Welcome to our MBI Children and Family Ministry Newsletter! We seek to support Children and Family Ministry by providing free or inexpensive resources that inspire and educate faith in Jesus.
Come, you children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. – Psalm 34:11 NKJV
Bible teaching Skills
It is a challenging task to teach the Bible to children in a way they can understand and apply to their lives. This article by Mary Ellen Drushal, author of On Tablets of Human Hearts: Christian Education With Children, gives twenty-six teaching qualities and skills that every children’s ministry leader can grow in to become more effective teachers of the Word of God. To help you lead children closer to Jesus, we encourage you to read this article here.
Looking for a great resource for new Bible teachers that could use some practical tips as they begin to teach children Biblical truth? In this article, DiscipleshipLand staff give ten practices that Bible teachers can implement in their teaching. DiscipleshipLand seeks to partner with families as they disciple their children to know, love, and serve God around the globe. Click here to read more.
Classroom Management
Most Sunday School teachers will at some point experience their patience and boundaries being pushed by students despite all efforts. This article gives clear and applicable examples of how to maintain an atmosphere of fruitful learning in your Sunday School classroom on a weekly basis. Learn what specific things you can do to create a positive teaching experience for both you and your students here.
The gospel addresses both grace and law and the gospel message is best taught in both word and deed. Showing children what the gospel is by modeling it in our teaching allows children to experience truth. Discover some goals and strategies to use on Sunday mornings here. These management techniques are derived from the book Show Them Jesus: Teaching the Gospel to Kids. To purchase the book, click here.
Preschoolers
Preschoolers need structure on Sunday mornings to learn well. From activities to Bible story time, this article provides instructions and examples on how to implement an effective schedule for your Sunday morning Preschool lessons. To read the article, click here.
11 Ways to Teach the Bible to Preschoolers
Teaching biblical truth to preschoolers means we as adults need to know how to reach their level, not attempting to have them reach ours; children are not little adults (Piaget). With rich insight, the AWANA editorial team gives 11 ways we can introduce the Bible to preschoolers.Read it here.
Nursery
Nursery Teaching Methods
Mary Nelson, the creator of Mission Bible Class, an online resource for children’s ministry leaders, offers excellent materials in this article for working with nursery-aged children. She includes age-appropriate methods, tips, and even free curriculum to download for nursery classes. Find it all here.
Teaching Babies
Church nurseries are more than just daycares–they are opportunities to begin Christian spiritual formation in the youngest of the congregation. Saturn Road Church of Christ in Garland, Texas has been training their babies in Christ for over 35 years. Learn how to incorporate intentional teaching into your nursery ministry by reading here.
Child Discipleship
25 Helps for Family Discipleship
Intentionally discipling your children is an abstract reality with little practicality. “Directions for the Right Teaching of Children”, composed by Richard Baxter in 1673, will be an excellent resource for your family discipleship plan. Read a summarized list of these directions here or purchase the unabridged version of The Godly Home here.
8 Tips to Disciple Your Kids
Having a roadmap for child discipleship would be a dream-come-true for many parents. Discipleship in the home takes intentionality and dedication. In this article, Brian Dembowczyk from The Gospel Project gives 8 helpful tips that parents can use to disciple their children. Click here to find out what he has to say!
