@yancynotnancy does it again.

Finding great music for kids that doesn’t drive mom, dad or even children’s pastor crazy can be hard to find. The market seems to be overly saturated with music that sounds kiddie and therefore hokey. If you’re looking for some new music that will provide a positive alternative and do it all in a fresh, fun way that both kids and adults will love then be sure to check out Little Praise Party by Yancy and friends.

Here is the interview:

Thanks to Fox 31 again. It was a blast.

Don’t read this as me judging because I’m not. I’m saying that I have not always been above reproach and make mistakes all the time. If you and I were video taped 24/7 then we would see that we are all hypocrites but we do have to be carful because if we say that we are Christ-followers then we are representing Christ. We are not Jesus but I think we can do better at being his representatives.

James 3:10 says, “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”

Early in my ministry I served a rural church with a small youth group.  Each week I was responsible for preparing a lesson that would help teenagers understand the Christian life.  For several weeks, I arrived at church with a commentary on Romans and offered a feeble message.  The students were obviously bored, I was confused, and the result was disastrous.  I was not communicating effectively to the next generation.  I had a lot to learn.

Over the years I have continued to lead and teach, and I think I’ve gotten better, though that is ultimately for my students to decide!  Here are five things I have learned about effective communication to the next generation:

1. Thoughtfully prepare.

Effective communication requires that you work prior to the moment you deliver your message.  Don’t wing it.  Carefully write down and rehearse what you plan to say.  Have coffee or lunch with a wise friend and present your outline.  Ask them if it makes sense.  If not, go back to the drawing board.  Most audiences can quickly discern the amount of energy you have put toward preparation.  If they sense you are not prepared, you will lose them.

2. Know your audience.

If you are speaking to children, youth, or adults, ask a lot of questions.  Spend time talking with people who are part of the church, community, or age group that you will speak to.  The more you listen, the better you will communicate.  Get out of your office and live among the people.

3. Use appropriate, accessible, and authentic illustrations.

After spending time in study, you may have a number of earth-shattering insights.  Before unloading these new discoveries, slow down.  Think about each point, and consider how you can help people understand what you are presenting with appropriate, accessible, and authentic illustrations.

4. Anticipate problems, questions, and objections and address them.

Children and youth are accustomed to learning environments where questions are encouraged.  If something is unclear, controversial, or challenging, questions arise.  Anticipating possible problems, questions, and objections and addressing them proactively invites dialogue, indicates that you take such concerns seriously, and adds weight to your presentation.

5. Once you’ve crafted your message, trust the Holy Spirit and rest in Jesus Christ.

Oftentimes, our desire to communicate effectively is coupled with a deep-seated belief that success hinges on us.  We believe that we are solely responsible for the results, and what follows is persistent anxiety.  While we do have a responsibility, we don’t do our work alone.  God speaks through us by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Even when you communicate a message that falls flat, it is quite possible for God to transform and change your hearers.

Ben Simpson
Twitter: http://twitter.com/bsimpson
Web: http://www.benjaminasimpson.com

If you serve in ministry it is likely that you have received extensive training in sharing the gospel. You could likely make a long list of the methods, plans, and acronyms that you have memorized. However, when it comes to sharing the gospel with the little people in your own house, it’s a whole new ball game. 

The greatest difference is that all of those plans are primarily designed for that one gospel conversation that you will have once with an individual. But in your home, with your kids, sharing the gospel will not and should not be a one time conversation. You will have hundreds of opportunities to share truth. 

Here are five thoughts to keep in mind as you seek to share the gospel with your own kids: 

1.  Pray continually - You already know this, but this is a pretty big deal. Lots of parents really stress about when their child will accept Christ or that they will “mess up” in sharing the gospel. The reality is that we have absolutely no control, which I think we truly know.  But that lack of control stresses us out even more. We can pray. We can pray for God to give our babies open hearts and ears.  We can pray for clarity as we teach them. We can thank The Holy Spirit that He makes perfect our weaknesses. 

2.  Start early - The gospel can be shared with our kids as soon as they start talking. As soon as they begin to understand “bad”, teach that the bad things we do are called sin and sin is yucky, but Jesus makes it better. As soon as they begin to understand time outs or spankings, we can start talking about how Jesus took our punishment.  May 2 Timothy 3:15 be true of our kids, “from infancy you knew the Scriptures….”

3.  Use age appropriate language. Your explanations of the gospel will grow as your child grows.  Don’t use seminary language with your preschooler and don’t use baby talk with big kids. If you use “churchy” words, explain them clearly. Look for ways to best express the gospel with clarity to your kids exactly where they are.

4.  Make it a normal topic of conversation.  Awkwardness comes in when we have to talk about something we aren’t used to discussing. Don’t save Jesus and the gospel for bedtime prayers or Sunday mornings. Take advantage of “God moments”, but also create intentional conversations. The Jesus Storybook Bible is one of many awesome resources for beginning conversations.

5.  Don’t blow off tough questions. Wow, the things kids can ask.  And sometimes we don’t answer because we are in a rush or because we just don’t know how. Sometimes a question is just one of many, but sometimes it is a sign of God working in little hearts and it is part of the process of the pieces coming together. Answer honestly, don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know, and always point them back to Jesus.

Thanks Jenny for your great thoughts.