Children's Church Models

I recently taught at the Minnesota All Church Ministries Conference a class on the structure of a children's church. (perhaps I will post it as a podcast). While studying, I realized that the children's church service was a hybrid of several models. The Children's Church is has mix of education, inspiration and entertainment elements. Here are the three models:

The Education Class Model -

• Tell them what are going to teach them - this is the icebreaker/opener that introduces kids to the lesson.
• Teach it to them - teach them using all the fun methods that you use.
• Tell them what you just taught them - review games and follow-up moments at the end of service (take-home papers or bulletins could also fit this heading).

The vaudeville Show Model -

• Excitement - something that gets the show/service off to a fun and exciting start
• Introduction - welcoming the audience and helping them to feel comfortable with being there
• Identification - showing in an exciting way why you are all together or, preview your lesson
• involvement - get the audience engaged... Invite people to participate - both corporately as well as individuals... Every kid wants to help
• Solid Content - This was the feature act - teach the "meat" of the lesson
• Confirmation - give the audience a chance to respond and let them leave feeling positive about what they just experieced - like an altar call, and a review. The kids should leave with a sense that they can put what you just taught them into practice.

The Intensity Model of a Children's Class

• Kids are excited, rowdy and silly at the beginning of a class - match that with some controlled chaos... Fun games, exciting songs, silly or funny characters

• About half way to two-thirds thru the class time is when the kids are at their most attentive - teach the most important things during this window... The main sermon, prayer time, worship times.
• As the class comes to a close, the kids will start to get rowdy again, so end with excitement elements... Review games, songs that relate to the topic, funny characters who need help from the kids in reviewing the lesson.

I hope this helps you in some way!