Parent Resources

Disciple Making Ideas

  • Responsibility

    Deuteronomy 6:1-2, 6-9 clearly states that teaching God’s law is not optional and that the parents are the primary “Faith Trainers” of their children. God has placed the responsibility of training children in the faith NOT on the church but on parents, not on Small Group leaders but on parents, not on pastors, but on the parents, not on programs and events but on the parents, not on Children’s Ministers but on the parents. This is a commandment from God not a suggestion. We, in Children’s Ministry, are here to walk alongside you to serve as a resource to help equip you as you seek to pass the baton of faith to the next generation and raise children who are fully devoted, passionate, followers of Christ who will impact the nations for the glory of God.

Discipleship at Home

  • “Bricks and Mortar”

    Children will receive a “Bricks and Mortar” each week. This tool will help cement the truths we teach on Sunday mornings into your child’s life. It lists daily Bible readings and highlights what they are learning and gives you ideas of how to reinforce the truth from Sunday morning all week long. You can also access the “Bricks and Mortar” on the church web site. Get’em here.

  • Scripture Memorization

    To be an effective Faith Trainer at home, you must also be committed to imparting God’s Word.  (2 Timothy 3:15-17)  Each week your child brings home a “Bricks and Mortar” daily devotion guide which includes the week’s verses.  The children can cut out the week’s verses on the provided dotted lines in order to have them handy so they can work on their scriptures in the car, in car pool line, on the bus, at early arrival time at the gym, etc.   Children grades 1st -5th will receive memory verses each week.  They will be learning Psalm 119:1-80 this Bible Study year.

    Please encourage your child in daily Bible memory.  I challenge you to learn these verses along with your child.  In so doing, you will be demonstrating the importance of memorizing God’s Word.  When your child has mastered his or her verse, please note this on the “Bricks and Mortar” they will receive each week and send it back to church.  Your child will receive a virtual gumball and a real gumball from the gumball machine for each verse learned.  The virtual gumball machines will be hanging in your child’s class so you can see how well the children are progressing with their scripture memorization. 

    In addition, we have extra virtual gumball machines that we can hang in your child’s small group room.  These will be for you, the parents, who want to be involved in scripture memorization with your kids.

    Just let one of the Faith Trainers know and we will add your name to a virtual gumball machine.  Each week you can come in and add your own virtual gumball and receive your real gumball.  What a great way to model to the children and to encourage them in their memorization as well! Get the Scripture Memory Listing for 2009-2010 below!

    Scripture Memory Listing for 2009-2010 (PDF)

  • Houses/Incremental Learning Goals

    BUILT! "Houses"-- Clearly the responsibility, as well as the privilege, of nurturing the faith of children rests primarily on parents. Parents have the greatest responsibility for teachable moments. It is our vision in Children's Ministry to intentionally train children in the faith giving them a firm foundation, and focus on teaching God’s Word in such a way that they will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

    As Faith Trainers we want to serve in a supportive role to what you are doing at home. For these reasons, we have attached the "House" for your child. On your child’s house are skills and foundational truths that I believe should be achieved by the time your child completes this year. Each grade has a different house. The skills each year "build" upon the other. We call these Incremental Learning Goals and each brick is added to a child's wall of wisdom.

    When your child accomplishes one of the goals on his/her house, simply initial it and send it back to church. Your child will be able to choose a special prize. You can access not only your child's "house" but the incremental learning goals in a PDF document as well as the answers to the incremental learning goals. Simply click on your child's grade.

    Incremental Learning Goals:

    1st Grade (PDF)

    2nd Grade (PDF)

    3rd Grade (PDF)

    4th Grade (PDF)

    5th Grade (PDF)

  • Helpful Hints to Memorizing Scripture

    • Keep your verse with you wherever you go.
    • Say your verse after prayer at every meal.
    • Repeat the reference before and after each verse.
    • Practice your verse every day.
    • Learn what the verse means.
    • Read the verses immediately before and immediately after the memory verse.
    • Say the verse aloud as you memorize it.
    • Draw a picture of what the verse means.
    • Act the verse out like a skit.
    • Memorize the verse with a friend.
    • Say the verse to your parents.
    • Make up hand motions for the verse.
    • Make puzzle pieces out of the verse and put it together.

  • Prayer

    • A=Adoration (Praise): We are to Praise God for who He is.
    • C=Confession: Telling God what you have done wrong and asking Him to forgive you.
    • T=Thanksgiving: We give God thanks for all He has done for us and for all He has given to us.
    • S=Supplication: Petition and Intercession. Praying for yourself and praying for others

  • Books

Leading Your Child to Christ

  • How to Talk to Your Child About Christ

    Keep in mind:
    1. The Gospel is for everyone. Romans 10:13, Luke 2:10
    2. Jesus taught that children could believe, Matthew 18:1-6
    3. God’s desire is for children to be saved. Matthew 18:14
    4. The evangelism process for children should begin in infancy. 2 Timothy 3:15
    5. God does deal with hearts of children. Old and New Testament
    6. Experience illustrates that children can believe.
    Guidelines
    1. Never assume anything.
    2. Children want to please the significant adults in their lives.
    3. They respond to praise.
    4. They are easily influenced.
    5. Help your child feel at ease
    6. Take ample time with your child.
    7. Do not rush.
    8. Present the gospel clearly on the child’s level.
    9. Ask Questions
    10. Avoid common church phrases
    11. Avoid excess emotionalism
    12. Use some type of visual such as a gospel presentation booklet, tract or draw a picture/visual as you are answering questions and talking to your child about the Gospel.
    13. Just because a child asks questions does not mean he is ready to commit his life to Christ and trust in Him as his Lord and Savior. Always gently close discussions leaving the door open to present the gospel again or talk about the Gospel at a later date.
    14. If a child does have understanding of what the Gospel is and what following Jesus means and the child indicates that he is ready to repent and commit his life to Christ, allow the child to pray out loud in his or her own words.
    15. NEVER SAY THE PRAYER FOR THE CHILD! Even if you feel the child is ready to make a commitment to following Christ, do not pray for him!
    Present the Gospel simply
    1. Any gospel presentation should include the character of God, the sinfulness of man, the sufficiency of Christ, the necessity of Faith, and the urgency of eternity.
    2. A child must understand the meaning of sin, that he has sinned, that he has sinned against God, that he is separated from God, that Jesus died to take the punishment for our sin, that He rose from the dead, that He is alive today!
    3. Gospel Presentations:
        1. Admit to God you are a sinner (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, 1 John 1:9). Repent: To Turn from your sin and turn to Christ (Acts 3:19).
        2. Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and that God sent Jesus to die on the cross to save people from their sin and from being separated from God. John 3:16, Romans 5:8, Acts 4:12, Acts 16:31, 1 Peter 3:18, John 14:6
        3. Confess Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Romans 10:9-10, 13

      • Roman Road Presentation:
        Who God is: Romans 1:20, Romans 11:33-36
        Who Man is: Romans 1:25, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23
        Who Christ is: Romans 1:1-4, Romans 8:3, Romans 8:31-32
        What Christ has done: Romans 3:22-26, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23
        What you must do: Romans 10:9-13

  • Frequently used “church” words and their meanings

    • Saved: When you have asked God to forgive your sins and asked Jesus to be Lord of your life, you are saved from being separated from God.
    • Repent: To turn away from your sin, and turn to God, choosing to follow Jesus.
    • Sins: When you disobey God. The wrong things you do when you have chosen to do things your way instead of God’s way.

  • Baptism

    We believe baptism is an outward expression and testimony of an inward transformation. Before a child can be baptized the following must occur:

    1. He/she must repent of his/her sins and trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
    2. Child and parent meet with the Children’s Minister.
    3. Child completes the New Christian Class.
    4. Videotape is made of his/her testimony of how he/she came to faith in Christ Jesus. This video is 20-30 seconds long and will be an opportunity for the new Believer to share when and how he/she turned his/her life over to Christ, thank anyone who helped the child begin a relationship with Christ and any favorite or special scripture.

    Anyone who is a Believer and Follower of Christ can baptize a new believer. However, a ministerial staff member will perform the “speaking” portion of the baptism.

  • New Christians Class

Teaching Philosophy

  • Worship

    In our large group time, we teach foundational Scriptural truths that are enhanced with kid-friendly drama and praise and worship led by the “Built on the Rock” band. We want this to be the most exciting hour of your child’s week, developing children who are passionate about God. It is our philosophy that families should worship together. All children and their parents should attend a worship gathering together on Sundays at either 9:00, 11:00 or 6:00 p.m.

  • Prayer

    We teach children that God has given us a great way to grow closer to Him. It is called PRAYER. We want them to know that the God of the Universe desires to get close to them. Each week children have the opportunity to talk to God aloud by leading in prayer in large group worship or in their small groups. Kids learn they can pray at any time and talk to God wherever they are by kneeling, standing, praying quietly to themselves or out loud. Children learn the answers to the questions: Why do we pray? How do we pray? They also learn the ACTS method of praying:

    • A=Adoration (Praise): We are to Praise God for who He is.
    • C=Confession: Telling God what you have done wrong and asking Him to forgive you.
    • T=Thanksgiving: We give God thanks for all He has done for us and for all He has given to us.
    • S=Supplication: Petition and Intercession. Praying for yourself and praying for others