Adapted from a talk given to 242 Community by Olly Goldenberg In part one we looked at the first thing King Josiah's story calls us to: prayer. But taking up the stick of authority God has given us isn't only about stirring things in the spiritual realm through intercession. It's also about turning to the children and young people in our care and prodding them toward more. "Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works... exhorting one another" (Hebrews

Adapted from a talk given to 242 Community by Olly Goldenberg In this three part series of blogs I want to share 3 thoughts on discipling the generation God is raising up right now. They all come out of the life of one person: King Josiah. So let's start where his story starts. An Unlikely King for a Desperate Time 2 Kings 22 opens like this: "Josiah was eight years old when he became king." Eight. Not eighteen. Eight. I brought a visual aid to this talk — a plain wooden stic

One of the privileges I have, is to travel to churches around the world and encourage them in their ministry to the next generation. In many cultures the children’s ministry has a great emphasis on manners. Children are expected to respect their elders, tidy up at the end of the sessions, even pack away the chairs and sweep the floors before they can leave. Some even give time to teach children table manners and how to use a knife and fork properly. Are they right?

In recent times, there has been a celebration of church across the generations. Intergenerational church, intergenerational resources, and intergenerational relationships are flourishing. But more important than all of these is the quality of the intergenerational community – that is the topic of this blog. The Importance of Intergenerational Connections This idea of generations being together is countercultural for our society. Schools are segregated by age, with different d

As we discuss the spiritual realm, and start to lead children into a deeper understanding of the things of God, we will very quickly notice that some children seem to be set apart in their ability to hear God and even to see things in the spiritual realm. When our eldest son was 2 years old he started to point at nothing and say, ‘Look Daddy, picard.’ We would look and see nothing. He pointed out ‘Picards’ in people’s cars, he said there would be a ‘Picard’ on a plane with

Our work with children is not a branch of social services, it is not purely about practical help and guidance. Our work is inherently spiritual. Jesus says we have to be born again – born of the flesh and the spirit. So how can we introduce our children to the spiritual realm? Two dangers Before we dive into some practical ideas I want to discuss two dangers, opposites of each other, but like two ditches either side of a path, they both can derail children on their walk

We must raise up a generation who are ROOTED in the word of God. This does not mean simply being familiar with Bible stories or understanding theology. It’s more than just memorising verses. It is possible to have all these things and still not be rooted in the Bible. We are not merely talking about children who love the Bible or read it regularly. While these are important, they are not the end goal. If children are to be truly rooted in the Bible, all these elements are nec

Powerful Praise In a crèche programme at our church, chaos reigned. It was one of those days when it felt like everyone was crying or misbehaving. The leaders had tried everything to calm things down, but nothing worked. They had slipped into survival mode, simply waiting for the session to end, praying that the preacher wouldn’t overrun. Amidst the cacophony, one two-year-old stood in the middle of the room and began to speak. “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus loves us ever

Go and make disciples. These were the last words of Jesus. His instructions are for the whole church and clearly include the children. Yes, those same children who witnessed Jesus perform miracles and even helped Him feed the 5,000. These children heard His parables and were called to go out and make disciples. In teaching others, we learn much about our faith. We have seen this time and again as children have led their friends to the Lord. The Thrill of Going on Mission Goin

Helping under 5s connect with God through His word. The Life Changing Word God’s word changes young lives. One Easter we taught some toddlers about how Jesus swapped everything at the cross. One person arrived with a naughty sign around their neck. When they came to the cross Jesus swapped their naughtiness for his goodness. For another person, Jesus swapped their sadness at the cross. For a third person, Jesus swapped their sickness. This simple teaching allowed children to

As Advent approaches, in the business of the season we have the privilege of leading children in the excitement of Christmas. Our privilege is to show them that this anticipation for Christmas is part of a much bigger story? One that stretches back to God camping with His people in the wilderness and forward to the day when Jesus returns to make all things new? This blog helps you connect three major themes—Advent, the ancient practice often called the Feast of Tabernacles, a

How can we strengthen our children as they face life’s challenges? Storms will come. Every family faces seasons of difficulty — illness, loss, disappointment, or uncertainty. In addition to this our children also face their own unique battles: bullies, tests, fears, and the pressures of growing up. As parents, our natural instinct is to protect our children from pain. Yet faith is not built in comfort — it is refined in the storm. This was why the Lord kept enemies in the lan

It is time to position ourselves ready to serve what God is doing. It is clear that God is moving in our nation, especially among the under 25s. This is a move that has been prophesied of for decades – that the young would be at the forefront for a move of God. It is a move that we have prayed for and longed to see and now it is here. God is moving sometimes through us, but often in this season I observe that it is almost in spite of us. Many churches that are preaching the G

Ministry is a profound responsibility. If we get it wrong, we risk teaching error and believing falsehoods. Our theology should not be based on feelings or circumstances. Instead, our understanding of theology—and, by extension, ultimate truth—comes from God’s word. The Importance of Sound Theology When it comes to children’s ministry, no one is comfortable with the idea that a child could go to hell. However, people are not saved simply because they are cute, young, or well-

Teach your children to love everyone but to choose their friends carefully. Every single person is made in God’s image. Every single...

Using the curriculum as a springboard for each week, how can we help our children to connect to God for themselves?

The Importance of a Strong Foundation So, the thing that they say happens has now happened. When your children are small, everyone speaks of how time flies by. Before you know it, they are grown up. Recently, our eldest son celebrated his 22nd birthday. This milestone gives me pause to reflect on the past 22 years as a parent. The thought that floated to the top of my mind is this: The principles that we have been teaching over the last few decades and living in our own famil

When my children were toddlers, they would bring me a picture they had drawn. Sometimes it was a picture of me (allegedly), sometimes of...

It is currently parents who are responsible for ensuring their children receive a suitable education in England. Most parents will...