{"id":2287,"date":"2023-02-23T08:38:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T15:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wonderink.org\/?p=2287"},"modified":"2023-10-16T14:17:11","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T20:17:11","slug":"bible-to-life-childrens-ministry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wonderink.org\/bible-to-life-childrens-ministry\/","title":{"rendered":"Bringing the Bible to Life in Your Children’s Ministry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.<\/p>Hebrews 4:12 NASB<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When we look at bringing the Bible to life for our children, let’s start with the why. Why do we do it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We do it because it offers children more than a story. It offers them a place in God\u2019s Big Story. A place where they are known by God, loved by Jesus, and led by the Holy Spirit. It\u2019s a place where they are invited to be participants instead of spectators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We do it because it gives them a seat at His table no matter their age. It\u2019s where they learn that the people of the Bible are real people just like them\u2014people with real lives full of love, dreams, victories, disappointments, and even fears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It helps them know that God is able\u2014and He can move in their lives. It makes space for children to be known fully as they accept the loving grace of our wonderful Savior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we bring the Bible to life for our kids, we can embrace the hard questions, allowing curious kids to see just how big our God is and reminding us sometimes-forgetful-adults of the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s <\/em>why we do it. Now, let’s move onto some of the how<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, we all know that we need to teach in ways that reach multiple learning styles<\/a>, as each child will learn in a different way! But what else do we need?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guideposts for Sharing Scripture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One place to start in the how is by establishing guideposts for how we present the truth of Scripture for kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Share individual stories from the Bible in the context of God\u2019s Big Story.<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first thing it\u2019s so important to do is to always point stories from the Bible back to the big story of what God was and is doing. We want kids to see the fullness of what God was doing in those stories, so they can more clearly see how He is working in their lives today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important for them to know that God moved on behalf of the people in Scripture, and He is also moving on their behalf. When they can connect the faithfulness of God throughout each story, they can see that He is trustworthy and His Word is true. They can begin to see His very personal pursuit of each one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s essential that every piece of Scripture is tied to the whole of God\u2019s Word. He is the God of our yesterday, today, and tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can change how children read and interpret Scripture on their own and how they view God in light of their community and personhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Share that the hope of the gospel is in <\/em>every story.<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

God had a plan all along\u2014and sin doesn\u2019t get to keep the headline. The price Jesus paid for each of us was always part of the plan, and He deserves all the glory in that! God extends to us a redemptive invitation of salvation through grace in Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kids need to understand and see the fullness of what sin leads to\u2014death. But it\u2019s even more important for them to understand that Jesus conquered death so that they can live in freedom. That they can have life through faith in Jesus and following God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure kids understand that Jesus made the way so that they can choose Him every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we reference the people in these stories, show them as real people\u2014not characters or heroes.<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The children in our care need to know that the people we speak about in the Bible are people just like them! People who make mistakes. People who have big dreams. People who believe with their whole hearts. People like you and me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if God can use those people, if God can use us, He can use our kids!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit:Getty Images\/DigitalVision\/Klaus Vedfelt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Share biblical language.<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important that we help kids understand the meaning of Scripture and biblical language within context. It opens a whole new world of how they read the Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It helps us stay aligned because we add nothing to God\u2019s Word and we take nothing away\u2014allowing children to understand the fullness of what Scripture has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Help children identify who they are in Christ.<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our identity is rooted in the same way our faith is: in being confident of what we hope for in Jesus. We become who we were created to be through claiming our inheritance as image-bearing children of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more we look like Jesus, the more we look like the people He made us to be<\/a>. When we take pressure off kids to be<\/em> something, do<\/em> something, and become<\/em> something, they can walk in their kingdom identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When they understand that the God who created them knows them fully, loves them relentlessly through the personhood of Jesus, and will lead them in everything by the Holy Spirit, they can own their inheritance as His children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pressure to be<\/em>, do<\/em>, and become<\/em> is off. They can rest in their Savior, walking close with Him\u2014trusting and knowing that He will lead the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine the church rallying together, building a strong foundation, so that no matter where our children go in the church, they are seeing the same truths being modeled before them.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Choose a curriculum that does all of these things.<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So that you aren\u2019t on your own as you lead, it\u2019s so important that you choose a curriculum that supports these ideas. Publishers like David C Cook create curriculum<\/a> so you aren\u2019t alone in your ministry doing this significant work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important that we train our volunteers<\/a> and parents<\/a> around these ideas as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imagine the church rallying together, building a strong foundation, so that no matter where our children go in the church, they are seeing the same truths being modeled before them.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t

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Wonder Ink\u2019s 3-year, 52-week children\u2019s ministry curriculum offers kids space to fully find their place in God\u2019s Big Story. Children discover they are Known by God, Loved by Jesus, and Led by the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

The Bible Comes Alive When It\u2019s Personal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another place to start bringing the Bible to life is by consistently reaffirming what God says about our children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kids can know what is always<\/em> true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n