Reading through 9 Things They Didn’t Teach Me in College About Children’s Ministry felt like I was having a conversation with Ryan and some of his closest friends.  The book is an easy read, which is not to imply that it lacks depth and insight, but only that Ryan writes so well that you often don’t realize how much of the book you’ve read by the time you put it down.  Despite how easily reads, and how relatively short each chapter is, the amount of information and practical advice packed into each page is astounding.  This book will not only make you think, it will give you a laundry list of practical ideas that you can start implementing today.  

Published to look like a an old blank notebook you might have used in college, each chapter tackles one important issue related to working in children’s ministry.  I don’t mind ruining the surprise, especially since you can find the table of contents online, so the nine chapters are:

1. How Big Is Your Church?
2. People Over Paper
3. Fighting Staff Infections
4. The World is Flat
5. The Big “Ask”
6. The Starbucks Model
7. Movement Causes Friction
8. What’s That Hum?
9. You Don’t Have to Start from Scratch

Each chapter presents the issue, offers solutions and tips and ends with either a discussion with Ryan’s Facebook friends or an interview with a respected member of the Children’s Ministry Community.  For the record, I am not a full time staff children’s ministry professional.  I volunteer at my church in the children’s ministry and spend a lot of time thinking and writing about it.  That said, while I could not relate personally to some of the chapters, I still found the book extremely engaging and useful which is my way of suggesting that this would still be a good book for children’s pastors to buy for their staffs and volunteers.

Normally, when I am doing reviews like this, I will try to find at least one thing that I didn’t like or thought could have been better.  If I’m being honest, the only thing this book left me wanting was more, and that is not a bad thing.  I’m looking forward to Ryan’s next book.  Who knows, perhaps we’ll have a chance to get that drink in the meantime.

I was provided with a free copy of this book by Standard Publishing in order to do the review.  That fact did not influence my review, and the cool thing is they actually gave me a second copy to give away free to a lucky user.  So, since I am still reeling from losing the Kidmin Blog Madness competition, the first person to send me an Ipad2 gets a free copy of the book.  It seems like a fair trade!  Just kidding, if you want to be entered in the drawing to win the book, just leave a comment below, and I will draw a name at random sometime in the next week or so.  You can comment about whatever you would like, but I think it would be cool to hear stories about things that have happened to you in children’s ministry that you didn’t expect when you first started.

If you can’t wait to win a free copy, you can find out more about the book now, right here.

Related posts:

1. PART 1 of 4 – FORMATIONAL CHILDRENS MINISTRY by IVY BECKWITH (A Dad in the Middle Review)
2. PART 4 of 4 – FORMATIONAL CHILDRENS MINISTRY by IVY BECKWITH (A Dad in the Middle Review)
3. PART 2 of 4 – FORMATIONAL CHILDRENS MINISTRY by IVY BECKWITH (A Dad in the Middle Review)

A beautifully illustrated, simple yet complete guide to help parents teach their children the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

That is some billing to live up to, but I have to tell you, in the end I found this book to be exactly that.  Mr. Leuzarder, driven by the desire to come up with a way for his own daughters to memorize the core truths of the gospel has come up with this resources which should be in the hands of all parents and everyone who works with kids.

The Problem

Before I get into how Mr. Leuzarder solves the problem, it makes sense to define the problem itself.  As parents, or as children’s ministry workers, our chief goal should be to share the truth and power of the gospel with the kids we have influence over.  That said, there is a bit of a dearth [CHECK SPELLING] when it comes to good resources for sharing the gospel with kids.  The result is kids oftentimes get a watered-down, incomplete or inaccurate picture of what the gospel is all about.

Here how Mr. Leuzarder defines the problem in the introduction to the book:

“Many of us are familiar with the term ‘Gospel.’  We have hopefully heard its message in sermons, tracts or on TV.  We understand its great importance because God’s Word tells us that the Gospel ‘is the power if God for the salvation of everyone who believes.’  Understanding this, then, we would all agree that offering this message about the saving work of Jesus Christ to our children, as soon as they able to grasp its meaning, is of utmost importance.

But where do we start?  The Gospel is much more than a few lines out of a tract.  In fact, to properly understand the Gospel we must reasonably understand all that the Bible teaches about the nature and character of God, about man as a created being, his fall into sin and his desperate condition, as well as the work of Jesus Christ to save men from God’s wrath and eternal punishment.  We also need to understand what God expects of His redeemed people and what it means to be an heir to the glories of eternal life.”

The Teaching Process

Now, that is a tall order for any adult to understand all of those concepts.  Thousand-page plus books like Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology have been written to help adults to begin to try to understand all that these concepts entail.  How then can we begin to try to teach these to kids?  I believe it is a three part process (two of which we have some control over):

1. First, we have to understand the concepts ourselves.
2. Second, we must find age appropriate ways to teach these to our kids without diluting the whole counsel of God; and
3. We must pray that the Holy Spirit would act in the child’s life to make the truths personal and relational.

This book attempts to fill a void in the second part of the process, and in doing so also helps to alleviate the first problem as well.  While the book is “simple” enough for adults to teach children, it includes enough depth and scriptural references to also help adults to understand the concepts as well.

The Solution – This Book

This book is broken up into 6 chapters covering 38 outline points which cover the fundamental understandings that a child needs regarding God, the Bible and Jesus.  The book can be used as a tool to simply discuss each of the 38 points or kids can be asked to memorize the 38 points as well as provide a basic explanation, in their own words, of what each means.  Far more than a traditional catechism, this book is not about rote memorization – it is about helping kids to understand each of these fundamental truths.

The six chapters that make up the book are:

1. God
2. The Bible
3. Sin
4. Jesus
5. Repentance and Faith
6. Counting the Cost

Each chapter includes several truths related to the topic.  For example, the chapter on Jesus includes:

• Jesus is God’s own, dearly loved son.
• Jesus came into the world to die for sinners and rescue them from hell.
• Jesus was a man just like us.
• Although He was tempted like us, He never sinned.
• Jesus willingly took on Himself the punishment we deserve for our sins.
• All the wrath and punishment God had for believers’ sins was used up on Jesus.
• Jesus rose from the dead.
• Jesus ascended into heaven.
• Jesus is coming back again.

Each truth is further broken down into a series of discussion points that you can use to talk to your child about that truth.  Take, for example, the truth that “Jesus is God’s own, dearly loved son.”  That truth is accompanied by the following discussion points:

• By Him and for Him all things were created.
• Jesus is fully God and fully man.

Each truth and each discussion point is footnoted with a verse (or verses) from the Bible which are listed at the end of each chapter to support the assertion.  Each of the 38 points is also accompanied by a beautifully illustrated picture to help your kids, or you, in memorizing the truths.  The pictures are presented in order at the back of the book as a memorization review tool.

The target audience of this book is kids ages five and up and the adults who influence them.  That said, I think it is a great primer for any Christian regardless of whether or not you have kids!

My Recommendation

If you have children or teach children, this book ought to be part of your library.  I have yet to come across a book which so completely, and still concisely, presents the truths of the Bible is a way geared towards kids.  I will be using this book in my own study and with my own kids to make sure that they have the fundamental knowledge necessary for a solid foundation in the Christian faith.

A Final Word of Caution

Mr. Leuzarder offers one final word of caution in his book that I think we should all take to heart:

“Having out children embrace Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior based on a clear knowledge of the Gospel is the most important concern of a Christian parent…But, we must at the same time recognize that in out zealousness to see our children saved we can subtly pressure them into making a decision to follow Christ in order to please us, rather than God who knows the heart.  The consequences of a profession of faith made under pressure, and not from a sincere heart can be serious, and in time

As a parent and someone who works with kids, I understand the desire to get our kids to make a commitment to Christ.  God gives us such a great love for our kids that we want nothing more than to know that their eternal destiny is secure.  That said, I have also seen the effect of a premature declaration of faith and the difficulty in overcoming that later in life.  Like the author, I would urge you to make sure that your children have a full understanding of the Gospel and the truths presented in this book.  If they feel God tugging at their heart, be available to talk to them and explain things.  If they understand and are ready to make a true commitment, rejoice in that and celebrate with them.  But, never, never should you pressure them to make that commitment before they have a full understanding.  The consequences can have eternal implications!

Related posts:

1. 9 THINGS THEY DIDN’T TEACH ME IN COLLEGE ABOUT CHILDREN’S MINISTRY by RYAN FRANK (A Dad in the Middle Review)
2. DON’T HUG A GRUDGE by Donna Perugini (A Dad in the Middle Review)
3. SPIRITUAL PARENTING by MICHELLE ANTHONY (A Dad in the Middle Review)

In the very first chapter of the book, Ms. Anthony explains the basics of spiritual parenting:

“In this book we will explore what it means to seek God as our primary audience – to please Him alone with our parenting and seek Him alone for the strength and power to do so.  Spiritual parenting is not perfect parenting – it’s parenting from a spiritual perspective with eternity in mind…Not only do I need to learn how to rely on God (since His Word makes it clear that He alone is the one who changes hearts), but I also need to learn how my children are fearfully and wonderfully made in order to best guide them on the path that God has designed specifically for each one.”

This is not a book about controlling our children’s behavior so that we are not embarrassed or inconvenienced by their behavior (a very man-centered approach to parenting) it is about parenting in a way which brings honor and glory to God and set our kids on a spiritual path towards God.  Ms. Anthony describes her own goals for passing on a transforming faith to her kids:

• a faith in which kids would know and hear God’s voice;
• a faith in which they would desire to obey God; and
• a faith in which they would obey God not by their own power but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As a parent, the following sentence really hit home for me:

“What you believe and where you aim your heart determines the direction and outcome of your entire life for eternity.”

Therefore, the faith and spiritual condition of our children is eternally more important that their temporal behavior.  That is what this book is about, and it is a book which has the power to transform the way you parent and your relationship with God.  The books combines theologically sound parenting advice with thoroughly practical techniques on how to implement that advice and real world stories and examples that demonstrate the need for, and fruit of, spiritual parenting.  This is a book I would recommend to all brand new parents and any parent who desires to parent their kids for the glory of God.

This book is also firmly grounded is a truth that all parents, and all those who work with kids, should understand.  There is no greater teacher or determiner of a child’s path than what they see modeled and lived out in front of them.  Ms. Anthony explains:

“Our children need to see that faith matters, that it’s relevant to our daily situation, that it’s real.

So, what about behavior?  Most parents, rightly or wrongly, are interested in the behavior of their children.  What does this book offer to those parents?  First, and foremost, it offers an admonition:

“…remember that one of the nonnegotiables for spiritual parenting is that it’s not my responsibility to control my child’s behavior…behavior isn’t something we simply manage – otherwise our Christianity is nothing more than what Dallas Willard refers to a ‘sin management.’”

There is hope though, and that hope comes through a full understanding of what it means to have faith (a goal in spiritual parenting).  Ms. Anthony writes:

“In order to pass on our faith to our children, we need to understand what biblical faith is and how it is connected to action…So faith in our lives and our children’s lives must have this expression of obedience for it to be alive.  Perhaps the fullest definition of faith comes from its meaning in the original Greek.  The word pistos embodies three things: possessing a firm conviction, making a personal surrender, and demonstrating the corresponding conduct.”

In the end, the goal of Spiritual Parenting is to lead our kids down a path where they eventually end up in the Kingdom of God.  In response to the love of Jesus’ that saves them and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, they begin to desire to obey the will of God and act in ways consistent with His will.  It is not a quick fix, but it has eternal impact.

And that, my friends, brings us to the end of Chapter 1.  I was hooked and the rest of the book lives up to expectations.  Chapter 2 lays the foundation for a relationship with God – a transforming faith. This is the kind of obedient faith that leads to a desire to obey God which is then accomplished through God’s spirit and not through our own power.  In order to create space for the Spirit to be at work in our children’s lives, Ms. Anthony lays out 10 environments which we, as parents, should cultivate in our children’s lives to allow the Spirit room to work towards an obedient faith and spiritual transformation.  Each of ten environments is dealt with in more detail in the remaining chapters of the book.  They include the environments of:

• Storytelling: involves sharing God’s big story from the Bible with our kids.  It means telling them the full story of God as reveal in His Bible and stressing that God is at the center of the story.  By grounding our kids in the Biblical story, we move them from a self-centered view of the world to a view which is others-centered and revolves around God.
• Identity: is an environment in which we reinforce for our kids who they are because God made them.  Ms. Anthony reminds us that we, as parents, often understand that our kids are made in God’s image but we spend time trying to create them in our image.  Our kids need to know who they are in Christ.
• Faith Community: is all about getting our kids involved in the local church.  God created us to live in relationships and community, and they are vitally important to the spiritual growth of us as parents and our kids.
• Service: does not ask “What do I need?”  It asks “What needs to be done?”  From working at home to serving those who are not as fortunate, we must foster an environment of service in our families.
• Out of the Comfort Zone: God did not create us to live safe lives.  We grow when God stretches us beyond what we rare comfortable with.  Yet, so often as parent, we want to solve all of our kids’ problems and not give them the same opportunity at growth.
• Responsibility: involves encouraging our kids to take responsibility for the gifts, talents and financial resources that God has given them.
• Course Correction: An environment of course correction is the opposite of punishment.  It is not about getting a desired response or obedience.  Instead it involves feeling pain, building up in love, and giving a vision of a corrected path which leads towards healing.
• Love and Respect:  As aptly explained in 1 Corinthians 13, faith without love is empty.  This environment of love and grace enables kids to receive and give grace.  Children must be respected because they are made in the image of God.
• Knowing: It is critical that our kids know and our known by God.  It is important that, in this world which denies the existence of absolute truth that we model our belief in God’s truth.
• Modeling: Kids learn what they see.  We must model an active and transforming faith for our kids.

This book is a must read for all Christian parents.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of Spiritual Parenting by the publisher in order to do this review.  That did not, in any way, influence the content of this review.

Related posts:

1. THE BIG GOD STORY by MICHELLE ANTHONY (a Dad in the Middle Review)
2. SPIRITUAL PARENTING DVD CURRICULUM (A Dad in the Middle Review)
3. CONNECT WITH YOUR KIDS – By Jim Wideman (A Dad in the Middle Review)

From the very name of the book “Big God Story,” I liked the focus of this book.  It is not a book about a bunch of historical guys who did awesome things, it is a book about how God has worked throughout history to accomplish his plan.  The first words of the book summarize its intent:

This is not just any story.  It is a true story, full of mysterious people and secret plans and last-second escapes.  It’s God’s Big Story, and every part tells us about His promise to love us.

This is a book that every parent should read to their children.  It is a review and an outline and a story and a starting point for a deeper review and study of the Bible.  It is a framework that presents the meta-narrative of the Bible in a way kids can get.  It will remind them of stories they have already heard and prompt them to ask questions about stories which are referenced that they might not fully know.  It is the perfect way to get kids interested in, and excited about, the Bible.  Most importantly though, this book keeps the main thing the main thing.  This is a book about God.  It’s about God’s plan and God’s work and God’s grace, and those themes are presented throughout the book.

As I do with most books I review, I subjected it to the most extreme test I know.  That “what do my kids think about it” test.  My seven year old daughter took the book and read it herself.  Her response, “it was good.”  That might not seem like a rousing review, but she is a very discerning reader.  My three year old made me read it to him over and over again.  Each time through he recalls a little more and asks even more questions.  I love a book which is great for my older kids to read on their own and also captivating when read to a pre-schooler.

I would definitely recommend this book to any parent and to anyone interested in giving kids a solid foundation in biblical truth and the story of God as presented in the Bible.  This is definitely not a “read it once and put it back on the shelf” type book.  It is a resource we will go back to time and time again.

There is also a great companion site at http://www.davidccook.com/BooksKids/biggodstory/ which provides even more insight into the book including things like story backgrounds, word definitions, conversation starters and activities for a number of the stories included in the book.  These will be an additional great resource for parents who want to use the book to go deeper with their kids.

Michelle Anthony is the pastor of family ministries at Rockharbor Church in Costa, Mesa California, and family ministry architect for David C. Cook publishing.  Check back next week when I will review Ms. Anthony’s other book – Spiritual Parenting.

I was provided with a free copy of this book for purposes of doing this review.  That did not in any way influence how wonderful I thought this particular book was.

Related posts:

1. SPIRITUAL PARENTING by MICHELLE ANTHONY (A Dad in the Middle Review)
2. CONNECT WITH YOUR KIDS – By Jim Wideman (A Dad in the Middle Review)
3. DON’T HUG A GRUDGE by Donna Perugini (A Dad in the Middle Review)

Sam starts with a great summary of the importance of redemption:

One of the greatest messages we can give to every family we come in contact with is the message of redemption. In kids’ ministry, today, we deal with more broken hearts and broken families than ever before. I believe every family needs to experience the power of redemption.

In a ministry where so many focus on fun and games, I was happy to see Sam bring it back where it really belongs…to the redemptive power of Christ.  That is the power we want to see in the kids we minister to.  In a hurt and broken world, and in the hurt and broken little hearts that we see each weekend, we long for the redemptive power of Christ to work in their lives.

From there, Sam moves to a very practical discussion of why the idea of redemption is critical to our ministries:

Oftentimes, parents stay at arms length away from our ministries because we can set the bar so high they feel they can’t reach it. The message we need to be sending to the parents who attend our churches and to those who have yet to attend is that we are not looking for perfect families because they don’t exist.  Our goal in kids’ ministries needs to be helping families understand that following Christ is a process where we fail and He redeems.

So many in our society strive to present the image of the perfect family.   And, those of us who don’t live up to that image, can easily succumb to guilt and even despair.  In children’s and family ministry, we must help parents to understand that there are no perfect people and no perfect families.  Church must be a safe place for imperfect people.  It must be a place where parents can come for biblical advice on how to run their families without fearing being transparent in their family life.

With all that insight, I actually found the last thing Sam wrote to be the most important of all:

When our kids grow up understanding true forgiveness and real redemption they will never settle for cheap grace.

Our God did not come to Earth and die on a cross for cheap grace, and it cheapens his work in human history when reduce our teaching to his children to that level.  Our job is to help them, not just understand the redemptive power of Christ, but to experience that power.  If we can do that, I am confident that we will have accomplished our purpose.

Questions for further discussion

The stated purpose of this book is to elicit further conversation.  I have included some of my thought above, but like other chapters I have included a listing of additional questions to spark further conversation.  Here are the questions I came up with:

1. Is there anything that you are doing or teaching that you feel cheapens the presentation of the grace of God?
2. What does your church do to attract imperfect families?
3. What systems do you have set up in your ministry to address the broken hearts and broken families of the kids you minister to?
4. What examples of the redemptive power of Christ have you seen in the kids you minister to?
5. How do you explain the idea of redemption to younger children?

By the way, I borrowed the images for this post from the actual e-book which you can download here for free! The stunning artwork was developed by Imago.

You can find a link to this, and all the other articles I’ve done related to this book, on my What Matters Now in Children’s Ministry Page.

Related posts:

1. PART 4 of 4 – FORMATIONAL CHILDRENS MINISTRY by IVY BECKWITH (A Dad in the Middle Review)
2. What Matters Now in Children’s Ministry (My Official Review)
3. What Matters Now in Children’s Ministry – Infectious by The Lads

When Larry Shallenberger announced several months ago that he was planning on doing a book blog tour to celebrate the fifth anniversary of his book, I eagerly signed up.  I don’t know Larry personally, but I do follow his comments on Twitter and read his blog, so I kind of feel like I know him even if he doesn’t follow me on Twitter.   Based on that presumption of relationship, and the generally laid back nature of people in children’s ministry, I will refer to him as Larry throughout this review.

Anyhow, I knew that regardless of what the book was about, Larry’ has a great sense of humor and an easy to read writing style, so I knew reading his book wouldn’t be a complete waste of time.  That said, when I found out the topic of the book was leadership, I got just a little bit leery.  It’s not that I don’t like reading about leadership or being a leader.  I actually do, but the world has plenty of books on leadership, and I have read a bunch of them.  It seems the everybody who has ever been a boss or started a ministry or had people report to them has taken it upon themselves to write a book on leadership.  After a while, they all just seem to say the same thing – do it my way and you’ll be OK, and it ultimately all runs together into a fuzzy blurry haze in my head.  Besides that, I already have a group of people whose writings, podcasts, etc. on topic of leadership I devour.  They include people like Andy Stanley, Jim Wideman, and others who I have grown to trust in this area and have learned a lot from.  With all due respect to Larry, I wasn’t sure what he could offer that hadn’t either already heard or wasn’t getting from some of the other resources I was reviewing.

There’s an old, slightly cliché, saying that “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”  I agree in principal, and Larry’s book turned out to be a prime example of this for me and another reason I try not to let pre-conceived notions totally guide what I choose to read.  Now, I’ve never recommended that someone not read this book, but if it hadn’t been for this blog tour, I’m not sure I ever would have read it either.  Had that happened, I would have missed out.

What was my overall impression?

Larry’s book opened my eyes, and my heart, to ideas and theories that I had never even considered.  It is written in a style that I personally found compelling and engaging with plenty of practical advice thrown in for good measure.   Not only is this book one I learned from on my initial read through, it is one that I am certain to refer back to time and time again.  With those general observations out of the way, let’s a little more detailed look at the book itself.

How is this review different from other reviews?

I know what you’re thinking – even if you won’t admit it.  10 reviews in 10 days by 10 different people, why should I read yours?  You think you have issues?  I found out that my review was going to be number 7 of 10.  I didn’t get to lead off with the epic home run that leave people wanting more.  I don’t get to close with quips of wisdom.  What on earth was I going to write about that would be different than everyone else?  Here’s what I decided – I would write I want.  It’s kind of freeing in a way.   I decided to do with this book what I do with many of my reviews here on Dad in the Middle (especially the good ones) and feature a whole lot more content from the book than my own personal opinion while still offering some insight into what I got out of it.  Hopefully this will give you enough information to discern whether or not you want to read it for yourself.  I hope that you will as the book will give you a ridiculous amount of additional detail not available in this review.

Who is this book written for?

The book is written specifically for those of us in children’s ministry.  Indeed, the subtitle is “Discovering Your Leadership Style in Children’s Ministry.”  That said, the principles throughout this book are just as applicable to any other ministry and to life in general.  As someone with a passion for children’s ministry though, I appreciate that the focus of this book is squarely on children’s ministry and children’s ministry leaders.

What is the basic premise of the book?

The books starts by dispelling what Larry calls “the myth of the perfect leader.”  He notes that we, as a society, spend our time looking for and/or trying to be the perfect leader – the leader who bring everything to the table and is capable of juggling all the balls which leadership invariably throws at us.  Other people compare us to this mythical leader, and more importantly, we compare ourselves to this mythical leader and find ourselves lacking.  I know that, in my own life, this is something that I have been guilty of many time.  Larry explains that there is no such things as the perfect leader.  That’s not the way God made us, and:

When we try to be someone God didn’t wire us to be, we make it very hard for God to use us.

Imagine that!  In trying to lead the ministries God has called us to, we try to be more than God has made us to be and end up doing less than God has enabled us to do.

Larry has quite cleverly and effectively positioned this book on leadership around something those of us in children’s ministry can relate to – an object lesson.   In this case, Larry explores leadership styles as they relate to putting on a play and then examines how those styles relate to children’s ministry.  Now, I’ve never put on a big production in Children’s Ministry, but the analogy itself is so illuminating that I still found it helpful and educational.

What are the different facets of leadership?

Larry follows up shattering the myth of the perfect leader by noting five stars that any children’s ministry leadership team needs to have to be truly effective.  He notes that no one leader can possibly bring all of these stars.  They are:

1. Describing the Promised Land – a destination towards which your ministry is heading – a vision
2. Providing Road Maps – strategic plans and listing of core values
3. Tending to the Tool Box – making sure the right skills and resources are available
4. Keeping the Ministry “Heart-Healthy” – tending to heart of the ministry ensuring positive outlook and optimism
5. Providing Muscle – ability to get things done

The purpose of this book is to examine leadership styles and what we can bring to the table in terms of the five stars of leadership.  In addition to that, it offers advice on how to train ourselves to be better leaders in areas where we are not and understand the other facets of leadership so that you can surround yourself with the right types of people to have a five-star ministry.  Larry points out the following:

We tend to surround ourselves with people who think like we do.

Instead, in order to be effective leaders, we must surround ourselves with people who compliment our strengths and make up for our weaknesses.  There is much to be gained by understanding the leadership styles presented in this book.

Who doesn’t love a test?

I have to admit it.  I love tests.  I really do.  I like personality tests, gifting tests, political affiliation tests, etc., etc., etc.  Give me a series of seemingly random questions and then reduce it to a profile about me, and I love it!  So, when I wandered past Chapter 1 of the book and found Chapter 2, I was ecstatic!  I know you think I’m embellishing my reaction, but I’m really not.  I also imagine you’re thinking, “Really, we’re only on Chapter 2?  I thought this was a review not the actual book!”  I promise, it’ll pick up.

Anyhow, Chapter 2 is “the dramatic leadership assessment test” in which you answer 48 questions with an indication of how often they apply to you.  Fill out the number grid, add up the numbers and this test will rank six different leadership styles as the apply to you (with your highest score being your most prevalent style, and so on).

So, what are the leadership styles?

If I’m being honest, it was this test that really peaked my interest in the book.  Larry’s work went from being some abstract, albeit good, principals about leadership to something very personal – what is my leadership style?  After filling out the test, I couldn’t wait to jump to the chapter describing my most prevalent style, which I did.  I actually read all six in order of decreasing prevalence from my own test results.  The ones which matched my profile were interesting.  It’s always fun to see how well they actually match up to you, and they were spot on in this case.  Much to my surprise however, I learned just as much (maybe more) from reading the bottom three as the top three.  It’s was insightful to learn about people with leadership styles which represent my weaknesses and figure out who and how to incorporate those into my leadership style.  I think this is where Larry has really hit it out the park with his book, and I think this is why this book becomes much more of a reference work for constant review than just a one-time read.

So, Chapters 3 through 8 each describe one of the leadership styles.  Each chapter start with a reference to the ongoing Production object lesson followed by a profile of the leadership style, a biblical case study, a contemporary case study, and specific ideas and practical application about how to lead with each style whether or not it is your strength.  Each chapter ends with a prayer based on the leadership style and some questions for discussion.  Before I list the styles, I should say that the parts of each chapter which I enjoyed the most were the biblical case study and the contemporary case study.  My leadership style (which I’ll discuss later) says I like to go to the Bible to learn about leadership and kids, so it’s no surprise that I enjoyed the Biblical case study for each leadership style.  However, I also enjoyed the contemporary case study in which Larry interviewed and shared the perspectives of the likes of Jim Wideman, Karl Bastian (the Kidologist), Craig Jutlia and others.

So, without any further delay, here are the six leadership styles as Larry defines them along with a brief explanation of each:

What were my results?

Well, thanks for asking.  I actually took the test twice.  The differences were only minor, but I spent more time reflecting on each question the second time, so here are the results from that test (including scores for each style out of a potential total of 24):

1. Drama Coach (21)
2. Director (20)
3. Stage Manager (17)
4. Production Assistant (17)
5. Stage Hand (12)
6. Theater Manager (11)

After review the types, I have to say that this assessment was pretty spot on for me.

What else is in the book?

The final chapters of the book include brief summaries of each type of leadership style, an assessment sheet for discerning your own strengths and weaknesses, suggestions for teaching your team about different leadership styles and the epilogue to the production narrative that runs throughout the book.

What didn’t I like?

I always feel compelled to include this section in my reviews or people just don’t believe the disclaimer below.  So, what didn’t I like about this book?  Well, despite looking far and wide, I couldn’t find anything in the book about sarcasm or long winded explanations – both of which are included amongst my leadership gifts.  Other than that, I couldn’t really find anything I didn’t like.

What disclaimer?

This one.  I received a free copy of this book (actually two) from Larry in order to participate in this book blog tour.  While I appreciate the free copy, it did not in any way impact the contents of this review.

So, this all sounds awesome, what do I do next?

If you already own the book, go read it again.  If you don’t, you can purchase it here. .

Shouldn’t you be giving one away?

Now, that’s a good idea!  Larry actually gave me a signed copy to give away.  If you want to enter, do one of the following:

1. Leave a comment below; or
2. Send the following tweet – RT @stocksohio is giving away a free copy of Lead the Way God Made You. Find out how you can win: http://wp.me/pN5Ju-110 #kidmin #cmconnect

Winner will be drawn from all entries before 9:00 AM, Wednesday, July 14, 2010.

Will this review ever end?

Yep.  I’m done now!

Related posts:

1. DON’T HUG A GRUDGE by Donna Perugini (A Dad in the Middle Review)
2. THE BIG GOD STORY by MICHELLE ANTHONY (a Dad in the Middle Review)
3. CONNECT WITH YOUR KIDS – By Jim Wideman (A Dad in the Middle Review)

About the Book

The quip on the back of the book describes its purpose quite clearly:

Jim Wideman has put together a practical resource to help us slow down and ensure that we are establishing the types of connections with our kids that will allow us to disciple them and help them to establish a Biblical worldview.

About the Author

Jim Wideman is a fixture in the Children’s Ministry community as the author of numerous book, a frequent conference speaker, a mentor and a prolific blogger.  I’ve made no secret that I am a huge fan of his work.  He offers sounds advice in an engaging way, and I was excited to get my hands on this book.

Brother Jim starts this book with a history of how he came to be in children’s ministry in the first place.  Years ago, he was working in children’s ministry when he was asked to cover the children’s ministry.  He began to pray that God would raise someone up with a vision for the children’s ministry, and much to his surprise, the person God raised up was him.  He explains:

“Over the years I’ve tried to quit so many times that it’s not even funny. But I can’t – I just can’t rid of that vision.  Ministering to children is the driving force of my life.”

And, thank goodness for that.  For decades now, he had spoken into the lives of children and those of us who work with children, and this book is no exception.  One of the other things that resonates with me about Jim Wideman is that he is also a father, and by all accounts a very good one.  He has two grown girls and unashamedly explains that is he reaches every child in the world but not his own, he will be a failure.  As a father of four, this resonates with me.

Brief Review of the Book

Teaching Our Kids to Be Problem Solvers

The first chapter in this book starts by defining the two types of people in this world.  There are people who see a problem and wait for someone to solve it – the followers.  The second group of people are leaders, and this is the type of person we should strive for our children to be.  The book starts with an explanation of what a leader is.  Jim offers a great concise definition:

“A leader is a person who comes face-to-face with any type of challenge or problem and solves it.  He or she looks to God’s Word for directions and approaches the situation by faith.  As a result, this person can handle anything.”

He then proceeds to offers some of the signs to look for in a leader/problem solver:

• Choosing your problem
• Having the right attitude
• Training through adversity
• Looking for Biblical examples

As parents, we should strive to teach our kids how to be problem solvers.

Rooting Our Children in the Things of God

From there, he moves into the things we can do as parents to make sure our kids “are established in the things of God.”  By doing so, we will give them the tools to make decisions and develop a biblical worldview.  As much as I would like to share the details of each of these steps, for purposes of this review, I will just list them.  I encourage you to get the book and delve further into each step.  With that said, here are the 12 steps Brother Jim offers to root our children in the things of God:

1. Make Jesus the king of your household
2. Love your spouse the way you want your kids to love their spouse
3. Spend time with your kids
4. Be consistent in discipline
5. Allow your children to be different as God has created them
6. Encourage your kids to develop their unique giftings
7. Become a student of your child’s world
8. Admit your mistakes and correct it when you’re wrong
9. Talk to your kids about everything
10. Make your home somewhere that your kids’ friends are welcome
11. Don’t teach your children to be rebellious by rebelling against authority yourself
12. Don’t exasperate your children

What makes this book great is more than just this list.  For each items in the list, Jim offers detailed and practical advice on how to accomplish it.

My Recommendation

I have already hinted at it.  OK. OK.  I’ve already come right out and said it.  If you are a parent, or someone who works with kids, you should read this book.  If you are in a position in children’s ministry to recommend a book to the parents of kids in your ministry, this would be a great one.  Jim Wideman is a great resource when it comes to the things of children’s ministry, and this book proves that he is equally adept at providing advice to parents on raising their kids.  Buy this book.  Read it.  Read it again.  Make lists of the suggestions in this book, and find a way to implement them in your own life.  If you do, you will be a better parent, a better person and a better follower of Christ.

Related posts:

1. GOD’S KIDS WORSHIP MODERN CD 3-PACK (A Dad in the Middle Review)
2. GOD’S KIDS WORSHIP DVDs (A Dad in the Middle Review)
3. THE BIG GOD STORY by MICHELLE ANTHONY (a Dad in the Middle Review)

Introduction

In the February installment of The Children’s Ministry Blog Patrol (February 2010), I featured an article from the blog of Donna Perugini.  That lead a brief exchange via e-mail in which she mentioned that she had written several children’s books.  She was kind enough to send me a free copy of one of her books titled “Don’t Hug a Grudge” for me to review for Dad in the Middle.

About the Author

Before jumping into the book, I like to know a little bit about the author.  Ms. Perugini’s blog indicates that she taught children the Word of God over 30 years.  Her blog indicates that her approach to teaching the Bible included “cutting it into bite-sized pieces and making it fun and entertaining.” In addition to Don’t Hug A Grudge, she has authored three other children’s books.  They include:

• Do Angels Go Camping
• The Flight of Orville Wright Caterpillar
• The Adventure of Amelia Airheart Butterfly in Bye! Bye!

In addition to being a writer Ms. Perugini is a wife, mother to three children and grandmother to four children.  She teaches a women’s bible study at her church and enjoys pottery and sculpting.

About the Book

This book, originally published in 1987, teaches children how to recognize a grudge and the harmful effects of holding on to that grudge rather than forgiving.  The reading level for this book per Amazon is ages 4-8 thought the message would be beneficial to all ages.  In fact, is one of our e-mails, Donna indicated that her intended target for this book is ages 8 to adult and that many adult bible study groups have used the book for their material.

For those of you who are familiar with the Veggietales series, the concept of this book reminds me of Larry Boy and the Fib from Outerspace though it was written well before that video.  In the Larry Boy video what starts as a small fib grows into a massive monster when not dealt with.  In this book, a little grudge grows into bitterness and resentment.  The books artfully explains how a grudge works its way into your life, takes hold and grows.  After a while, as the book points out, a grudge turns into resentment which begins to take over your life.  Finally, if not dealt with, that resentment grows to bitterness which impacts our relationships with others and our relationship with God.  Throughout, the book is clear the holding a grudge, bitterness and resentment are all sins and encourages the reader to be “washed by the Word.”  These pages offers scriptures reflecting God’s view of grudges, bitterness and resentment.

Things I Liked

There is much to like about this book.  The illustrations are wonderfully done and compliment the text well.  The representation of the grudge, resentment and bitterness as monsters is genius.  The little grudge appears first as a “baby” monster which is down-right cuddly at first then begins to take on a more sinister look as it is nursed.  To me, bitterness has the look of a young elementary age monster complete with a ball cap.  The image of resentment riding on our back hanging on as we carry it is a powerful picture of what resentment does in our lives.  Finally, Bitterness appears as an older more mature monster.  The images of the children throughout the story are also exceptionally well done.

This book pulls no punches.  This book is clear that “God hates Grudges, Resentment and Bitterness.” I like a book for kids that does labels sins for what they are and doesn’t try to sugar-coat it for it for kids.  God hates sin, and I think it is important for kids to understand that.  Without a proper understanding of sin, and their own sin, kids will never get to the place where they see their need for a Savior.  The verses included in the book are also a wonderful resource.  I think this book sets a great pattern for children to learn early and then apply throughout their lives.  That pattern is:

1. Identify the issue or action in question (in this case the holding of a grudge).
2. Consider the implications of that issue or action (in this case the metamorphosis of the grudge into bitterness and then resentment).
3. Go to the Bible for guidance (be “washed by the word”).
4. Implement what the Bible suggests (in this case forgiveness).

In doing so, this book lays a foundation that kids can use to confront any problem they may be facing.

Things I Thought Could Be Better

There were just a couple of things about the book which I wished may have been a little different – one substantive and one stylistic.  On a substantive layer, I appreciate that the book does not underestimate kids or talk down to them.  However, I felt that it lacked a good explanation of what a grudge really is.  It explains how they grow and how they work, but it never really defines what it is for kids who may not know.  Stylistically, this book is multi-lingual and every word is reflected in both English and Spanish.  While I appreciate the effort to make the book accessible to more people by making it multi-lingual, having the story reflected in both English and Spanish causes many of the pages to appear very cluttered.  I also found some of the text difficult to follow the first time I read the book because of all the characters on the page.

What My Kids Thought

With any book for kids, I like to run it by my kids and get their reactions.  My two year old son loves the book.  He particularly likes the illustrations.  My seven year old daughter liked the book and really like the pictures, though she did say that she still didn’t understand what a grudge was when the book was done.  My almost nine-year-old son (he prefers that language to eight year old) enjoyed the book and appreciated the lesson.  He also liked the scriptures included in the text.

My Recommendation

I would definitely recommend this book for parents and those who work with children.  Despite portions of the book seeming cluttered because of the multi-lingual format, the message is important for kids, and the presentation is strongly grounded in the Word of God.  The book pulls no punches when it comes to calling sin what it is, but it also provides kids with a better way through forgiveness.

More Information About the Book and the Author

If you are interested in obtaining this books, check out the author website at www.DonnaPerugini.com.

Ms. Perugini has also created a line of ceramics with the characters from her other books.  For more information, check out www.DonnaKPerugini.com.

For further information on Donna Perugini check out the following:

Blog:                 DonnaPerugini.blogspot.com
Twitter:           @DonnaPerugini
Facebook:      Facebook Fan Page

As her blog, Ms. Perugini has included some fun resources related to her books including coloring pages related to each book at http://donnaperugini.blogspot.com/p/coloring-pages.html.

Related posts:

1. THE BIG GOD STORY by MICHELLE ANTHONY (a Dad in the Middle Review)
2. CONNECT WITH YOUR KIDS – By Jim Wideman (A Dad in the Middle Review)
3. LEAD THE WAY GOD MADE YOU by LARRY SHALLENBERGER (a Dad in the Middle Review)

In the introduction to the book Jared Kennedy, the Children’s Minister at Sojourn Community Church writes,

“God intended the home to be the front line of ministry to children – not the Sunday school or public church gathering alone.  The church and the home are partners.”

Accordingly, many of the practices which we find included in an adult Sunday worship service should correspond to normal everyday practices in the home.  This book brings those practices to the forefront by juxtaposing the church against the home on adjacent pages.  Ultimately, this book was written to teach young children the truth that their home should be like a little church where Dad teaches them the Word of God and instills a biblical worldview.  In actuality, it also serves as a great reminder to us Dad’s of what God calls us to do in our God-given role and husband, father and pastor of our family.  Written in engaging rhyme that will keep young minds captivated, this book contrasts the roles and practices of the church with those of the family.  The second page summarizes the entire point of the book,

“We pray and praise God at our house.
He makes our family glad.
Our home is like a little church.
The pastor is my Dad.”

Successive pages cover such important topics as:

• Reading God’s Word to our kids
• Worshiping and praising God through music and song
• Our redemption through the death of Christ
• Prayer
• Leading kids in their walk with Jesus

At just shy of 300 words in total, this book makes a critical point in easy language that kids can understand and parents will appreciate.  The whimsical font and great illustrations make it fun to read and captivating to kids.  My two, almost three year old, made me read it to him no less than four times in a row the night it came in the mail.  My seven year old daughter and nine year old boy both really enjoyed it as well.  My sincere prayer is that every father in the church would have the opportunity to read this book and learn from it.  Further, I pray that every child, with and without an earthly father, could learn from this book how their houses should run.  Lindsay Blair, Bobby Giles, Tessa James and Sojourn have done a great service to the worldwide church in producing this book.

But, don’t just take our word for it.  Here is what others are saying about this book:

One of the most  important features of a father’s leadership in his home is his responsibility to train his children in the Scriptures and the Christian faith, and to  nurture them in knowing and loving God.  In this sense, fathers are  pastors (i.e., shepherds) to their  children, and they would do well to embrace this truth as their own.  Our Home is like a Little Church helps both children and fathers see some of the beauty and richness of this relationship.  How good it will be when an increasing number of Christian fathers own their roles as their family’s pastors.  May this little book  be used by God to serve that end – Bruce A. Ware, Professor of  Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY

Our Home is like a Little Church beautifully illustrates the Biblical role that each father is called to play  in the lives of his children.  The apostle Paul states in 1 Thessalonians 2 that he has dealt with the Thessalonian church the same way that a father deals with his children….”encouraging, comforting and urging [them], to live lives worthy of God.”  I pray that every father that reads this powerful  little book will have the courage to lead his family to live life for the  Glory of God and nothing less.  I LOVE the book because it provides a  beautiful picture of what it looks like for a father to be the spiritual leader in the home.  It simplifies this profound truth in a way that can be easily understood by everyone in the family. - Jason Houser, Seeds Family Worship, Nashville, TN

“This little gem waters the beginning seeds of a Christian worldview by intertwining ideas that could easily remain separate in the mind of a child–and all too often, our own thinking. Each spread opens to a simple yet profound comparison of events and principles learned at church that extend to the home and back again. Child-like drawings and a rhyming rhythm hold great appeal for young readers and listeners, while reminding adults that worship is not just restricted to the adult realm. Every father should read and reread this book to his children, to encourage him to fulfill his calling as a Pastor-Daddy by the grace of God.” – Westminster Bookstore

“This grand truth [of father as "pastor" of the home] seems so far removed from the common Christian worldview that a book like this is necessary not just to introduce 3-year-olds to the idea, but their dads as well.” – Counsel on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, Gender Blog

Here is a video with more information on book:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy2luDD661Y&feature=player_embedded

For more information on the book, please check out the following pages:

• Sojourn’s Page Dedicated to the Book
• Christian Focus Publications
• Our Home is Like A Little Church on Amazon
• Our Home is Like A Little Church from Westminster Book Store

Thank you to Sojourn Community Church who was kind enough to provide me with a complimentary copy of this book in order to participate in this book blog tour.  As with all other reviews on this sight, the fact that the book was provided to me free of charge has not in any impacted my review.

Related posts:

1. A Review of Collaborate: Family + Church
2. Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 28 – 35)
3. Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 10 – 18)

Over the last several days, I have posted a number of articles on the new book Collaborate: Family + Church. This represents the next entry in that series. Earlier entries include:

• My review of the book Collaborate: Family + Church.
• Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 10 – 18)
• Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 19 – 27)

28. Dr. Rob Rienow – “Building a Theology of Family Ministry”

Summary: Rob Rienow starts this chapter with the premise that family ministry is not something the church should embrace because it is the newest fad or even because it works.  He asserts that churches should adopt a family ministry approach based on a review of Biblical theology.  The point of this chapter is to demonstrate that family ministry should be built on the “inerrancy and sufficiency of scripture” and that the Great Commission is fundamentally based on the concept of family.  He then proceeds to work through both the Old and New Testaments to support 3 basic and foundational principals as follows (and I quote them from the article as I couldn’t phrase them any better):

1. God created families to be discipleship centers
2. The Biblical purpose of parenting and grand parenting is to impress the hearts of children with a love of God.
3. God has designed the family as an essential engine of world evangelization through the power of multi-generational faithfulness.

He points out that the spread of the Gospel begins with parents impressing the love of God and an appreciation of his Word on the hearts of their children.

Theologically speaking, I found this chapter to be one of the most interesting in the book.  It is definitely worth working through with this book in one hand and your Bible in the other.  I had not read anything from Rob Rienow before picking up this book, and reading this article prompted me to visit his internet site which contains additional articles which are well worth reading.

Quote: “We should not embrace a parent-centered model of ministry because it works, but rather because parent-centered, family-integrated ministry is rooted in a comprehensive Biblical theology.”

Bio: Dr. Rob Rienow is the Family Pastor at Wheaton Bible Church in Wheaton, Illinois and is the founder of Visionary Parenting.

29. Roger Fields – “Engaging Families Through Parental Involvement…Kidz Blitz Style!”

Summary: Roger Fields reflects on the Kidz Mlitz style of ministry which revolves around strategic involvement.  By involving parents in the production as more than just spectators, Roger explains that this method has a lasting impact on the whole family.

Quote: “Something happens when parents get involved in children’s ministry – it changes them.”

Bio: Roger Fields is the creator of Kid Blitz Live and the author of Big City Studio curriculum.

30. Ryan Frank – “Fighting Staff Infections”

Summary: In this chapter, Ryan Frank offers six tips for “energizing your relationship with your senior pastor.”  These include:

• Making communication with your senior pastor a priority.
• Furthering the vision of your senior pastor.
• Avoiding tunnel vision.
• Maintaining your flexibility.
• Listening between the lines.
• Understanding the learning style of your senior pastor.

In the end, it’s all about relationships, and Ryan offers great advice for building a solid relationship with your senior pastor.

Quote: “Be careful about being critical of others who don’t learn the same way you do.  God wired each of us differently.  We each learn differently, too.”

Bio: Ryan Frank is the founder of KidzMatter, Inc. and the publisher of K! Magazine.  He is the Children’s Pastor at Liverty Baptist Church in Sweetser, Indiana.

31. Sam Luce – “Building Ministry”

Summary: Sam Luce’s chapter is based on the premise that the best thing a church can do to connect with families is to “create a generational pipeline, where next generation ministries are connected in value, vision and practice.”  He notes that in children’s ministry we invest tons of time and resources in the kids we minister to only to see them lost during the time from fifth grade to eighth grade.  Accordingly, Sam points to the health of the youth ministry in his church as a guide for the health of the Children’s Ministry and suggests that it is important that these groups work together in the spiritual development of the children in their church.  He provides some practical ideas for sharing resources between children’s and youth ministries as sharing volunteers, sharing money and spending time together.

Sam views the role of the church and children’s ministry as providing parents with the tools they need to strengthen their families.  He suggests that the times when parents are most open to partnering with the church is during times of transition.  Sam notes that the times when they were losing the most kids was the transition to kindergarten and to the seventh grade.  In order to counteract these losses, Redeemer Church split the 5^th and 6^th grade unit off from the remainder of the children’s ministry and involved parents in the transition process.  By involving parents in this transitional process at church, the church comes alongside of the parents to help them at a time of great transition in their children’s lives.  As Sam points out, it is during these times of transition that parents are most open to ideas and suggestions.

I have always enjoyed reading Sam’s blog and his articles in K! Magazine.  His writings are always insightful and never fail to get me thinking about some aspect of my work in children’s ministry.  This article was no exception.  I work closely with Kindergarteners as they make that transition from preschool ministry to children’s ministry.  I have always viewed that as a significant transition for the kids and approached it as such.  Sam’s article has challenged me to think about how we can take advantage of that transition to assist parents, provide them with tools and assist them with this transition.

Quote: “One of the measuring sticks I use to gauge the effectiveness of our kids’ ministry is by the health of our youth ministry.”

Bio: Sam Luce is the Children’s Pastor at Redeemer Church in Utica, New York and a contributing editor to K! Magazine.

32. Steve Dilla – “The Small Conquering the Big”

Summary: Steve Dilla begins this chapter by pointing out that the small seems to be replacing the big in our culture today.  He notes that the Bible is full of examples of the small conquering the big.  He notes that we should dream big no matter what size we currently are because you can’t out dream God.

That concepts introduces the main point of this chapter which is that it is important to pay attention to the small things, and when it comes to ministry, one of the most important small things is margin.  Steve notes that we can only minister to others out of the overflow, and if we leave ourselves no margin in our lives, there will be no overflow to give.  Through a compelling personal testimony, he makes the point that it is critical that we take intentional steps to keep from becoming overwhelmed in ministry and burning out.

Quote: “Try as hard as you want; you can’t out dream God.”

“God moves regardless of what we say or do, but nothing in all of His creation changes, grows or moves unless you give it space.”

Bio: Steve Dilla previously served as the Preschool Director and Elevate Jr. Producer at Fellowship Church’s Grapevine Campus through the Autumn of 2009.  He and his wife are currently developing plans for a new church in New York.

33. Steve Young – “Young at Heart”

Summary: Steve Young looks at the most important commandment in scripture to love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  Jesus affirmed this as the most important command in scripture and, as such, it is critical that we, as parents, pass it along with other scripture to our kids.

Quote: “…to truly grasp all of God’s Word seems impossible.  Where should I start?  What should I focus on?  What’s most important?”

Bio: Steve Young is a Children’s Minister at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

34. Timothy Smith – “Living the Shema as a Dad”

Summary: Timothy Smith explores how to implement the Shema (found in Deuteronomy 6) in our family lives.  Implementation of the Shema in our everyday family lives includes six basic principles.  First, write down what you want to impress upon your children’s hearts.  Secondly, impress those things first upon your own heart, then upon theirs.  Finally, integrate the four behaviors mandated by the Shema including talking as you sit at home, walking in the street, when you get up and when you go to sleep.  The fourth principal is repetition.  Finally, we must employ all means possible in teaching our kids including all five senses.

Quote: “To talk at home, you have to be at home, you have to be available, you have to focus and so do your kids.”

Bio: Timothy Smith is a Family Coach, author and speaker who lives in Thousand Oaks, California.

35. Yancy Richmond – “Music: The Language Everyone Speaks”

Summary: Yancy Richmond writes about the power of music in our lives.  She notes that by the time he average person is 18 years old, they have more than 10,000 songs in their head.  The power of music can be harnessed to create environments in your church classrooms and activities.  She postulates that music is one of the biggest areas where we can connect with kids.

Yancy notes that kids learn best when their parents are also engaged in worship.  Accordingly, she suggests that it important that songs parents know also be incorporated into children’s worship times.  She also encourages kids’ worship leaders to stick with it.  Just because kids don’t “get it” right away doesn’t mean that they won’t in the long term.

Quote: “They will sing, but you have to give them the opportunity.  They will participate, but you have to use relevant songs that are made to connect kids to God.  They will worship, but you have to teach them how.”

Bio: Yancy Richmond is a nationally known artist, songwriter and worship leader for kids.

Related posts:

1. Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 19 – 27)
2. Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 10 – 18)
3. Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 1 – 9)

Over the last several days, I have posted a number of articles on the new book Collaborate: Family + Church. This represents the next entry in that series. Earlier entries include:

• My review of the book Collaborate: Family + Church.
• Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 10 – 18)

19. Kenny Conley – “Reinventing Baptism”

Summary: Kenny Conley’s article provides interesting insights into what his church is doing in the area of baptism to get families more involved in the spiritual development of their children.  Kenny notes that the best chance a child has at long-term spiritual growth is when the parent takes a leadership role in that process.

He offers a variety of statistics regarding the alarming rate at which children are dropping out of the church as they grow up, and concludes that children’s ministry in its current form is failing children.  He notes that the advent of dedicated children’s ministry is a relatively current phenomena and that for hundreds of years values, principals and a biblical worldview were transferred and passed along from generation to generation without the existence of children’s ministries as we know them today.

Next, Kenny points out that while a vast majority of parents accept that they are responsible for the guiding their children’s spiritual journey, most have abdicated that responsibility and turned it over to the church.

Kenny’s church has capitalized on baptism as a significant event in a child’s life where parents are willing to get involved.  They use this opportunity involved parents in their child’s spiritual journey and come alongside and teach and equip the parents to continue, or start, in their role as spiritual guide.  In order to accomplish this, parents are involved in three critical steps related to Baptism at Gateway Church.  First, parents are actively involved in the baptism classes.  Secondly, they follow-up with the parents after the class is over.  Finally, parents are encouraged to actually baptize their children themselves.  All of these steps help to get parents intricately involved in this momentous occasion in their children’s lives.

In this article, Kenny provides solid practical advice on how to get parents involved in the baptism process.  In addition, I found that reading his article started me thinking about other “moments” in a child’s life where the church can actively seek to engage parents in the spiritual journey of their children.

Quote: “Children’s ministry is broken.  At the surface, the numbers look good, but reality says that we’re mainly producing dysfunctional believers.”

Bio: Kenny Conley is the Next Gen Pastor at Gateway Church in Austin, Texas.

20. Team Kidmo – “Church DNA: How Church Culture Impacts the Initiative”

Summary: In this article, Team Kidmo reminds us that, in evaluating any strategy, it is important to understand and account for the culture of your local church.   Understanding that culture and your church’s personality will help to determine which initiatives are more or less likely to “click” with your church.  Just because something works at one church is not a guarantee that will work at your church.

Quote: “One key to success lies in carefully and prayerfully choosing initiatives that fit within the established culture and initiatives of your church.”

Bio: Team Kidmo is a collection of ministry and broadcast professionals whose goal is to create ministry resources which are media-driven including the KIDMO curriculum.

21. Matt Markins – “Paramount Parenting”

Summary: Matt Markins tackles the paramount question when it comes to being a parent – “who will my boys become?”  As Matt explains, it is this question that drives him to know God to impress the love of God upon his kids.  Based on the words of Deuteronomy 6, he explains the God gives us three reminders to cut through the clutter of everyday life.  First, love God.  Second, value of understand God’s Word.  Third, and finally, teach God’s Word to your kids.  In this chapter, Matt stresses the importance of modeling a good relationship with God for our kids.  If we want them to pursue God, they must see us pursuing God.  If we want them to have a passion for God’s word, we must show them our passion for God’s Word.  Finally, Matt explains that we must resist the cultural temptation to engage in the fast pace of today’s culture.  Trying to keep up with that pace robs family of quality time.

Quote: “Research has shown repeatedly that the connection between parents and their kids is broken down due to the pace of life and the culture in which we live in North America.”

Bio: Matt Markins is one of the founders of the D6 conference and Director of sales and marketing for Randall House and D6 Family.

22. Matt McKee – “Environment Changes that Need Changing”

Summary: In this article, Matt McKee contrasts the pros and cons of high priced eye-catching but unchangeable kids’ spaces with the lower cost, interchangeable less professional looking do-it-yourself options.  He calls for kidmin space designer to find a way to create interchangeable and affordable spaces without sacrificing the quality of professionally designed spaces.

Quote: “I can’t stand walking into a church and seeing beige walls with tiny signs where little to no effort has been put into the space for children , then going into the adult space, which is all decked out with eye-pleasing graphics and banners.”

Bio: Matt McKee is the Pastor of Students and Children at Horizon Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.

23. Michelle Romain – “Family Fitness”

Summary: In this chapter, Michelle Romain compares teaching our kids about good health to teaching them about God.  Michelle shares information about the Shapin’ Up Fitness Camp she created.

Quote: “Research has proven repeatedly that children are able to learn the most and the development of their character is most impacted before they reach their teen years.  This applies to education, religion, health and more.”

Bio: Michelle Romain is the creator of Shapin’ Up Fitness Camp.  She is also director for the American Children’s Minister’s Association.

24. Nevan Hooker – “Double It”

Summary: In this short article, Nevan Hooker encourages us to examine what is and isn’t working, latch on to the good, let go of the bad, and to set audacious goals.  Although this article is short, it serves as a great reminder to set God-sized goals.

Quote: “Examine these areas and evaluate why things are working.  Then focus your resources and energy on those areas.  It might be time to let go of other things that just aren’t working.”

Bio: Nevan Hooker currently serves at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky.

25. Pat Verbal – “God’s Heart for Families Affected by Special Needs”

Summary: In this article, Pat Verbal looks at the importance of churches establishing special needs ministries and the general lack of such ministries in the church today.  I was struck by the statistics included in this chapter regarding the general lack of special needs ministries in churches today.

Quote: “An estimated 80 percent of families affected by disability do not regularly attend church.  One reason may be that less than 15 percent of U.S. churches have an intentional disability ministry.”

Bio: Pat Verbal is the Manager of Curriculum Development at the Christian Institute on Disability at Joni and Friends International Disability Center.

26. Reggie Joiner – “Where Do You Start”

Summary: Reggie Joiner has become the “point man” when it comes to the Orange concept.  If you haven’t read his book Think Orange, you should run to your local bookstore and buy it today.

The Orange idea is based on the concept:

“…that two combined influences will have a greater impact than either of the two influences alone.”

In other words, parents (represented by the color red) combine with the church (represented by the color yellow) create the combined influence of orange which together has a far greater impact on the spiritual lives of children.  Reggie defines family ministry as “synchronizing church leaders and parents around a master plan to build faith and character in their sons and daughters.”

This concept is based on three critical assumptions.  The first assumption is that there is nothing more important in life than a person personal relationship with God.  The second assumption is that parents have more potential than anyone else to influence the spiritual lives of their children.  The third, and final, critical assumption is that no one is in a better position to influence and help parents in that goal than the church.

The remainder of this chapter provides practical information on how to implement the Orange strategy and is a great synopsis of Reggie’s Think Orange book.  Unfortunately, a summary of that information is beyond the scope of this synopsis.

This chapter serves a great introduction to both the Orange concept specifically and family ministry in general.  If you pick up this book and are not familiar with family ministry, I would start with this chapter.

Quote: “From our point of view as Orange leaders, family ministry is ‘synchronizing church leaders and parents around a master plan to build faith and character in their sons and daughters.’”

Bio: Reggie Joiner is founder and CEO of the reThink and was one of the founding pastors of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia.

27. Rob Bradbury – “Selling Out – Sold Out”

Summary: Rob Bradbury from Planetshakers Church in Melbourne, Australia reflects on how there Friday Night Live events went from a program attracting 40 children a week to more than a 1,000 parents and children.  He identifies seven steps in the process including prayer, advertising, a family club, expanded efforts, surveying parents, quickly moving from phase to phase, and locking in their efforts.  Rob provides an inspiring story of what can happen when you think big and rely on God.

Quote: “I believe the local kids’ program is one of the best-kept secrets in the community.”

Bio: Rob Bradbury is the Family Pastor at Planetshakers City Church in Melbourne, Australia.

Related posts:

1. Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 28 – 35)
2. Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 10 – 18)
3. Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 1 – 9)

Over the last several days, I have posted a number of articles on the new book Collaborate: Family + Church. This represents the next entry in that series. Earlier entries include:

• My review of the book Collaborate: Family + Church.

10. Gina McClain – “I Hate Homework!”

Summary: Gina McClain argues that our job in children’s ministry is to help parents develop a vision for their children.  If parents do not have a godly vision for their children, it will not matter how many tools and resources we give them to help them lead their children spiritually.  Without a vision, such tools and resources will often go unused.

Gina explains that when parents do not intentionally develop a vision for their kids, they will inevitably adopt the vision the culture holds for their kids.  She explains that the vision that today’s culture has for kids is what she calls the “well-rounded child.”  This can alternately be called the “self-focused” child.  This child believes that the world and everything in it exists for their personal benefit.  To combat this, parents must develop a God-sized vision for their kids that teaches them to focus on God rather than themselves.

Gina suggests Child Dedication as the appropriate time to begin helping parents to develop a vision for their kids.  What better time to instill a vision than the beginning.  She notes that the benefit of establishing this vision early is that it allows parents to “push through” those times in parenting where they hit the wall of parenting.   On a positive note, Gina points out that we do not need to convince parents that they need help, they already know they need help.  If we assist them in casting a God-sized vision for their families, then the resources we give them will be welcomed as a means of moving in the direction of that vision.

Quote: “I don’t believe the challenge confronting parents today is lack of right information – it’s a lack of right vision.”

“Parenting is a marathon not a sprint.  In ministry, it’s dangerous to assume parents understand this concept.”

Bio: Gina McClain currently serves as Children’s Ministry Director at Faithpromise Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

11. Heather Wimsett – “Proverbs 16”

Summary: Heather Wimsett shares her story about the importance of answering God’s call to go to Romania and serving him by just showing up.  This article is a sobering reminder that sometimes God calls us just to be in a certain place and not to do anything spectacular.

Quote: “I realize that God didn’t call me because of my experience, my language skills, my success or my knowledge.  He called me for my obedience.”

Bio: Heather Wimsett was a missionary to Romania for seven years.  She is currently an Occupational Therapist and is the volunteer coordinator for Thru the Roof, the disability ministry of College Heights Christian Church.

12. Jason Houser – “Our Journey”

Summary: Jason Houser’s article provides a little insight and background into what Seeds Family Worship is (a group who sets scripture to catchy music) and why they were formed.  From there, he moves on to the importance of equipping parents to be the worship leader for their families.  As Mr. Houser points out, most parents don’t feel equipped to lead their families spiritually  because for the most part they have not seen that role modeled.

I believe that, as parents, modeling faith in Jesus Christ is the single most important thing we can for our kids.  No matter how many times we read them Bible stories, how many church activities they are involved in, or how much time we spend trying to look righteous, kids will learn what they see us living out.  It what they see is a life of active faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, that is what they will lean towards.

If you are not familiar with the work of Seeds Family Worship, I encourage you to check it out.  I have featured them several times here on Dad in the Middle.  They have successfully set numerous scriptures to music which is enjoyable to listen to for both parents and kids.  I know, in my own life, there are verses I cannot read without the tune of a Seeds Family Worship song running through my head.

Quote: “I have known for a long time that music is such an amazing gift from God, and we are wired to connect with it on a spiritual level.”

Bio: Jason Houser is the worship leader for the group Seed Family Worship at Harpeth Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee.

13. Jeremy Hall – “Connecting Youth Ministry With Families”

Summary: Bannock Baptist Church has established a series of “Breakthroughs” to guide parents in understanding where their kids should be spiritually at any given age.  Jeremy Hall writes from the perspective of the youth ministry which encompasses three of Bannock Baptist’s Breakthrough milestones.  Those include the “Purity Breakthrough,” “Ownership Breakthrough,” and “Conviction Breakthrough.”  The ultimate goal of the whole program is to help kids develop into to youth who eventually take ownership of their own faith.  Families are involved in each Breakthrough in through things as simple as e-mails, questions provided to parents and Breakthrough classes.

Quote: “As you can see, communicating with parents can be quite easy.  Simply take what you are already doing and dream up new ways to inform and involve parents.”

Bio: Jeremy Hall is Student Ministries Pastor at Bannockburn Baptist Church in Austin, Texas.

14. Jim Kast-Keat – “First Voice, Second Voice: Partnering With The Parents of Preteens”

Summary: Jim Kast-Keats writes about pre-teen ministry to 10, 11 and 12 year olds.  He notes that this is a time in their lives when they are going through major changes both physically and socially.  He notes that pre-teens need a unique ministry to grow and change with them as they work through this transitional period.  As with all age groups, Jim points out that the “First Voice” in kids’ lives during this period should be their parents which should be the most influential voice.  The role of pre-teen ministry is to be the “Second Voice” in the lives of these kids.  The role of “Second Voice” is held by anyone who spends time with the kids.  Jim suggests that one way to help the “Second Voice” to reinforce the “First Voice” is to ask parents of preteens what they would like said to their kids and holding parent forums to listen to parents.

Quote: “It is during this time that everything in a preteen’s life, world and worldview begins to change, leaving them ready for their next step or desperately scrambling for their last.  With only a decade of experience behind them, life now seems to have pulled its anchor, leaving a preteen floating aimlessly through a sea of change and transition.”

Bio: Jim Kast-Keat leads the fifth and sixth grade ministry at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

15. Jim Wideman – “The Missing Piece – Developing a Biblical World View In Your Children”

Summary: With all due respect to the other authors in this book, this chapter resonated with me more than any other, and I struggled to keep this synopsis a summary rather than a recapitulation of the entire chapter.  That said, there is a plan for a more detailed chapter-by-chapter review/study of this book, and have put in a request for this chapter.  I hope to expand on this synopsis at that point because I feel this article contains information can change families and help children on their spiritual paths.  Of all the great information in this book, I think I gained more from this chapter, and was more personally convicted by it, than any other chapter.

In this chapter, Jim chronicles his journey “to know God and love His Word and help sons and daughters to do the same.”  Jim starts this chapter with his story of how he was “called” to children’s ministry quite by accident despite his best efforts not to be.  He writes about how his view of children’s ministry changed when he began to look at children, and ministering to them, through the lens of the Bible.  He notes that many ministries and families today lack a biblical worldview, and both the church and the family need a biblically based vision for reaching children.

Jim explains that in raising their two daughters, he and his wife encouraged them to make choices by asking “What does the Bible say?”  He offers his top ten list of things to do as a parents or children’s ministry worker to instill a biblical worldview in kids.  They include:

1. Be open and honest with your kids about everything.
2. Model behavior for your kids.
3. Teach principals rather than just facts.
4. Teaching children that wisdom is more important than wealth or fame.
5. Teach kids the difference between truth and what they see on TV.
6. Teach them that the Bible is the Word of God and holds the answers for everything in life.
7. Jesus is the only way.
8. Point out wrong thinking wherever you note it.
9. Let your kids see you reading the Bible and quote it to them.
10. Instill in kids the importance of being at and participating in church.

Jim concludes this chapter with a challenge to us all: “Same actions bring same results.  What are you going to start doing differently?”

Quote: “I realized early in my ministry that children couldn’t live what they couldn’t remember, and they couldn’t remember what they didn’t understand.”

“God’s word is the filter through which we should view the world!”

“The No. 1 mistake in teaching the Bible to children is to fill them up with facts instead of instilling in them the principals of each story and teaching.”

Bio: Jim Wideman is an icon in the world of Children’s Ministry.  He is the Associate Pastor of Next Generation at World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  He actively mentors younger children’s pastors and is a proficient author and speaker.

16. Jonathan Cliff – “How to Offer a Truly Family-Friendly Event”

Summary: In this chapter, Jonathan Cliff explores the idea of churches putting on family-friendly events for families with no “overt spiritual message.”  Jonathan argues that in today’s day and age of running from event to event where parents become spectators, real quality family time is lacking.  He offers three keys to putting on a family-friendly event.  These include encouraging it to be family-friendly, providing workers so that families can take advantage of the event and making it affordable.

One things that Jonathan hit on that I think is critical is finding workers to work these events who are not the “usual suspects.”  So often in children’s and youth ministry, there is a core group of people who lead the ministry and plan and run every event.  Where these people have families, it is important to find other people to work the event so that they can enjoy time with their families as well.

Quote: “What would it look like if the church could create events that had no spiritual implications beyond bringing dads and moms together with their kids?”

Bio: Jonathan Cliff is Children’s Ministry Pastor at Trinity Church in Lubbock, Texas.

17. Joyce Oglesby – “Family Nourishment”

Summary: In this article Joyce Oglesby offers practical examples of things she has done as a pastor’s wife to open her home to congregants and to mentor young women.  While this article was not particularly relevant to me (I am not a pastor’s wife J), I do appreciate Ms. Oglesby’s attempts to share her wisdom and experience with a younger generation of women.  Also, anyone can take away from this article the importance of showing hospitality.

Quote: “While you’re providing them with the mere rations for life, offer up God’s nourishing sustenance for eternity.”

Bio: Joyce Oglesby is the founder and president of Beyond This Point Ministries.

18. Justyn Smith – “PJ’s All Star Leadership Program”

Summary: Justyn Smith also tackles the issue of measuring the spiritual maturity of children at different stages of life.  Based on non-Christian organizations like karate schools and scouts, Justyn’s church developed a leadership program for children based on a ranking system.  The system known as PJ’s (Pastor Justyn’s) All Stars offers five levels of leadership to kids who demonstrate their progression along a spiritual journey.  Each level is marked by a color and a set of criteria to attain that level.  The levels are all built around five core values including Influence, Heart, Creativity, Wisdom and Servanthood.

Quote: “One of the biggest challenges for children’s pastors and leaders is gauging the spiritual development and maturation of children.”

Bio: Justyn Smith is Children’s and Internship Pastor at The Church at South Las Vegas in Henderson, Nevada and was the coordinator of the well known Napkin Conference.

Related posts:

1. Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 28 – 35)
2. Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 19 – 27)
3. Collaborate: Family + Church (A Synopsis of Chapters 1 – 9)

1. It will help me to organize my thoughts and have a plan for what I intend to read; and
2. I hope it will help to ease my wife’s concern that I continue to buy tons and tons of books and never read them.  See, honey, I have a plan!

So, here is what I plan to be reading in 2010:

Books Written to or for Children

• Letters to Children…by C.S. Lewis
• To the Rising Generation: Addresses Given to Children and Young Adults…By Jonathan Edwards
• A Good Start: A Book for Young Men and Women…by C.H. Spurgeon
• Jesus Is Alive! Evidence for the Resurrection, Children’s Edition…by Josh McDowell & Sean McDowell
• The Case for Faith for Kids…by Lee Strobel
• The Case for a Creator for Kids…by Lee Strobel
• 99 Questions God’s Answers For Kids

Books Related to Children’s and Family Ministry

• Shift: What it takes to finally reach families today…by Brian Haynes
• Formational Children’s Ministry: Shaping Children Using Story, Ritual, and Relationship…by Ivy Beckwith
• Comforting Children in Crisis…Group Publishing
• The Ultimate Survival Guide For Children’s Ministry Workers…by Ivy Beckwith
• What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know…by Elmer Towns

Books About Teaching

• Rock Solid Teacher: Discover the Joy of Teaching Like Jesus…by Gregory C. Carlson
• Created to Learn…by William R. Yount
• Teaching Kids About God…by John Trent

Parenting

• Parenting With Love And Logic…by Foster Cline and Jim Fay
• Parenting Teens With Love And Logic…by Foster Cline and Jim Fay

Theology

• Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine…by Wayne Grudem
• The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith…by Timothy Keller
• Your Own Jesus: A God Insistent on Making It Personal…by Mark Hall

Devotional

• Morning and Evening…by Charles H. Spurgeon
• Big Truths for Little Kids: Teaching Your Children to Live for God…by Susan Hunt

Biography

• Me, Myself & Bob: A True Story About Dreams, God, and Talking Vegetables…by Phil Vischer

Fiction

I don’t read a lot of fiction as a general rule, but this year I’ve already started reading the Chronicles of Narnia series to my kids.

• The Magician’s Nephew…by C.S. Lewis
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe…by C.S. Lewis
• The Horse and His Boy…by C.S. Lewis
• Prince Caspian…by C.S. Lewis
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader…by C.S. Lewis
• The Silver Chair…by C.S. Lewis
• The Last Battle…by C.S. Lewis

So, there we have it – my planned reading list for 2010, and its only 30 books.  We’ll see how it goes!  For the record, and for my wife’s peace of mind, I only need to buy one of the books on this list.  That book is Me, Myself & Bob which I haven’t gotten around to buying yet.  If you have one laying around, feel free to mail it to me!  I already have all the others.  What are you reading this year?

Related posts:

1. #17 – Read About Teaching (Tips For Large Group Teaching)
2. #44 – Read To Them (Tips For Large Group Teaching)
3. Top Ten Christian Children’s Books

11. Little Blessings

This series includes various books which tell the story of the Bible in rhyme for young Children.  Each book includes scripture references at the back for your reference.  Here are some on the books in this series:

• Why Is There A Cross?
• Is God Always With Me?
• Who Made the World?
• What Is God Like?
• What Is the Bible?
• What Is Prayer?
• Are Angels Real?
• God Loves You.
• Who Is Jesus?
• Thank You God
• Questions from little hearts
• What about heaven?

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about one entry in this series Why Is There A Cross?:

“This colorfully illustrated book tells the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ in rhyming verse that will delight little eyes and ears. Even the youngest readers can grasp the idea that Jesus loves them and died for them, and older readers will understand the deeper message of how we show our love for Jesus and what He did for us.”

“These delightful new additions to the Little Blessings line help young children understand two more basic truths about God and Jesus. Why Is There a Cross? tackles the difficult subject of Christ’s death. This read-to-me book for children ages 3–6 explains both the how and the why of Christ’s death in simple words and pictures that communicate the wonder of his sacrifice. Is God Always with Me? introduces children ages 3–6 to the idea that God is a part of their everyday lives. This read-to-me book with beautiful illustrations and pleasant rhyming verses conveys the comforting truth that God is with us wherever we go, no matter what.”

12. The Illustrated Bible – New Testament

This Bible contains the complete ICB version of the New Testament illustrated in comic book format.  This one is sure to keep your kids interest as you read to them or they read to you.

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about The Illustrated Bible:

“Bring the Word of God to life for your 6- to 10-year-olds with this engaging New Testament. Neely’s frame-by-frame comic-book-style art parallels actual Scripture—not a paraphrase—to help youngsters see who’s speaking and the context of the scene. A great way to encourage learning and find out that it’s fun to read the Bible! 640 pages, 6.5″ x 9.25″ x 1.25″ hardcover from Nelson.”

13. On My Own Reader Bible

When my son first started reading, I bought him this book to read to me every night.  He is eight now and still enjoys reading through this book.

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about the On My Own Reader BIble:

Now it’s easy to choose the very best Bible storybook for your child at every age and stage of development with the NLT Story Bible Series.

On-My-Own Reader Bible is designed to meet the specific needs of beginning readers, ages 5-8, by providing:

• layout that supports reading skill-building
• large print and white space between lines
• appropriate story length for primary-grade learners

75 Bible stories selected with new readers in mind

14. The Case for Kids (series)

Lee Strobel’s well known apologetic books are now available in kid sized versions.  This series currently includes four titles for the little apologist in your family or church.

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about The Case for Faith for Kids:

“Using kid-friendly language, Lee Strobel shares true examples of how people throughout the world demonstrate their faith in God while answering questions about the nature of God. Ages 9-12”

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about The Case For A Creator for Kids:

“Did God create the universe? Or was there a big bang? Author Lee Strobel explains cutting-edge scientific research proving that the universe was designed.

Lee Strobel’s eye-opening bestsellers have been revised by noted children’s author Rob Suggs for young people ages eight to twelve–the age when kids begin asking the complicated questions adults themselves sometimes struggle to answer. These Case for… books are just right for kids who want to stand up for their faith in an unbelieving world. Written in humorous, light-hearted prose perfect for kids this age, these books analyze the evidence and build compelling cases, using historical facts, up-to-date scientific research, and true stories. Recommended for ages 8 to 12.”

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about The Case for Christ for Kids:

“Lee Strobel’s eye-opening bestsellers have been revised by noted children’s author Rob Suggs for young people ages eight to twelve–the age when kids begin asking the complicated questions adults themselves sometimes struggle to answer. The Case for Christ for Kids brings Jesus to vivid life, addressing the miracles, ministry, family, and way of life of Jesus of Nazareth. These Case for… books are just right for kids who want to stand up for their faith in an unbelieving world. Written in humorous, light-hearted prose perfect for kids this age, these books analyze the evidence and build compelling cases, using historical facts, up-to-date scientific research, and true stories. Recommended for ages 8 to 12.”

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about Off My Case for Kids:

“For kids who are sure of their faith but not sure how to defend it, Off My Case for Kids–a perfect companion or a stand-alone piece–provides twelve real-life scenarios written by Robert Elmer that empower kids to speak up when challenged.

Lee Strobel’s eye-opening bestsellers have been revised by noted children’s author Rob Suggs for young people ages eight to twelve–the age when kids begin asking the complicated questions adults themselves sometimes struggle to answer. These Case for… books are just right for kids who want to stand up for their faith in an unbelieving world. Written in humorous, light-hearted prose perfect for kids this age, these books analyze the evidence and build compelling cases, using historical facts, up-to-date scientific research, and true stories. Recommended for ages 8 to 12.”

15. Veggietale Bible

I’m an huge fan of Veggietales.  Who doesn’t love talking Veggietables.  This NIV version of the Bible is packed full of great Veggietales features.

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about The Veggietales Bible:

“Join Bob, Larry, and all the rest of the Veggie characters as they explore the most amazing book of all time! The VeggieTales Bible invites children to experience God’s Word, perhaps for the first time, using the backdrop of familiar VeggieTales characters who remind them that “God made you special and he loves you very much!” It features:

• The complete NIV text along with 32 full-color pages that retell eight favorite Bible stories from the VeggieTales DVDs
• Book Introductions give important information about each book of the Bible
• “Veggie Values” teach lessons from the Bible like forgiveness, trusting God, being helpful, and more
• “Remember This” highlights 100 key verses of Scripture to remember
• Dictionary-Concordance helps kids better understand key Bible words and concepts
• New International Version is the most read, most trusted translation

From this fun-filled Bible, children will learn more about God and how he wants us to live. Recommended for ages 4 to 7.”

16. Jesus Is Alive

From the well known apologist Josh McDowell and his son, this book presented in a Question and Answer form helps give kids a solid foundation for their faith.

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about Jesus Is Alive:

“He is risen . . . but curious kids want to see the evidence for themselves! Using an age-appropriate Q & A format, the McDowells clearly present the claims of the Gospel writers and 2,000 years of Christian tradition to help 7- to 10-year-olds discover the proof of Christ’s resurrection and the impact it has on their lives today. 128 pages, softcover from Regal.”

17. How to Study Your Bible For Kids

This book offers great exercises to help teach your kids how to make the Bible their own.

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about How to Study Your Bible For Kids:

“The Discover 4 Yourself Inductive Bible Studies for Kids teach children how to find out for themselves what the Bible is all about, and gives them fun and exciting ways to do it! In order to solve The Mystery of How to Study the Bible students must go through inductive detective training. Max, Molly, and their beagle Sam come along to help them examine the scene (context), interpret clues (who, what, when, where, why, & how), unscramble secret messages (memory verses), and use their walkie-talkies (prayer). Many important interpretive skills are covered, even using a concordance and expository dictionary. Recommended for ages 9 to 12.”

18. Beginners Bible

This well known Bible is great for reading to younger children.

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about The Beginners Bible:

Introduce children to the stories and characters of the Bible with this best-loved Bible storybook. Now updated with vibrant new art, text and stories, more than 90 favorite Bible stories come to life, making The Beginners Bible the perfect starting point for children. They will enjoy the fun illustrations of Noah helping the elephant onto the ark, Jonah praying inside the fish, and more, as they discover The Beginners Bible just like millions of children before. This hardcover Bible storybook measures 6.25″ x 7.5″ x 1.5″ and has 512 pages. Recommended for ages 2 to 6.

19. Day By Day Kid’s Bible

In under seven minutes a day, this book is set up to let your kids read through the entire Bible in a year.

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about the Day by Day Kid’s Bible:

“Popular children’s author Karyn Henley, who wrote The Beginners Bible, has created a unique tool to help children establish Bible reading habits for a lifetime–with an investment of just seven minutes per day. In this revised version of God’s Story, daily Bible readings lead children through the Scriptures in chronological order in just one year. The Day-by-Day Kids Bible bridges the gap between a Bible storybook and a full-text Bible since the scriptures are simplified for young readers. Inside, you’ll find dated Bible readings for every day of the year, two-color interior illustrations and full color pictorial time line of events. Also includes a Presentation Page. This book measures 6.5″ x 8.75″ x 1.75″, and has 900 pages. Recommended for ages 6 to 10.

In this revised version of God’s Story, daily Bible readings lead readers ages seven and up through the Scriptures in just one year. The Day by Day Kid’s Bible bridges the gap between a Bible storybook and a full-text Bible since the Scriptures are simplified for young readers. New features include dated Bible readings for every day of the year, two-color interior, and full-color pictorial time line of events.”

20. Little Princess Devotional Bible

This is another great resource for the little Princess in your life.

Here is what ChristianBook.com has to say about the Little Princess Devotional BIble:

“Every girl is a princess–the daughter of a King! With Sheila Walsh’s God’s Little Princes Devotional Bible, you can help your little girl blossom into the princess she was meant to be. Featuring illustrations of the characters from the picture book series Gigi, God’s Little Princess, and a cover accented with sparkly “jewels,” this devotional Bible is irresistible inside and out! It highlights virtues that create true beauty, such as honor, charity, compassion, sharing truth, fairness, and more. You’ll also find the features:

* Down in My Heart (Scripture Memory)
* Beauty Secrets
* Bible Princesses
* My Hero (Scripture promises)
* Take a Bow (Easy plays that are Bible-focused)
* I Adore You! (Put girls’ energy to use with songs, scripture and worship)
* Royal Truths
* Princess Charming
* Worthy of Love (Ideas to show how to love her royal subjects: family, siblings, friends and those in the community)

With this Bible, little girls will learn about their destiny as a daughter of God and a true princess! Recommended for ages 4 to 7.”

Related posts:

1. #2 – The Jesus Storybook Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
2. #3 – Growing With Jesus (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
3. #4 – The Adventurers Bible for Early Readers (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)

It does not have all the “bells and whistles” throughout the text like the NIrV Adventurers Bible which came in number four on this list, but I had to give the nod to this version as I think it more accurately reflects the Word of God.  It does include over 200 wonderful full page illustrations along with scripture verses  to help kids picture what things must have been like in Biblical times.  Also, like other Crossway publications, including the ESV Study Bible, the additional information and articles added at the front and back of the Bible are superb!  They include:

• The Bible God’s Message to Us
• What The Bible Says About Itself
• How To Use the Bible
• About This Bible
• Who Is God?  What Is God Like?
• God Makes Himself Known
• God Chooses a People for Himself
• The Ten Commandments
• From Old to New Testament
• Jesus” God’s Righteous Son
• Good News!
• The Gospel of Jesus
• What Is Salvation?
• Salvation Explained
• Sanctification: Becoming More Like Jesus
• The Fight of Faith
• The Promises of God
• Go Into All the World
• How Will You Respond to What You Have Read?
• Bible Reading Tips
• Bible Reading Plan
• Learning to Pray
• Bible Memory
• Dictionary

This is a useful link (http://www.esv.org/assets/pdfs/childrens.bible.front.pdf) to the first four articles at the front of the ESV Children’s Bible and gives a sampling of the type of information available in this Children’s Bible.  I would love to see Crossway come out with an ESV Study Bible for kids, but until then, this Bible will remain my favorite for reading with my kids!

Here is what Christianbook.com has to say about The ESV Children’s Bible

“The kid-friendly cover will catch your 6- to 12-year-olds’ attention—and the age-appropriate study helps will keep them reading!Over 200 full-color illustrations * Tips on how to pray and read God’s Word * Eye-catching charts and diagrams * Words of Christ in red * Dictionary * Bible reading guide * Book introductions * Salvation plan * Size: 5.5″ x 8.5″ x 1.5″ * 1632 pages, hardcover from Crossway”

And here is what the publisher, Crossway Books, has to say (including a list of features):

“No child should be without a Bible to call their own, and the ESV Children’s Bible is a great choice. Not only will children get the reliability and beauty of the ESV translation but this Bible features a newly illustrated cover and more than 200 pages of full-color illustrations that appear right where the stories occur in the text. It is now also available in paperback.

Each Children’s Bible contains aids that kids can use on how to pray and read God’s Word, the plan of salvation, God’s promises, and becoming more like Jesus. In addition, a Bible-reading plan just for them is included, as well as a dictionary.

• Size: 5.5″ x 8.5″
• Larger 10.67-point type
• 1,632 pages
• Words of Christ in red
• Full-color illustrations throughout
• Introductions to each book
• Dictionary
• Bible-reading plan for kids
• Color charts and diagrams of biblical themes

Related posts:

1. #2 – The Jesus Storybook Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
2. #5 – The Memory Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
3. #4 – The Adventurers Bible for Early Readers (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)

The book is wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated to draw kids into the stories from the Bible.  Of all the story Bibles for younger children I have ever read (and I’ve been through a lot of them) I enjoy reading from this one the most.  It is written in such a way that it draws you in and rather than just reading an account to your kids, it makes you the storyteller no matter how good you are at it!

With the launch of a new edition of the book which includes an audio reading by David Suchet, the Jesus Storybook Bible now has its own website at:

http://www.jesusstorybookbible.com/

This website has a great design (like the book) and includes free download of audio and entire chapters so you can check the book out before you buy it.  Here’s what the website has to say about the book:

“Written for children ages four and up, The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the one story underneath all the stories of the Bible and points to the birth of a child, the Rescuer, Jesus. Complete with 44 Bible stories, The Jesus Storybook Bible paints a beautiful portrait of Jesus and invites children to see that he is not only at the center of God’s great story of redemption—he is at the center of their story too. Children and adults alike will be captivated by the beautifully written narrative and the original and unique illustrations by accomplished artist Jago. Lloyd-Jones’ powerful gift of storytelling draws the reader into the greatest adventure of all time in an exciting page-turner that kids (and adults) find hard to put down.

Since its release in 2007, The Jesus Storybook Bible has become a must-have for children and adults and has grown into a brand that includes: a Spanish edition, an ebook for large and small group presentations, and the new Deluxe Edition, which includes the complete book on audio CD, read by award-winning British actor David Suchet. The audio from the Deluxe Edition is also available separately. To learn more about the contributors and to see a full description of each of these products, see below.”

Here is what Christianbook.com has to say about the Jesus Storybook Bible:

“The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the story beneath all the stories in the Bible. At the center of the story is a baby, the child upon whom everything will depend. Every story whispers his name. From Noah to Moses to the great King David–every story points to him. He is like the missing piece in a puzzle–the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together. From the Old Testament through the New Testament, as the story unfolds, children will pick up the clues and piece together the puzzle. A Bible like no other, this book invites children to join in the greatest of all adventures, to discover for themselves that Jesus is at the center of God’s great story of salvation–and at the center of their story too. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.”

I can personally attest that this book will capture the attention and imagination of ages kids 2 through 8, as well as adults aged 37!

Related posts:

1. #5 – The Memory Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
2. #3 – Growing With Jesus (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
3. #1 – ESV Children’s Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)

I don’t recommend things lightly on this blog, but I was at my local Lifeway store last night looking through the Children’s Devotional section, and I was reminded of the best such book I have ever read with my kids.  The name of the book is Growing With Jesus by Andy Holmes.  I found the book quite by accident.  I ordered it from one of those fund raisers that comes home from school with the kids without ever having seen the inside.  That is a bit of a scary prospect when it comes to any so called “Christian Literature” especially of the Kid’s variety because you never know what you’re going to get!

Fortunately, this book did not disappoint, and I comend it to any parent or Children’s Ministry worker to read with their kids.  From Devotion #1 – “You’re God’s Special Project” to Devotion #100 – “Jesus is Coming Back,” this book affirms, eddifies, teaches and challenges kids and the adults reading with them.  Each devotional offer a Bible Verse, Thoughts to Grow On which explores the verse, Today which offers the kids actions they can take today related to the devotional, and My Amazing World which gives the kids an interesting factoid.  Each devotional is two pages and includes illustrations which keep the kids interest.  For example, my kids were constantly looking for the devotionals with the pictures from the front cover!  Last time we read through this book, my kids were 6 and 4.  We are starting in again this week, they are now 8, 6 and 2.  They love the book, and the devotions spark even deeper conversations.   As a parent I love that they love the book, and I find myself learning from it as well.

Here is what Christianbook.com has to say about Growing With Jesus:

“Help your youngsters mature as much on the inside as they are on the outside with these meditations designed just for them! Each daily reading features Scripture, a thought to grow on, and a fascinating “factoid” about a kid’s amazing “self” and the world around him. Ages 5 to 9. 224 pages, softcover with ribbon marker from Tommy Nelson.”

Related posts:

1. #2 – The Jesus Storybook Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
2. Honorable Mention (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
3. #5 – The Memory Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)

“We used the words of the NIV when we could.  When the NIV words were long, we used words that were shorter.  We wanted to use words that are easy to understand.  We explained words that might be hard to understand in a dictionary at the back of the Bible.  We also made the NIV sentences much shorter.”

This is the version of the Bible I use for teaching my kindergarten and first grade room at church.  Although I personally prefer other versions of the Bible (you’ll see at least one of those later in this list), this is a great translation for kids – especially younger kids.  The shorter sentences make “repeat after me” much easier for the kids to follow.  Although the NIV and NIrV are phrase-for-phrase translations, they do remain as faithful to the original text as possible.  The Adventurers Bible explains it this way for kids to understand:

“We wanted the NIrV to say just what the first writers of the Bible said.  So we kept checking the Greek New Testament as we did our work.  That’s because the New Testament’s first writers used Greek.”

As for the compilation of additional information and inserts, I love this Bible.  It offers useful, kid-friendly tools throughout the text.  “Words to Treasure” point out key Bible verses worth remembering.  “Did You Know?” inserts point out interesting facts to be learned from the Bible.  “People in Bible Times” offers short descriptions of key biblical personalities.  “Life In Bible Times” helps transport the kids back to the times the Bible is telling them about.  “Live It!” offers opportunities to apply what the Bible is saying to your life right now.  In addition, there are short , practical and helpful introductions to each book as well as various charts scattered throughout the text.   Finally, this Bible is visually appealing from the front cover (who says a Bible needs a boring plain leather cover?) to the green leaf edging (and, yes that was a play on gold-leaf edging) to the full color inserts contained inside the Bible!

Finally, the full color inserts written specifically for kids are a treat that you won’t want to miss.  They include pictorially fun images covering topics like:

• How To Use This Bible
• Famous People of the Bible
• Ten Commandments for Kids
• Bible Themes
• Famous Old Testament Prophets
• Love Passage For Kids
• Questions Kids Ask
• Famous Children of the Bible
• How to Pray
• What is Faith?
• Life Of Christ
• Getting to Know Jesus
• How to Be A Christian
• The 12 Disciples

Here’s what Christianbook.com had to say about The Adventurer Bible for Early Readers:

“Younger children can share in the love for God’s Word with The Adventure Bible for Young Readers! Designed specifically for children still learning to read, this Bible is perfect for those who are ready to explore the Bible on their own. It is filled with colorful illustrations and important facts and figures throughout to enhance a child’s personal Bible study. Based on the bestselling Adventure Bible, this Bible has the full text of the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV–”The NIV for Kids!”), which is easy for young children to read and understand. The Adventure Bible for Young Readers will instill a life-long habit of turning to God’s Word for guidance. Recommended for ages 6 to 10.”

Related posts:

1. #1 – ESV Children’s Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
2. #5 – The Memory Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
3. #2 – The Jesus Storybook Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)

That said, I think the best feature of this book is the two compact discs which come with it.  For each of the 52 chapters, the CDs contain the complete audio of the text in the books narrated by Kirk Cameron (who does a great job by the way).  In addition, for each memory verse there is an original song to help kids remember the verses.  My son still sings some of these songs four years later when he reads them in his Bible.  As an adult, I enjoyed the songs as well.  By the way, the book includes the complete text of the song lyrics to help you sing along.  The CDs can be used to reinforce what you’ve already read to your child or to allow them to enjoy the book on their own time.

At one point, my son and I were reading about five chapters a week, as well as reviewing prior verses.  By the time we were done, he could recite all 52 memory verses, many of which he still retains today!  This is an invaluable tool for helping kids to write God’s word on their hearts.

I couldn’t find this one on Christianbook.com, but here is what Lifeway Christian Stores website has to say about The Memory Bible:

“Parents, teachers, and kids alike will love memorizing Scripture using 52 original songs by award-winning songwriter Steve Elkins. The fully illustrated storybook package includes two CDs with the music and full narration by Kirk Cameron.”

Amazon.com indicates that the age range for this one is 4-8 years old which is about right in my experience.  At around $25, it’s a little bit pricier than some of the other books on the list, but it’s well worth it.  If you think of it in terms of getting a great hard cover book as well as two full length audio CDs with 52 original songs, the price is actually quite reasonable!  Work through this book with your kids, and you’ll never regret the investment.

Related posts:

1. #1 – ESV Children’s Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
2. #2 – The Jesus Storybook Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
3. #4 – The Adventurers Bible for Early Readers (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)

• The Gospel
• The Mission
• The Scripture
• The Trinity

I started with “The Trinity” book because I was interested to see how that complex topic was dealt with for kids.  I was not disappointed.  These books handle their topics in a doctrinally sound manner but written in such a way that kids can understand.  The illustrations are also superb!  I also appreciated the scripture references on virtually every page to support what is being taught.

Christianbook.com describes the series this way:

“The Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers series introduces preschool and elementary children to the most foundational teachings of the Christian in this four-book set at a level they can understand. Colorful illustrations compliment every page, creating an enjoyable learning experience for the child. The Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers series promotes God-centered theology with simple and precise teaching while offering stability and a strong, lasting connection with the faith.”

Although these books are marked as being for kids ages 4 to 7, I know from personal experience that my 2 year old loves to hear these books and look at the pictures.  My 6 year old asks is we can read one almost every night, and my 8 year old likes to read them.  To be perfectly honest, as a 37 year old, I like them myself too!  If you have kids or work with kids, I would encourage you to check out this series!

I’ve included pictures of the covers along with the description of each book from Christianbook.com and a link to Christianbook.com below.

The Mission

The Mission presents God’s worldwide plan to call people from every nation to worship Him through Jesus Christ. God invites children to share His good news with a world of people who desperately need a Savior. Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

The Gospel

The Gospel relates a gospel message of salvation to children, at their level of understanding, planting seeds that will hopefully blossom into a Christian life of dedication to our Savior and Lord. Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

The Scripture

The Scripture teaches children that the Word of God is true, inspired, reliable and profitable to lead them to God and a life of godliness. This book is a tool to help youngsters find wisdom that leads to salvation, guidance for everyday living and hope for the future through the Bible.Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

The Trinity

The Trinity teaches the doctrine that there is one God who exists in three persons–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This teaching is foundational for a child’s understanding of God; and helps children relate rightly to each member of the godhead. A fact about the Trinity is presented on each page, leading the child to a stronger faith.

Related posts:

1. #10 – Arch Series Books (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
2. #9 – Big Truths for Young Hearts (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)
3. #5 – The Memory Bible (Top Ten Christian Books for Kids)