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| McDLT Moderator Joined May 14, 2004 1451 posts Location: Toronto |
 Leading a Child to Christ |
Posted Jul 29, 2004; 8:21 am |
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| I'm curious as to the many different methods out there which are used in leading children to Christ. Are there any that you really like? Ones you use all the time? |
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| Trish Koslowsky |
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Posted Jan 27, 2005; 8:52 am |
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We have been using a Willow Creek model for a number of years which explains salvation using the ABC's Admit you are a sinner, Believe that Jesus ... and Choose to follow him.
For our older children, we use the "bridge" illustration - man on 1 side / huge chasm called sin / Holy God on the other side and Jesus Christ (his cross) forms the bridge between the two side. I believe our youth and adults also use this illustration - it is great to have a common language.
Leaders learn to share their faith story using the phrases of "my life before Christ" "Christ encounter" "my life after Christ" as a springboard.
Willow Creek has some excellent material out titled - How to Lead a Child to Christ" which has become mandatory training for all our Children's Ministry workers. It comes in both audio cassettes, Cd's and now a DVD - with reproducible workbooks. You can get it through Willow Creek Canada - Leadership Centre in Kelowna.
I know the Southern Baptist Publisher - Lifeway also uses the ABC's they stand for Admit, Believe and Confess (tell others - not confession of sins) They also have some excellent training material for small group leaders.
Hope this helps
Trish Koslowsky - Eastview Community Church - Winnipeg |
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| Guest |
| Teach the children to live for God not for thier ownpleasure |
Posted May 19, 2006; 2:58 pm |
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I tell you this pleases God when we fear, rejoice, love, praise, and only live to prclaim his gospel to the world to rid all evil. I tell teach all childern fear and obey God in love just as Jesus did, for this pleases God when the truth is revealed. Do not allow them to sin for God hates all sinners. Surly we are sinners we are born and God loves us and wants us to come to him in spirit and truth but when we learn the truth and continue God wishes to rebuke you and come back to him according to his will. Keep the children from all sining and teach them to fear God so that they will not sin. Help them to live in joy and fear to God being ministers for Jesus Christ and teaching all people around the world the truth according to the bible not according to your own pleasure but for Jesus who is God.  If I am incorrect may God rebuke so that i may only tell the truth that pleases God according to his mighty wisdom. |
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| gay lynn voth Member Joined Jan 25, 2005 693 posts |
| really? |
Posted May 23, 2006; 11:59 am |
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I would like to question a comment in the last post, especially in light of how we teach children about the nature of God:
| Quote: | | Do not allow them to sin for God hates all sinners |
I do believe that the Bible teaches that God is deeply opposed to sin and evil - but does the NT really teach that God 'hates all sinners'?
I think there needs to be more scriptural back-up for this very strong theological statement ... Can you provide that?  |
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| Sudsy Member Joined Sep 23, 2003 2833 posts |
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Posted May 24, 2006; 7:50 am |
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| Quote: | | I do believe that the Bible teaches that God is deeply opposed to sin and evil - but does the NT really teach that God 'hates all sinners'? |
I haven't found any NT verses on this but in the OT is says that God hates those that sin. Psalm 5:5; Lev. 20:23; Prov. 6:16-19; Hos. 9:15).
I believe God is able to both love ( 1 John 4:8) and hate the sinner. His mercy goes out to all who sin but His justice (wrath) remains on those who do not repent.
This article said - | Quote: | | I tell teach all childern fear and obey God in love just as Jesus did, for this pleases God when the truth is revealed. |
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I have no problem with this statement yet it seems that the writer talks quite often of a fear of God and I'm not sure if this poster considers all fears to be the same. My belief is that the unrepentent sinner has a fear of God's justice regarding sin when the Holy Spirit convicts the sinner. The sinner becomes aware of sin, righteousness and judgement as the scripture says. However, for the Christian, this is not a fear of God's wrath, but rather a regard for God's awesomeness and holiness and generates a desire to please God by hating sin as God does. There is also a respect for the fact that who God loves He will discipline in our development in becoming more like Christ.
I mentioned this because after I accepted Christ as a boy of seven, there were times, especially through my teen years, when it was preached that I might end up in hell if I had some unconfessed sin in my life or in an improper place when the rapture took place or I died. I would not teach a child this type of fear. As Christians we have this wonderful assurance that we are free from the wrath of God on sin and we can confidently serve God out of a heart of love. |
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| Dave Wiebe MB Conference Staff Joined Feb 7, 2002 16 posts Location: Winnipeg, MB |
| "One of These Things Doesn't Belong" |
Posted Jul 23, 2006; 7:01 pm |
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I don't hit the forum all that often, but was browsing today and noticed this subject. It's one of deep interest to me and I offer the following comments:
1. Fear is a bad motivator. it's easy to get a child to fear God's wrath, hell, etc. and so I resonate with being very careful about getting children to accept Jesus out of fear. There are better ways.
2. Child development is an important factor. While Trish K. outlines the classic (Willow Creek) approach that has, of course done the trick through the 20th century, there are problems with that approach too. It's a bit beyond kids' developmental level, actually.
3. I've led children towards Jesus with a different approach, using colours in the so-called "Wordless Book" which was developed in the 1960s. An updated version was developed in the 1990s to counter the political implications of the black page which was of course interpreted as our sin. Needed to try to disassociate those two because of sensitivities to the black community. So:....
4. A coloured approach, using JELLY BEANS!
- RED: to indicate God's love for us. Red is the colour of Valentines - and God always loves us.
- A STONE: Remember Sesame Street with the song and routine that taught "one of these things doesn't belong here"? Well you can't eat a stone, and so it doesn't belong among the jelly beans. And sin doesn't belong in our lives. It doesn't belong but it's there, and so God needed to provide
- WHITE: Jesus' life and death on the cross meant that God can forgive our sins. Isaiah said, "Though your sins are like scarlet you will be made white as snow."
- GREEN: When we accept Jesus into our lives, He causes us to grow. Green is like the grass or the plants. They grow and Jesus wants us to grow also.
- YELLOW: Heaven. At the end of our lives we get to live with God where "the streets are paved with gold" - a bit too metaphorical for kids but we often overlook that.
So the kids get the explanation without the hellfire but with the need to deal with sins. And they get to eat the illustration at the end!
Try it sometime! It's fun and the kids get it and can respond to Jesus! |
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| Sharon Johnson MB Conference Staff Joined Feb 8, 2002 171 posts Location: Kitchener, ON |
| First Steps for Kids, leading a child to Christ |
Posted Jul 24, 2006; 8:34 am |
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I agree with David's reflections, and want to let you know that the "Jelly Bean Idea" comes from a great resource: First Steps for Kids. Click on the link and go to "extra content" to see a sample of the guide.
There's a children's guide, which becomes a personal journal of their own faith experience, and a leader's guide. This resource can be used by parents/grandparents and/or teachers/group leaders, one on one, with a small group or even with a whole gang of kids. Lorraine Dick wrote the guide after using the jelly bean idea in her kids ministry at Waterloo MB Church. It's a great follow-up tool for kids who have made a step towards committing their life to Jesus, and/or a means to clearly explaining the gospel message. It also contains some of the essential first steps towards living a lifetime of following Jesus, in clear, kid-friendly language.
If this sounds like a commercial, IT IS! I really love this resource. 
Sharon |
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