Chi ldren’s Day 2004P u r p o s e :

Children’s Day is a time to recognize leaders and parents who are making a positive impact inthe lives of preschoolers and children. This day can be a time of commitment for your churchas you celebrate the programs and leadership that are making a difference.

E v e n t s u g g e s t i o n s :• Host an open house in the preschool and children’s areas.

• Include displays to show examples of what the children are learning or experiencing atchurch. Consider a montage of pictures that represent the children in your church’s past andpresent history. Use question marks to represent future children of your church. Includepictures from a variety of activities such as Sunday School, Discipleship Training, MissionsEducation, TeamKid, Choirs, Vacation Bible School, camps, retreats, and any other activitiesyou have done with the children. If you have a vision or mission statement for yourpreschool and children’s ministry, display it with the pictures in a prominent place.

Ask church members of all ages to bring baby or childhood pictures and display them. Letfolks try to guess who everyone is. (This might also be a good mixer activity at a fellowshipor in the foyer.)

Ask church members to bring any memorabilia from their childhood that could be used in adisplay.

• BannersIf your church already has a banner ministry, do you have banners representing the workdone with, and for children? Follow the simple instructions included here and invite yourchildren to make special banners for use in this service. Your church will be blessed!

Things you will need:• 9-by-12-inch construction paper or felt• For each banner, three strips of 3⁄4-by-5-inch construction paper• Plastic straws or dowel rod• For each banner, 24 inches of string• Stapler• Glue gun and glue sticks• Crayons or markers• Scissors• Fabric pieces

There are many choices in making banners. They can be small and on paper or they can bemore elaborate and made out of fabric cut-outs glued to felt.

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Ask the children to decorate the banners representing the different ministries in theChildren’s Ministry. Staple three construction paper loops (evenly spaced) across the top ofeach sheet of construction paper to make a banner. Insert a straw through the loops at the topof the banner; then insert a length of string through the straw, tie a knot in the ends, and thebanner is ready for hanging on a wall or doorknob!

Adapt this idea on a larger scale by using dowel rods and larger pieces of paper or felt.

• Provide recognition for leaders by providing a gift, lunch, or banquet for them. A bookmark,refrigerator magnet, or flower would make a nice take home gift.

• Ask your pastor and music minister to consider the sermon outline and worship plan includedin this information.

A r t T h e m e sUse gift box themed borders for bulletin boards.

W h e r e d o w e s t a r t ?This planning guide is just a beginning. You and your church can add to and develop theseideas to provide an effective, exciting recognition of the work that is going on now and look tothe future to discover new ministry areas.

A good starting point may be to enlist the help of a Children’s Day Team. This team mightinclude parents, grandparents, the pastor or another staff member, and representatives from allof the programs in which children and preschoolers are involved.

• Select the date and calendar the event.Are there conflicts on the church calendar?Will the morning worship or evening worship be the focal time?Will there be events on the afternoon of that Sunday?

• Establish a budget.There will be some expenses required for a worthwhile event. Use the budget worksheet toplan and keep track of expenditures.

• Make some decisions.We have developed a list of possible ideas from which your church may choose. You candevelop these ideas or begin with your own. Consider activities that will recognize leadersand parents who are making a positive impact in the lives of children. Consider also activitiesthat will inform the congregation about the needs and opportunities of the children’sprogram. There may be a need to motivate the congregation to greater participation insupport of children in general and the church’s ministry to children specifically. Finally,consider some activities that may highlight the church’s ministry to children in the eyes of the community.

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• Make assignments.Each aspect of the day will need some individual attention from someone. Give your team orothers in your church particular tasks to accomplish.

• Meet as needed.Sometimes phone calls and hallway conversation are all that are needed to coordinate anevent. As the event becomes more involved, follow-up meetings may be needed to help eachperson see his or her task through.

• Pray Pray as a team and as individuals for the children of the church and community. Pray for theleadership. Pray for the children not yet reached.

• Promote the event.Before Children’s Day use newsletters, announcements on your Church’s Web page, signs,worship programs, and so forth to inform everyone of the events planned.

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B U D G E T W O R K S H E E T C O S T

Promotion/Displays ___________________

Decorations ___________________

Refreshments ___________________

Supplies ___________________

Gifts/Giveaways ___________________

Luncheon/Banquet ___________________

Open House ___________________

______________________ ___________________

______________________ ___________________

T E A M M E M B E R S

____________________________ ____________________________

____________________________ ____________________________

____________________________ ____________________________

P L A N N I N G N O T E S

Worship_________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Events__________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Promotion_______________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Decorations and Displays___________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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E v e r y C h i l d a G i f t !W o r s h i p S e r v i c e P l a n :

W o r s h i p s e r v i c e p r e p a r e d b y D a v i d T h o m a s .

Worship is a wonderful privilege extended to the family of God. Celebrate this special day withjoy and gratitude! The following is a suggestion for leading your church family to do just that.This order for worship may be used as is or as a springboard to creatively reflect the worshiplife of your congregation.*

Opportunities, Greetings, and RecognitionsUse this time at the beginning of your gathering to … • WELCOME guests and visitors to your church, and to … • INFORM your church family of present and future opportunities for service through the

children’s and preschool ministries of your church.

You could also use this time to … • RECOGNIZE people in your church who make a difference in the lives of children (teachers,

ministers, coaches, parents, grandparents). If you do, be sure to stress their importance as“models of Christ” before children. Remind them that just as God has given children to themas a “gift,” THEY have been given as a “gift” to children!

PreludeThis would be a wonderful opportunity to use child instrumentalists in worship. Many havestudied privately and possess a usable level of competence by older childhood. This isespecially true with piano and stringed instruments. You might even wish to use this time tocelebrate the “gift” of musical talent in multiple children or use your Children’s Handbell Choir.

Music for WorshipUse “Be Strong” (Sticky Notes and Bible Quotes, Dennis & Nan Allen, DoveTail Music, 2002)as a backdrop for beginning your celebration of the “gift” of children. This could be presentedby:• a children’s choir • adults with adaptation. If adults are used, consider contrasting Choir 1 and Choir 2 parts by

high voices and low voices or male voices and female voices. • combining adult and children’s voices.

Use still or moving images of children and adults sharing the “gift” of each other at church.Pre-time the music (approximately 3 minutes 15 seconds) to synchronize the video media to themusic.

First Thoughts for the DayAsk a lead-worshiper (minister, teacher, parent, child or other) to set the mood for the day and interpret the service theme.

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Congregational Praise!Sing:• “Lord, for the Gift of Children” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 508) or • “He Who Began a Good Work in You” (No. 180, Songs for Praise & Worship, Word Music).

As an option you may also choose to use both of these at this time.

Drama• “Train Up a Child” by Darlene Tullos, Actors Not Included: 303 Scripts for Church Drama,

LifeWay Press (CD-ROM, ISBN 0-7673-9772-X). This drama uses simple staging andhumorous but poignant dialogue to drive home the importance of modeling Christianity in thehome. Every family is guaranteed to see themselves as the drama unfolds.

Congregational Praise!Sing:• “Would You Bless Our Homes and Families” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 507)• “I Will Sing of the Mercies” (No. 52, Songs for Praise & Worship, Word Music)• A medley usage of “Lord, Be Glorified” (Baptist Hymnal, No. 457) and “I Surrender All”

(The Baptist Hymnal, No. 275) (Sing stanza one of “Lord, Be Glorified” No. 457, then stanzaone of 275, then return to No. 457 and to the tune sing the words “In my heart, Lord …” thenclose the medley by singing the chorus of No. 275 one final time.)

Prayer for the DayEveryone in worship should now be focused on being the “gift” of God as His child. • Ask a child to lead in prayer. (Ask the child to write the prayer and share it with you ahead of

time. If the prayer needs to be lengthened or changed you have the opportunity to do sobefore the time of worship.)

Music for WorshipSing:• “Forgiven” (Sticky Notes and Bible Quotes, Dennis & Nan Allen, DoveTail Music, 2002).

Again, this music can be presented by your children’s choir, adult choir or both. If adults areused, consider using a child soloist(s) for the two optional solos.

The Reading of God’s Word• Matthew 18:1-6,10-14

• Your pastor may choose to read the passage.• Ask a child to read the passage• Ask several children to read the passage. (Be creative and alternate their reading

throughout the passage.

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MessageOur church’s commitment to Children

Matthew 18:1-6,10-14S e r m o n P r e p a r e d b y T o m E l l i f f

IntroductionIt is not unusual for churches to have several days each year in which members are urged to

make a specific commitment. Sometimes that commitment is to missions, stewardship, a specialoutreach emphasis, or a building project. There are some commitments, however, which areessential but often escape notice. Consider, for instance, the commitments our church mustmake to children.

On more than one occasion Jesus' followers raised the issue of rank in God's Kingdom. Oneday Jesus responded to their questioning by calling a child unto Himself and urging Hisdisciples to consider their misplaced priorities. He chided them for being more concerned abouttheir elevation than their entry into heaven.

Tucked away in this event we also see some truths regarding children and the value Christplaces on them. These truths become the basis for several commitments every church shouldmake to children.

MessageI. We will give our children the opportunity to be touched by Jesus (v. 1-2).“Then He called a child to Him ... ”

Jesus loved children ... and they in turn loved Him. The very next chapter in Matthew(chapter 19) records a tender moment when children were “ ... brought to Him so He might putHis hands on them and pray” (v. 13-15). “Don’t try to keep them from coming to Me.” He saidto His disciples who were soon to learn that genuine conversion was born out of childlike faith.In both chapters 18 and 19 we learn something about the touch of Jesus.

1. The touch of Jesus must be real. There is awesome power in the human touch, whether anencouraging pat on the shoulder, or the touch of one's gentle response to a difficult question.We are to be extensions of Christ, reaching out to others with His love.

2. The touch of Jesus must be responsible. There was never a hint of impropriety in Jesus’touch. In fact, it is obvious throughout the Gospels that parents felt comfortable bringingtheir children to Him. Parents and children should be assured that their church doeseverything necessary to provide an absolutely safe environment.

3. The touch of Jesus must be reassuring. Children went away from Jesus encouraged, built upand strengthened to meet the different circumstances of life. Children should receive that same encouragement from the church which, after all, is Christ incarnated in our society.

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II. We will give our children the opportunity to be taught by Jesus (v. 3-5).“Whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me.”

Instead of looking on them as a “bother,” or “insignificant individuals to be tended to whilethe big work goes on,” Jesus made children the focus of His attention. They became the centralillustration in His message on the necessity of humility and faith. By His words and actionsJesus modeled the way we should approach the responsibility of teaching our children.

1. We should approach this responsibility with rejoicing! After all, to welcome a child in Jesus’name is to welcome Christ Himself into our midst (v. 5).

2. We should approach this responsibility with reverence. Teaching a child the truth is such asignificant responsibility that failing to do so carries a heavy penalty. “But whoever causesthe downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me—it would be better for him if aheavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea!”said Jesus (v. 6).

III. We will give our children the opportunity to trust in Jesus (v. 10-11).“For the Son of Man has come to save the lost.”

Although actually addressing the issue of greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus has“children” on His mind. Despite his exhortations (v. 7-9) He returns to the issue of their welfareand our concern for them.

1. They are loved by God and deserve significance. He says in verse 10, “See that you don’tlook down on one of these little ones, because I tell you that in heaven their angelscontinually view the face of My Father in heaven.”

2. But they are also lost from God and deserve saving. Jesus says in verse 11, “For the Son ofMan has come to save the lost.” As children become convicted of sin and develop anawareness of their accountability to God, it is imperative that we remain both constant andclear in our simple presentation of the Gospel truth. There can be no greater joy than to leada child in expressing saving faith in Christ.

IV. We Will Give Our Children The Opportunity To Be Treasured By Jesus (v. 12-14)“It is not the will of your Father ... that one of these little ones perish.”

The parable of a shepherd's concern for one lost sheep is again related by the Master for Hisdisciples. This time, however, He uses it to express the value of children. “It is not the will ofyour Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish” (v. 14).

Like the one lost sheep...

1. Children are worthy of our greatest efforts to bring them home to Christ (v. 12).

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We should commit all it takes to insure that every child touched by our ministry receiveseverything necessary to know Christ and grow in faith.

2. Children are worthy of our genuine exuberance when they come home to Christ (v. 13).The conversion of a child should be a cause for genuine celebration. In the years to comethey should have good memories of the moment they repented and believed, as well as thejoy it brought to them, to others, and to the heart of God.

ConclusionWhat we believe is proved out by what we do. As the world continually casts aside true

biblical values, we must renew our commitments to the things that count. Children counted toChrist! And they count to us! Our commitment to them is evidenced by what we do for them.Let it be said that this church is committed to bringing Christ to the children of this world.

A Call to AcceptanceThis is the most important time of worship. Worshippers have heard from the Lord and nowthey must respond. Encourage them to say “Yes” to God’s leading in their life today! Sing:• “The Savior Is Waiting” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 321). You may choose to have this quietly

played while people respond or have congregants sing. • Link to “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 320) which is on the

opposite page.

Offerings: the Gift of Self• Use children to receive the offering.• Use families to receive the offering.• Use children and their teachers to receive the offering.

Recognition of DecisionsAs a church, celebrate decisions that have been made public.

Final ThoughtsUse this brief moment to encourage people to “unwrap the gift” given by God in their homesand lives today so they can celebrate children and being a child of God! You could convert“God, Give Us Christian Homes” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 504) into a congregationalresponsive reading (example below). You could also use children and children’s ministryleaders as lead-worshipers here!

Follow this pattern for each stanza or choose which stanzas to use:

Congregation: “God, give us Christian homes!”

Leader: “Homes where the Bible is loved and taught, homes where The Master’s will is sought, homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought; God give us Christian homes.”

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Congregation: “God, give us Christian homes!”

or

Congregation: “God, give us Christian homes!”

Leader 1: “Homes where the Bible is loved and taught,”

Leader 2: “Homes where the Master’s will is sought,”

Leader 3: “Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought;”

All Leaders: “God give us Christian homes.”

Congregation: “God, give us Christian homes!”

Congregational BenedictionSing:• “Children of God” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 479). This could be played as the final thoughts

for the day are being shared. Continue singing the chorus as people leave the worship center!

PostludeIf you choose to not leave the worship center singing, then recessional music can be insertedhere. As before, use a child with instrumental talents. Help the child (and his parents)understand that people will be leaving and not paying attention to the child’s playing. This willhelp avoid hurt feelings.

*You may shorten the length of this service by choosing to sing only selected stanzas of the hymns and chorus, and

by editing the drama script.

David Thomas is Minister of Worship and Music at First Baptist Church, Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

Tom Elliff is pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Del City, Oklahoma.

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