Your Children and Your Church

You and your children are loving Live B.I.G. You just wish there were ways to let the other members of your church know what is going on in Sunday school. Even better, you wonder if there are ways to get the congregation involved. Here are some suggestions:

• Incorporate some of your Live B.I.G. songs into general worship occasionally. Wait until the end of the month, when your children are completely familiar with the song you’ve chosen. Let them lead the congregation in the song, as well as any accompanying movements.

• Children’s sermons that are posted on this website directly tie each week’s lesson to that week’s message for children. Using these children’s sermons not only reinforces for the children what they are learning in Sunday school, but it also makes the congregation aware of what the children are doing each week.

• Invite different people from your congregation to participate in your Sunday school class. Let a senior citizen tell the Bible story. Encourage a teenager to help out with a craft activity or to learn the dance steps to a Live B.I.G. song. One person at a time, your congregation will experience what your children are experiencing, and your children will benefit from the interaction.

• Recognize the leaders and assistants who make Sunday school happen. Right before each quarter begins, bring those people up front during the worship service. Let them introduce themselves and tell what age group they work with. Include brief bios in your church newsletter or bulletin. Use these opportunities to invite other people in the congregation to join the Sunday school team.

• Set up prayer partners. Invite people from your congregation to pair up with children in your Sunday school program. Encourage them to contact their prayer partner at least every other week, and to share the things they need prayer for, as well as to offer praise for any answered prayers.

• Have someone visit the classes with a video camera, taping the children as they are learning about God and God’s world. Ask the children to talk about what they are learning. Turn the footage into a video that you can run during the worship service at the end of each quarter.

• Let your children serve the congregation by offering breakfast items during the break between worship and Sunday school. With each donut or cup of juice, let the children hand out handmade cards featuring the Bible verses they’re learning each week.

• Display a Sunday school bulletin board in a prominent place. Use it to feature photos of the children in class, as well as artwork and posters.