Questions Students Ask
Have the questions that kids and youth ask in the classroom or on a Friday night changed in the last 10 years?
After noticing the shift to questions around ethics in his schools ministry, Youthworks College graduate Tom Owen has worked to changed the scope and sequence of his school scripture units.
Read more to see the kinds of questions kids ask, and how we helpfully engage with these questions in God’s Word.
The Three R’s of Gospel-Shaped Discipline with Kids
One of the biggest fears people have about serving in children’s ministry leadership roles is around behaviour management. What do you do when a child refuses to cooperate? What do you do when the group won’t settle down and listen?
Annemarie helps us understand that the gospel should be guiding not just what we share in teaching times, but also how we relate to children who misbehave, and provides 3 helpful guidelines that you can take into your interactions with misbehaving children.
DEEP DIVE | Guidance
Decision-making can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to significant life choices such as career, relationships, and ministry. Many Christians also face the challenge of seeking to make decisions that align with God's will, often seeking certainty through our "calling" from God.
To help navigate decision-making and drawing on guidance from God’s Word, Viv draws from Scripture to show how understanding our calling as God's children offers both security and freedom in decision-making.
Kids Ministry Tips to Support Children with Disability
When you have children in your ministry who have a disability, it can be tricky trying to find ways to encourage involvement and participation, particularly if it’s met with any kind of resistance. We want all our young people to join in and feel part of the group but if someone is presenting as non-verbal, has trouble with fine motor skills, or showing a lack of interest, we might not always be sure about how best to proceed.
Here are 5 ways to help enable young people with disability to meaningfully participate in church ministries and services.
Is Your Ministry Accessible?
A church is accessible when people aren’t required to advocate for their needs by special request or every Sunday. We want our churches to welcome all people, every week, no fuss required. Accessibility ensures that all people, no matter what their disability is, can enter without any barriers.
Read more to find out how to evaluate if your ministries are accessible and ensure that more and more people know that they are welcomed.
How to Develop a Leadership Training Plan
Are your children's and youth ministry leadership teams thriving in their roles, or could they benefit from a more structured approach to training?
Cam breaks down practical steps to equip your leaders with the right skills, from safe ministry practices to casting vision. Discover key strategies to ensure your leaders are growing as disciples while discipling the next generation. Whether your team is small or large, this guide will help you create a training plan that fits your context and empowers your leaders for long-term success.
The What and the How of Spiritual Formation
Many ministries have been devastated by the moral and spiritual failings of leaders, impacting the most vulnerable, including children and youth. This emphasises the need to invest in spiritually and emotionally healthy ministry workers, a priority at Youthworks College.
Discover how the New Testament presents a clear vision of spiritual formation and the transformation that God accomplishes through His grace, rather than our own efforts.
Exploring the Epistles with Kids
Teaching Paul’s epistles, such as Colossians and Ephesians, to children may seem challenging. However, these letters offer rich opportunities for spiritual and moral development that are invaluable in a child’s faith journey. Here are some helpful ideas to help you engage children with God’s Word.
Contextual Youth Ministry
Mike Dicker travelled through Dubai, Cairo, Harare, and the Seychelles delivering training at churches, and teaching at various theological colleges on “Contextual Youth Ministry”. Be inspired as he shares an overview of a method for contextualising ministry and some of the surprising applications from various contexts.
Raising Mission Heat in Kids’ Ministry (Part 2)
In part two Cam explores some actionable strategies that you can try in your kids’ program to help raise the mission heat.
Raising Mission Heat in Kids’ Ministry (Part 1)
Discover how to raise the temperature for mission in your children’s ministry programs. Cam Harte shares five characteristics of kids that get mission.
Why our Theology of Sin Matters
Talking about sin can seem negative and risky, especially when kids are part of the equation. Yet it is undeniably important if we want to be faithfully teaching God’s Word and pointing young people to Jesus.
How we understand sin will impact not only how we seek to disciple young people but also how we understand ourselves. Here’s a few observations on how our theology of sin speaks into our life and ministries.
DEEP DIVE | Holy Household, Holy Children: 1 Corinthians 7:14
Whether you're a parent, church leader, or simply curious about biblical insights on family and faith, Viv’s exploration offers valuable perspectives on how the sanctity of a believer's life can impact their entire household. Dive in to discover how these ancient teachings still resonate today and what they mean for us.
Home Discipleship Resources: Equipping parents to disciple their kids
A variety of helpful resources to encourage families to disciple their children at home
Three ways to integrate young people into church
Know the importance of integrating children into God’s wider church
Who Do You Think Knows God The Best?
“If Christianity was illegal, and you were charged with being a believer, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”.
You’ve completed the 555 Challenge! What’s Next?
You’ve kickstarted a fantastic home discipleship routine. Whether you managed it in five weeks or took a little longer, well done on completing the 555 Challenge! So, what’s next?
Go where the kids are at online… but beware of risks!
Learn the benefits and risk of social media platforms youth use.
Supporting Families with Home Discipleship
How to meaningfully support parents raise their children to know Christ
Zoom Games That Work For Primary Children
A resource for leaders running Zooms with children