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Bible Stories for Special Themes in Bible Classes for Kids and Teens

By on August 4, 2017 0

Bible Stories for Special Themes in Bible Classes for Kids and Teens - Teach One Reach One

 

There are times when you may need or want to have a Bible class for kids or teens on a particular theme. Maybe you are substituting and there isn’t any literature. Perhaps your students need or want some study on a particular topic. Maybe you have a girls only or guys only Bible study. Whatever the reason, you may be scrambling quickly and drawing a blank on what Bible stories would work.

There are probably as many options as there are Bible stories. (Be aware, some children are not mature enough for a few of these stories.) Here are some that should give you a good start:

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Handling “Wiggles” in Children’s Bible Classes

By on July 28, 2017 0

Handling "Wiggles" in Children's Bible Classes - Teach One Reach OneHave you been frustrated while teaching your children’s Bible class because your students are so fidgety? Has a student told you he “can’t sit still” because he has ADHD? Do you have students disrupting learning for others, while their parents are saying it’s because they don’t take their medication on Sunday?

These issues are becoming more and more common in Bible classes around the country. Volunteers are often confused and frustrated. Learning can be disrupted for one or more students. What can you do to show love to your students who may be struggling, while not ignoring the needs of other students to have a controlled learning environment?

The good news is there are actually several things you can do to improve the situation. It may take a few tries to find the best solution for your particular issue, but here are the things to try which will work in most situations.

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Mindfulness in Bible Classes for Kids and Teens

By on June 16, 2017 0

Mindfulness in Bible Classes for Kids and Teens - Teach One Reach OneIf you keep up with trends in society or education, you may have heard about “mindfulness”. For those of you who were kids during the 70’s, you may have associated it with meditation or yoga and many proponents do suggest them as a way to practice mindfulness. As a Bible class teacher though, you may wonder whether disciplines often associated with religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism have a place in Bible classes for kids and teens.

Thankfully, modern researchers have included Christian disciplines in some of their research. Studies show prayer, reflecting on scripture and fasting (which usually incorporates highly focused prayer and scripture reflection), produce the same benefits as meditation and yoga. (Meditation is actually also a Christian discipline. See Psalm 1:2, Philippians 4:8 and others for more details.)

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Tips for Training Summer Interns In Children’s and Youth Ministry

By on June 9, 2017 0
Tips for Training Summer Interns In Children's and Youth Ministry - Teach One Reach One

My Intern Training Tub

Summer interns are great. If your program can afford one or more summer interns, they can add a lot of energy and enthusiasm to your ministry. It’s important to remember though, that no matter how well-educated they may be, they still lack a great deal of experience. Some may even be majoring in topics having little if anything to do with education or ministry. They may have a heart to impact lives for God, energy to do anything you ask and enthusiasm that rekindles yours.

Without training though, they may not reach their godly potential to serve your ministry this summer. In extreme cases, they may even accidentally do your ministry and the young people it serves more harm than good. If your intern orientation resembles more of a tour, a long to-do list and a free lunch, you are leaving your intern, your ministry and the children it serves vulnerable.

Take the extra time this summer to develop a more formal training program. Use the first couple of days to make sure your interns are ready to take on the responsibilities you will give them. You can include planning for events as part of the process, but make sure even interns majoring in education and ministry are taught the basics by you or someone on your team. It’s really the only way you can be sure, your interns will follow the standards you have set for your ministry.

What are some of the things you may want to include in your intern training? There are probably a lot of options, but these are some we have found interns have most appreciated.

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The One Quality Sunday School Teachers Must Have To Be Effective

By on May 26, 2017 0

The One Quality Sunday School Teachers Must Have To Be Effective - Teach One Reach OneI guess the first question we must ask is, “What defines effective Sunday School teaching?” If we asked 100 different people, we would probably get 100 slightly different answers. I would imagine for most of us though, we would consider ourselves effective if we made a positive difference in the spiritual foundation building of our students.

We sometime allow ourselves to forget the purposes of Sunday School (or any Bible class for that matter). Initially, Sunday School was created (educated guess, I grant you) to assist parents in teaching their children about God and what He wanted for them and from them. It was an opportunity to reinforce what the parents were already teaching at home. If done really well, it also provided additional practice in Christian Life Skills, teaching areas of the Bible not yet taught at home and more.

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