THERE ARE 7 WAYS TO IMPACT THINKING:

 

  • MODELING

 

  • We lead by example… be an example of godliness. 
  • Children experience God’s love through us.
  • Teachers are Mentors and Models NOT communicators of content.
  • We are NOT teaching a lesson we are teaching A CHILD. It is okay to deviate from a lesson if necessary.
  • Take time to share your own personal testimonies so that they can “see” your model of faith and God at work.
  • We build STRONG Godly relationships with the children. We incorporate time for sharing and relationship building activities.
  •  We are the shepherds, and the children are our sheep. Shepherds know their sheep (The better we know them the stronger the relationship)

2. TESTING

  • Opportunities are given to exercise and test their faith. 
  • Challenge children to try what you have told them to “see” if it works rather than telling them.
  • Follow-up with children to see if God’s word works.
  • Your thinking changes when you “see” that it works.

3. EMOTION

  • Children are observing and experiencing positive emotions about following Christ.
  • Teachers demonstrate genuine positive emotion about spiritual things. 
  • We are PASSIONATE when sharing the word of God.
  • We let our feelings show:
  1.  Joy over a child’s faith in Christ, 
  2.  Grief over sin or 
  3.  Compassion over personal hardships, etc.

3. REPETITION

  • Regularly review, remember, and repeat core Bible truths.
  • Make time to review previously taught concepts.

5. QUESTIONS

 

  • Children are given the opportunity to express their thoughts and ask questions.
  • Ministry workers are asking “how,” “why,” “what if,” and “what do you think” questions appropriate for each age level.
  • Analyzing their responses will tell us if they are just recalling facts or demonstrating that they are “thinking.”  
  • We will then know how to better impact what they are thinking.

6. CONSISTENCY

  • Children are receiving the same message concerning the gospel and how to be a Christ-follower from all ministry workers.
  • Ministry workers demonstrate consistency between words and actions. We need to practice what we preach otherwise we will not effectively impact the hearts of children.
  • Ministry workers are consistent over time in the handing of situations to not give conflicting messages to the children

 

7.RECONCILIATION

 

  • Ministry workers are mirroring both the holiness and the love of God when there is a need to discipline a child (this is a huge opportunity to impact thinking).
  • How we respond with discipline provides a make-it-or-break-it teaching moment.
  • When the issue is completed with reconciliation, we have the best opportunity to impact a child’s image of, and thinking about, God.
    • Target the heart
    • Change thinking
    • Do so, and you will impact a child of God for life

Proverbs 22:6 ESV Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.