Sharing God’s love with children  is important. If you don’t, who will?  We need to take advantage of every opportunity to share God’s love with our own children and in those in our children’s ministry.

It is easy to miss opportunities by getting caught up in what is going on at the present time.

Stressful moments, behavior problems, trying to fit to much into your lesson, and more can cause us to hurt others rather than help them.

This article is a good example and reminder to share God’s love with others.

Effective Sunday School Teaching Starts With Love

This was written by Tony Kummer and was first published as “http://ministry-to-children.com/effective-teaching-starts-with-love/” on Ministry-To-Children.com

Johnny walks into your Sunday school class 25 minutes late. He’s a challenging kid, but you pride yourself on keeping an ordered classroom. You’ve planned your lesson very carefully. You’ve even prayed for you class this week.

You smile at Johnny, but inside your saying, “Why didn’t they just wait until church.” It’s too late to backtrack the lesson, so you just keep teaching.

Johnny is fidgeting. He is rustling through his Bible and making little noises with his mouth. He gets up to find a pencil. He gets up again to sharpen it. The whole class is losing focus.

Hand up. It’s Johnny. “Did we have snack yet?” You kindly redirect. Then he puts his head down and whimpers a little. Inside you wish he had stayed home today.

After church you corner his mom. “Mrs. Smith, I need to talk with you about Johnny’s behavior in Sunday school. He was very disruptive this morning.”

She begins to apologize. “We had a bad morning. His grandpa passed away last Thursday. Johnny has been having nightmares. I should have kept him at home. I thought it might help to keep our routine. I’m really sorry he was trouble.”

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV)

Effective teaching begins with love. Ministry is not about the lesson. It’s not about the classroom schedule. It’s about loving kids and pointing them to Jesus.

How many times have you missed your chance to love?

Our country needs godly leadership. We need to train our children and raise them up to be our future godly leaders. Children need to know about the godly history of the United States of America.

Moses trained Joshua to be a great leader. God told Moses to encourage and strengthen Joshua.

“But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.” Deuteronomy 3:28 (KJV)

Our children need to be encouraged and strengthened in godly principles. Help them to learn from history and teach them what they need to know for their future.

Here are two articles from my www.Lois-Graham.com site to help you teach children godly history.

Independence Day tells about U.S. history and has activities you can do to encourage patriotism.

Quotes And Freebies To Teach Godly U.S. History has quotes from men in U.S. history and free resources.

What is a mentor? One definition could be: a trusted person who influences others. The world needs Godly mentors. Children need someone that they can trust to influence and guide them through the distractions of this world.

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. Philippians 3:17 (NIV)

You can be a mentor!

How can you be a mentor?

• Live your life as an example of Christ.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)

You are being watched. What you say and do makes an impact on others. Stay positive and strive to follow the example Christ Jesus gave us.

• Reach out

Everyone needs someone to value and appreciate them. Don’t wait for opportunities to come your way. Reach out and help others. Do activities they enjoy with them.

• Be a friend

Start conversations and listen to what others have to say. Be patient and listen with your heart. Value what they have to say.

• Don’t judge

And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye. Luke 6:41-42 (NKJV)

Offer advice without being pushy. Share scripture that can help them.

• Nurture, encourage, and inspire.

Believe in others. Help them to see God has a special plan for their lives. Encourage them to reach for the dreams God has for them.