01. Introduction
“Entertainment has become the fast and sterile substitute for the hard work of relationships. God created us to be in relationship with him and each other. Relationships are messy and can be difficult. However, they are the good work of God and of those who choose to follow Jesus. Children are hungry for relationship.” – Lacy Finn Borgo.
It was a better-than-normal Sunday morning. I got up in time to leisurely read my Bible and pray. I felt inspired and purposeful about my upcoming time with our church’s four- and five-year-olds. I was prepared to teach, ready to share God’s truth. Arriving early, my smile was genuine as I greeted families and worked alongside the other volunteers to help the children find toys and coloring pages so they’d have something to do while we waited for everyone to arrive.
However, as we moved through the morning, my inspiration waned as little challenges (you might call them hiccups) presented themselves. A tiny freckle-faced boy ignored me when I asked him to stop playing with a toy truck and join us for the lesson. Three children fought over who would put the last few pieces of a giant dinosaur puzzle together, and a shy girl in a pale yellow dress hid under the table, refusing to come out. And that was just the beginning. I was losing steam. I had been ready for a magical time of discipleship, but it didn’t take long before I was just wondering how many minutes we had left and what I could do to keep everyone entertained until the parents arrived. Why was I so easily thrown off course?
Kids are more intuitive than we give them credit for, and they can sense when we approach them as a project instead of a friend. Despite my intentions, I engaged with them as if I were the expert, and the children were little sponges, there to absorb the message I had planned. When things didn’t go smoothly, I reverted to finding ways to keep them “occupied” and happy.
To be sure, we must teach God’s Word when we are together. After all, we don’t get much focused time with the children of our churches as fewer and fewer families attend regularly. According to Gallup, only 20% of Americans attend church every week, down 32% since 2020.Explore the latest church attendance statistics in 2024 and discover surprising insights into the changing landscape of church attendance. | ChurchTrac Blog We should prepare well to intentionally present the gospel in a beautiful, engaging, and age-appropriate way. We also need to model and practice communal prayer and worship. However, it is crucial that we carefully approach this time as participatory and active.
In Matthew 19, Jesus demands that we, adults and Christian leaders, pay attention to how children engage with God. We have much to learn from their relationship with Christ. Therefore, when we are together, we should continually remind ourselves that we are not a group of experts (adults) and learners (children). We are spiritual brothers and sisters; we are friends.
Life with God for Children offers a roadmap for teaching from a place of connection, where we are actively learning and growing in Christ together. Borgo recognizes that the method is a message. If we want the children to know God and pursue him in their everyday lives, they must participate with us (hiccups and all). Thus, we pray, talk, and even sit in silence together. We provide space and time for them to experience God with their whole persons. We teach by doing. Remember, the joy of learning together is part of what makes this journey so exciting and engaging.
You may initially feel skeptical about certain methods in Life with God for Children. Trying them for the first few times may make you uncomfortable. We aren’t used to teaching this way, but that’s okay. Keep at it. The kids will likely take to it before you do, and even though they’ll be surprised at the beginning, once they recognize that you value their partnership and contribution, their interest and confidence will grow.
There will be days when things go lopsided, but we can ask the Holy Spirit to give us creativity and see the opportunity in those moments. Pursue relationships and connection – with God and the children. Borgo writes, “…this curriculum has not been written to entertain. Instead, it’s been written to give children what they need, what they really want, and have been asking for if we were listening…relationship. Relationship with the adults who love them and relationship with Jesus who loved them so much he gave his life for them…Our focus is connection. Connection to God and connection to each other, because that is what we are all seeking no matter how old we are.” (p. 6)
We have been created to know and be known. Pursue Christ with all your heart, and then take these children by the (spiritual) hands and walk with them to meet Him each time you teach. Prepare well, knowing that this is God’s holy work. Even when the children would rather play with their toys or stay hidden under the table, realize they are learning who God is and how to relate to Him every time you invite them to experience Him with you.
In the following section, I will provide examples of using two lessons (one for younger children and one for older ones) at church, whether for a large or small group gathering. Although we modified this resource in the previous two articles, you will find that Life with God for Children lends itself naturally to the local church environment. However, I will share some tips I’ve learned. I hope you find them helpful as you learn to incorporate this resource into the life of your children’s ministry.
In addition to the curriculum, you need The Life with God Bible (Zondervan), and if you are teaching children ages PreK-2nd grade, you will need a copy of The Beginner’s Bible (Tyndale House Publishers). I also found having a dedicated journal for notes, thoughts, and prayers helpful. Finally, read Borgo’s complete Introduction at the beginning of your curriculum download. She lists materials you will frequently use there.
As you plan to meet with the children, prepare yourself. Be ready to see these little ones as co-pilgrims and friends. It will help tremendously to go through these lessons as a learner before assuming the role of teacher. To do that, I recommend reviewing the first article in this series. Ask God what He has for you, recognizing that we cannot share with others what we do not have ourselves.
02. Sample Lesson for Grades PreK & K (Lesson 44: Come Follow Jesus)
Background Notes for Teachers: If this is your first time teaching this resource, read Lacy Finn Borgo’s curriculum Introduction. It will provide an overview of the unique characteristics.
- Read the entire lesson on p. 205-208.
- Then, spend time on the suggested reading in The Background Notes for Teachers. For more information on how to meditatively interact with God’s Word, see the Conversatio article “Word Becoming Flesh” by Judith Hougen.Word Becoming Flesh: Relating With God in Scripture | Conversatio Divina
- Read through the lesson and create a list of the needed supplies.
Center Down
- By “centering down,” you help your children mark this time as holy or “set apart.” Welcoming the children into a quiet environment where they remove their shoes and find a book or other slow-paced activity may initially feel odd and impossible. However, if you are consistent, the children will likely surprise you with how quickly they take to this new way of doing things. Beginning this way sets the tone for the rest of your time together, so I strongly encourage you to incorporate this style of welcoming the children.
- You may find it helpful to play calming instrumental music as the children arrive. Cozy reading spots with cushions or soft carpet squares throughout the room are like their own invitation to slow down from a hurried pace and savor a moment with a beautiful book.
- Fill your classroom with beautiful children’s books that capture the imagination. If you have a limited budget, utilize your local library or request donations of new or lightly used books from your church family. I’ve included a list of my favorites at the end of this article.*
- Remember that your teaching doesn’t begin when you read the Bible story; it starts when the children enter the room. This method differs from most churches’ Sunday School, Children’s Church, and Midweek services, but after a while, many kids will see this time as a welcome gift from their loud, fast-paced lives.
Prayer Time
- As you pray, simply talk with your heavenly Father together. Let the children see you relax, enjoy a conversation with God, and offer them the opportunity to do the same.
- Do not be afraid of silence, and don’t underestimate the children’s ability to learn to sit quietly with God. Some weeks will go more smoothly than others, but practicing 30 seconds of silence together gives the children time to be with Jesus. Sometimes, they may hear the Holy Spirit speak to them; other times, they may silently share their prayer requests, and there will be weeks when they are fidgety. That’s ok. Simply be consistent. Each component of this lesson shows the children something important about who God is and how they can connect with Him.
Connect and Focus Verse
- By allowing the children to share what they remember about previous Bible lessons, they learn they have something valuable to contribute. Their peers will learn as they hear from their friends.
Listen and Learn
- These sections will likely work just as they are. You will read this week’s story from The Beginner’s Bible.
Snack
- The snack time is intentional and is a way to model feasting and celebrating together as the Body of Christ. Check with parents about food allergies, but do not let that deter you from enjoying the snack together. As the children eat, keep the conversation going – the natural activity of eating may help them relax and more willingly share what they’re thinking about God’s Word.
Do
- Each week, Borgo includes descriptions of Response Centers. Instead of preparing a game or craft, you will gather supplies for at least three stations the children can choose from around the room. Even if you only have a few students in your class, always offer at least three centers. This method allows children to choose how to respond to God’s Word.
- If you have a large class, add the additional centers.
- Over time, you will build an excellent supply of station materials to draw from each week.
Sing/Conclusion
- Many young children love to sing, and Lacy Finn Borgo does a fantastic job selecting classic children’s songs you can enjoy together. If you aren’t familiar with the recommended weekly song, you may find it on YouTube or streaming services like Spotify. However, I recommend you keep things simple in the classroom and sing acapella.
- If you want to give the children something to do with their bodies as they sing, teach basic sign language for these classic children’s songs.
03. Sample Lesson Preparation for Grades 3-4 (Lesson 21: (Samuel Listens to God)
Background Notes for Teachers: If this is your first time teaching this resource, read Lacy Finn Borgo’s curriculum Introduction. It will provide an overview of the unique characteristics.
- Read the entire lesson on p. 109-113.
- Spend time on the suggested reading in The Background Notes for Teachers. For more information on meditatively interacting with God’s Word, see Judith Hougen’s article “Word Becoming Flesh” at Conversatio.orgWord Becoming Flesh: Relating With God in Scripture | Conversatio Divina
- Study the Background Notes for Teachers in The Life with God Bible. For this lesson, you will read “The People of God as a Nation” on p. 391-396 and “Samuel, the Prayer Warrior” on p. 409-410. Then, read the week’s Scripture passage: 1 Samuel 3:1-10.
- Read the verses mentioned in Learn. Answer the questions.
- Read through the lesson and create a list of the needed supplies. This will include deciding whether you will do the Extension on p. 111.
Center Down
- By “centering down,” you help your children mark this time as holy and “set apart.” Welcoming the children into a quiet environment where they remove their shoes and find a book may feel odd at first. However, if you are consistent, the children will likely surprise you with how quickly they take to this new way of doing things. Beginning this way sets the tone for the rest of your time together, so I strongly encourage you to incorporate this style of welcoming the children.
- Play calming instrumental music as the children arrive. Cozy reading spots with cushions or soft carpet squares throughout the room will invite the kids to slow down from a hurried pace and savor a moment with a beautiful book.
- Fill your classroom with beautiful children’s books that capture their imagination. If you have a limited budget, utilize your local library or request donations of new or lightly used books from your church family. I’ve included a list of my favorites at the end of this article.*
Prayer Time
- In addition to the author’s instructions, consider saying “The Lord’s Prayer” and/or concluding with The Doxology.
Connect and Focus Verse
- By allowing the children to share what they remember about previous Bible lessons, they learn they have something valuable to contribute. Their peers will learn as they hear from their friends.
Listen and Learn
- Follow the provided instructions.
Do
- As you review DO, consider what you might share from your experiences in prayer. Share a story from your life about how you’ve learned to connect with God through prayer.
- If you have a larger class, be prepared to create more than one poster (with two or three children working on each one), or have them create prayer pictures on paper in their own space and glue them to the poster when finished. To make this activity more contemplative, play instrumental music while they quietly work on their pictures and encourage the children to talk with God as they draw. Then, let them share about their drawings once the poster is complete.
- Create a sample prayer book to show the children if you plan to do the Extension. The daily prayers are written out on p. 112-113.
Sing/Conclusion
Review this week’s recommended songs to ensure you are ready to lead the music. This week, there is a suggestion on bridging what is happening in your class with the broader congregation’s worship. Discuss this with your church’s worship leader. If this specific idea doesn’t work for your local body, there may be another way to collaborate.
04. A Few of My Favorite Children’s Books for Church Libraries
The Action Bible (children’s book series) by Sergio Carillo
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
All Will Be Well by Lacy Finn Borgo
The Biggest Bible Storybook by Kevin DeYoung
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Corduroy by Don Freeman
Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross by Carl Laferton
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
God Made All of Me by Justin Holcomb
God, Right Here by Kara Lawler
God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell
The God Contest by Carl Laferton
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
The Hat by Jan Brett
Home is In Between by Mitali Perkins
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones
Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit by Esau McCaulley
Joseph and the Little Overcoat by Simms Taback
Just in Case You Ever Wonder by Max Lucado
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Like Me by Laura Wifler
Little Pilgrim’s Progress by Helen L. Taylor
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Meg is Not Alone by Megan Hill
Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
Praise Him by Lauren Chandler
The Rabbit Listened by Cory Doerfield
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Strong by Sally Lloyd Jones
When I Go to Church, I Belong by Elrena Evans
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
The World God Made by Hannah Anderson