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Parenting Elementary Age Children by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN During the ages of 6 to 12, children change in significant ways. Their thinking patterns and mental abilities go through major developments. Personality, character, and a worldview are being formed and molded for the long term. Developing responsibility and wisdom are two significant priorities at this stage. In addition to these two …
Practical idea: Share this helpful article with your children’s ministry volunteers and parents. “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” -Abraham Lincoln The development of positive, stable character traits should flow directly from spiritual growth. Attempts to train a child to be “good” will be relatively meaningless and …
Practical idea: Download and read this important article with volunteers and staff and ask the simple question: What can we do to ensure that our children are growing in Christ-likeness? Thomas A. Tarrants III, Director of Ministry at the C.S. Lewis Institute, cautions, “There is a crisis of discipleship in the American church today. Reams of research confirm the simple observation that in many ways …
Practical idea: Share this helpful article with your children’s ministry volunteers and parents. Barry Sneed, NavPress Executive Vice President, writes, “Jesus gave us the biblical imperative to go and make disciples. Paul reminded the church in Colossae that we must teach everyone with all wisdom so that we may present everyone mature in Christ – in order that none be deceived by persuasive arguments and stay …
Why Sunday School Lost its Edge By Ed Stetzer, President of LifeWay Research It’s probably not a secret that Sunday school is no longer the en vogue program of the local church. Its reputation has, well, suffered over the years. My focus here is not to give answers or prescriptions, but to help us consider how it lost its reputation—its edge—and how a once thriving program is now …
Once upon a time, Christian parents asked their children after church, “What did you learn about God?” Today, the question is often, “Did you have fun?” Where are today’s Christian kids? Not too long ago, churches offered Bible training for all ages—wanting to fully equip children to serve Christ. Today, many churches offer high-energy, entertainment-based programs—wanting to keep kids happy and to make recruiting easy. …
Practical idea: Share this helpful article with your children’s ministry volunteers and parents. Kids Need God A child’s basic outlook and attitude toward life is shaped by the way he or she pictures God. The Situation: Children ask, “What is God really like?” Schools, friends, television, and other sources expose children to a variety of ideas. Much of what kids hear about “god” does not …