Children
Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders...
Isaiah 8:18 (KJV)
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STUDY MATERIALS PURPOSE
The purpose of these study materials is to help, strengthen and educate the Persecuted Church around the world.
People have contacted us from very remote and persecuted areas of the world. These resources are not available to them and/or if they are seen with them they can be persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Some people can only look at these resources for a brief moment on their cell phones. This library is dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ and to those with fierce determination are following Him.
The books, media and information on this website are a library service and for educational purposes only. This is a lending library for the persecuted church around the world. Please look inside the back of each book or look up the authors name on the internet to obtain more information and more resources from these great ministries. Also, please financially support their ministries as they bring the good news of Jesus Christ to billions of people around the world.
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No Two Children Are the Same. - Joe Mcgee
It’s amazing how different children can be. After we had our first child, I thought I had learned all about being a parent. Then our second child came along, and she was nothing like our first. When I was disciplining, I could give one of those ugly-face looks (something that looks like Attila the Hun raised from the dead), and my firstborn would respond immediately. But when I tried using that same look on my second daughter, it came back to me good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
I learned that dealing with her required a different approach. Every child is unique and each may have to be taught, trained, disciplined, and affirmed a little differently. Taking the time to understand and learn each child’s personality and individual needs will be a great benefit both to you and to the child as you train them up to be everything God created them to be. Once you realize each child is different, you can begin to help them find their God-given gift.
The Take Away
On days when it feels like too much to figure out what each child needs and why, go to God. He promised to give you wisdom when you ask (James 1:5). He gave you these children and has called you specifically to be their parent. You can’t fail when you parent using God’s Word as your guide!
Excerpt taken from Joe Mcgee’s devotion book, God Knows How to Raise Your Kids…Even If You Don’t.
Dad's Have Fun - Rick Johnson
Dads are sort of the GPS unit of the family. As Dad goes, so goes the family. So even though fathering may be difficult and even demanding, excellent dads—or at least better dads—find ways to make this challenge fun and exciting. They take the attitude that even though it’s difficult, it’s worth every effort required. Then they find ways to make it fun, and not just a job. You only get one go-round with each kid—and that time goes quicker than you think possible—so you might as well make it as memorable as possible. The satisfaction and joy you’ll get in return is well worth every effort you make.
Excerpt from Rick Johnsons book - 10 Things Great Dads Do.
Become the Dad your Daughter Needs - Rick Johnson
Fathers have incredible influence (positive or negative) on nearly every aspect of their daughter’s life. A father sets a huge role model for his daughter regarding the qualities she looks for in a man and the standards she maintains in her relation-ships. He is the first man in her life and models how a man should treat a woman, how a man should act, and how a man shows healthy love and affection to a woman. He also sets the standard for how a daughter feels she deserves to be treated by men. He even determines how a girl feels about herself. If a father showshis daughter love, respect, and appreciation for who she is, she willbelieve that about herself as a woman, no matter what anyone else thinks.
Excerpt from Rick Johnsons book - Becoming the Dad your Daughter Needs
How Can I Be a Good Influence for My Children? - Kenneth Copeland
Your children are precious to you. You love them so much you want them to grow and mature into happy, healthy, successful adults. But we live in a time when the world is getting darker and it is becoming more of a challenge to live holy. Unfortunately, even some Christians are opening the door to the enemy by taking part in the world’s unclean entertainment and activities. They may think it won’t hurt them, but people can’t feed on the world’s trash and not be affected.
If we don’t fight the good fight of faith, the devil will come in and take over our homes and children. Do you realize that consistently living a pure lifestyle has everything to do with how your children turn out? If you go to church and talk right and look good in front of people, but then you live differently at home, you are making it very hard for your children to take God seriously.
As they grow up, children learn more by watching what you do than by listening to what you say. And they never forget what they observe at home. Holiness is letting God separate you out of the darkness of the world into a life that is worth living—a life lived in Him. We’re not just choosing for our own lives when we make choices. Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” The decisions we make not only affect us—they also affect our children.
If you fail to teach your children what God’s Word says is moral and immoral, you can be sure the world will teach them what it believes. Watch carefully what others are depositing into your children. Talk to your children and monitor what they are hearing and seeing. Train them to walk with God on a daily basis by reading the Word, praying and spending time with Him. Living a godly life before your children is the best teacher! They might forget your words, but they won’t forget your ways.
I Just Got A Crazy Idea - Mark Harper
Do you ever get crazy ideas? I love crazy ideas. I love to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. Two weeks ago I got a crazy idea. I was invited to speak at the Transform Conference in Denver. (Actually, I invited myself, but don’t tell anybody) In one of my workshops I said something I had never said before. I looked at the Children’s Pastor, Jessica Wontor, and said, “Jessica, can you imagine what would happen if every parent in your church gave up their Saturday and came to the conference today? It would change their parenting forever. It would change how they view their kids.” After I said it I realized I was preaching to myself. I caught a vision of myself training thousands of parents to minister to their own children.
Why is it that we only have children’s ministry conferences for children’s ministry people? How come we don’t train parents to preach to their own children? I made a decision right then. I am going to start equipping parents to preach to their kids. I may not be able to get them to come to a kidmin conference, but I can bring the kidmin conference to them on Sunday Morning. This past Sunday at Covenant Church International was my first experiment. I preached a sermon in the main service on “How to Preach to Children.”
Here is a quick summary of my sermon:
I am preaching today on “How to Preach to Children.” Some of you may be thinking “This is not for me.” Before you pull out your I-phones and start checking your email allow me challenge your thinking.
You are called to preach to kids!
Every one is called to preach to kids!
Mark 16:15 says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, over 12 years of age.” (Insert laughter here.)
In the American Church culture we tend to limit our ministry by our titles. We say I’m called to kids ministry or youth ministry or singles ministry, but Jesus called everyone to preach to every creature.
Millions of people will say they are not called to kids ministry, but I say who says?
Why should you limit yourself to one segment of the population?
Some of you may think you are not spiritually mature enough to preach, but don’t let the enemy stop you. I find that when I preach on something my own word holds me accountable and it causes me to grow. Trust me, God wants you to preach to your kids. I don’t care if you are totally backslid, preach to your kids. So, Pastor Mark, how do I preach to my kids? I’m glad you asked. Here are seven practical steps for preaching to kids.
1) Be Visual. Whenever you preach to kids have the Bible in one hand and a prop in the other. (I demonstrated several object lessons using common household items)
2) Be Transparent. Your kids know you’re not perfect so you might as well fess up.
3) Send everything through the kid filter. Your kids could care less about believing God for the house payment. If you talk to them about praying for a I-Pad they will hook up with that.
4) Don’t violate their attention spans. Devotions should be 5 – 10 minutes in length.
5) Target the older kids and teens. We tend to target the younger kids in family devotions, but if you lose older kids you lose the group. Let the older kids lead devotions from time to time.
6) Be Funny. Use the sandwich method. Funny, serious, funny.
7) Tell Stories. Think of funny stories from your teen years or childhood. I demonstrated by telling one of my favorite stories – The Refrigerator Story. I took all the food out the fridge to hide inside it. Every generation loves a good story.
I have some good news for you. You don’t have to do this by yourself. The Holy Ghost will help you preach to your kids. Jesus Said in Acts 1:8, “You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you, and you shall be witnesses.” If the Holy Ghost will help you witness to lost people, don’t you think He will help you witness to your kids?” Then I challenged the parents, “If you want to make a commitment to today to preach to you kids, I want you stand up and come forward.” There was an unbelievable response as the altar filled with of hundreds parents. This confirmed what I have always believed. Most parents want to minister to their own children, but they are just waiting for someone to show them how.
I love it when I get crazy ideas. What are some your crazy ideas?
Mark Harper is one of Pastor Carol Joy' favorite teachers, as a children pastor in Poland and in the USA she used his curriculum for many years. He has many books and materials to help you wheather you are a parent or a children's worker or pastor. For more information: https://www.superchurch.com
Books
God Knows How to Raise Your Kids…Even If You Don’t. - Joe Mcgee
8 Things No Kid Should Leave Home Without - Joe Mcgee
10 Things Great Dads Do - Rick Johnson
Becoming the Dad your Daughter Needs - Rick Johnson
That's My Son: How Moms Can Influence Boys to Become Men of Character - Rick Johnson
That's My Teenage Son: How Moms Can Influence Their Boys to Become Good Men - Rick Johnson
The Red Book: The Life Blood of Children's Ministry - Mark Harper
Great Kids Bible App
You Tube Videos
A Special "Thank you" to Life Church OKC, Below is a sample we use in our Believers Kids Church, our pastors are proud to be partners with this ministry since 1997.
Birth - Kindergarten - Introduce your littlest ones to the wonder and Word of God through age-specific lessons, fun animation, activities, and more.
1st - 5th Grade - Kids find a place they can have fun and belong.
6th - 12 Grade - Addresses real issues that students face each day.
We are serious about your children.
Contacts us, we want to pray for your children and partner with you as a parent. God has a great things ahead for you.
The books, media and information on this website are a library service and for educational purposes only. This is a lending library for the Believers International Church Family. Please look inside the back of each book or look up their names on the internet to obtain more information and more resources from these great ministries. Also, please financially support their ministries as they bring the good news of Jesus Christ to billions of people around the world.