Читать книгу Nourishing Seeds of Faith - Virginia H. Loewen - Страница 6

“Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them. The kingdom of heaven belongs to people who are like these little children.” —Mark 10:14b (International Children’s Bible)

Children are a vital factor in the growth formula of the Christian Church. But attracting four- to eight-year-olds, holding their attention, and teaching them about God can be a daunting task. Nourishing Seeds of Faith is a nondenominational resource to aid pastors and laity who teach children in family worship services. Each lesson is based on a passage of scripture and offers ideas for applying it and sharing faith away from the church. ( Note: Use the Index to find topics of interest.)

I pray that the following guidelines and tips will help to nourish the seeds of faith that have been planted so that they will grow into a bountiful harvest.

Guidelines and Tips for Nourishing Seeds of Faith

* Begin your preparations with prayer for guidance that you may speak so that the children will listen and learn about God’s love for them.

* Carry props in a bag, basket, box, bucket, or any container appropriate for the topic or the season.

* Gather the children around you at the front of the sanctuary so that they face you, and you face the congregation. (If the children face the congregation, it can become a “show” for the children.) Sit at their level.

* Tell—don’t read—the message. Jot notes on a large index card, or copy the lesson pages and keep them on your lap as you talk.

* Read pertinent verses of scripture directly from a Bible.

* Use language the children understand. Adapt the sermons to the ages of the children, their attention spans, and their experiences. Get to the main point quickly and focus on it. Allow five to ten minutes per message.

* Use a lapel or portable microphone. Repeat children’s questions and answers clearly for the congregation’s appreciation. Pause for children to respond to questions and ideas.

* Expect logical answers from children, but remember, also, to expect the unexpected. Be prepared for a few laughs—good medicine for the soul. Parentheses ( ) indicate some possible answers. Assure the children when they give good answers.

* Make it fun and interesting. Be loving, but firm, if children become too noisy or excited.

* Add or substitute your own appropriate experiences or anecdotes. Asterisks ( * ) mark some opportunities to do this.

* In children ages four through eight, understanding occurs at different levels. Include “Stretching Further” if more perceptive children need to be challenged. Use it as part of the basic lesson or in discussion that continues in a Sunday School class or midweek program.

* At the end of the sermon, restate the lesson learned (what the children should remember) and ask them to say it with you.

* Prayer: Ask the children to bow their heads and, if time allows, repeat phrases after you.

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Show that you are made strong by the words of faith and good teaching that you have been following.—I Timothy 4:6b (International Children’s Bible)

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