Childrens church

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jonathanbchristian

jonathanbchristian

Banned
Feb 16, 2011
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I am a childrens church worker. I am just curious if anyone has any neat ideas for songs or puppet shows and stuff like that.
 
I don't think it is wise to turn church into entertainment.
 
past time for children's church to go...and children learn to sit obediently thru regular service.
 
Why would God not want children entertained? Better they be laughing, smiling, and singing with God then to be distracted and wander off with Satan.
 
God wants them taught His word. Some are too young to understand the sermon.
 
BarlyGurl said:
past time for children's church to go...and children learn to sit obediently thru regular service.
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I have to say I disagree with you there, one of the churches near me does not have a children's church program at night and i dont think it works well the kids needing to be in the service and generally with that results in is lots of movement, whispering and just general distraction and please dont day they should know better as well lots of the kids are under 5.

Jonathan maybe think about what you are doing the next week and get the kids to help you make like character you can make them from card then at home put the on ice lolly sticks and use them to tell the story. I help with children's church and I find that getting the kids to help act out the story works well, the more interactive with them you are the more they remember.
 
gorgie said:
I have to say I disagree with you there, one of the churches near me does not have a children's church program at night and i dont think it works well the kids needing to be in the service and generally with that results in is lots of movement, whispering and just general distraction and please dont day they should know better as well lots of the kids are under 5.

You are welcome to disagree. However, children under 5 would be going to nursery rooms, which is quite acceptable in my opinion. Children 5-6 and over should be learning to sit obediently during service... it not only trains self control but instills reverence at a very early age as opposed to expecting it will just "happen" in today's modern and casual type assemblies. The current way of doing church is degrading the religious fabric of american society... a significant reversal needs a significant restructure.
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BarlyGurl said:
You are welcome to disagree. However, children under 5 would be going to nursery rooms, which is quite acceptable in my opinion. Children 5-6 and over should be learning to sit obediently during service... it not only trains self control but instills reverence at a very early age as opposed to expecting it will just "happen" in today's modern and casual type assemblies. The current way of doing church is degrading the religious fabric of american society... a significant reversal needs a significant restructure.
Click to expand...

Again i dont agree here, I think with children between ages of 5 and 10 or 11 we should be teaching them bible stories in a relevant way, after all at that age they are less likely to understand and have more questions so therefore by having childrens church does it not allow to help them understand better
 
jonathanbchristian, I provide childcare for children during my church's Celebrate Recovery meetings. One of the games that I play also helps them memorize scripture.

On a piece of paper, write down a (relatively short) scripture verse, including the reference. Cut it up into strips so that each strip has a phrase of the verse. Depending on how many children you have, you can either make multiples of the verse to cut up or cut the phrases shorter. For example, one week we studied creation. The memory verse was Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." I cut it into strips so that it was "Genesis 1:1", "In the beginning", "God created", "the heavens and", "the earth."

I'm hoping you have some other adult helper (I do), but while one adult stays in one room with the kids, perhaps going over the verse with them, you go into another room and hide the pieces of paper. Once you're done hiding them, the kids can go and find the pieces. I always give each child a certain amount to find (equally divided) so that one kid doesn't end up with all of them and another kid with none. Then they all put the pieces together to form the verse again.

The children LOVE doing that. You can also have the kids hide the pieces of paper (and I'd recommend having an adult be with them while they hide the pieces). They were also pretty good at being able to memorize the verse that way.

Here's another game:

You need different colored pieces of paper and for each color you need one less than the children you have. For example, if you have 8 children, you need 7 pieces of yellow, green, and blue pieces of paper. Place the papers on the floor, in random spots. Put a small square of what colors you have in a cup (so a square of green, yellow, and blue). Pull out a color. The children must run to stand on that color. The child who does not have a square to stand on (since there's one less) must answer a question. It can be about the Bible story, about the books of the Bible, etc. Then you draw another colored square and the game starts again.

Hopefully that was a bit helpful on ideas!
 
I like to make a series of pictures with short statements from bible stories then cut them up and have the kids arrange them into the right order, I would be wary of leaving a group of kids with only one adult as certainly in the UK it violates child protection laws

I think childrens church is definately valid as I think it is important to buold a good foundation. as a child I sat quietly in churcj eating rhe pan drops my granny gave me but I didn't listen. I liked the hymns but the rest was boring. childrens church and indeed sunday schools teach kids the basocs which later allows them to engage in the services
 
gorgie said:
Again i dont agree here, I think with children between ages of 5 and 10 or 11 we should be teaching them bible stories in a relevant way, after all at that age they are less likely to understand and have more questions so therefore by having childrens church does it not allow to help them understand better
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I didn't really expect you to agree... as you are of the persuasion of person who feels someone other that the parents should be indoctrinating children into religion and I firmly believe this is the parents job. I find it strange that some christians have very passionate convictions about homeschooling but view separate "church" for children as permissable... and then here in america we wonder why there is disorder between age groups of kids fall away. You are young... you do not have the historical observation I do... that has some influence on our difference also.
 
barlygurl can I ask you a question? were you raised in church or come to Jesus as an adult or both?
 
if its the parents job then let them do it at home. Childrens church solves the issue of fidgeting and rustling/noise making during the service so others arent distracted as well.
 
Sunday School for Children should be very entertaining and delightful!! There are companies who specialize in helping Sunday School teachers develop wonderful classes that really stick with children and benefit them. What I used to do is try a combination approach with Songs, puppets, felt,snacks and a craft all to teach one bible truth. We sang and danced together and my kids learned how lovely it is to follow Jesus. I suggest you speak to your pastor about what might be available to you. God bless you in your choice to bless the least of these!
 
Thanks for the really great ideas. Childrens church is such an opertunity to establish Christ in the hearts of young people. If you do not see that you need time with the Lord.
 
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