Related posts:

1. 25 NOT SO Random Things About Me

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1. Somewhere in the middle…
2. #53 – If It’s Too Comfortable, You’re Not Doing Something Right! (Tips For Large Group Teaching)
3. 25 NOT SO Random Things About Me

Brief Synopsis: In this post I examine how to make sure that Jesus is at the center of every lesson you put together for children’s ministry.

Click here to read the entire article!

You can find all the articles I’ve published on Ministry-to-Children.com at this page.

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Well, Jacob wanted to make sure that he did a little fact checking to put his mind at ease.  So, first he asked if my wife’s friend was a Christian.  My wife explained that she was.  Then Jacob asked if her mom had been a Christian, and my wife again explained that she was.  That was sufficient for Jacob to conclude that they would be reunited in heaven, but then he proceeded to ask the most peculiar question:

What kind of Christian is she?

Well, usually I can guess where Jacob is heading when he asks these types of questions, but I have to admit that even I was a little bit befuddled by this one.  “What do you mean,” I asked.

“Well,” he replied, “is she a Christian like us or like Nan (my wife’s mother)?”

It started to get a little more clear.  My mother-in-law is a devout Christian, but there are some doctrines that she adheres to that I disagree with.  I don’t think any of them are “deal breaker” type issues, but occasionally they do come up, and I have talked to my son about them before as he tends to ask a lot of questions.  I have tried to handle the issues with as much grace as possible, and I thought he may be referring to these.  So, I asked the obvious question, “What do you mean?”  His reply startled me a little bit.

You know, is she just a normal Christian like us, or is she crazy for Jesus?

It wasn’t the first time my son has said something that felt to me as if God himself was slapping me upside the head.  I knew exactly what Jacob meant.  We talk about Jesus a lot in my house, we pray, we read our Bible, and I try to stress how important Jesus is, but Jacob is right.  Compared to us though, my Mother-in-Law is “crazy for Jesus.”  Her love and passion for Jesus are obvious to everyone and at all times, and it so obvious that my young kids pick up on it and see the difference as well.

That is the type of relationship I want to have with Jesus.  I want people to look at me and how I lead my life and think, “He’s crazy for Jesus.”  I am glad that my kids, and I, have my Mother-in-Law, in our lives to model that for us.  My natural bent is to not outwardly display that type of emotion and devotion.  I tend to be much more reserved.  I keep things inside.  I am methodical and analytical.  I like to think things through and analyze them.  It was all of these things that led me to the deep faith which I now have in my Lord and Savior, and this is the way God made me.  However, it is also these things that I have to battle against in terms of keeping my faith to myself.  God rocked my world again in three little words spoken through the mouth of my nine-year-old – “crazy for Jesus.”  I want to live my life in such a manner that there is no doubt that I am crazy for Jesus.  We are called to be the light of Jesus.  We are called to be different.  I started to ask myself some questions.  What am I doing that will make people think “he’s crazy for Jesus?”  How am I modeling a life sold out to Christ for my kids?  When God calls me home (and we will all eventually die barring the return of Christ), I don’t want people to remember me for things I’ve done or accomplishments I have made.  At my funeral, I want them to remember me for my relationships.  I want them to say, “He was a devoted husband and loving father.”  I want them to recall that, “He really cared about his friends.”  And, above all else, I want them to think, “He was crazy for Jesus!”

So, here is my question to you (and a questions I have been asking myself a lot over the last several days), what are you doing that shows that you are “Crazy for Jesus?”  Are there people who think you are crazy about Jesus?

Related posts:

1. One Crazy Christmas
2. Jesus Loves Me – Behind the Music
3. #13 – It’s All About Jesus (Tips For Large Group Teaching)

• Jubilee Gang
• Evangelizing Children
  • Probability of someone being born again 35% between 5 and 12
  • Most people come to the Lord between 5 and 12
  • Current generation of kids will only produce 4% as Bible believing Christians
  • Church must do something
• We have to go where they are
• Most people don’t know what a real Christian is.
  • We have to let them know

• Five things that won’t make you a Christian
  • Church
  • Reading Bible
  • Praying
  • Mom & Dad
  • Being a good person
• Need to be straight up with this generation
• “Dream a dream so big that unless God does it it will not happen.”
• Pray and find out what God’s plan is for you
• How can I reach my community for God?
• Let go of anything that holds you back.
  • Tradition
    • Are we achieving our goals?
    • If not, how can we?
  • Religion
    • Religion is man’s way not God’s way
  • Past failures
  • Fear
    • Failure
    • What people think
    • Of what you’ve never done before
    • Fear is opposite of faith
• God is looking for people to rise up and be heroes of this generation.
• Use the cool stuff, but never sacrifice sound Biblical teaching
  • “Do we want a service or a circus?”
  • Can’t continually outdo yourself
  • We’ve gone from ministry based to entertainment based
  • Can have both!
• Three ways to raise bar spiritually while making full use of technology
  • Keeping God’s Word in our services
  • Anointing
    • We must rely on God’s ability and not ours
  • Life changing ministry
    • Are lives being changed, or are they just walking away from a cool experience
    • Do kids know God or just know about him?
• Alter Calls
  • Not the best way of doing, but we don’t want kids to fall through the cracks
  • Some parents will never pray with their kids
  • How do I do it?
    • Almost discourage people from coming forward
    • Qualify them,
      • How many people have been born again?
      • How do you know you’ve been born again?
      • Do you want to be?
    • Encourage kids to keep their eyes closed
    • If understand, and truly want it, stand up
      • Not because your neighbor does
      • Not because it’s cool
    • Don’t come down for any other reason
      • Only if understand and this is what you want for your life
    • Gather around
      • Sits down on floor with them
    • Asks why they came down.
    • Going to say a prater
      • Just because you repeat it means nothing
      • Going to talk to God.  Do you believe that?
      • God is going to change you

Related posts:

1. Bad Evangelism
2. CM TeleSummit – Technology Tidbits – Jeremy Collins
3. CM TeleSummit – How to Create an Engaging Message by Jeremy White

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1. Sharing the Gospel With Kids (10 Essential Gospel Truths for Kids)
2. #7: Jesus Is God’s Holy and Righteous Son (10 Essential Gospel Truths for Kids)
3. #1: God is the Sovereign Creator of All Things (10 Essential Gospel Truths for Kids)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVJqRLU3J0I

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1. You’re Losing Us!
2. Blog Patrol (June 9, 2009)
3. 50 Word Gospel

I thought it sounded like fun, so here is my shot at it:

God created man.  We all have sinned against God, fall short of God’s standard, and deserve the punishment of death.  But, Jesus came to Earth as a man, died on the cross for my sins, and rose again to reconcile me to God forever.  Our job is to honor God!

OK, your turn!  Give it a shot.  It’s harder than it looks!  Leave a comment with your version.  I can’t wait to read them!

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1. God’s Word…
2. #36 – The Power of the Remote Video (Tips For Large Group Teaching)
3. Blog Patrol (June 9, 2009)

1. I am a child of God. (John 1:12)
2. I am steeped in sin and have been since birth. (Psalm 51:5)
3. I am chosen. (Ephesians 1:3-6)
4. I am born again. (1 Peter 1:23)
5. I am freed from the bondage of sin.(Romans 6:6, Romans 8:2)
6. I am a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
7. I am God’s workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)
8. I am free from condemnation. (Romans 8:1)
9. I am redeemed and forgiven. (Colossians 1:14)
10. I am a work in progress. (Philippians 1:6)
11. I am in Christ and Christ in me. (John 17:20, Galatians 2:20)
12. I am a friend of Christ. (John 15:15)
13. I am a co-worker of God. (2 Corinthians 6:1)
14. I am a co-heir with Christ to the Kingdom of God. (Romans 8:17)
15. I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)
    
16. I am the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14)
17. I am a priest. (1 Peter 2:9)
18. I am a citizen of heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
19. I am an ambassador of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
20. I am the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
21. I am in possession of the truth. (1 John 5:20)
22. I belong to God. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
23. I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
24. I am complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)
25. I am loved by God. (Romans 8:38)

…and, since I was having so much fun, here’s another set of 25 NOT SO Random Things about me…

1. I am an image bearer of God. (Genesis 1:27)
2. I am crucified with Christ. (Galatians 2:20)
3. I am alive together with Christ.  (Ephesians 2:4-5)
4. I am washed in blood. (Ephesians 1:7)
5. I am an adopted son of the living and true God. (Ephesians 1:5)
6. I am anointed and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)
7. I am shielded from evil. (1 John 5:18)
8. I am a witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
9. I am a temple. (1 Corinthians 3:16)
10. I am blessed with every spiritual blessing. (Ephesians 1:3)
11. I am enriched. (1 Corinthians 1:5)
12. I am guarded by God who gives me inner peace. (Philippians 4:7)
13. I am free to access to God. (Ephesians 2:18)
14. I am united with the Lord. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
15. I am appointed to bear fruit. (John 15:16)
16. I am a minister of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
17. I am seated with Christ in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6)
18. I am a branch of the true vine. (John 15:1-5)
19. I am hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
20. I am free to approach God with confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
21. I am part of a greater thing. (Romans 12:5)
    
22. I am justified. (Romans 5:1)
23. I am a saint. (Ephesians 1:1)
24. I am assured that all things work together for my good. (Romans 8:28)
25. I am significant to God. (Matthew 6:25-33)

Related posts:

1. Wayne's Random Thoughts…Monthly Round Up (April 2009)
2. Announcement: Plans for the future of “Wayne’s Random Thoughts” Blog
3. 5 Things Kids Must Know About Sin (#3 Who sins?)