Children's Work
There a number of resource websites that are suitable for children and young people's work. They provide ideas for illustrations, craft work and teaching. Some are American sites but can easily be adapted for use in British churches.
Dovecote Sunday School is a very good site which provides ideas for quizzes, games, activities and children's talks. It is well presented and easy to navigate. Recommended.
DLTK Bible Educational Activities is a good site to find illustrations and craft ideas. There is a wealth of pictures and line drawings. Many are themed around Bible stories and can be used for colouring-in or to go along with memory verses. There are also craft activities suitable for Sunday schools and holiday clubs. The quality of the material is variable. While some material is excellent, some may need you to exercise a little care!
Apple Sauce Kids has a variety of resources suitable for children's work. There are games, crafts, puzzles and even sound effects. (You can download the sound of a roaring lion to go with the story of Daniel). Again, the quality of the material is variable and some care needs to be exercised.
Kid's Sunday School Place is an extensive site which covers everything from games and craft ideas to teaching. It has material suitable for toddlers right through to teenagers. While some material is free, much of the material is available only to members. The quality of the free material is extremely variable - but you may find something which is useful or can be adapted.
Children Desiring God is a Sunday School resource which uses a doctrine-based approach, but it can be expensive. Its goal is to 'fuel spiritual desire in children by exalting the greatness and worth of God and His glorious work through Christ.'
Sample pages from Children Desiring God (PDF file)
Teaching doctrine to children
Many churches have used the ABC to teach the nature of God:
- A is for Almighty (illustrated by the story of creation)
- B is for Bountiful (illustrated by Israel's entry into the promised land and the blessings of obedience or the feeding of the 5,000)
- C is for Care/Compassion (illustrated by God's provision in the wilderness - water from the rock or manna)
- D, E ... X, Y, Z (Divine, Eternal ... [E]xalted, Yes and Amen, Zealous)
Or plan your Sunday School syllabus around the basic doctrines you would like your children to understand. For example ...
- The nature of God God is Spirit, One God - three persons, God is Almighty, God is Holy,God is wise, God is faithful, God is just, God is love.
- God's law and the big problem of sin God's law is given, God's law is perfect, God's law is disobeyed.The consequences of sin.
- The person of Christ Who Jesus is - His birth and early life,What Jesus did - his ministry and teaching. Why Jesus came - His death, resurrection and ascension.
- Salvation All have sinned, Jesus forgives sins, The way of salvation, One way.
- The church Pentecost, The early church in Acts, Baptism, The Lord's Supper,The mission of the church.
- Living as Christians The work of the Holy Spirit, New Creations, Prayer, Reading the Bible, Trusting, Obeying, Serving, Being like Jesus.
... and then match them with appropriate Bible stories.
For example ... (opens new window)
Ideas for Adults
Lunch and Listen This is used in a variety of ways to develop relationships with contacts in the community;
- Retired People
- Mums/Carers from the Parent and Toddler Group
- Parents of children in the Sunday School/Youth Club
Holiday at Home This is an activity week (rather like a holiday club) for people who have retired. Various activities are organised throughout the week; visits to gardens or museums, demonstrations, walks, lunches etc. Each day ends with a short epilogue.
Prayer Fellowship For those who have retired or for those not in full-time employment - why not have a regular day-time prayer fellowship with others in your church? Commit yourselves to pray for the spiritual growth of every member of your church. Pray for the nation.
Taster Days If there is someone in your church who has a particular hobby, interest or profession - use it! A church in Dorset recently had a 'golfing taster day' led by a church member who was a professional golfer. The day ended with a brief talk about Christianity.
Daddy and Me If you have a successful Mothers and Toddlers Group - why not extend it to include Dads too? Dads are invited to come along with their children on Saturday morning. They can watch their children play, snack on the food provided (bacon sandwiches are popular) and get to know other men from the church.
Off-site evangelism If a number of members from your church all have the same interest or hobby - why not join a Club or an Adult Education Class together? Use it as an opportunity to develop contacts with people who wouldn't normally go to church, with a view to sharing the Gospel with them.
Coffee mornings If your church is near a busy shopping area - invite shoppers in for coffee. Use the coffee mornings to raise the profile of the church and to develop relationships with local people in the community.
Try having a coffee morning during:
- Fair Trade Fortnight (usually in February/March). This year Fair Trade Fortnight was on the 23rd February - 8th March 2009.
- The World's Biggest Coffee Morning (an annual fundraising event for Macmillan Cancer Relief). This year the coffee morning was on Friday 25th September 2009.
If your Church has a good idea ...
Why not share it?
