Tag Archives: Children

Kiss His Feet

Devotions for Childrens Leaders 2, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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A missionary on the foreign field employed a heathen to help him translate the New Testament into the native language. The missionary would read the verses; then the heathen would translate and write them down. Finally they came to the first Epistle of John. The missionary read, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us.” The man translated and wrote down the words. The missionary read on, “that we should be called the sons of God.” Then the native bowed his head and wept. “What’s the matter?” asked the missionary. The man replied, “Teacher, don’t make me put it that way. I know our people. That’s too good for them. Put it this way, ‘Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we may be allowed to kiss His feet!”*

Reflect

Read John 1:12 from your Bible.

Respond

True discipleship is born out of a in-love relationship with a Great God of Love. When people “fall in love” with someone, they want to talk to the person, think about them, talk about them, look at their picture, figure out how they can make them happy, and so forth. When a person falls in love with Jesus Christ, that believer wants to talk to Him (prayer), be with Him (daily devotions), talk about what He’s doing (testimonies), be around others who love Him (church), obey Him and show Him off to the world (witnessing). Then since true discipleship is an overflow of one’s love relationship with the Lord, your desire to grow also becomes a measure of the depth of your love for Him. How much do you desire a deeper walk with Christ? What is the depth of your love for Christ (i.e., Do you want to spend time with Him? Do you want to show Him off to the world? Do you obey Him?) On a scale of 1 to 10, how deeply are you in love with Jesus? Why do you feel this way?

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.
Remember

“We become what we are committed to.”**

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*W. Herschel Ford, Sermons You Can Preach on John, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1958), p. 348.
**Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishers, 2002), p 180.

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Where They Love a Fellow

Devotions for Childrens Leaders 2, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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In the late 1800s D. L. Moody began a Sunday school on Illinois Street in Chicago. One child who attended would walk each week from halfway across the city, which was a large city even in those days. He would pass church after church until he reached the Illinois Street Sunday School.

One day a superintendent of one of the Sunday Schools he passed asked him, “Why do you go all the way out there? Why don’t you come here? It is right next door to you.”

Looking up at the superintendent, the lad said, “I go where they love a fellow.”*

Reflect

Read John 13:34-35 from your Bible.

Respond

God created us for fellowship and at the heart of true fellowship is the expression of God’s type of love. This is also a need in the lives of each of your students. How can you express God’s type of love to the children in your ministry this week? To their parents? To others with whom you minister?

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.
 

Remember

“Real fellowship happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives.”*

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*Hyman J. Appelman, “Paralyzed People,” [July 1946], Hudson, Curtis, ed. Great Preaching on Soul Winning. (Murfreesboro, TN: Sword of the Lord Publishers, 1989), p. 121

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Evangelism

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When Gypsy Smith was converted as a boy, he became interested in his Uncle Rodney’s salvation and began to pray for him. In those days it was not considered proper for a child to speak to his elders unless he was spoken to, especially about spiritual matters. So the boy prayed and waited for his opportunity.

One day the uncle asked, “Laddie, why are your trousers almost worn out at the knees?”

The boy answered, “Uncle Rodney, they have been worn out through praying for you. I want so much for God to make you a Christian.”

The uncle put his arms around the boy, and a few minutes later fell upon his knees and cried out to God for salvation.*

Reflect

Read Ezekiel 22:30-31 from your Bible.

Respond

Gypsy Smith was burdened for the salvation of his uncle. For whose salvation are you burdened? For whom do you find yourself praying, longing that God will move in their life? A student in your class? A friend or a neighbor? A work associate? Or does this burden and passion for lost souls seem to be absent from your life? Many believers lack a passion for the salvation of lost people because they live too much in this world—they are not eternally-minded, storing up treasure in heaven and living in the reality that everyone they meet will either spend eternity in heaven with Jesus or in hell, separated from God forever to pay the price for their own sins.

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

“I still, from my armchair, preach in great revivals. I still vision hundreds walking the aisles to accept Christ. I still feel hot tears for the lost . . . . I want no Christmas without a burden for lost souls, a message for sinners, a heart to bring in the lost. May food be tasteless, music a discord, Christmas a farce if I forget the dying millions; if this fire in my bones does not still flame. Not till I die or not till Jesus comes will I ever be eased from this burden, these tears, this toil to save souls.” -John R. Rice, age 85

(Part of a 1980 Christmas letter dictated a few days before his death)**

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*W. Herschel Ford, Sermons You Can Preach on John, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1958), p. 338.
**Curtis Hutson, ed., Great Preaching on Soul Winning, (Murfreesboro, TN: Sword of the Lord Publishers), preface.

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Empowering

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On New Year’s Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played UCLA in the Rose Bowl. In that game, a man named Roy Riggles recovered a fumble for UCLA. Somehow Riggles became confused and started running 65 yards in the wrong direction. One of his own teammates finally outdistanced him and tackled him just before he scored for the opposing team. When UCLA attempted to punt, Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety, which was the ultimate margin of victory.

That strange play came in the first half, and everyone watching the game was asking the same question, “What will the coach do with Riggles in the second half?” The players filed off the field and went into the locker room and sat down on the benches and the floor—all but Riggles. He put a towel around his shoulders, sat down and put his face in his hands.

A coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during halftime, but that day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riggles. Then the timekeeper came in and announced that there were only three minutes left till playtime. Price looked at the team and said simply, “Men, the same team that played the first half will start the second.”

The players got up and started out—all but Riggles. He didn’t budge. The coach looked back and called to him again. Still he didn’t move. Coach Price went over to where Riggles sat and said, “Roy, didn’t you hear me? The same team that played the first half will start the second.” Then Riggles looked up and said, “Coach, I can’t do it to save my life. I’ve ruined you. I’ve ruined the University of California. I’ve ruined myself. I couldn’t face that crowd in the stadium to save my life.”

The Coach said, “Riggles, get up and go on back. The game is only half over.” And Roy Riggles went back, and those Georgia Tech players will tell you that they never saw a man play football like Roy Riggles played in that second half. What a coach!*

Reflect

Read Proverbs 12:25 from your Bible.

Respond

Empowering students for ministry opportunities many times begins with smiles and simple words of encouragement (i.e., You’re special; God has great plans for your life; God made you for a special reason, etc.) How have you encouraged your children this past week? How has the Lord encouraged you? In what areas of your life do you feel you need encouragement?

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*Title of the article is unknown, Christianity Today, Oct. 26, 1992, p. 11.

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Coaching

Devotions for Childrens Leaders 2, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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One of the most significant battles in the world history was between the forces of the Duke of Wellington and the armies of Napoleon Bonaparte. The people of Great Britain were waiting with baited breath to find out who won the battle of Waterloo, because whoever won the battle would decide the future of Europe. They did not have telegraph or telephone or radio or television in those days. The news of the battle came to England by sailing vessel to the south coast and then was delivered over land by semaphore. Semaphore was a system for signaling by using flags or arms in various positions, flashed from town to town until it reached the top of Winchester Cathedral and on to London.

The populace eagerly waited as the semaphore signals spelled out the words, “Wellington Defeated.” Just then a dense fog settled down over the harbor as this incomplete message was waved on to London. Discouragement settled over the land. Streets were barricaded. Women and the elderly prepared to defend their country in the streets and fields.

Finally the fog lifted and the signals came through again to complete the message, “Wellington Defeated the Enemy.” Can you imagine the wild delirium of joy that spread like fire throughout all of London? Just like the fog covered up the incomplete message we, as teachers, get fogged occasionally and are robbed of a complete message.*

Reflect

Read Proverbs 13:17 from your Bible.

Respond

The purpose of a “coach” is to move a person from where they are to where they want to be. That was the purpose of a “stagecoach” in the old days. That’s why some people fly in “coach” today. That’s also the reason sports teams hire a coach—To move them to where they want and need to go. As you “coach” the students in your ministry, be careful that your message doesn’t get fogged. Always be clear with your love, your message, and the way you live your life. Has anything been “fogging up” your message to the children in your class? Has anything come into your life that has fogged up your own communication with God?

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*W. Herschel Ford, Sermons You Can Preach on John, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1958), p. 420.

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Investing

Devotions for Childrens Leaders 2, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Several years ago, on a cold February day, a limousine traveling down the New Jersey expressway got a flat tire. The limo driver got out to change the tire only to discover that the spare was flat. Before he could summons road service, a man in a pickup truck stopped and offered to help. Among the equipment on his truck was an air tank.

As the man and the driver finished up, the car window slid down and the man was shocked to see Donald Trump sitting inside. “This was very nice of you to stop and help,” Trump said. “What can I do to thank you?” The man thought for a moment and then said, “Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. My wife would really get a kick out of receiving a dozen roses from you.” Trump agreed and drove off.

The next day, a messenger arrived with a box. Inside were two dozen roses and a note: “Happy Valentine’s Day from a friend of your husband. (signed) Donald Trump

P.S. Thanks for helping us out. By the way, I paid off your mortgage.”*

Reflect

Read Ephesians 3:20 from your Bible.

Respond

A little time invested in the story above came with a great reward. The same is true in working with children. The rewards you get far outweigh the time and energy you give.

Also, the value in the story above is not that the car was fixed or that someone received roses. The real value is that someone went well above and beyond to say thanks, to encourage, to bless, to honor and, to put it plainly, to show unreasonable kindness. How has God shown you unreasonable kindness this past week and how can you invest that kindness in others?

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*A Children’s Leader Devotion, (Lake Forest, CA: Saddleback Church), Week 30.

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Trusting

Devotions for Childrens Leaders 2, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the old mule braying in the well and after careful consideration he decided that neither the mule nor the well were worth saving. So he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened and he enlisted them to haul some dirt over to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his friends continued shoveling and as the dirt hit the old mule’s back a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt hit his back he would shake it off and step up. This is what he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up. He repeatedly encouraged himself.”

No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept on shaking it off and stepping up. It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of the well. What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him. All because of his outlook on life.*

Reflect

Read Proverbs 15:15 from your Bible.

Respond

Trusting God changes how a person looks at life. Picture looking through a pair of tinted glasses. If they are tinted yellow, everything you see will be tinted yellow. If they are tinted blue, all you see will be tinted blue. If you look through the eyes of faith, everything you face will be touched and interpreted by that trust in Christ. Question: Do you view situations through eyes of faith and trust in Christ?

Trusting God results in joy, peace, and confidence—even in the midst of difficulties, not to mention that you become a giver of a positive outlook for the children to whom you minister. It’s okay to ask your kids to pray for you—to be tranparent and let them see how a godly person responds in difficult times. Let’s take a lesson from the old mule today. If you are facing difficulties right now, keep your trust in God and wait and watch as God takes the “bad” and shakes it off to make a platform on which you can step up and give Him glory.

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*Source of the story is unknown.

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Creating

Devotions for Childrens Leaders 2, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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We have all heard that curiosity killed that cat but being curious or creative is not a bad trait to have. Creativity can be a crucial ingredient to opening a door for an exciting new opportunity. For centuries hikers have had burs in their socks. But it wasn’t until 1948 that Swiss mountaineer and Chemist George de Mestral got an idea; while peeling burs from his socks on a hike he realized that nature had provided us with a natural fastener. He turned that observation into a marvelous product with a million uses, Velcro (which means “velvet hooks” in French), the world’s first manmade burrs.*

Reflect

Read James 1:5 from your Bible.

Respond

Have you ever considered that of all the creations of God only man creates? Animals don’t create. Insects don’t create. Only man has the ability to take an idea and resources and make something original, not out of instinct, but out of desire. Why? Because the Lord is creative and we are made in His image. How can God use your creativity this week to serve others and glorify Christ? Are you facing a burdensome task in your life? How can you be creative in this matter to add a new energy and freshness to it?

Curiosity is also valuable to a person. Curiosity fuels growth. What are you curious about? If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*Charles Panati, Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Thing, (Harper and Row 1987), p. 156.

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Affirming

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One afternoon a man came home from work to find total mayhem in his house. His three children were outside, still in their pajamas playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers thrown all around the front yard. The door of his wife’s car was open, as was the front door to the house. Proceeding into the entry, he found even a bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was littered with toys and various clothing items. In the kitchen the dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over the toys and more clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she may be ill, or that something serious had happened. He found her lounging in the bedroom, still curled in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, “What happened here today?” She again smiled and answered, “You know everday when you come home from work and ask me what in the world I did today?” “Yes,” was his incredulous reply. “Well, today” she said. . . “I didn’t do it.”*

Reflect

Read Galatians 6:9 from your Bible.

Respond

We all need affirmation. How has the Lord affirmed and encouraged you in your ministry position this past week? How have you affirmed and encouraged others? Do you feel like anything is lacking right now in your relationship with God? In your ministry to others?

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*A Children’s Leader Devotion, (Lake Forest, CA: Saddleback Church), Week 10

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Risk

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Legend has it that a man was lost in the desert, just dying for a drink of water. He stumbled upon an old shack—a windowless, roofless, weather-beaten old shack. As he glanced around he saw a pump about fifteen feet away, an old rusty water pump. He stumbled over to it, grabbed the handle, and began to pump up and down, up and down. Nothing came out.

Disappointed, he staggered back. He noticed off to the side an old jug. He looked at it, wiped away the dirt and dust, and read a message that said, “You have to prime the pump with all the water in the jug, my friend. P.S.: Be sure you fill the jug again before you leave.”

He popped the cork out of the jug and sure enough, there was water. Suddenly, he was faced with a decision. If he drank the water, he could live. Ah, but if he poured all the water in the old rusty pump, maybe it would yield fresh, cool water from the well, all the water he wanted. Risking everything, he poured all the water into the pump. Then he grabbed the handle and began to pump. . . squeak, squeak, squeak. Still nothing came out! Squeak, squeak, squeak. A little bit began to dribble out, then a small stream, and finally it gushed! To his relief fresh, cool water poured out of the rusty pump. Eagerly, he filled the jug and drank from it. He filled it another time and once again drank its refreshing contents.

Then he filled the jug for the next traveler. He filled it to the top, popped the cork back on, and added this little note: “Believe me, it really works. You have to give it all away before you can get anything back.”*

Respond

What would you have done in the above story? If the man had been stingy with the water, he would have never received the full blessing that the pump could give. How are Christians today stingy with their time? With their money? With other resources? What might you need to risk “giving away” this week that will help you grow deeper in your relationship with God?

Reflect

Read Hebrews 11 from your Bible and consider the risks these examples took in following the Lord and living a life of faith.

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*Source of the story is unknown.

© Copyright 2017 Kolby King

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Protected

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Beatrice, Nebraska. March 1, 1950

Everyone had a good excuse that Wednesday evening for being late to 7:30 choir practice at the Baptist Church. Ladona Vandegrift, a high school sophomore, always came early. But on this night a thorny geometry problem detained her. Torena Estes and her sister Sadie were ready to leave home on time. But their car wouldn’t start.

Mrs. Schuster could be counted on to arrive ten minutes early for practice. But she was held up at her mother’s house preparing for a later missionary meeting. Pastor Klempel and his wife, always punctual, didn’t make it at 7:30 either. His wristwatch, usually very accurate, was five minutes slow this evening.

Joyce Black felt it was so cold that she waited till the last possible minute to leave—a few minutes too long. Harvey Ahl had been invited over to a friend’s home for dinner and in the pleasant conversation lost track of time.

Even Mrs. Paul, the choir director, failed to arrive on time. She’d always come fifteen minutes early. But on this night her daughter, who played piano for the group, fell asleep. Mrs. Paul hurriedly awakened Marilyn and they rushed to finish getting ready—but drove up to the church a few minutes late. This was the first time either had ever been tardy for choir practice.

Eighteen people made up the West Side Baptist Church choir. Tonight every one of them arrived late, something that had never happened before.

No one was there at 7:30 when the basement furnace, situated directly below the choir loft, ignited a gas leak. The loft blew up; the church was demolished. Then the choir members arrived on the scene—too late.*

Reflect

Read Psalm 91 from your Bible.

Respond

God is the Great Protector and we must also be careful to protect the children He has entrusted to our care. In what ways has God protected you? In what ways can we share God’s protection with the children to whom we minister.
Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

You’ll never be safer than right in the middle of God’s will.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*Steven R. Mosley, God a Biography, (Phoenix: Questar Publishers, Inc., 1988), p. 211-2
© Copyright 2017 Kolby King

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Towards to Kiss

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The Greek word proskuneo (translated “worship”) means “towards to kiss” or to “adore”… “Literally, to kiss toward someone, to throw a kiss in token of respect or homage. The ancient Oriental (especially Persian) mode of salutaion between persons of equal rank was to kiss each other on the lips; when the difference of rank was slight, they kissed each other on the cheek; when one was much inferior, he fell upon his knees and touched his forehead to the ground or prostrated himself, throwing kisses at the same time towards the superior. It is this later mode of salutation that Greek writers express by proskuneo.”* This is the heart of worship, an in-love relationship with Jesus Christ where you long to bow before Him, to turn “to kiss” Him.

Reflect

Read Galatians 2:20 from your Bible.

Respond

Christianity is not a religion. “Religion” comes from a Latin word meaning “back to bondage” because religion tries to squeeze your life into a rule book. Christianity is a relationship where the “rule book” Himself comes to live His life in and through you. Are you letting Jesus live through you? When was the last time you “turned to kiss” the Lord Jesus? Are you totally surrendered to Him? Are you in love with Him? How does this “in love” relationship come out in the way you live?

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

Our word “worship” comes from an Old Anglo-Saxon word, “worthship,” because when you worship, you are giving someone their worth. What “worth” do you give Christ daily?

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D., ed.., The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament, (Word Publishers, Iowa Falls, Iowa, 1992), p. 1233-4.

© Copyright 2017 Kolby King

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Heart for Service

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Charles T. Studd was a famous sportsman in England, captain of the Cambridge XI cricket team. A century ago he gave away his vast wealth to needy causes and led the “Cambridge Seven” to China. His slogan was, “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.”

During the first decade of this century, Charles Borden left one of America’s greatest family fortunes to be a missionary in China. He only got as far as Egypt where, still in his twenties, he died of typhoid fever. Before his death he said, “No reserves, no retreats, no regrets!”

A generation ago, Jim Elliot went from Wheaton College to become a missionary to the Aucas in Ecuador. Before he was killed, he wrote, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

“…I [Billy Graham] have chosen Christ not because He takes away my pain but because He gives me strength to cope with that pain and in the long range to realize victory over it. Corrie ten Boom said, ‘The worst can happen but the best remains.’”*

Reflect

Read Philippians 1:21 from your Bible.

Respond

Service is one of God’s five purposes for your life and the heart for service begins when a person falls in love with Christ and is willing to say, “Lord, I will do anything you want me to do. Here I am. Send me.” Have you said this lately? Are you absolutely in love with Jesus? For what specific service did God create you? Consider it this way: When you want to drive a nail, you pick up a hammer. When God wants to _________________ (fill in the blank), He calls on you.

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

You’ll never be happier and you’ll never be safer than right in the middle of God’s will—even if it costs your life.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*Billy Graham, Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, (Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1983) p. 94-95

© Copyright 2017 Kolby King

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Going Forward

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The story is told that when Berlin was being divided into East Berlin, controlled by the Communists, and West Berlin, part of the free world, a group of East Berliners dumped a whole truckload of garbage on the west side. The people from West Berlin thought they’d pick up all the garbage, put it on a truck, and dump it back on the east side. Then they decided that wasn’t the way to handle it. Instead they filled a dump truck with canned goods and other non-perishable food items, went over to the east side, stacked it neatly, and put a sign beside it. The sign read, “Each gives what each has to give.” What a great message! You can only give fruit to others when you are living a fruitful life inwardly yourself. So, here’s the question of the day: What kind of fruit are you producing? You can’t grow fruit if you’re not growing. How are you growing in your walk with Christ? *

Reflect

Read Jude 1:20 from your Bible.

Respond

One of God’s purposes for you is to grow day by day with Him. After, this is eternal life—Not just going to Heaven, but knowing God (John 17:3). How well are you growing? Are there things in your life that are stunting your growth? What is your plan for a closer walk with Christ?

Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

If you’re not going forward, you’re probably going backwards. Growing takes time and is a process. God takes six hours to grow a mushroom but sixty years to grow an oak tree. Which do you want to be?

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*John Maxwell, Be All You Can Be (publisher, date, and page unknown).

© Copyright 2017 Kolby King

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Read:

Paul Bell was our missionary to the Mexicans in Bastrop, Texas. One Saturday afternoon he mingled with the men who came to town at that time. He came in contact with a man in his sixties and found him to be a ready listener to the sweet story of Jesus and His love. Later this man was gloriously converted. He said, “I can’t read or write, so I want you to teach me John 3:16. And since my people love to sing, I want you to teach me a gospel song.” With painstaking care, Brother Bell taught him John 3:16 and a stanza of the song, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The man also promised to come to church and be baptized.

Three weeks went by and the man didn’t show up. On the fourth Sunday he came and brought with him five other Mexicans. He walked down the aisle with them and said, “We are all here to be baptized.” In this brief time, with just a little bit of knowledge, he had led five men to Christ. He lived for two more years. Again and again he would come in and bring someone that he had won to Christ. The total reached about fifty. Then one day somebody came to Brother Bell and said, “An old Mexican woodcutter is dying, and he is calling for you.” Brother Bell went out and found the man. “I am so glad to see you,” said the woodcutter, “Will you quote my verse for me?” Brother Bell did this and then the man said, “Now will you sing my song for me?” Brother Bell lifted up his voice and sang. He saw the old man’s lips moving for a while, then they stopped. At the end of the song, he saw that the soul of the dear old Christian had slipped out to be with his God. But in two year’s time, he had won fifty souls with one verse of Scripture and one stanza of a song.*

Reflect

Read Acts 1:8 from your Bible.

Respond

Evangelism is one of the five purposes God has for you. He created you to shine His life and light to all you meet. How effective do you feel in bringing other people to Christ? In what ways can you grow stronger in this area? What is your vision for seeing people saved?
Prayerfully consider what you have read today. Then take a few moments to pray for yourself, your students, and others with whom you serve in ministry.

Remember

You are witness everyday—either for Christ or against Him.

Get all 52 Children’s Leader Devotions HERE. 

Find more children’s ministry resources and training at:
 www.330resources.org/children.

If these resources bless you, consider supporting this ministry:




*W. Herschel Ford, Sermons You Can Preach on John, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1958) p. 429-430
© Copyright 2017 Kolby King

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