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If you’re looking to prioritize impactful children’s ministry whether you’re a Sunday school teacher, greeter, or grandparent, this blog post is for you! Prepare to learn why your curriculum matters less than you think and how anyone can increase their teaching skillset by engaging in 3 simple things in the classroom. We’ll be going over:
- Kids running in the hallways.
- Behavior issues in class.
- How children, youth, and even adults learn best.
Discipling And Disciplining Kids
Discipling and disciplining are words that are thought to not really go together. However, they are intricately related. Oftentimes, we think of discipline as negative and hurtful on both sides. It doesn’t have to be like this. We, as parents and teachers, can disciple kids and model Jesus for these kids in their misbehavior.
Discipline can be hard in a church setting. This is why by using playfulness and relationships, discipline can be a way that we teach our kids about God and who He is. We have a unique opportunity, specifically in small churches, to discipline and disciple kids better.
Tips For Unwanted Behavior
Let’s say, for example, a kid is running around the church. Understandably, you may need to stop that kid from running, for safety reasons. However, when you do that, it’s important to think about what the child feels in that moment. I’ve found that the 3 key things to remember are slow, low, and listen. In James 1:19-20, he talks about being quick to listen, slow to anger, and slow to speak.
When a kid misbehaves or acts out, take a moment. Don’t immediately jump to anger, trying to get the kid to stop whatever they’re doing. Get down on a knee, look the child in the eyes, and let them know that you see them and are so glad they’re here! From there, you can help redirect their running to a different action by showing them love and embracing them with your attention.
One Of The Biggest Challenges Small Churches Face In KidMin
One of the biggest challenges small churches face when it comes to children and their families is the volunteers. When we have a smaller church, we have fewer people who may feel called to serve in children’s ministry. Because we want all of our volunteers to feel called and equipped to serve in children’s ministry, this makes it harder to find the right volunteers.
In big churches, you can have a ton of people who love kids and are all on the same page, but in small churches, every single person and volunteer position matters. We need to get the vision across that whether you’re in children’s ministry or not, loving children and families should be a priority. We have an opportunity to develop that vision more in a small church because we are already so connected!
Prioritize Impactful Children’s Ministry As A Church
So often, the church as a whole doesn’t know or understand what kids are capable of. We often think that we can entertain them, make things fun, and keep them safe and happy so that they and their families will want to come to your church again. However, a lot of people don’t realize that kids are completely capable of having an authentic and engaged relationship with Jesus.
All you need to do to develop this vision of love is take the time to understand children’s development while also believing that they are capable. By helping everyone see the capability within kids, you are giving these kids the chance to have a meaningful relationship with Jesus.
How To Minister To Kids Right When They Walk Through The Door
The very first thing we can do is make the children feel seen. Simply smiling or talking to children in a genuine way can make a huge impact on both them and their parents. Try your best to make the kids feel seen and delighted in. Ask them questions about what they like or what they’re passionate about! You could even have welcome gifts or worship bags for them to have.
If a kid is visiting your church for the first time, there’s a good chance that they won’t want to leave their parents, and that’s okay! Make them feel seen and heard, and show them that this is a warm place for children to be themselves.
The Difference Between Entertainment And Play
Part of the problem that churches have is that in their Sunday school classes, they confuse play and entertainment. Entertainment is passive. It is not what engages kids. The crazy and fun videos, along with certain types of games, are entertaining to kids. Play, however, provides an active way for children to take meaningful content and digest it, grow from it, and learn it. It’s not about just being fun and entertaining!
When it comes to how we are teaching the kids in Sunday school, look at what Jesus was teaching. He wasn’t going back and teaching them the Old Testament, He was telling them stories. He was living life with these people. Jesus made them feel seen, loved, and delighted in. Jesus was focused on the hearts of the people around Him, and we should be too.
What It All Comes Down To
At the end of the day, when it comes to making an impact on the children in your small church, it all comes down to how you show them God’s love and how you value and see them for who they are. Think about it. 40 years down the line, the kids you taught aren’t going to remember the details of each Bible lesson or every verse that they memorized in order to get a flashy sticker.
These kids are going to remember how you treated them, how you loved them, and how you valued them. I encourage you to, above all else, create a welcoming space for the children in your small church, and make an intentional effort to remind them that they are seen, loved, and delighted in, not just by you, but by the Creator of the Universe.
Read More:
Include Movement In Children’s Ministry
4 Steps To Strengthen Your Children’s Ministry
Best Practices For A Safe Environment In Children’s Ministry
