David and Sally Michael: Nurturing the Faith of the Next Generation

April 30, 2009 in Uncategorized with 2 Comments

Children Desiring God  Pre-Conference, Session 3
Nurturing the Faith of the Next Generation: A Heart Response Centered on the Gospel
David and Sally Michael

Our goal is to reach a child’s heart through the instruction of his word (Colossians 1:9-10).
“It is your job to make clear how the truth you are teaching is practiced experientially.”—Lou Priollo

5 Levels of Learning—Lawrence O. Richards, Creative Bible Teaching, (Moody Press).
(1)    ROTE—Ability to repeat without thought of meaning
(2)    RECOGNITION—Ability to recognize Biblical concepts; comprehension; can answer a multiple-choice question.  Often this is as far as we get, but we must go beyond facts to meaning and application.
(3)    RESTATEMENT—Ability to express or relate concepts to biblical system of thought.  Can answer “why” questions about the story.
(4)    RELATION—Ability to relate biblical truth to life and see what a biblical response would be.  Can make a connection to one’s own life.  Can answer the question, “What difference does this make in my life?”
(5)    REALIZATION/RESPONSE—Actualizing response: to apply biblical truths in daily life.  Application can best be done by questioning.  This is the way that they learn to think and understand.  Share from your own life experience.  Know your children, and it will help you guide them.  Children need to know what they need to do in response to what you have heard today.  This is a knowing that possesses us.

We must be faithful with the truth—beginning with the truth—then affecting the heart and emotions, and then moving the will.

Parents Seizing Opportunities
Parents are in the best position to help children apply to truth to the trials of life, that is, the homework that God gives them.  God gives parents a unique position of influence in the lives of children.  Parents must be clear on what their children are being taught so that they are in a position to apply these things to their lives.  Parents who love God and his word seek to bring God into every situation.  Take home sheets can be the difference between life and death for a child, because these are words of life for the child to believe and live or disbelieve and experience judgment.  One of the best ways to bring a child to the point of response is to respond to it myself.  This may require humbling myself, admitting my need, etc.  One of the privileges we have when we teach children is that the Scriptures grip us.

Teach In Such a Way that Children Understand What Proper Responses Are
It is so much better for a child to learn a heart lesson though it cause her temporary pain than to experience eternal pain.  Experience is a good teacher—both bad and good experiences.  God brings these life experiences in order to teach our children that He is good.

David and Sally Michael: A Bible-Saturated Generation

April 30, 2009 in Uncategorized with 4 Comments

Children Desiring God Pre-Conference, Session 2,
A Bible-Saturated Generation: Immersing Our Children in the Word of God
David and Sally Michael

This is the most personally convicting session of the conference for me so far.  I am thankful for this vision of the Bible alone as our authority.  The challenge comes after similar challenges from Bryan Chapell, Daniel Montgomery, and Rob Plummer in recent weeks.  One Rob Plummer quote from Sojourn’s Men’s Retreat at the top of mine and David Kidd’s thoughts as we listened to this message:

We must not skating on the top of God’s Word like we’re in an ice rink, but rather soak  in the Word of God like soaking in a hot tub!—Rob Plummer

Now, here are the notes:

How do you raise a generation that is Bible saturated?

Continue Reading…

David and Sally Michael: Nurturing the Faith of the Next Generation

April 30, 2009 in Uncategorized with 4 Comments

michaelsChildren Desiring God Pre-Conference, Session 1,
Nurturing the Faith of the Next Generation: A Vision for the Glory of God
David and Sally Michael

According to David Michael, the purpose of the first session was to cast a common radical and well-articulated vision and philosophy for ministering to children and youth. Many churches will provide “something” for kids without working out a philosophy or theological background for what that something is. This leads to an activity or program-driven ministry to kids. We need a cradle to graduation, well thought out philosophy for passing on the doctrines of the faith to our kids. What bible content do we want them to know? What Scriptures do we want them to have memorized? How can we lead them to participate as active worshipers in our churches? What qualifications will we require from those ministering to our children? All of the “somethings” we are doing as a church should be directed toward a single aim. Then, we will have a vision-oriented philosophy of ministry to children?

So, what should our aim be? The Word of God gives us our aim. A key passage is Psalm 78:1-11: Continue Reading…

Children’s Ministry Essentials

April 30, 2009 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

The only real essential for children’s ministry is the gospel, but the gospel has implications.  Because of the gospel, we are on mission in a particular context, we celebrate (which often means that we have fun and attract a crowd), we relate in love, we equip parents to preach the gospel at home, etc.  Here are some great resources on gospel implications for children’s ministry that I’ve been reflecting on lately:

On Mission and Contextualization:

Children’s Ministry in a Missional Paradigm, part 1 and part 2 by Henry Zonio, Elemental Children’s Ministry

Contend and Contextualize, part 1 and part 2 by Hunter Baumont, The Resurgence

Tim Keller’s Description of a Missional Church, Children’s Ministry and Culture

“That By All Means I Might Win Some”: Faithfulness and Flexibility in Gospel Proclamation (MP3)
by D. A. Carson, The Gospel Coalition

On Attractional/Relational Discipleship:

“If Jesus Led Children’s Church” by Karl Bastian, the original Kidologist

On Equipping Families

“Family Equipping Ministry- A Growing Movement” by Steve Wright, Lasting Divergence

Children’s Desiring God National Conference 2009

April 28, 2009 in Uncategorized with 2 Comments

David Kidd and I are headed out tomorrow to the Children’s Desiring God National Conference.  Please pray for us as we go and learn about children’s ministy.  Check back here for live blogs (or summaries–depending on WiFi access) of the sessions.   This is the theme of the conference:  As we understand all of life as it relates to God at the center, we will be more equipped to orient children to the centrality of God.   Plenary speakers include John Piper, Paul David Tripp, Bruce Ware and David Michael.  In addition, a number of diverse and experienced seminar leaders will provide practical help and encouragement for parents, teachers, leaders, and all who are invested in ministry to children and youth.  I’m particularly excited about hanging out with Tim Jones (who is leading a seminar on family ministry) and Catherine McKenzie (who works for our friends at Christian Focus publishing).

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