this year’s theme is a baseball theme that will hopefully ... can ﬁ nd game ideas in one hundred...

Step Up to the PlateStep Up to the Plate

This year’s theme is a baseball theme that will hopefully encourage adults to step up to the plate and minister to the preschoolers and children in your church. You can fi nd ideas for planning a children’s day emphasis at www.lifeway.com/childhood.

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Promotional Ideas Promotional Ideas

Additional theme-related items include:

Churchwide Sports Day—parents and children can meet at the church and participate in games and activities. You can fi nd game ideas in One Hundred Games Children Love Volumes 1 and 2. Serve theme-related food for snacks or lunch. Food could include popcorn, hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and boxed fruit drinks. (One Hundred Games can found at www.lifeway.com.) At the end of the event ask a local coach or athlete to share his or her testimony.

Candy Giveaway—enlist children to make and give out a note to adults in your church. The note should say “Will you step up to the plate and teach children?” Attach a snack-size Baby Ruth candy bar to the note.

Sports Bulletin Board—encourage children to bring a picture of themselves playing sports. Cover the bulletin board in white paper. Cut out letters that spell Step Up to the Plate and center them at the top of the board. Free hand a baseball diamond on the lower part of the board and attach the pictures of the children at different locations on the board. At the bottom of the board write Are you ready to help children learn the game of life?

Sports Display—create displays around the church using sports equipment with signs that encourage adults to “come join the best game in town—teaching children.”

Drama Team—enlist a group of adults to perform the simple drama “Step Up!” The drama can be used in a special worship service.

Plan a Worship Service—on the following pages you will fi nd the drama “Step Up!”, a sample worship service, and a sermon outline.

Worship is a wonderful privilege extended to the family of God. Celebrate this special day with joy 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 refl ect the worship life of your congregation.

In the past, we have given you a sermon, but this year we asked Kenneth Williams to write a sermon outline that you can share with your pastor. Kenneth Williams is pastor of West Cobb Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia.

David Thomas wrote the worship service outline. David is the minister of music at First Baptist Church in Sebring, Florida.


Children’s Day DramaChildren’s Day Drama

Step Up to the Plate!

Several people dressed in baseball shirts and caps with various pieces of equipment are just standing around. Joe runs up on the stage with bat in hand. He walks up to home plate ready to swing the bat.

Joe: I’m here and ready to play. Let’s get this game started.

Everyone continues to stand around.

Joe: Well, aren’t you ready to play?

Marcie: Sure, but there’s no pitcher.

Fred: And it’s kind of hard to play when there is no pitcher.

Joe: Where’s Nancy?

Gynnis: She said she was with baseball players all day and she needed a break.

Jeff: She decided to go back to the bleachers and just support the team by watching.

Joe: Wow, that’s the third time this year we’ve had to fi nd a new pitcher.

Marcie (scanning the group): SO! Who wants to be the pitcher?

Fred: Don’t look at me. I’ve served my time as pitcher. It’s time for someone younger to take over.

Joe: Gynnis, how about you?

Gynnis: Me! No, I’m better at playing a support role like passing out juices and protein bars.

Jeff: Not me! I’m the coach. I just supervise.

Joe: How about you, Marcie?

Marcie: I’m already doing the concession stand, playing third base, and organizing the baseball boosters. I don’t think I can do another thing.

Jeff: How about you, Joe?

All: Yeah, Joe!

Joe: I’m the new kid. I really haven’t played enough to know how to pitch. Knowing how to pitch takes a lot of time and effort.

Gynnis: Surely there is someone who would be willing to do it.

Fred: We ask and ask and no one seems willing to step up to the plate because it takes too much commitment or they only want to pitch once a month.

Everyone stands around for a few seconds looking at each other. Finally they all face the audience.

Joe: What about one of those people?

Jeff: I guess we could ask one more time.

The team looks at the audience and says together.

All: Are you willing to step up to the plate?


Children’s Day Worship ServiceChildren’s Day Worship Service

Opportunities, Greetings and Recognitions

Use 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 programs and ministries of your church. You could also use this time to RECOGNIZE people in your church (verbally or through video imaging) 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.

Prelude

This would be a wonderful opportunity to use child instrumentalists in worship. Many have studied privately and possess a usable level of competence by older childhood. This is especially true with piano and stringed instruments. You might even wish to use this time to celebrate the musical talent in multiple children or use your Children’s Handbell Choir or an age-level children’s choir.

First Thoughts for the Day

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

Music for Worship

Choose an inspirational piece of music about the awesome, powerful nature of God for your Sanctuary Choir to present. This piece should be very inspiring and transcendent in character. Suggested pieces from which to choose are …

Ÿ “From Age to Age Thou Art God” Anna Laura Page, Van Ness Press, 4171-63Ÿ “The Most High God” arr. Bruce Greer, from “Only Jesus” Genevox, 3170-17Ÿ “ Praise Him” arr. Richard Kingsmore, from “Only Jesus” Genevox, 3170-17 [soloist with choir;

more contemporary format]Ÿ “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” arr. Lee Poquette, from “Hymns of Choir” Genevox, 0-7673-

3120-6Ÿ “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise” arr. Dennis Allen, from “Hymns of Choir” Genevox, 0-7673-

3120-6

You could also choose to feature a children’s choir at this time. Use a piece of music currently being prepared by your children in their current music activity session at church. Another option is to combine adult and children’s voices.

If your church has the necessary technology, this would be a wonderful moment to show still or moving images of majestic scenes from nature or space. Be sure to synchronize the video media to the music.


Congregational Praise!

Use a majestic hymn such as “Holy, Holy, Holy” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 2) or “Worthy of Worship” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 3) or a selection of your choice. As an option you may also choose to make a medley of these hymns. You could feature adult or child soloists on some of the verses. You may wish to use a worship chorus medley in place of hymnody. If you choose this option, be sure to use a chorus refl ecting the awesome nature of God (for example, “Shout to the Lord”).

Worship Feature

You might wish to use your church drama ministry team to perform the drama “Step Up!”

Or, feature a children’s choir, child soloist or adult ensemble or combinations of these. Here are some musical suggestions for this feature …

Ÿ “ You Shall Love the Lord Your God” from “Hide ’Em In Your Heart, Vol. 1” Sparrow Music (Steve Green scripture song settings), Matthew 22:37

Ÿ “ What Can I Do?” and “Right Where You Are” Vicki Hancock Wright, from “Go Tell It! (The Message Is Love)” Van Ness Press 4154-04

Congregational Praise!

Use a medley of “Lord, Be Glorifi ed” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 457) and “I Surrender All” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 275). Sing stanza one “In my life, Lord…” of No. 457; then sing stanza one of 275; then return to No. 457 and sing “In my heart, Lord …”; then close the medley by singing the chorus of No. 275 one fi nal time.

The Reading of God’s Word

Read the day’s scripture passage, Deuteronomy 6:1-9. Your pastor may choose do this; however, this would again be a great opportunity to use a child or children in worship. If using more than one child, be creative and alternate their reading throughout the passage.

Prayer for the Day

Everyone in worship should now be focused on the holy, majestic nature of God by this time; pray accordingly! Ask a lead-worshiper to bring worshipers to God’s throne through prayer. Again, this is a perfect place to use a child. (Invite the child to write the prayer and share it with you ahead of time. That way, if it needs to be lengthened or changed you have the opportunity to do so with safety.)

Offering

Take the offering at this time. Once again, this is a great place to use children in worship. Another wonderful option would be to use families or children and their teachers to receive the offering. Music can be provided by your worship band or keyboardist. You may wish to superimpose the next feature at this time, or let it be a stand alone feature.


Music for Worship

Use “Love Is the More Excellent Way” (Make Us One, arr. David T. Clydesdale, David T. Clydesdale Music). This music can be presented by your Sanctuary Choir with a soloist or an adult ensemble. You could use a child soloist or children’s choir for the solo sections.

The Message (Children’s Outline is located after the worship plan)

A Call to Acceptance

This is the most important time of worship. Worshipers have heard from the Lord and now they must respond. Encourage them to say “Yes” to God’s leading in their lives today! Use “The Savior Is Waiting” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 321). You may choose to have this quietly played while people respond or have the congregation sing. If needed, you can easily link this invitation hymn with “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 320) which is on the opposite page.

Recognition of Decisions

As a church, celebrate decisions that have been made public.

Final Thoughts

Use this brief moment to encourage people by once again sharing the main points of today’s message (recognize and respond to the uniqueness of God). Celebrate God as you leave!

Congregational Benediction

Use the chorus of “Worthy of Worship” (The Baptist Hymnal, No. 3) as a capstone for the day. The verse section of this hymn could be played under the Final Thoughts as they are being wrapped up and have the congregants “burst” into singing!

Postlude

Recessional music can be inserted here. As before, you could use a child with instrumental talents. But remember, people will be leaving and not paying attention to the child’s playing, so make sure the child (and his parents) understand what will take place. This will help avoid hurt feelings.

*You may shorten the length of this service by choosing to only sing selected stanzas of the hymns and choruses, and by editing the drama script.


Children’s Day Sermon OutlineChildren’s Day Sermon Outline

Step Up to the Plate2 Timothy 3

HOOK

✰ List some current world events and talk about how they concern you. u For example, ask: Are you worried about the future of our world? I am.u Then, list some of the events that worry you.u You could add: The world seems different, more dangerous, than when I grew up. More than recent

events, it’s the spiritual tone of the world that really concerns me.

✰ Broaden your discussion to include the congregation. u Ask: Have you felt that way recently?u Quote some concerns that other members of your church have mentioned to you.

✰ State the “problem.” u Explain: When the news around the world is generally bad and our fears start to drive us, it’s hard to

know what to do and how to create real change in our neighborhoods, schools, and cities.

LOOK

✰ Transition: u Fortunately, none of these developments are catching God off-guard. In fact, the beginning of 2

Timothy 3 predicts what we are experiencing.

u Read 2 Timothy 3:1-4.

u God gave us directions for what to do during these diffi cult times. In the following verses, God challenges us to ‘Step Up to the Plate’ and become a force of good in the midst of a world of evil, confusion, and fear. Let’s look at verses 13-17.

u Read 2 Timothy 3:13-17.

✰ Ask the Key Question: How Does God Challenge Us to Step Up to the Plate? He does so in at least three ways. The fi rst is—

1. Practicing the “Follow Me” Principle.

a. In verse 14, Paul references what he calls (in other scriptures) the “Follow Me” principle.

b. Read 2 Timothy 3:14, emphasizing the second half of the verse. c. Explain the “Follow Me” Principle

† I call the principle that he mentions in verse 14 the “Follow Me” principle because of how Paul says it in 1 Corinthians 11:1. In 1 Corinthians, the Greek words literally say “Followers of me become, as I (follow) Christ.”


† This is an important principle of discipleship that is taught dozens of times throughout the New Testament—“You follow me, as I follow Christ.”

† One seminary professor said it this way, “Christianity is caught, more than it is taught.”

† The idea that someone models the way for us is foundational to how we mature in our faith. God uses different phrases in the New Testament for this concept, but they mean the same thing—“Follow me, as I follow Christ.”

† This concept was a cornerstone of the fi rst century church.

d. Apply to the church.† This is why Sunday School (or small groups) is so important. † Illustrate: Share an example from your life of a Sunday School teacher who impacted

you as a child (and probably never knew it.) You could share several examples here, if you have them.

† Illustrate: In his book, Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller says that he never liked jazz music until he watched a man play jazz on the saxophone. “After that, I liked jazz music,” he says. “Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.” 1

e. Summarize: That’s what these teachers did for me – showed me the way. In 2 Timothy, God reminds us that if we want to be a force for good in these diffi cult times, we must “Step Up to the Plate” by fi nding someone who is less mature in their Christian walk and showing them the way.

Transition: But that’s not all God says. He adds to this challenge in the next verse. Read it with me.

Read 2 Timothy 3:15.

Here, God challenges us to ‘Step Up to the Plate’ by:

2. Starting With The Children. a. Observe what verse 15 teaches.

† Start the process with the children. (The Greek literally says ‘babe’)† Teach the children Scripture, as this will lead them to salvation through Jesus Christ.

b. Apply to the church.

† This is why preschool and children’s ministries are priorities at our church.† This is why we invest in these ministries by… (describe the resources – volunteers,

budget, time, staff – that you set aside for this age group).† At this point, you could have all your preschool and children’s leaders stand. Affi rm

them by saying: These people are on the front line of Kingdom work. They are doing exactly what God teaches us here in 2 Timothy. (Personally, I would not use this moment to challenge other people to become preschool/children’s leaders. Let this moment be a time genuine affi rmation for those who sacrifi ce week after week for the next generation.)


c. Reinforce the importance of their work.† In his book, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, George Barna states

that he spent two decades of his life engaged in research, asking the question, “How can we reach adults for Christ?” Because Barna became a follower of Jesus Christ at age 25, he says, “I was seduced into believing the great myth of modern ministry: Adults are where the Kingdom action is.”

† But now, Barna says that God has “opened my mind and heart to ranking children at the top of the priority list.” Through an extensive two-year research project, Barna concludes that children must be a church’s number one priority if we want to shape the future of our world. 2

d. Summarize: God is clearly teaching us that we can make a difference in this world when we

“Step Up to the Plate” by (1) Practicing the “Follow Me” Principle and (2) Starting with the Children.

Transition

God adds one more statement to his challenge, though, in verse 16.

Read 2 Timothy 3:16

Here, God challenges us to step up to the plate by:

3. Basing Our Work on Scripture.a. Observe the benefi ts of Scripture listed in verse 16. b. Apply to the church

† This is why we have curriculum in our small groups for every age—even the youngest preschoolers. We show them God’s love and teach them God’s truth.

† This is why our preschool and children’s leaders take time out of their busy schedules each week to prepare lessons and activities for our children.

† This is why we don’t baby-sit our preschoolers and children. We teach. This age is too crucial for us to waste time doing anything else.

c. Summarize: In a world that is fi lled with evil, confusion, and fear, God is challenging us to

“Step Up to the Plate” by (1) Practicing the ‘Follow Me’ Principle, (2) Starting with the Children, and (3) Basing Our Work on Scripture.

TOOK

✰ If you want to make a difference in our world, I challenge you to “Step Up to the Plate” today and…

u Join Christ’s Team. If you are not a Believer, becoming a Follower of Jesus Christ is the only way to fi nd direction and salvation in this world. It’s not too late. God can redeem your life and give you the peace your soul longs for. Jesus Christ can change your life and use you to make an eternal difference in our world. Would you become a follower of Jesus Christ today?

Step Up to the PlateStep Up to the PlateIf you’re already a believer, then you can…

u Join our Preschool & Children’s Team. (I recommend having a sign up card in your bulletin that allows people to ask for more information about serving. You can also encourage people to visit information tables you have placed in the church. Whatever you decide, challenge them to take the next step before they leave today.)

✰ Point out the benefi ts of making these decisions. Explain: If we accept these challenges, then this is what will happen. Read 2 Timothy 3:17.

✰ Transition: u We just never realize how God uses our efforts to change lives.

u Tell this story:

In her book, The Whisper Test, Mary Ann Bird tells her story…

I grew up knowing I was different, and I hated it. I was born with a cleft palate, and when I started school, my classmates made it clear to me how I looked to others: a little girl with a misshapen lip, crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and garbled speech. When schoolmates asked, “What happened to your lip?” I’d tell them I’d fallen and cut it on a piece of glass. Somehow it seemed more acceptable to have suffered an accident than to have been born different. I was convinced that no one outside my family could love me.

There was, however, a teacher in the second grade whom we all adored – Mrs. Leonard. She was short, round, happy – a sparkling lady.

Annually, we had a hearing test… Mrs. Leonard gave the test to everyone in the class, and fi nally it was my turn. I knew from past years that as we stood against the door and covered one ear, the teacher sitting at her desk would whisper something, and we would have to repeat it back – things like “The sky is blue” or “Do you have new shoes?” I waited there for those words that God must have put into her mouth, those seven words that changed my life.

Mrs. Leonard said, in her whisper, “I wish you were my little girl.” 3

✰ Close with a simple question: Will you let God use you to change this world – one child at a time?

1. Donald Miller, Blue Like Jazz (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003) ix.2. George Barna, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions (Ventura, CA: Gospel Light, 2003) 12-13.3. Les Parrott, High Maintenance Relationships (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996) 236.

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this year’s theme is a baseball theme that will hopefully ... can ﬁ nd game ideas in one hundred...

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