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Showers for the Tender Harvest--"Let my teaching fall like showers on tender plants." - Deuteronomy 32:2
Children's Ministry -- It's the REAL Thing
by Jill Nelson (Jill's bio)
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"For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. II Corinthians2: 17 (NKJV)
Sincerity is a lilting word with a deep message to the Body of Christ, even more so to those who minister to children. The youngsters we deal with daily or weekly are often the embodiment of sincerity—sometimes uncomfortably so—and uncannily wise to those in authority who do not give them back the same pure coin. Though oblivious to many adult concerns swirling around them, they note the smallest hypocrisy.
An acquaintance of mine said of her childhood, "There was a lady who went to our church—I don't remember her name—but us kids would count the times she said 'I' when she got up to testify. We called her 'Sister Glory be to I.' You don't fool kids." I would add, at least not for very long. They will do all in their power to test our motives and only when we pass the test will they receive our ministry.
According to Strong's Concordance, the Greek word translated "sincerity" in the above verse means both clearness and purity. These two qualities we must possess and cultivate in abundance if we are to minister successfully to children. Clearness of mind and heart so that we may communicate the gospel effectively at the level of our pupil's comprehension. Purity so that we may not "peddle" the Word of God for our own gain or advancement, but offer it to the smallest and the least as humble servants of the Most High God.
How is it possible to "peddle" the Word to children for our own advancement? Unfortunately, children's ministry is looked upon by many in the Body of Christ as menial. Even some that are involved in it by God's calling regard the position as little more than a stepping stone to those "greater things" they envision for themselves. This attitude is not pleasing to the One who calls us to serve His precious innocents.
While it may be that our position as Sunday School teacher or nursery worker or Children's Pastor is a temporary stop on our God-ordained journey, if we approach children's ministry as a light matter, we do not qualify ourselves to enter into further blessing. We become, in fact, dishonest salesmen hawking the King's gold like a discount store trinket. If this picture makes you tremble in the fear of the Lord, it should! Jesus was very clear in Matthew 18:6 that one would be better off dead than to cause a child to stumble in his faith. In fact, the Holy Spirit considered this dire pronouncement sufficiently important that it is also recorded in the Gospels of Mark and Luke.
Truly, our Lord considers ministry to children—indeed, any interaction with them—of paramount importance. In Matthew 10:42 and Mark 9:37, He attaches the promise of reward and close fellowship with Him to those who serve His "little ones."
If the Lord has placed us in children’s ministry, rejoice! Our potential for reward is great... but only if we proceed in all sincerity.
Copyright 2002, Jill Nelson. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
| About Jill Nelson: Children have been the focus of Jill Nelson's ministry for twenty years. She and her husband have four--two boys, two girls--all teenagers. (Prayers, please.) Jill supervises the children's ministry at her local church and delights in writing her own material. Her heart is to glorify God by guiding children into a powerful personal relationship with Him. E-mail Jill |
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