When I was eight years old, I sat in the field behind our house slamming rocks together. I\u2019d like to say it was a carefully constructed scientific experiment, but the truth is that figuring out which rock was hardest seemed like a good way to fill a summer afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually, one sandy rock cracked, splitting in two. And there on the ground, staring up at me, lay the fossil of a trilobite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Create a children\u2019s ministry environment where wondering is part of your DNA.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s all it took to get me wondering. I wondered if more fossils were nearby, maybe a brontosaurus skull grinning away just a few inches beneath the weeds. I wondered where I should start digging, if I should tell anyone about my discovery, if I was on the brink of being rich and famous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBoy Archeologist Makes Find of The Century.\u201d I could almost see<\/em> the headlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My sense of wonder<\/a> about fossils carried me into years of exploration and discovery. I still haven\u2019t found that brontosaurus, but I\u2019ve hiked my share of eroding outcrops and excavation sites poking and prodding in an effort to unearth something amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For me, it was fossils that sparked a sense of wonder. Perhaps for you it was a starry night sky, a first glimpse at the ocean, a backflip that drew all \u201c10\u2019s\u201d from the judges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You found yourself motivated to explore and stick with something\u2014because to you it mattered. Nobody had to tell you to keep learning, no one had to hand you assignments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your sense of wonder was motivation enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And what was true about fossils\u2014or sticking the landing on that backflip\u2014is also true about discovering what a life with Jesus can become. If we can somehow get our kids wondering about Jesus we won\u2019t have to keep reminding them to pay attention to Him. They\u2019ll be off and running on their own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your Wonder Ink lessons<\/a> intentionally leave room for kids to wonder\u2014and for good reason. When kids wonder they\u2019re engaged and thinking. They\u2019re questioning, exploring, discovering. They\u2019re kicking the tires on truth, deciding if it holds up and is relevant to their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Children’s ministry is meant to aim kids toward a full, fulfilling relationship with Jesus\u2014and when they encounter Him, they can\u2019t avoid being amazed and awestruck. <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n They\u2019re paying attention all the way to the soles of their feet\u2014and that\u2019s when kids make lasting connections. Why? Because they\u2019re not believing something because you said it\u2019s true. They\u2019re believing because they\u2019ve decided for themselves<\/em> it\u2019s true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And those are the truths that stick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But be warned: inviting kids to wonder can be scary. They might ask a question you can\u2019t answer. They might\u2014okay, they will<\/em>\u2014suggest less than perfect answers now and then. You\u2019ll have to listen carefully and nudge them the right direction if they\u2019re a bit off course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it\u2019s worth it because when those \u201ca-ha!\u201d light bulbs blink on and kids realize the Bible is true, God is real, and they\u2019re loved eternally, they\u2019ll be all-in. They\u2019ll hold those truths with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So create a children\u2019s ministry environment where wondering is part of your DNA<\/a>. Foster curiosity and declare your space somewhere safe for questions, even questions that might feel risky to ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your Wonder Ink lessons are already designed to help that happen\u2014but creating the environment is up to you. Here are a few suggestions for accomplishing that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Okay, you didn\u2019t plan on talking about how it felt to be a Bad Guy standing on the walls of Jericho when they fell\u2014but your kids are wondering. So pause and let kids imagine what it was like to experience God\u2019s power in that moment. Let them to describe what it might have been like before moving on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Always be looking for moments kids\u2019 curiosity<\/a> gets them wondering \u2026 and if possible go with the flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning doesn\u2019t happen at a steady pace\u2014not for kids or for you. When we wonder we slow down and let an idea roll around in our heads awhile. We look at it from all sides, consider where it might take us, decide if it fits with what we already know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The wondering process takes time, which means when you ask your kids a question it\u2019s important to not demand an instant response. Let kids grapple, wondering about the options and implications. Don\u2019t be afraid of a long pause after you ask a question\u2014those seconds are often when kids are wondering and thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\t\tChildren Live in Wonder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Truth that Sticks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Encourage Curiosity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be Patient<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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