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Scripture Memory is out of style these days. Perhaps it is because its hard and we are a culture that likes everything easy. Maybe we are just too busy to memorize. Some even try to discard it as rote repitition that is considered less effective than comprehension and perhaps even harmful. Many today contend that scripture memory is not effective because it doesn’t encourage thinking and therefore doesn’t impact the heart.

I agree! I agree that if ALL we did was rote memory, we’d be bad off! But to dismiss scripture memory on the basis that if ALL we did was rote memory is to push a beneficial spiritual discipline to its extreme and then reject it as though the extreme is all it offers.

Let me suggest three reasons I believe Scripture Memory is essential to discipleship:

1) Let’s start with the biblical basis of scripture memory. (source)

• Jesus knew the word of God and was able to drive away Satan when tempted. MT 4:1-11
• King David clearly saw that knowing the word of God was the key to purity. PS 119:9-11
• Paul says that the word is a sword in your amour against the devil’s schemes. EP 6:13-18
• God’s word in your heart keeps your feet from slipping. Ps 37:28-31

Scripture is FILLED with the benefits of God’s Word and value of knowing it deeply. Did you know that in the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119, every single one of the 176 verses is about God’s Word? That ought to tell us something!

2) I can also offer personal experience. As a child, I memorized a LOT of scripture. Did I understand it all? Of course not. But it gave to such a broad and rich understanding of scripture that deepened as I got older. I have memorized hundreds of verses, many chapters and two books of the Bible and can personally attest to the way God uses that knowledge to help me walk with Him, understand His Word, prepare to teach, witness and just know how to think and reflect on God. It impacts my prayers constantly. I can’t tell you how many times when praying the Word of God just flows and helps me express my love for God and awe at who He is.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.

I Chronicles 29:11

3) Lastly, I’d like to offer an explanation that I often use when people are critical of scripture memory or try to explain it away as a waste of time, or as something only for children, or even pointless for kids. I call it “The Alphabet Argument.”

I have a two year old son who is learning the alphabet. He is learning to recognize and say the letters of the alphabet. Do they have much meaning to him? No. Does he truly understand what they are and how they are to be used? Of course not. Should I not have him memorize the letters until he can truly appreciate them, understand them, and use them properly? Absolutely not! I would actually stunt his mental growth and handicap his future use of the English language and hinder his ability to creatively express himself in our language. So he learned meaningless LETTERS for now. But soon that knowledge will help him recognize and use WORDS. Those words, before I know it, will enable him to read SENTENCES and then (and I can’t wait!) he will be able to CREATE HIS OWN stories.

QUESTION: If I asked you to close your eyes and tell me the LETTERS I have been using, could you? No. You are not reading “letters.” You aren’t even reading “words” or “sentences.” You are reading THOUGHTS and the sentences, words and letters are just the vehicle to communicate them to you.

The SAME is true of God’s Word!

God’s Word is alive and active! (recognize the verse?) God’s word is not the sum of sentences, words or letters - it is the Power of God! But it is communicated via words.

You see? When kids (or adults!) memorize scripture - they are getting the “spiritual alphabet” by which they will form broader spiritual thoughts and ideas. If I only taught my little boy half of the alphabet - imagine the impact it would have on him? He needs all the letters! Imagine the impact when you only know a little of the Bible from memory? You are limited and will be spiritually frustrated just as my little boy would be if he didn’t first learn the alphabet.

All this to say - you do your disciples a disservice if you don’t lead them and encourage them to memorize scripture. Should it all be rote memory? Of course not. Try to explain and help them understand, but ultimately the Holy Spirit will do that, and a lot better than you ever could.

Scripture memory ought to be a regular part of your spiritual journey and a vital part of your discipling process. Years later these kids will be thankful to you, just as I am to Helen Reed, Margret Bramble, Charlie Hann and the other adults in my childhood who challenged and encouraged me to memorize God’s Word!

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My Christian education training included a course taught by Dr. Howard Hendricks called “Principles of Discipleship.” Eight of us met at 6:30 in the mornings (not an optimum time for my nocturnal seminary lifestyle). Class sessions were around a conference table, eyeball-to-eyeball, not in a lecture hall. That experience opened my eyes to how Jesus made disciples in the first century—and how that process impacts His Church today.

As the last session of that course drew to a close, Prof Hendricks gave us one final assignment: “When I visit your places of ministry,” he told us, “I’ll ask you only one thing—show me your disciples.” Each of us left that room stunned and silent, but inspired. It struck me that this is also Jesus’ parting “assignment” to His disciples— “Go and make disciples…” (Matthew 28:18-20).

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This is part 2 in a 12 part series on D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S.H.I.P. - Twelve Tips to help you become a more effective discipler of children.

D = Identify Potential Disciples

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19

Have you ever invited someone to be discipled? If you truly want to be a discipler, you must understand that discipleship is not something that happens by accident. Your disciples are not hidden throughout the kids you minister to, they are children you can name. Yes, a true discipler can name their disciples. They have intentionally chosen to disciple someone as a follower of Christ.

The way I discovered this is almost embarrassing.

To explain I have to back up a bit - all the way to high school. (OK, maybe more than just a bit!) But on a Sunday evening in high school I heard a missionary preach who, unbeknownst  to me at the time, would one day be my father-in-law! But during his slide show I saw a picture of his daughter and was inspired to write her an encouraging letter. She was encouraged, and encouraged me by her letter back. Soon we were “pen pals” until I became so encouraged I desired to come meet her in person!

Upon graduation from high school, and after writing back and forth with this “MK” for two years I asked her father, via mail, if I could come to the Philippines during the summer for a mission trip. Perhaps he saw through my ulterior motive, but at any rate, he asked me to get a year of Bible college first. I figured this was better than working for him for seven years and getting her sister. So I agreed.

A year later, never wavering in my quest to come to the Philippines and meet my pen-pal, I wrote him again and since I met his requirement, he allowed me to come.

So what does this romantic love story have to do with Discipleship? I thought you’d never ask!

I’d been there only a few days when I had my first meeting with my supervising pastor. (My pen-pals dad, who, by the way, is over six feet tall) Perhaps he was just challenging me, or testing me, or starting my eight weeks tough as “missionary training” but he asked me:

“So, you’ve been here nearly a week, how many young men are you discipling?”

I was stunned and confused. But, of course, I couldn’t admit it, not to the man whose daughter I had a growing affection for, so I stuttered and answered, “Well, none yet, but I hope to soon.” He answered, “Good, by next week I’d like you to be discipling at least three young men.” I agreed. Except I had no idea what he was talking about!

Here I was, a pastor’s son, and a student at one of the leading Bible colleges in the world, but when asked if I was discipling I was at a loss! So I ran to my “girlfriend” (though not officially so yet) and said, “Your dad wants me to be discipling three boys by next week! What do I do?” She was no help. She simply answered, “Well, just do it.” Again, I couldn’t admit that I had no idea what they were talking about! How did I tell this girl I was hoping to woo that I didn’t knowing what “discipleship” meant?

I was stuck. Discipleship was a word I heard and used a lot, but when confronted with being asked to actually do it I was stumped.

Well, while perhaps not the most noble of motivations, my desire to impress both a girl and her dad gave me the courage to walk up to a pair of young men after a mid-week service and blurt out the words, “Would you like to be discipled?” I was scared they would ask me what I meant! But instead, they simply said “Yes!” Then they led me to the bookstore at the back of the sanctuary and asked me to help them choose a study book to go through. (Another time I will write about the “How To Grow” book that church used that Awesome Adventure was actualy developed from as a kids version.) Next they asked me when would be a good time to meet. (They were unknowingly teaching me how to be a discipler!)

Soon we were meeting regularly, and once I was with them and reading the Bible and discussing, I was fine! My years of experience as a Christian and my knowledge as Bible student made the job easy - all I was missing was the intentionality. I had all the experience and knowledge I needed to be a discipler, but I had never actually put it to work in another individuals life!

There are many Christians who are ready to be disciplers who never take that step to become one by simply asking someone if they would like to be discipled.

How do you choose kids to disciple? I like to say, “look to the edges of spiritual development.”

On one end are kids who you aren’t sure are genuinely followers of Christ yet, or at best are “saved” but not really that active or enthusiastic about their faith. By discipling them YOU could make the difference on whether they go through life as merely a Chrisian or a devoted follower of Christ!

On the other end are the kids who seem to have everything going for them spiritually. They come from strong Christian homes and may even have parents in the ministry. (Yes! Disciple PK’s!!) They actually are key disciples because they need what they are hearing in the home to be confirmed and validated outside the home. Just because dad is the pastor doesn’t mean they will be on-fire for God. In fact, as you may know, often the opposite is true because it is either expected of them, or because they see their dad’s human and failing side, they can have doubts. You can be an intramental part of firming up and strengthening an already strong foundation.

But also look for kids in tough situations. Kids in a single-parent home. Kids who are ill, or have some other family challenges. I’ve discipled kids whose parents were going through a divorce, or who had a parent dying of cancer. Or who is getting in trouble at school. Discipling allows you to meet with them with another reason - but the issues they are facing will come up, but in a safer more comfortable way than saying, “lets go out and talk about your mom’s cancer” or “lets talk about your parents divorce.”

Discipleship allows you to focus on the basics of the Christian life and allows the child to bring up the other issues in their life as they feel comfortable and as they relate to the topics of prayer, trust, obedience, etc.

SO NOW WHAT?

Prayerfully try to identify a child you could disciple. Is there a child you know that is going through a hard time? That shows great potential for God? Who seems to lack serious interest in their faith? Who you would like to have an impact on?

I promise you - if you pray and ask God to show you a child He would like you to disciple, that is a prayer request HE WILL ANSWER! Then you have to take that next step - asking the parents and then the child, if you can disciple them.

You will feel weird and awkward and silly, but please know - that is spiritual warfare! No parent has ever told me “no” and no chid has ever not enjoyed getting together and talking about the Bible, God and their faith.

So what are you waiting for? Who are YOU going to disciple?

Let me warn you - discipling children will become the most rewarding part of your ministry and will have the longest lasting results. It worked for Jesus, it will work for you too!

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This is 1 in a 12 part series on D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E.S.H.I.P. - Twelve Tips to help you become a more effective discipler of children.

D = Develop a Relationship

“And He walks with me and He talks with me;
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there;
None other has ever known.”

Every notice that Jesus’ primary method of discipleship was based upon relationships? Jesus didn’t establish schools, write curriculum, or host seminars. While He certainly did teach the masses - he discipled in relationship with those who were close to Him, and it was THOSE disciples who turned the world upside down after He left them.

As I look back over some fifteen plus years of professional children’s ministry and many more years of just life ministry, it is those I discipled relationally who I see producing the greatest fruit. They are ones in Bible college, becoming missionaries, and going into ministry. While I am NOT assuming any credit for their godly choices, I am saying that being discipled prayed a part in their spiritual formation.

If you want to be a discipler of children, it is no secret that I recommend DiscipleLand if you are a church leader and would be delighted if you used Awesome Adventure as a tool for one on one studies, but the first thing you need is NOT curriculum - it is to build some relationships with kids that are deeper than the educational or “fun” level.

It may just be that some of your best disciples you never formally “discipled” through printed lessons - you just walked with them and became a part of their spiritual journey.

Whether you lead an entire children’s ministry with hundreds of children or teach a small class or volunteer in a club with a small group - pray through your kids and ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU A CHILD YOU CAN HAVE A DEEPER RELATIONSHIP WITH. And become their friend, not just their leader or teacher.

Jesus is my Master, my Lord, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Creator and my Guide, but best of all He is my Friend - and it is that relationship that spurs on my spiritual growth. Yoy may be many things to the kids in your ministry, but when you become their friend, you begin to truly impact their spiritual walk.

What does a friendship with a child look like?

• You know their name
• You know about their family
• You have some common interests
• You pray for them
• You look for them
• You ask them relational questions
• You get together with them
• You remember their important dates
• You love them unconditionally

Take some time and think through the kids God has brought into your life - is there one or two that you could pour your life in to? A few you could become a friend to? That you could disciple intentionally? The impact on their life is indescribable!

GO FOR IT! What are you waiting for?

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Would you like a deep walk with Jesus to go with that? Or Super Sized Sanctification perhaps? We’ve got a special this month, if you order two fully devoted child disciples we’ll toss in the parents too!

This may sound absurd, but looking at many Children’s Ministries, this is what you often see. Leaders who plan just one unit ahead and go from snazzy product to snappy program with no comprehensive plan for how they are going to MAKE DISCIPLES of children, not just reach, teach or entertain.

Solid Bible curriculums abound! But does teaching the Bible alone produce genuine disciples? Why is research showing that Christian kids growing up in the church (undoubtedly under the influence of many wonderful Christian education products) are abandoning their faith in junior high, high school and especially college?

Perhaps they were taught instead of discipled.

A close look at DiscipleLand will reveal that it is MUCH more than biblically solid Bible curriculum, but it is a comprehensive strategy for making disciples of children.

Get out of the curriculum Drive Through Lane and start making disciples.

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The story continues… (from part 1)

Within two days, I was able to catch up with the girl that I hadn’t had time for. I was so busy “ministering” to all of the kids that I didn’t have time to actually “reach” one child.

I started the conversation by saying, “I’m so sorry that I didn’t connect with you on Wednesday. What you are thinking about is very important to me. Is there any chance that you still remember the question that you wanted to ask me?”

She was wide-eyed. “I can’t believe you remembered, she said. That was like, DAYS ago.” (It was only 2 days, but still she was glad that I remembered.)

I was prepared for any type of question she might ask from “What kind of toothpaste do you use?” to “Can we sing a different song next week?”)

“Oh, ya. She continued. Um, I know that Jesus died on the cross to save us, but WHY is that what God (the Father) wanted him to do? Why was that the price he had to pay?”

WOW! I was so glad that I didn’t miss this opportunity to share this with her.

I shared the scripture with her and followed up with a letter so that she could look it up for herself.

Here are my questions:

1) Are you willing to admit to the kids in your ministry that you have messed up? That you’ve missed a very important chance to connect with them?

2) If we (our ministry teams) had the ability to follow up like this with every child in our ministries, what would disipleship look like in our churches? How would this affect the “Church” at large?

3) Do you agree with the following statement: “When it comes to discipleship, relationship is everything.”

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Let me ask you a few questions related to children at your church, and the Bible. After each, please pause and reflect on the answer.

RE: Children and the Bible

• Do your children bring their Bibles to church?
• Do your children USE their Bibles at church?
• Are Bibles needed by your children during your programs?
• Do you have Bibles available for children who don’t bring or have one?
• Are there a bunch of battered, torn, and coverless Bibles laying around your church?
• When is the last time you saw a child reading their Bible on their own?
• When is the last time you saw a child reading the Bible?
• Do your lower elementary children know the books of the Bible by memory?
• Can your upper elementary children look up a Bible verse without help or the table of contents?
• Do you have any children who have marked up, underlined and well worn (from use) Bibles?

RE: YOU and the Bible

• Do you read your Bible often? (outside of lesson preparation)
• Do you use a real Bible when you teach? (other than as a prop you hold up)
• Are your lessons birthed out of the Word, or out of a box or disc?
• If all Bibles in America were banned and confiscated, but any electronic version or use was still allowed, would there be any noticeable change in your lessons and/or program?
• Do you have a marked up, underlined and well worn (from use) Bible?

These questions are meant to stimulate thought, not guilt - though my asking gives away a serious concern I have with what I would call the growing Bibleless Trend in Children’s Ministry.

I travel to many churches as a guest speaker or trainer and am very often stunned by how little need there is for Bibles in most children’s ministries. I consider teaching with and out of a Bible to be the FUNDAMENTAL BASIS of my teaching. I use puppets, object lessons, media clips, illusions and you-name-it, I’ve used it, to creatively teach and engage children, but never as a replacement or substitute for teaching with and out of a Bible. ONLY THE BIBLE HAS GOD’S PROMISE OF EFFECTIVENESS. And yet, the Bible is a rare object in perhaps most children’s ministries today. This is a tragedy!

I have seen churches where none of the kids had Bibles, and when I tried to find some to pass out, or at least to use with 5-6 kids on stage for a Sword Drill - NONE COULD BE FOUND to use. Not in the well-equipped resource room, not in the library PACKED with books ABOUT the Bible, not even battered shameful looking Bibles on shelves in the back of the room. And this has happened over and over in churches around America.

Yes, the Bible is quoted in the PowerPoints, illustrated in the videos, taught through object lessons, acted out in puppet shows… but the Bible itself is mysteriously MIA in many churches! (Missing IN ACTION!)

I don’t care how attractive your ministry facility is, how innovative your program, how creative your teaching - if you are neglecting to teach kids the value of God’s Word by example (teaching with and from it) you ARE TEACHING THEM A LESSON: that the Bible really isn’t that important.

Kids learn by what they SEE - they need to see you teaching with and from an ACTUAL Bible. And the learn by what they DO - reading in and from an ACTUAL Bible.

If the only Bible they see are PowerPoint slides and cartoon re-enactments it is no wonder when they outgrow children’s ministry they outgrow the Bible too.

STEPS FOR ACTION: (If you are feeling even slightly convicted)

• Start reading your own Bible regularly, outside of lesson prep. (If you don’t already) As it impacts your own life, you will have a passion to share its wisdom and insights and power with those you teach!
• Teach with and from a Bible when you teach. You can even print your lesson plan on a half sheet and keep in the Bible so the children constantly see you picking up and looking into the Bible. Even if you are reading notes, the visual message is that the Bible is guiding your lesson.
• Encourage kids to bring their Bible to church. Reward occasionally with a treat - not every week - but occasionally so they know that bringing the Bible is important.
• HAVE KIDS USE THEIR BIBLES as part of your teaching. Don’t put every verse on the screen, just the reference or first half of the verse. Have them look it up. The awkward silence or pause in your “momentum” is worth it!
• Have kids stand up and read passages for you. Have someone there with a microphone if you have a large group.
• Do Sword Drills on the topic of your lesson. If you have a very large group, choose 8-10 kids to come on stage to participate. This not only gives them practical experience looking up verses it shows them that the Bible has a lot to say on the topic. You can give 4-5 sentence teaching moments after each verse read.
• Give Bibles to visitors or any child who doesn’t own one. Personalize it with a message from you about the importance of this book.
• Talk about things God taught you through the Word in your quiet time.
• Encourage kids to ask you questions about the Bible as they read.
• Provide reading plans or bookmarks to the children, reward progress as they read.
• Make the Bible something you and the children USE, not something you talk ABOUT.
• PRAY and ask God to give you creative ideas on how you can make the Bible more central to your teaching and programming.

If you have neglected the Bible in your passion to better reach and teach kids, don’t feel bad - but do something about it

As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11

The best way to get God into the hearts of kids, is to get His Word into their hearts!

Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29

If you truly wants God power in your teaching - don’t just quote His Word - USE His Word!

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

We live in a day and age when there is no end to the new and innovative resources for children’s ministry (and that’s a good thing!) but it may just be the next best thing for your children’s ministry is to return to an emphasis on the Word of God - in practice - not just in word.

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Sitting in a workshop today in Little Rock, Arkansas I heard a brilliant thought as to why people leave the church. It is really a revolutionary thought. I think it is something that everyone will benefit from once they wrap their brain around it…seriously it’s good.

Before I share the idea I want to ask a question: Do you know what is expected of you by the church? I think most of us can come up with a list of general expectations that come from the church. Stand up when everyone else does, pay your tithe, sing loud, be nice, Love God, Accept Jesus - so on and so forth. We know what the church expects of us; know the expectations are helpful - but knowing the expectations without knowing how to do the expectations will bring frustration and failure.

That was the brilliant thought - WE TEACH IDEAS WITHOUT GIVING PRACTICAL WAYS TO DO THEM! Tell parents that they must disciple their kids - but do we tell them how? We tell kids they need to be a disciple - but do we tell them how? If we aren’t giving tools for parents, teachers and kids what those things mean or how to do them then it’s never going to happen. Why�

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Last night at church was a perfect reminder to me that kids need our time.

Our midweek service went well.

We had:

• A great praise and worship time.
• Fun large group game time. The kids loved it.
• A home-run lesson. The kids seemed to really understand and “get” what we were teaching.

Only one thing was a little off. One of our small group leaders was out of town on business, so I had to fill in to lead his small group. No big deal. The night was running smoothly with quick transitions. Everyone was having fun. Everyone except one 4th grade girl. On my way to lead the 2nd-3rd grade small group, she stopped me in my tracks and with a serious tone said, “Jen, can I ask you a personal question? Can we sit down for a minute to talk?” I could tell something was really bugging her, but I really didn’t have any time to give at that moment. I responded by saying, “Yes, but would it be okay to talk about it right after small group?” I was in a rush and I had to get to my group of kids. With my words, I showed that I care, but my actions showed that I was way too busy for her. Long story short, with the way that the evening turned out, I was not able to connect with her at the end of the night. I’ve been attempting to follow up with her today. God is showing me again and again that ministry is about people. Not about having the “perfect program”.

Time is every kid’s love language. Quality and quantity. It says, “I care about you.” “I’m listening to you.” “You are important to me.” “I know you’re having a problem, and I can pray for you… right now.” And when kids know that we care, it opens doors for us to lead them closer to Jesus.

How many opportunities have I missed?

Today, I am asking myself these questions:

1. Do we have any free space built into our ministry to connect with kids? If not during services, when?
2. Do we have enough leaders to effectively disciple kids? Do we have a good back-up plan?
3. Are we being good stewards of kids’ questions and personal stories- even when it doesn’t flow with our lesson?
4. Is our follow-up intentional?
5. What can we do to maximize our time with kids to show them that we love them- and, more importantly, that Jesus loves them?
6. How is your church doing in these areas?

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While there are many stories of Jesus speaking to the “multitudes” the vast majority of the Gospels are stories of his interactions with his disciples. A few men he chose to pour His life in to. In today’s ministry world, we are all about reaching the multitudes - and technology has enabled us to reach people we’ll never even meet via radio, television and this here Internet thingie. (How many who read this point will I ever meet in person?)

Mass teaching may have its place, as does mass evangelism. But Mass Discipleship is an oxymoron. You can’t disciple a crowd, you can only disciple individuals. Even Jesus, God Incarnate, didn’t even attempt to disciple a crowd, and yet in many (dare I say most?) churches today, Mass Discipleship is the plan in place. It’s no wonder we are failing.

May I ask a potentially painful question? Who are you discipling? Individually? Can you name the names of children you are discipling as a follower of Jesus Christ?

My wife and I wrote the Awesome Adventure, My New Life with Jesus, as a tool for discipling children one on one. It was used to disciple many children, as individuals, before DiscipeLand took it and made it what it is today. I still have yet to see a tool on the market designed for discipling kids one on one. I’ve seen salvation follow up booklets and Bible activity books and Bible quizzing books, but there doesn’t seem to be a huge market for tools to disciple children. It’s too bad. I’m not really trying to promote “my book,” I wish there were many others to link as well.

But I DO mean to promote the concept of discipleing kids one on one - no matter whether you find a helpful tool, or just open up God’s Word with them and intentionally guide them through the things they need to know to love and life for God.

I bet your ministry to the masses of kids is great…. but how is your ministry to a few individual kids? It was Jesus’ disciples who turned the world upside down, not the masses he taught on the hillside. It is the individual kids you pour your life into who will yield the best fruit in your ministry!

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