http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/tags/children Orange Leaders Forum en-US Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:20:16 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/search.php http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/family-pastor-opening-crossroads-church-st-cloud-mn#post-231 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:14:10 +0000 jeremysnoberger 231@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>Resumes are also accepted via email. To submit a resume or request more information, please email <a href="mailto:jeremy@crossroadschurch.info">jeremy@crossroadschurch.info</a> Thanks! </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/family-pastor-opening-crossroads-church-st-cloud-mn#post-230 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:12:08 +0000 jeremysnoberger 230@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>Crossroads Church is looking for a leader who has a desire to see the church and the family join together to make an impact in the lives of our children and youth. Crossroads began in 2002, and from the beginning we have had a focus on caring for the family which has motivated us to seek a Family Pastor who will deepen this commitment. The Family Pastor is a full-time position. The goal is to create an overall plan for spiritual formation in our children and youth, and to lead and support this ongoing ministry alongside of the family. This is a first step toward a comprehensive structure that will involve training and leading volunteers and also managing full and part-time staff in the future, in order to develop a healthy and vibrant culture in which all children and youth experience life in the presence of Christ.</p> <p>A full job description can be provided upon request. A degree in the areas of Youth/Children/Family is preferred but not required as this is a key staff position for our community. Please submit resume with references and current picture to Crossroads Church c/o Jeremy Snoberger 710 Sundial Drive Waite Park, MN 56367. </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/in-elementary-ages-is-it-more-important-to-teach-the-bible-or-character#post-144 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:41:19 +0000 Jonifbcshine 144@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>I agree that being strategic about how we teach content is very critical, and 252 certainly does a fabulous job with this. The monthly virtue themes, the "basic truths", and weekly "bottom lines" are very engaging and provide a great framework for kids and parents, and I think they are very effective. </p> <p>I agree that if we teach "Bible" without teaching children how it applies to their every day lives, and without teaching it in a way that makes it relative and attractive to children in 2010, it is of little worth. I think 252 does a great job with application. The lessons make a good connection between the Bible story and how the child's life should be different based on that Bible story. </p> <p>We have used 252Basics for 3 years and love it. But there are some issues I am wrestling with that are similar to questions raised by "jondixon", who posted above.</p> <p> It is vitally important to teach children "about God" (Bible knowledge). And is crucial that we teach children "obedience to God" (character) that is based on the Bible. But our ultimate goal should be for the children to "know God", to have a close, personal relationship with Him. It is not possible for a child to have a vibrant, growing relationship with God absent from the pursuit of knowledge and obedience. But it is possible for a child, especially a child who has grown up attending church, to have Bible knowledge AND Biblical behavior apart from a true, personal relationship with God. </p> <p>True godly character must be motivated by love for and faith in God's character, by a personal relationship with Him. If we want children to know God, we must teach them who He is. We should teach the centrality of God and strive to teach the whole counsel of God. This is where my concern comes in. Can we give children the big picture of who God is without "connecting the dots", without showing them how all of the pieces fit together? [For me personally, coming to an understanding of how everything fits together (ex. - understanding what the Jews or animal sacrifices in the old testament have to do with the whole thing) had a large impact on my own spiritual growth.] I understand the premise behind "flipping things upside down", but I am concerned that we are placing "our virtue" or "Moses/David/Paul" as the central focus, rather than God Himself. </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/in-elementary-ages-is-it-more-important-to-teach-the-bible-or-character#post-86 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:10:15 +0000 Angela McCann 86@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>We are entering our 4th year of this curriculum and I see real fruit from it! Last year the youth leaders told me that they saw a difference with the new group of middle schoolers - the ones that had gone through 252 for 2 years. This year the youth leaders are blown away by the next group - the ones that have gone through 252 for 3 years. I'm told that these kids seem to "get it". And just this past Sunday 5 kids were baptized and one mother said "whatever you guys are doing is great, my daughter really understands who God is"</p> <p>There are parents that struggle with their perception that we aren't teaching enough bible content. I tell them that we are but it's just flipped upside down. </p> <p>See, if take a group of kids and say"Now we're going to learn about 2 friends from bible times - David and Jonathon" we lose their interest and they think "oh just some bible guys"</p> <p>When we tell them "We are talking about friendship today and how God cares about how we show friendship" the kids think "I have friends" and they are interested and engaged. Then we say "these 2 guys in the bible were really good friends and we have a great story about their friendship." Now the kids can make the connection. </p> <p>Same bible story. But now the kids get it. for me, that is all that matters. Each week we challenge our small group leaders to make it personal and make the connection between the bible story and the bottom line. </p> <p>I am sure that I haven't said anything original - probably heard Reggie or someone say the very same thing about flipping things upside down but thought it worth mentioning. </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/in-elementary-ages-is-it-more-important-to-teach-the-bible-or-character#post-22 Fri, 01 May 2009 17:10:00 +0000 Bre Hallberg 22@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>All curriculums are organized in some manner: by topic, chronologically, study what mom and dad are studying, a book of the Bible, etc. We organize our lessons by Biblical virtues that were lived out by Christ to show us who God is. Because God wants us to be imitators of Him, He works through us to instill those virtues in us and uses those traits to impact the world around us.</p> <p>The center of our lessons is the Bible Story. So, we chose Bible stories that illustrate that particular characteristic of God. The story becomes the central focus, or “hub,” around which the rest of the lesson revolves. The Scriptural meat of the lesson is presented in large group. Small group time then becomes application time. We believe children need a balance of Biblical literacy and application. They need to be Biblically literate, but they also need to know how to apply what they learn in the Bible. If we only teach them the stories and require them to memorize multiple memory verses, they know a lot about the Bible, but it will not impact their lives. On the other hand, if we focus only on application, they understand they should be honest, but they don’t really understand why. A focus solely on Biblical knowledge can lead to growing children who are legalists, or who walk away from faith because they have no real understanding on the “why” behind what they have been taught. The children who have all application and no Biblical basis will be left to wonder in what or whom they should place their faith. </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/in-elementary-ages-is-it-more-important-to-teach-the-bible-or-character#post-21 Fri, 01 May 2009 13:29:45 +0000 jondixon 21@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>I have to say that this one issue is the single thing that has been causing me to struggle with 252. I love the Orange philosophy, but my concern is around whether children will, with 252, catch a glimpse of the whole big story of God - and understand the connections.</p> <p>For example, how can we ever really understand salvation without understanding the passover and the exodus? Does 252 help connect the dots for children between the big story of God, the single stories, and them? </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/when-do-you-start-plugging-kids-in-to-serve#post-18 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:53:26 +0000 Beth Nelson 18@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>Kids as young as third grade can be given light, age-appropriate responsibilities. Older elementary kids can begin to serve on a kids' singing team or as helpers who welcome new kids and help them feel like they belong). Middle schoolers can continue as singers, but can also start to intern in tech and behind-the-scenes roles. High school students can begin to lead small groups, become vocalists, or take speaking roles in productions, as well as take on primary roles in other capacities. In some cases they can become an adult leader’s best ally: they may have more relevant insight into tech and can create an awesome vibe in various environments. </p> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/what-do-small-group-leaders-do#post-17 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:41:50 +0000 Beth Nelson 17@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>Ultimately, small group leaders build relationships. While teachers communicate, group leaders create the kind of environment where relationships happen. These principles are core to a small group leader’s responsibilities:</p> <ul> <li>Building relationships with kids, with their parents, and encouraging kids to build relationships with each other and with their parents. </li> <li>Facilitating dialogue about faith and life. </li> <li>Answering questions or helping the group to answer their own questions. </li> <li>Helping children and students apply the bottom lines to their lives. </li> <li>Tracking with kids beyond Sunday through social networking, text messages, phone calls, and group gatherings that happen at other times during the week. The older the group, the more important this becomes. </li> <li>Praying for the group, for the families in the group, and encouraging the group to pray for one another. </li> <li>Encouraging and challenging kids to connect with God on their own at home. </li> </ul> http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/topic/in-elementary-ages-is-it-more-important-to-teach-the-bible-or-character#post-9 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:34:37 +0000 Beth Nelson 9@http://www.orangeleaders.com/forums/ <p>It is interesting that some leaders try to polarize those issues in order to promote a “survey of the Bible” or systematic approach to teaching, instead of being strategic about how they teach content. Asking which one of the two is more important - teaching the Bible or teaching character - is like asking Jesus if it's more important to love God or to love your neighbor. Both are connected and both are important. If you teach scripture, you are going to teach people how to treat the world around them and how to look at themselves from God’s point of view. As a result there will be a change in character, as described in the Fruits of the Spirit passage in Ephesians. What is important is to make sure you are not simply trying to get kids to behave or perform outside of a context of a relationship with God and His Spirit. We often remind children that character or a virtue is “something God does in them to change the world around them.”</p> <p>Our 252 Basics materials create an environment where kids are shown God’s character through Biblical illustrations and principles. They learn that the Bible is the source of truth and that it is like a sword, mirror, letter, seed. We teach them that God wants us to know Him and become a reflection of His character so we can let others see Him. It not only teaches the knowledge of Scripture and God’s character through Biblical teaching, but encourages practical application in their lives so that they won’t just come to church or do church, but <em>be</em> the church shining light and showing others who God is. Weekly Bible stories are arranged around a monthly theme or virtue as a way to create a focus and to help parents get on the same page. The virtue themes have proven very helpful in engaging parents to participate in the strategy, even parents who are not Christians or are new to the faith. </p>