old Christmas cards. Punch a hole in the top of each card, add a ribbon hanger, and hang from the tree.

• Tie colorful ribbons onto your Christmas tree. See how many bows, large and small, you can create.

• Let each child glue three craft sticks together to form a snowflake shape. Spread glue on the sticks and sprinkle with glitter. Add a sticker in the middle of the snowflake (one sticker on each side). Use these Jesus Dazzle Stickers or others you have on hand. Tie a yarn hanger to each ornament.
• Decorate plain glass ball ornaments with glitter glue. Let each child use a paintbrush to create a personalized and unique family treasure. Make sure each person initials and dates the ornaments he or she creates.

• String beads and jingle bells onto chenille wire or ribbon. Twist lengths of wire together to form long garlands or twist the ends of one wire together to form a “bracelet” to hang with ribbon from the ceiling.

• Cut colorful paper into 8-inch strips and link the strips to form a paper chain. Make several, and hang the paper chains in your windows and doorway.

• Have older children make paper chains to take home. Let them print a Scripture verse on each chain link before gluing them together. Encourage them to read one verse to their families each day between now and Christmas. Choose verses that tell the Christmas story from Luke or Matthew.

• Fold white paper into a small triangle. Then cut a variety of shapes from the triangle. Unfold it to form a snowflake. Sprinkle it with silver or gold glitter glue, if you wish. Tie a string or piece of thread to the snowflake so it can hang from your ceiling or in a window.

• Collect pinecones (and fir cones). Spread glue on the cone and let the children add glitter. Wrap a wire around each cone, nearest its large end. Bring the wire up at the back of the cone and twist it into a loop for hanging. Tie a colorful ribbon into a bow around the wire at the base of the cone.

• Place a plastic or wooden creche (nativity scene) under the tree to help the children focus on the real meaning of Christmas—Jesus! Make sure your nativity figures are not breakable. As the children play with the figures, talk about the Christmas story and how Jesus was born and died for our sins (the wrong things we say and do). Explain that Jesus came alive again and now lives in heaven with God. Let the children retell the Christmas story as they play.

7 Steps to a Successful VBS

2010-12-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

1. Pray

This is a big job, so meet with your Christian Education Director, Children’s Pastor, or Sunday School Superintendent. Begin with prayer, asking the Lord to direct you and give you wisdom as you plan for your vacation Bible school. You may want to organize a prayer team who will continue to pray for your program before, during, and after your VBS dates.

2. Plan

Once you have a budget, order several VBS starter kits to determine which one(s) will work best with your church and community. Return the kits you won’t need or keep an extra kit to use as an outreach program over spring break—or any time you need a special program. Your kids will enjoy the fun VBS crafts and gifts anytime. Visit VBSstore.com to see a VBS Comparison Chart and print out a VBS Planning Guide and Timeline for organizing your VBS preparation.

3. Recruit

Ask the Lord to direct you to the people whom He wants to teach your precious children. Ask Him to prepare the hearts of these people to be receptive to becoming VBS leaders or helpers. Then make a list of qualified people who might be interested, and make an appointment to visit them in their homes. Explain the VBS program and the responsibilities of a VBS leader or helper. Ask him or her to pray about the decision, and if desired, leave a specific job description with him or her. To ensure your children the very best experiences in your VBS program, look for leaders and teachers with the following qualifications:

ü Are dedicated Christians who seek to live for Christ daily, who study God’s Word, and who know the plan of salvation

ü Are tuned in to kids, and able to build upon their natural interests

ü Enjoy sharing in the children’s joy of discovery

ü Are warm, outgoing, and have a genuine love and sensitivity for children

ü Appreciate and seek to follow God’s command to teach children

ü Have a basic understanding of children in terms of their physical, mental, and emotional development, and their spiritual needs

ü Are reliable and disciplined to prepare for each meeting

ü Are suitable role models for children

4. Prepare

Before you begin signing up children for VBS, print registration cards onto heavy stock. You can download free VBS Registration Cards. Design your own for VBS or use these. Give the cards to parents when they register their children. Have parents fill out a registration card for each child attending your program. The card should contain emergency information and a place to list allergies and other medical conditions of your students. For any child with allergies, create a special, brightly colored name badge with the allergies listed so all leaders and helpers are aware of the allergies and don’t inadvertently give the child something that might cause an allergic reaction.

5. Be Creative!

Creativity may not be your strong suit, but no doubt your church is full of creative talent just waiting to be put to good use. Someone who can paint backdrops, another person who can concoct inexpensive yet healthy snack options, a seamstress who can design skit costumes or theme decorations, a crafty mom who can modify the suggested VBS crafts into easy-to-prepare keepsakes made from household supplies—all of these people can play a role in kicking your VBS program up a notch. The key is to tap into their talents without giving them overwhelming responsibilities.

6. Pray (Continually!)

Each day during your VBS program, have volunteers arrive 15-20 minutes early for announcements and a time of prayer. You may want to provide coffee and juice each morning, with donuts or bagels and fruit the first day. Or provide dinner in the evening and invite your VBS families to come (have your volunteers arrive 15-20 minutes before dinner). Use your VBS theme for a brief devotion, then make announcements, share prayer requests and praises, and conclude with a time of prayer (for each other, for the children, and for God’s wisdom and discernment). Each day, let volunteers share stories of how God is working during VBS. Then take time to thank Him for the ways He is using each person to spread His Word and change lives.

7. Consider Including Preschoolers in Your VBS

VBS is a great way to introduce young families to your church. Consider including 2- to 5-year-olds in your VBS program. You may want to run a separate preschool program for your little ones. The hours can be the same as for your elementary program, but younger children can have their own learning centers, games, and age-appropriate crafts. The preschoolers can join the other children for your VBS opening and then go their own preschool rooms for the rest of the morning. If your VBS begins with everyone together for an opening song time, be prepared to have one or two helpers take younger children to your preschool classroom for free play if the large group setting becomes overwhelming. Read other blog articles for more ideas on including preschoolers in your VBS (See the article, "How to Have a Preschool-Friendly VBS"). Visit VBSstore.com to take a look at Jesus in Nazareth for Preschoolers and the Preschool Summer All-in-One Kit, VBS curriculum written especially for your two- to five-year-olds.

And Finally…Evaluate!

Before your VBS ends, have thank-you notes and evaluation forms ready for your helpers. Gather feedback about what worked and what didn’t so you can make changes for next year. Make notes so if you are not involved, you can pass them on to your successor. Thank God for the ways He worked to change lives during VBS. Be sure to let your volunteers know how much they were appreciated. While they’re still excited about the great things that happened during VBS, ask if they would be willing to consider being a part of the team next year. (Just to get an idea, not for a firm commitment.) Then follow up around March or April (or just as soon as you set the next date) to have them start praying about volunteering for your next VBS program.

Visit VBSstore.com for a PDF of this article to share with your coworkers (7 Steps to a Successful VBS).

Celebrate Jesus! Preschool Christmas Lessons

2010-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

Use this new Celebrate Jesus! Preschool Download from Christian Ed. Publishers to teach your preschoolers about Jesus' birth. Written especially for 2- to 5-year-olds, this five-week series of preschool lessons includes Bible stories, snacks, crafts, and games with reproducible student sheets and colorful visuals—all as a download. Begin with the story of Adam and Eve, the sin problem, and God's plan to send His Son, Jesus. Then your little ones can travel to Bethlehem as they enjoy the stories of Jesus' birth, the wise men's visit, and the family's escape to Egypt written at their own level. Crafts and games in the Preschool Leader’s Guide are preschool-friendly and give lots of opportunities for your students to explore the Bible stories using all of their senses.

This preschool Advent and Christmas series is completely flexible and makes a wonderful supplement to any elementary program. Celebrate Jesus! Preschool Lessons are a great way to include your younger children with Christmas lessons, Bible stories, and activities written just for them.

The Celebrate Jesus! Leader’s Guide includes five complete lessons, a course overview, reproducible activity sheets and crafts with KJV and NIV memory verses, “How to Lead a Child to Christ,” colorful visuals, creative teaching ideas, Bible background information, and lots more.

Preview samples and take a look at the contents and lesson overview of this Christmas series written especially for preschoolers. Celebrate Jesus! includes a reproducible Preschool Leader’s Guide plus student sheets and visuals for five lessons...all for only $19.95! This is a download version so you can order it today and use it tomorrow. Once you place your order, you will receive an email with download instructions.

Bring the sights and sounds of that first Christmas to your preschoolers this Christmas season. Help your little ones understand that God loves and cares for them so much He sent His only Son, Jesus, to be born as a baby in Bethlehem.

May God bless you as you begin your Christmas celebration and teach children the real meaning of Jesus' birth!

Discipline Basics

2010-11-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Discipline tells a child that you care enough about a child and want him to behave in a manner that you know to be right. Be sure your youngsters know what kind of behavior is acceptable, and set limits and boundaries for them while they are with you. It’s unfair to punish them for breaking rules they didn’t know existed.

Here are five guidelines for maintaining good discipline:

1. Establish the necessary standards and limits at your very first meeting, and make sure everyone knows what they are. Keep the list short!

2. Consistently enforce the standards. If they’re not worth enforcing always, for everyone, they’re probably not worth having.

3. Be reasonable in your expectations. “No talking” is not reasonable. “No talking during prayer time or when someone else is speaking” is a reasonable rule and should be enforced. Simply stop talking until the offender realizes he’s the cause of the problem. Your silence should be sufficient. The second time it might be necessary to say, “Ricky, you’re interrupting our story. Please stop talking so I can continue.” If it happens a third time you might say, “Ricky, the next time I have to stop this story because you’re talking, you’ll have to leave the group.” Then be sure he’s removed (quietly) if it does happen again.

4. State your expectations before transitioning to a new activity. Let children who attend regularly repeat the expectations for visitors to hear and as a reminder to everyone else. Be sure to restate the expectations each week and before each activity. Don’t expect children to automatically remember to raise their hands before talking if you haven’t reminded them.

5. Be logical about punishment that must be administered. Don’t make a federal case out of a minor infraction, or you’ll have to send a major offender to jail! If a child smears glue in another child’s hair during craft time, separate the offender from the glue for the evening, or have him work alone at a table. Children do bizarre things at times on impulse — usually to get attention!

Once you’ve established your standards and enforced them firmly and fairly for awhile, the best rule to follow is to assume that each child can be trusted to handle his own behavior until he proves otherwise. Let the youngsters know that this is what you expect now. Then, when a child misbehaves, you can let him know that you’re disappointed that he isn’t ready to be in charge of himself in the group, and that you’ll have to help decide where he should sit, and whether or not he can work with others. Make it clear it’s the behavior you’re disappointed with — not the child. When the child and you determine that he’s ready to try to be in charge of his own behavior again, emphasize how much you want him to be successful this time.

Children who have serious problems at home will test you to see if you really care about them. Some will try your patience to the limit before they’re convinced you really like them. You can usually spot such children during your first meetings. They’ll be doing everything possible to get you to notice them.

Love and discipline are inseparable. Love wants what’s best for the loved one. The product of no discipline during a child’s early years is irresponsibility, which leads to lack of self-respect, and can mean unhappy, unproductive adult life.

Find some strength or asset in each child that you can commend him for. If you’re sincere they’ll know it — and your efforts will be rewarded. Make a point of emphasizing the positive qualities of every child, no matter how hard you have to look to find them sometimes! Reward the positive behavior and try to overlook the negative as much as possible.

One primary goal of your time with the children is to provide opportunities for leadership training, but you can’t develop leaders out of children who don’t believe they have worth, or who have a poor self-image.

While these basics will not solve every discipline problem you may encounter in your class, they will go a long way to making sure your classroom is a happy, fun environment where the children can effectively learn about their heavenly Father.

More Tips for Teaching Twos and Threes

2010-11-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here are some hints and tips we've put together for teachers of two- and three-year-olds. However, some of these tips will work well with your preschoolers of all ages. Visit our website, ChristianEdWarehouse.com for more hints and tips.

One Eye + One Ear = Two Learning Opportunities
Everyone knows that twos and threes learn through sensory experiences. But do you know which senses provide the best learning experience? Studies have shown that children learn 1% by taste, 1.5% by touch, 3.5% by smell, 11% by sound, and 83% by sight! The more senses a child uses, the more learning that takes place. Your little ones will remember best when all their senses—sight, touch, hearing, smelling, and even taste—are involved in learning. In your Bible lessons, you will want to include activities that use a variety of senses. Check out Honeybees for Jesus Bible curriculum for lots of sensory experiences and activities for teaching the Bible to two- and three-year-olds. For classroom decorations and bulletin board sets, visit our Classroom Decoration Store.
Hard at Play
Are your toddlers playing or learning?
If they're playing, they're also learning! According to psychologist Gary R. Collins, playing performs four important activities:
(1) it provides a release of energy,
(2) it stimulates thinking,
(3) it develops motor skills, and
(4) it encourages the child to act out role models for future reference.

And you thought they were just having fun!
Clean Finger Paint
Mix 1 cup powdered soap or detergent with 1/3 cup of liquid starch (or 1/4 cup of water). Beat with an egg beater until fluffy. Use this mixture as paint on brightly colored (or black) construction paper. The contrast between the paint and the paper will provide a delightful experience for your children. As the children work, talk about how God gave us eyes to see many colors. Explain that God gave us hands for touching many textures. Thank God for giving us all five senses and for creating a beautiful world for us to enjoy.

Hints and Tips for Teaching Twos and Threes

2010-11-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Teaching twos and threes can be a challenge. They can be cute as a button one minute and strong-willed and defiant the next. Some days can be simply exhausting trying to get them to focus their attention on God and His Word. But the next minute, your little ones can come up with the most insightful prayer or comment about God. What a huge blessing! Here are some hints and tips to help you face those challenges and to equip you to watch for the blessings. More hints and tips for teaching this age group are on our website, ChristianEdWarehouse.com.

Spiritual Building Blocks
Twos and threes are laying a foundation for future spiritual development. One basic foundation block for every child is learning the difference between right and wrong. Teach them that some things are always right and some things are always wrong. But remember when correcting a child, two-year-olds (and younger threes) respond better to distraction than to reasoning. Be sure to get the child's attention before speaking. Adults often waste breath, saying things when no one is listening. For instance, shouting across the room to a child simply results in confusion rather than communication.

Say the most important words first. Begin with the child's name, then state briefly what action you want the child to do. Finally, add a reason why: "[Timmy], you can feed the birds now. I think they are hungry." Phrase suggestions, directives, and corrections in positive terms: "[Janna], blocks are for building, not for throwing."

Use specific words. General terms leave a child confused. Rather than, "Put the toys away," say, "[Evan], your red truck needs to go here on the shelf." Make a clear distinction between when a child has a choice and when he does not. Ask a question wen you are willing to let the child have a choice: "[Molly], would you rather look at a book or do a puzzle?" Use questions that focus the child's attention on the situation but leave him free to determine the action: "[Elliott], it is time for our snack. What do you need to do with your ball?"

When his obedience is necessary, make a direct statement (do not ask a question), assuming cooperation. A statement such as, "[Elliott], you need to put away your truck," lets Elliott know you mean business. Be alert and sensitive to each child. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Harvest Coloring Pages

2010-10-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some coloring pages we’ve created for the harvest season. There are two separate coloring pages in this file. Each coloring page has a memory verse. There is a coloring page in the file for the New International Version and a separate page for the King James Version. If you use a different Bible version than the ones given, feel free to cut off or white out the verse and replace it with the version you prefer.

You can make as many copies of these coloring pages as you need for your children's program.

If you're looking for even more harvest, thanksgiving, and outreach ideas, take a look at the Church Family Harvest Celebration outreach program with lots of reproducibles on CD-ROM.

Visit our Classroom Decorations store for some fun harvest and Christmas decorations to liven up your classrooms. Here are just a few samples of the large variety of bulletin board sets and trims available. Many are on sale for 30%-50% off.

Click on either image below to download the harvest coloring pages. Visit our Sunday school downloads store for more coloring pages, crafts, and puzzle downloads—many as low as $1.99 each! May God bless you as you prepare to teach children (and their families) about the harvest season and how much God loves them.

Hints and Tips for Teaching Children in Grades 3-4

2010-10-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

We've put together some hints and tips for teachers of third and fourth graders. However, many of these ideas can be used with children of all ages. Visit our web site, ChristianEdWarehouse.com, for more hints and tips for teaching the Bible to children.

Memory Verse Chain
Challenge your students to memorize as many Bible verses as they can in one month. As each child says his verse to you, add a link to a paper chain with the student's name and the memory verse reference written on it. This is something everyone can contribute to, even if it is just one link. At the end of the month, present the chain to the church and request that it be displayed in a prominent place with a sign indicating that the chain represents the Bible verses memorized by your class in one month.

Making a Difference
Children this age are beginning to realize that their activities and beliefs can make a difference in their lives and in their world. They are anxious to use their abilities in beneficial ways. They need projects that show them they can make significant contributions at home, school, church, and play. Involve them in church workdays and service projects. Let them collect canned food for distribution to local families or food pantries before Thanksgiving.

A Get-Well Tree
Make this clever tree to cheer up a sick classmate. On a poster board, have one of your students draw a large tree with no leaves and print:
To _____ (the name of a sick member), and
From _____ (the name of your class).
Cut large leaves out of various colored construction paper. Have each student write of draw a get-well message on a leaf and then glue it to the tree. Have one or two of the students go with you when you deliver the get-well tree to the class member who is ill.

The Key to Student Involvement
The key to involving elementary-age students in any activity is to capture their interest. They have an adequate supply of energy to work diligently for increased periods of time on projects that interest them. Capture their interest and challenge them. They will respond.

Good Graffiti Corner
Post a large sheet of newsprint or butcher paper in a prominent place. Inform your students that his is a "good graffiti" wall, a place where they can jot down their thoughts and feelings, messages to friends, etc. A "good graffiti" wall is a great ice breaker. It gets student involved and encourages interaction and communication. Keep the good graffiti wall up for several weeks. Some students will come early or stay late just to put something on the wall.

Relating Successfully to Preteens

2010-10-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Knowing as much as possible about your preteen students can be a big help in improving your teaching effectiveness. First of all, it's important that you know the physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual characteristics of the age group with which you work. Knowing these facts—why kids act the way they do—can affect how, why, and what you teach. Meet with your coworkers to study these age-level characteristics.

Then accept kids where they are. Accept them because of who they are, and respect them! There's no room for "favorites" if you want to reach all the kids in your group. Every preteen has something special about himself and something unique to offer. Find out what it is, and get busy helping that young person feel special and wanted.

Challenge your students to participate. Use them as helpers and leaders. All-Stars for Jesus Bible Clubs are expressional training programs designed to involve kids and let them learn by doing. So don't always do things for them. You as the teacher should always be available and ready to help, if needed, but you should sometimes be in the background. Instead of finding the answer for them, show them where they can find it for themselves.

When your students get restless, you as the leader always need to ask "why?" Usually it's because (1) the activity is too long for the attention span of the group or (2) the activity itself is boring. If this is the case, it's your responsibility as the teacher to correct the situation. Change the activity and always have a variety of activities up your sleeve in case one doesn't work out or is over faster than you anticipated. Again, be prepared. Your preteens will seldom grow bored or restless if there's a fast-moving, variety-filled program or lesson in which they are actively involved.

Give your preteens plenty of responsibility—not just by participating in programs, but in maintaining the appearance of the room, distributing and collecting materials, and in general, being a contributing member of the group. Provide your preteens with plenty of meaningful tasks, even if it would easier to do them yourself. Always thank your students and show your appreciation.

Youngsters, even preteens, are looking for role models. You have a unique opportunity and responsibility as a preteen Bible teacher to be the kind of positive, Christian example they need!

Sunday School Teachers—Architects in Children's Lives

2010-10-05T05:00:00.001-07:00

How Sunday school teachers interact with their students has been compared to the job of counselor, advisor, peer, and coach. But the best description of a Sunday school leader or teacher is as an architect.

An architect designs buildings, planning for physical stress, making them as functional as possible, and creating them to be pleasing to the eye. But once the design is finished, the architect's role stops. He has to let other people lay the brick and pound the nails. he has to let other people live and work in the buildings whether or not he likes how they live and what they do. An architect may work on a projects for months or even years, so his job requires patience and endurance. Yet the architect is simply a planner; others will actually create the buildings and use them. Yet often the architect is blamed if something goes wrong.

In may ways, a Sunday school teacher's job is similar to the role of an architect. It takes patience and endurance. A Sunday school teacher can only influence the students with whom he or she works. The students will be the ones who decide how they will respond to the "plan" the Sunday school teacher has presented to them.

As an "architect" in helping develop the lives of your students, your responsibilities as a leader in ministry can include the following:

Lead weekly Bible lessons.
Plan and help lead parties and special activities.
Work closely with the students and parents in creating lessons and events that interest them and help to meet their spiritual needs.
Get to know each child in your group by name.
Visit your students in their homes. Invite them to your house or to the church for a special activity, fellowship event, or party.
Develop a solid relationship with each child. Be sure all children are nurtured—not just a few.
Have periodic prayer and sharing sessions with the pastoral staff of your church. Communicate victories and needs to them for prayer and assistance.
Personally pray regularly for each student individually and for your ministry in general.
Faithfully attend the services of your church (and bring your Bible), not only because you need the spiritual nourishment but also because you are an example to the children who are watching you.
Live an exemplary, Christ-honoring life before your students.
Recognize that everything is the Lord's work—your career, your family, trips and getaways, and even baking cookies for your Sunday school class.
Honor the time of others. Be responsible and plan ahead before meetings.
Have respect for those in authority over you.

"Developing caring Christian relationships" best sums up the role and results of effective children's ministry. The leader who establishes and nurtures Christian relationships with students and their parents while growing in his or her own relationship with Jesus Christ, will experience great joy and effectiveness as a servant leader.

Bible Lesson: God Has Made Me Wonderful

2010-09-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Have the children stand and sing the following words to the tune of THE FARMER IN THE DELL:

God has made my hands (hold out hands),

God has made my hands,

God has made me wonderful (hug self),

God has made my hands (hold out hands).

Add the following stanzas as you have time:

2. God has made my head (pat top of head).

3. God has made my arms (wave arms).

4. God has made my knees (pat knees).

5. God has made my nose (wrinkle nose and point to it).

6. God has made my feet (stomp, stomp).

7. God’s Word will keep me safe

(hold hands together as an open Bible),

God’s Word will keep me safe,

If I obey God’s Word each day (nod head),

God’s Word will keep me safe.

Give each child some soft modeling clay. Tell the children to make something special with the clay. Set each finished creation on a piece of paper on which you have written the child’s name. Ask each child to tell you about his creation. Remind the children that God made their hands able to mold clay into shapes. Say, “God made us and loves us very much.”

Open your Bible to Psalm 119:73-76. Explain that the Bible is God’s Word and it is true. Hold your Bible open on your lap as you tell the following Bible lesson:

The Bible says (read Psalm 119:73 aloud from your Bible). Who made us? (God) That’s right. God made us. God made (name each child). God made our hands (hold out hands). God made our feet (point to feet). God made our arms, and God made our legs. God made very part of us.

[Jeremy], did God make your head? (yes) [Elizabeth], did God made you ears? (yes)

(Ask something of each child.) Our God is awesome! When you made your clay sculpture, did you want to throw it away? (no) You want to take care of it. You want to keep it safe. God made you and wants to take care of you (point to children). God cares about [name each child]. God wants [Sean] to be safe. That’s one reason God gave us the Bible (hold up your Bible).

The Bible is God’s way of talking to us. The Bible contains God’s rules for keeping us safe. When you obey your parents’ rules—such as don’t touch the hot stove, or don’t play in the street—you will be safe. God wants you to be safe. God wants you to obey His rules in the Bible. Obeying helps you be safe. Let’s sing the last verse of our song once more. (God’s Word will keep me safe.)

Thank You, God, for making each person wonderful. Help each child keep safe by obeying Your rules. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Edible Finger Paint

2010-09-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Bring new combs of various sizes (one for each child), wet wipes, and prepared vanilla or strawberry pudding. Bring a sheet of finger paint paper or wax paper for each child. Cover the work area with newspapers or a plastic tablecloth.

Have the children wash their hands. Spoon a scoop of pudding on each child’s paper. Have the children comb through the pudding to make patterns on their papers. Show them how to use their fingers to make a variety of designs.

Say, "I smell something good. It smells like vanilla (or strawberry). Do you smell it? I’m glad God made us with noses so we can smell good things."

Let the children use their fingers to print their names on their designs. Use a permanent marker to print the names of younger children (or help the child use her finger to help her print their names).

Set the papers aside to dry. Let the children taste their fingers. (Make sure no one is allergic to the pudding.) Say, "This finger paint tastes good, too. It tastes like vanilla (or strawberry). Did you taste it? I’m glad God gave us mouths so we can taste good flavors." Use wet wipes to clean sticky fingers.

Say a prayer of thanks to God for giving us hands to create, noses to smell, and mouths to taste.

Recruiting Sunday School Teachers

2010-09-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Many churches have a Sunday School Director and/or Bible Club Leader to oversee the Sunday school and Bible club program and to order materials for everyone. Good leadership is the most important part of any successful children's program.

Pray for God's guidance as you look for people to teach your precious students about Jesus. Ask your pastor and Christian Education Director for suggestions. There should be at least two to three people assigned to each preschool and primaries class and at least two for each of your older elementary classes or Bible club groups.

For a two-year-old class, there should be no more than three children per leader or helper. Ideally, there should be one adult for each learning center you provide plus a leader who will conduct the group activities during the class time. In this way, each helper can be responsible for setting up, equipping, and teaching at a specific learning center. If it is simply impossible to recruit three or four leaders and helpers, you can still have a program for your two-year-olds, but be sure to have at least two workers. Allow children to play freely in the block area or with other toys while one leader teaches a small group in a learning center. After 5 to 10 minutes, the children who have been in the learning center may go to "free play" while three or four new children come to the learning center. Continue in this way until all of the children have had a chance to participate in the learning center.

Ideally, there should be at least one adult for every ten elementary-age children. Try to have a variety of people working with your Sunday school and Bible club classes. Make an effort to involve men in the program. Many people who have no children of their own, or who have youngsters of a different age might enjoy working with the children.

Teenagers and college students also make wonderful helpers, with supervision. Perhaps you know college students who are majoring in elementary education or early childhood education. Let them intern in your Sunday school or Bible club program for experience. And high school youth make energetic helpers.

Those you choose as regular leaders or as occasional helpers should be people who share a genuine love for children—and they should like children, too! Choose the kind of people who can be depended n to be there on time, always well prepared. Look for workers who love the Lord, will do their jobs enthusiastically and cheerfully, and will transmit their joy in Christ to the children who will be watching them so closely.

There are always some people who aren't available on a weekly basis but who like to help when presented with a specific need. These individuals could be invited to prepare craft materials, visual aids, or bring refreshments. Some might enjoy coming occasionally to teach songs, tell a story, or do something special. You'll find these people in many areas of your church—teen groups, singles fellowships, and seniors. Make sure the members of the various groups are aware of the needs and of the opportunity to be of help. However, don't make them feel trapped. Let those who respond know you appreciate them.

Assure your prospective workers that a willingness to learn and a love for Jesus is just as important as previous experience or specialized training. Then be sure to give them opportunities to be doers—not just spectators. Sunday school teachers and Bible club leaders should think of each child as an individual and make every effort to know the children with whom they work. Teaching children about Jesus and His love is an important job—and it takes the best people you can find!

Sunday School Registration Cards

2010-09-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Get a head start on your fall Sunday school registration with these helpful cards. Copy the Sunday school registration cards from below onto heavy paper or cardboard. If you divide your students into different age groups or classes, use a different paper color for each age group.

Cut the cards apart and give them to parents when they register their children. Have parents fill out a registration card for each child attending your Sunday school program and for each child attending your preschool or nursery program.

The card contains a place to record emergency information and has a section to list allergies and other medical conditions your students may have. For any child with allergies, create a special, brightly colored name badge with the allergies listed so all leaders and helpers are aware of the allergies and don’t inadvertently give the child something that might cause an allergic reaction.

Click on the image above for a larger view.