“And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones
even a cup of cold water to drink,
truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”
Matthew 10:42
At my last children’s ministers’ meeting the current president of our group asked us to consider where we wanted our kids to be when they left our ministry and went into the youth. I will be at my first children’s minister conference on the day of the meeting that we will be sharing our thoughts so I have decided to put mine in writing in here.
Where do I want my kids to be? What do I want them to know by the time they leave me? Well here’s a quick top 25:
1) Have a solid biblical worldview
2) Have a strong relationship with their parents/guardians or another adult authority figure within the church
3) Have a full understanding of what the gospel is.
4) Know that God loves them and that through Jesus they can know God intimately
5) Know all of the books of the Bible and the ability to navigate the Bible
6) Know how to read the Word of God asking who, what, when, where, why, and how
7) Know that Scripture never contradicts Scripture and the Bible must be interpreted within the context of the text
8) Know that they did not become sinners because they sinned, but that they sin because they are born sinners
9) Know that the Bible is the Word of God and it is infallible
10) Know that obedience is evidence of faith
11) Know that real love requires sacrifice
12) Know that salvation is by grace through faith and be able to explain what that means
13) Have the confidence and knowledge to share the gospel with others
14) Be focused on seeking to serve rather than to be served
15) Have a hunger and thirst for more of the Word of God
16) Know that they were created by a Holy God for the glory of God and are meant to enjoy Him forever
17) Know that apart from God they are nothing
18) Have a basic understanding of the doctrine of salvation
19) Know that God never ever ever breaks His promises
20) Know that God always keeps His Word
21) Have such a strong conviction concerning the validity and authority of Scripture that they are not shaken by the questions or mockings of unbelievers
22) Understand that the Scriptures contain everything they will ever need for guidance in this life and know how to seek wisdom from God through His Word and prayer
23) Know how to pray
24) Know that God is sovereign and is actively involved in the things of this world and in their every day lives
25) Know that as long as they have breath they are to serve the Lord, praise the Lord, and honor the Lord.
I suppose this could seem like a tall order… but it is my “where I want them to be” list and I believe it is possible because of what I have read in the Word of God concerning other children. Especially the Child who came to us specifically as an example:
And when He became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast; and as they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. But His parents were unaware of it, but supposed Him to be in the caravan, and went a day’s journey; and they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him. Then, after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.
Luke 2:42-47
In the desire to see the kids under my watch get at least these 25 things, I carefully and purposely choose curriculum and activities that will help engage not just the kids, but their parents. I desire to help equip parents to teach their children at home and I seek to encourage children to respect and honor their parents. I try to look for activities that will build the parent/child relationship. I try to look for children’s events that will help to open the eyes of the kids to their spiritual gifts so that when they enter the youth they are ready to serve and want to serve.
I don’t have any formal training. I really have no clue what I am doing, I just take it one step of obedience at a time. I don’t know if I am doing anything right or the way it is recommended to be done… perhaps I am doing it all wrong according to the status quo. I really don’t know. This keeps a cloud of insecurity over my head, but perhaps that’s there to make sure I don’t get too big for my britches and if that’s the case I am all for it. Pride comes before a fall… and I am tired of falling.
I just love Jesus, His Word, and His church. I just have to trust that a love for God’s Word and a love for His people and a willingness to say “Yes Lord” is enough.
And I suppose bottom line that’s what I want for my kids as well…
When the kids that leave the children’s ministry under my watch enter the youth… I want them to be in love with God, in love with His Word, in love with His church, and I want them to be willing to say, “Yes Lord… whatever it is, yes”
I am thankful that I know that the power of salvation lies in the gospel not in me. I am thankful that God’s purpose stands according to His choice and my works have nothing to do with it, and neither do my kids, but it’s all according to Him who calls… and in that assurance and knowledge I can serve Him in confidence in Him regardless of my own personal insecurities.
I simply try to remember why I went off track when I was at that age and I try to teach them what I did not know, and what I did not know how to know, and hope against hope that they become a Joseph, an Esther, a Daniel, a Mary, young but bold and strong in the Lord and unyielding all the days of their lives, no matter their government leaders, their schooling, their family, their circumstances, their trials, their testings, always FAITHFUL to the LORD.