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Category: With Kids in Mind

Kid Communicator Secret #12: End with a Challenge – Move Kids from Hearing to Doing

Calling kids to action today shapes warriors for Christ tomorrow. Don’t just inform — inspire action! Learn how to leave kids ready to live out what they’ve learned. A few years ago, a mom called me and said something had happened that she couldn’t quite explain and hoped I could shed some light. Her younger son, Gabe, had received five dollars in a birthday card from Grandma with a note encouraging him to buy something he’d enjoy. So off to the toy store they went. As they browsed the shelves, the boy suddenly asked, “What is Sam saving up for?” Sam was his older brother. His mom replied, “He’s saving up for a Spider-Man action figure.” That’s when the boy shocked her by saying, “Then that’s what I want to buy.” Assuming he was trying to make his brother jealous, she told him, “No, you need to get something different. I don’t want you picking the same thing just to make him mad.” But Gabe quickly responded, “No, sorry Mom, I wouldn’t do that. I want to buy it for him.” Now totally confused, she asked, “Why would you spend your birthday money on your brother?” And this is what…

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Kid Communicator Secret #11 – Tell Stories, Not Just Lessons

Capture Hearts Through Narrative Jesus taught through stories. Discover how a well-told story can lodge truth deep in a child’s heart. “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.” — Matthew 13:34 I once heard a seminary professor say, “The shortest distance between the truth and the heart… is a story.” That stuck with me. And it rings even truer in children’s ministry. When we simply explain truth, we engage the mind. But when we tell a story, we engage the heart. And that’s where transformation happens. As the great Christian Educator, Howard Hendricks, once wrote, “Stories are the language of the heart.” Jesus knew this. That’s why He taught through parables. Not because He wasn’t capable of teaching with precision, but because He understood that stories lodge truth in a way bullet points never could. Kids are wired for story. Honestly, so are adults. From the earliest moments of childhood, we crave them. “Read me a story!” is one of the most common requests a child will make. Why? Because stories don’t just inform — they invite us in. They awaken curiosity. They create a world…

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Kid Communicator Secret #10 – Have FUN!

HAVE FUN — Because Joy is Contagious Fun isn’t optional — it’s a tool! Find out how laughter and flexibility open the door to real learning. Let’s be honest — kids aren’t coming to church hoping for a lecture. They’re looking for connection, fun, and joy. And the good news? That’s exactly what we should be offering. Because our goal isn’t just to merely teach biblical information; it’s to lead kids into a relationship with Jesus — a relationship that’s full of life, wonder, and JOY. There’s a common phrase that floats around education and ministry circles: “Christianity is more caught than taught.” And while strong Bible teaching is essential, the truth is — kids aren’t just listening to your lesson… they’re watching your life. They’re asking: “Do you actually like doing this?” “Is church supposed to be this fun?” “Why is this leader always smiling?” If we want kids to fall in love with Jesus, they need to see that we love Him too — and that we love serving Him. We aren’t just teaching content or passing on information. We’re inviting kids into a relationship with Jesus Christ. And relationships are always more caught than taught. That’s why…

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Kid Communicator Secret #9 – Use All the Senses to Target All Learning Styles

Use All the Senses: Reach Every Kid, Every Way Sight, sound, touch (and sometimes taste and smell!) — engaging more senses makes learning stick for every type of learner. Have you ever walked into a room and instantly been transported by a smell? Maybe fresh cookies reminded you of Grandma’s house… or the scent of pine brought you back to Christmas morning. Smell is one of the most powerful and memorable senses we have. That’s why I love this verse: “For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ…”
 2 Corinthians 2:15 What a vivid image — not just that we live for Christ, but that our very presence can carry the fragrance of Jesus into the world. It’s a sensory picture of spiritual truth. That’s what we want in our teaching too — to leave a spiritual fragrance that lingers long after the lesson ends. And one of the best ways to do that is to engage all five senses in our teaching. When kids see, hear, touch, taste, and maybe even smell the truth you’re teaching, it sticks. It moves from their heads to their hearts — and stays. Every child learns differently. Some children love to…

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Kid Communicator Secret #8 – Be Visual: Help Kids SEE the Truth

A picture is worth a thousand words — learn to use costumes, props, and visuals to make teaching unforgettable. Truth becomes clearer when it’s not just heard but seen. When you turn lessons into something visual, you’re creating snapshots of truth that stick for life. God, though Himself invisible, is a visual God – He always made His presence visible, from a pillar of cloud by day to a pillar of fire by night for His people, to His incredible acts in the Old Testament to the literal object lessons Jesus did in the New. God knows His people need to SEE Him at work, not just read or hear about Him. In my planning, one of the questions I ask myself regularly is, “How can I help the kids SEE this — not just HEAR it?” “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them… Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:6–9 (NIV) Kids are naturally visual. In a world filled with screens, images, and sensory input,…

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