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How to talk with kids...spiritual counsel

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How to talk with kids...spiritual counsel

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A book by Dan Smith

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How to Lead a Child to Christ

Leading a child to Christ is a unique opportunity given by the Holy Spirit. But it also requires skill and patience on the part of an adult. This guide will help you discover effective ways to gently point children toward Christ and the salvation He offers. Learn first the doctrinal bases for witnessing to children, then the psychological needs and wants of a child. A third section on methods and techniques lists dos and don'ts of child evangelism. Real-life examples illustrate the principles involved in leading children to Christ. Daniel Smith has years of experience in child evangelism as well as ongoing concern for quality in presenting the gospel to boys and girls. Apply the principles discussed here in one of the most important privileges of an adult: leading a child to the Savior.

Dan has been actively involved with Emmaus Bible College for over 50 years, and continues to serve as a faculty member. He served as President of the college from 1975 to 2000, and currently serves as Chancellor. Dan holds a B.A. from Greenville College (Education/ Psychology and History/Political Science), a Th. B. from Midwest Bible Seminary (Theology and Greek), and a M. Ed. from University of Missouri (Counseling) and an Ed. D. from Loyola University (Administration and Leadership). He is an elder emeritus at Arbor Oaks Bible Chapel. Dan and his wife, Martha, have been married for over 50 years and are parents of three adult children and eight grandchildren.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
Chapter 1 - Biblical Foundations
Chapter 2 - Basic Needs of Children
Chapter 3 - Guidelines for Child Evangelism
Chapter 4 - How-To Illustrations
Epilogue

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How to Lead a Child to Christ Leading a child to Christ is a unique opportunity given by the Holy Spirit. But it also requires skill and patience on the part of an adult. This guide will help you discover effective ways to gently point children toward Christ and the salvation He offers.

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a slide show presentation by Dan Smith

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Testimony...how to share your salvation story

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Testimony...how to share your salvation story

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From Lake Geneva Youth Camp CIT 1988

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Salvation teaching

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acc summer 2007 salvation teaching plans

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Children Desiring God... Sunday School Curriculum

To Be Like Jesus... a study for children on following Jesus
for grades 3-4-5
emphasis: sanctification, but the first 11 lessons explain salvation doctrine/words.
Some of the lessons are very Calvinistic, it doesn't come out in the lesson for children, but some would be concerned with the reformed perspective. The link above will share the scope/sequence and a sample lesson.

Books:

Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers by Joey Allen

a review from Ministry to Children (of the 4 book series)
Gracie tells you about salvation in the Gospel book. My children really enjoyed this book and the teaching is clear and child friendly.

Cassie & Caleb Discover God's Wonderful Design by Susan and Richie Hunt
a book from Moody Press that I won! I've only read part of it, but it has several lessons that focus on the gospel. It's set up as a story first and then a let's talk portion with scripture, questions, and prayer. (Some lessons have first catechism question/answers as suggested memory work). I think my children will like it. I hope to read it with them this summer.

Review of Cassie & Caleb... from Beyond Bathtime that has more information. (ignore the giveaway it's over)

Salvation, a Bible study workbook, for children
a very simple fill in booklet emphasizing being a part of God's family. I haven't used it with my children, I think it is a nice concept for a child who doesn't have a very broad biblical foundation. If I were counseling at camp, and a girl was saved, this would be a great booklet to talk through together.

God's Mighty Acts in Salvation by Starr Meade
This one is a study of the book of Galatians for children in 40 lessons. It could be read independently or as a family. Each two page reading ends with an 'as for me and my house' some questions and passages to look up. I've not read the whole book yet, but I like the fact that she is really teaching children about the Bible and she tells them about the author, his message to the people, she defines words. Her talks give information that we might find in a commentary but it is written for children. From what I have read, it models how to think and what you should know about a book of the Bible as you read it, so pedagogically it is a good model. I don't believe we will have doctrine issues, but I haven't read it all yet.
review by timberdoodle on this page is helpful

God, Should I be Baptized? by Laurie Donahue
a book designed for a parent/child to read together. It is focused on why you are baptized, but the initial lessons discuss your relationship with God and some salvation concepts. I have read through this with my oldest and so have several friends, it's a nice logical way to help your child grasp the concepts and you can add your own references and questions as you like. (there is an excellent companion on the Lord's Supper that we have enjoyed as well.)

Children's Ministry Bible created with input from Child Evangelism Fellowship. Wordless book included. NKJV with many teaching ideas as resources.

AWANA TnT Books
Asks questions like: What do I need to know about God? or What do I need to know about the Lord Jesus Christ? They learn answers to the questions with scriptures that help explain the concept. The gospel truths are clearly presented across the books.

Online Resources:

Ministry to Children Coloring Pages. A Good News Series

Gospelhall.org has a wide variety of children's lessons, teachings about salvation, etc... this link will take you to a list and you can choose from three different options. But I remember lessons at camp as a child, with this poster across the back, and how clear the gospel was when the roads were explained... Be aware that not all the posts are well edited or proofread, it just depends. My Great Grandmother and my Grandmother were raised in a gospel hall still connected to this site. Two Roads Images

Printables for 2 Corinthians 5:17
I especially like the card that matches, with NEW defined! also printables for SAVE Many cute ideas and bible resources!

Wordless Book you can get a free 30 minute training from CEF to learn how to use it. The store also has a whole selection of gospel tools for evangelism.

Romans Road
I don't know who gets credit for the 'road' technique. But this link has a list of the verses!

ABC salvation
Many versions of this-- but Admit, Believe, and Choose or Count or Confess (Jesus is Lord!) are the most common.

The Bridge I like these pictures for children! This site has 3 versions (the middle one is for kids) and better scripture references. I believe the Navigators are the ones who made the original published tract.

The one verse evangelism technique.

Gospel in the Bible a post about showing your kids Jesus, and a 2 page handout that shows the stories in the OT to NT that show Jesus is coming.

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Children Desiring God... Sunday School Curriculum To Be Like Jesus... a study for children on following Jesus for grades 3-4-5 emphasis: sanctification, but the first 11 lessons explain salvation doctrine/words. Some of the lessons are very Calvinistic, it doesn't come out in the lesson for children, but some would be concerned with the reformed perspective.

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Counseling Children for Salvation - Child Evangelism Fellowship

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Counseling Children for Salvation - Child Evangelism Fellowship

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Here's some things that are important to go over with the new believer:

1. Reread the invitation verse (like Acts 16:31) reminding the child that if he believed in Jesus then he is saved. It is God's promise.

2. Share Hebrews 13:5b "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" with the child. Explain that when he truly believes then God the Holy Spirit is with Him always. He will never be alone!

3. Show the child Hebrews 13:6a "The Lord is my Helper". Let the child know that God will help him to live a life pleasing to God. He can ask God for help to win over sin.

A friend of mine was counseling a little boy who had just believed in Jesus. He told the boy, "The Lord is your Helper. He will help you to win over sin. But you will sin." To which the little boy replied, "Well then God isn't a very good Helper, is He?"
Be clear in teaching that God will help him win over sin, but there will be times when he chooses to sin. Read and explain I John 1:9 with the child, teaching him how to confess his sins immediately when he recognizes he has displeased God. To confess means to agree with God that what was done was wrong. When he confesses his sin, God promises to forgive Him!

1. Give the child ideas on how he can get to know God better like going to Sunday school and church, reading his Bible, talking to God every day, and sharing with others what Jesus has done for him. Be sure to get a Bible for a child who does not have one of his own. Guide him in finding the book of Mark in the New Testament. That's a great place to start reading and learning more about Jesus.

2. Give the child a Gospel tract that is designed for children so that he can review what he learned later. Visit CEFpress.com to see what is available and works well with kids.

3. Pray for the child before he leaves your counseling time.

4. Look for opportunities to help the child grow in his new faith!

Counseling a child for salvation doesn't have to be frightening. In fact, it can be one of the most exciting things you do! Pray for, look for, and expect the Holy Spirit to work in the heart of the child and through you. Ask God to give you the opportunity to counsel a child for salvation soon.

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Counseling Children for Salvation - Child Evangelism Fellowship

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Leading a child to Jesus can be both exciting -- and frightening. What if you say the wrong thing? What if she asks a question that you don't know the answer to? How do you know if the child is sincere?

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https://www.cefonline.com/helping-children-find-their-identity-in-christ/

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Let's pretend this water is what makes you who you are. Maybe school is really important to you. (Pour some water into the "student" container.) Maybe you are the oldest child in your family and you love to take care of your brothers and sisters. (Pour some water into the "brother/sister" container.) Maybe you love to have fun with your friends. (Pour some water into the "friend" container.) Or maybe you really want to be a professional soccer player when you grow up. (Pour some water into the "soccer player" container.) Maybe you play an instrument or sing and that's really important to you. (Pour some water into the "musician" container.)

None of these things are bad. It's a good thing to like school. God gave us families and friends as gifts. If you are really good at soccer or music, it's because God made you that way. What is wrong is when those are the things that make you feel important or safe. What happens if you don't do well on a test, or suddenly school gets really hard for you and you don't get the grades you want? (Shake the "student" container so water splashes out.) Or what if you get sick and can't take care of your brothers and sisters like you want to? (Shake the "brother/ sister" container so water splashes out.) What if your best friend moves away or decides she doesn't want to be your friend anymore? (Shake "friend" container so water splashes out.) What if you get hurt and are never able to play soccer again? (Shake the "soccer player" container so water splashes out.) What if something happens so you aren't able to make beautiful music like before? (Shake the "musician" container so water splashes out.) All these are good things, but they are temporary-they don't last forever. If you think these things make you who you really are, then what happens when they go away? When these things don't work the way you want them to, you might wonder if you are important anymore or if anyone loves you. You might feel like you don't belong.

If you have believed on Jesus as your Savior, who you really are is found in Jesus. (Pour a whole pitcher of water into a container labeled "Child of God" and secure a lid on top.) When you have believed on Jesus as your Savior, who you really are is a child of God. (Read 1 John 3:1a.) When you are a child of God, He is with you always-nothing can separate you from Him. (Shake the "Child of God" container vigorously, showing that no water comes out.) Even when your life is turned upside down and you feel like everything is going wrong, you are safe with God because He loves you and you are His child. You are important and loved because God is with you and will never leave you. This week will you remember who you really are? Even as you enjoy your other activities, will you remember that before anything else you are a child of God?

Let's pray and ask God to help us remember who we are in Christ. (Pray with children.)

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Helping Children Find their Identity in Christ - Child Evangelism Fellowship

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Let's pretend this water is what makes you who you are. Maybe school is really important to you. (Pour some water into the "student" container.) Maybe you are the oldest child in your family and you love to take care of your brothers and sisters. (Pour some water into the "brother/sister" container.)

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As we whisper the Word to our children, there is a time and a place for everything. I love it when I can give them fun puzzles, coloring sheets, games, or create handouts for a family worship hour that go with the theme to help the kids engage fully.

Repetition helps all of us learn, and when we are encouraged to think at higher levels, we apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate, so that's the best level of learning to lead our children to, but they need knowledge and understanding to move there.

I found some new resources recently, you may like them, did I mention these are FREE resources?

Tip: Use the search feature with key words or bible references to find your story or verse.

Ministry Ark: a youth/kidmin person in UK. Her site has free lessons, free units, games, printables, ... very neat and diverse. This seems to have a small following,but I think will become huge as it's discovered.
Cute Bible Verse Printables Here
Movie clips and ideas for lessons and discussions.

Biblewise Kids Korner: Story ideas, coloring, puzzles, and diverse activities by topic/character.

Sunday School Zone: This site has so many options from teaching, to activities, things to print. Easy too navigate.
Bible activities galore.... color by number, spot the difference, write the verse/concept, puzzles, and pictures, and stories, oh my! It's an amazing resource!

Crafting the Word of God this site is smaller, but has some really neat options.
Cute crafts like a wheel of images with a cover for John 3:16, many with simple props and a printable.

Kids Bible Worksheets You can find word searches, cryptograms, mazes, etc.

Basically this website has used Discovery's puzzlemaker with key stories and verses for you.

Have fun creating or finding helpful handouts!

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A blog dedicated to encouraging children to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind by keeping them in the Word of God. (Deuteronomy 6 & Mark 12:30) The concept of whispering truths is important to impress them on our children without forcing it on them.