Devotionals Zone

Looking for a 'little something' to encourage someone, or re-focus a group?

These devotions are about children, or children's ministry, but are designed for adults rather than for using with kids, as most of the other ideas on the site are.

Have a nice devotional you have shared?  Please share it here too!

These are basic bible lessons that were used for a 5-day VBS, based on Philippians.

Jesus offers this instruction to His disciples as though they really needed this clear word to remove any doubt about His attitude about children. The word “suffer” means literally to “let.” It would be better read, “Let the little children come.” It carries the idea of “being commanded” to “welcome the children to come to Jesus!”  

A great story about a great Children's Pastor.

This is a sermon on the passages of Jesus blessing the children that you can use to teach about the value of children.

A Godly reminder about the reason we serve children in the Lord's name. Many kids have been through a lot and come from broken homes. What a privilege it is to be an instrument in the hand of the Lord to let every little kid we come in contact with, know that they are loved.

Jesus chose to illustrate his own mission in coming to "save that which was lost" by telling of a shepherd who leaves his ninety- nine sheep to find just one errant lamb.

So “get down!” Then, you will be “lifted up” and considered a candidate for “greatness” in the kingdom of heaven. “Jesus came to serve and not be served.” It is the role of the servant leader then, one who is content to work behind the scenes.

A surprising thing happened in Perea while Jesus and his disciples were traveling together. The account is significant because it demonstrates, again, how Jesus used the occasion to instruct the disciples in what was important about His Kingdom.

25 ways to build up a child verbally. Don't always say it the same way. Be creative and vary the ways you build kids up!

Do the kids "enter in" or "zone out" during your Praise and Worship segments? Here's a fun way to get the kids to put their heart into praise.

The obvious question, "Do you love me more than these?" when asked three times, ultimately "rocked" Peter's world. In order to take seriously Jesus' commission, "Feed My Lambs," Peter had to change his whole orientation to ministry. Now he had a ministry mandate that included nurturing the children, the lambs! Therefore, his obediently humbling himself to minister to children became the "litmus test" of his loving Jesus. Dare we do less? (Based on John 21:15-20)

God can and will do incredible things!

I know it can be chaotic when working with children, but He wants to speak; if we would just learn to listen.

The story of Gaius and Diotrephes: A talk teaching the difference between humble leadership and proud, selfish, show-off leadership. (3 John

Find Jesus where your students would.

Children look at the world through innocent eyes... we can learn something from them.

If God cares enough to send rabbits (even HUGE ones) for a little toddler, how much more will he hear and answer the needs we bring to Him that are much more important.

A story that helps children understand that their brain is poluted by the world we live in and it must be renewed (cleaned) daily with the Word of God and prayer

Maybe when we learn the P.R. skills of Don Pablos, we’ll find God unleashing His awesome blessing on our ministry like never before.

What can Wal-Mart teach us about church?

"I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them.  So I think I'm wasting time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all." How would you answer that charge?

Become a prayer fanatic for you-know-who because that kid needs God’s love.

This is a daily Bible Reading Plan with several options for kids to follow.

A woman wrote to "Pulpit Helps" to explain a miraculous lesson her family experienced. During one of their family Bible readings as new Christians, they ran across the verse, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him" (Romans 12:20). She writes.... (a lesson her son learned about loving an enemy at school.)

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it’s the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise or maybe it’s the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable..... (prepare your heart for a powerful lesson)

Ten things to avoid in your children's ministry.

We live in a "ZAP" society where everything we want can happen "now". Building a relationship with God does not work this way. As families, we need to work together to instill in our children, by example, the importance of family time with God.

Children’s ministry is more than presenting values that cut between right and wrong. It is about offering, explaining, and illustrating the life that comes from faith in what Jesus did for them through the cross and resurrection.

We must look forward and trust God to help us be victorious Christians. In moments of fear, doubt, and discouragement we must look to God and trust His help for our future.

This is a simple poem from the heart of a parent telling the difference between what they can and can't do as a parent... children ultimately must decide the character of their life.

Worship the King Advent Materials

This is an acrostic lamentation.

Why do people celebrate Ash Wednesday? What is it all about? Ashes remind us of death and sin. Lent is a time when we prepare our hearts for Easter.

Need a pre-baptism class? Have we got a material for you! This course will take a child through the basic Christian beliefs that our church felt were important for children to know before the were baptized.

Poem about being thankful for every situation you're facing.

Did you know that Children's Ministry is in the business of investments? That's right, investments. But our investments are far more important than any monetary one could be. We invest in the eternal lives of children.

Do you often cry out for help with staffing? Do you find yourself asking God for more workers on a consistent basis? Do you question if God cares about this area of children’s ministry?

God will not tolerant a stubborn and rebellious attitude. We must follow Him just like we need to listen to our parents and teachers. Follow good leaders!

The kids in our children's ministries deserve to see faith in you. Fear over the future will not bring victory. Kids do not need to pick up on your fear of the future even if you feel justified in your "concerns."

There are times in our lives when God call us! This will only happen if we are listening and hear His voice. When God called Samuel he said “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening…” We, too, must listen for God's voice.

We never know what God has in store for us.We must be willing vessels to be used for His glory. We must watch and be ready at any time.

We can be assured that no matter what our circumstances are, God will take care of us wherever we are.

God Will Take Care of Us like He took care of Joseph when Joseph was rejected by his family and sold into slavery.

We have a responsibility to God to keep His house in good order, take care of it and respect it - just we we do our homes.

These are seven short lessons based on the topic of Growing Spiritually. It is important that children learn how to develop spiritually and make wise choices.

God will make us a blessing to others as they see us do what we say rather than to break a promise.

A short story that shows the what really matters in life. Could be used as a devotional with hot chocolate!

There are times when life just does not seem fair. If we trust God in these times, He will help us to be successful.

Kids can participate in self-denial during the Lent season, and partake in Ash Wednesday. We feel that this teaches them the important of this spiritual event, and brings them to a greater awareness on what Jesus can really mean to them.

We cannot make bargains with God. If He asks us to do something, we need to be quick to obey once we know He is speaking to us. We will be happier when we do that.