“Ain’t nobody got time for that!” Anyone who has been around today’s kids knows they learn through the use of technology and yet as children’s ministry teachers we believe that we don’t have the time, energy, or expertise to design Bible lessons that incorporate technology.

I am not here to disagree with you. We are all extremely busy with life in general. Trying to design your own Bible lesson just to incorporate technology would be time-consuming and daunting.

So what’s the solution? Maybe your church could purchase a whole new Bible study curriculum but that is a drastic step. Why not just use your existing Bible curriculum and weave technology into it? (more…)

Go on a technology scavenger hunt around your house.  You may have all the hardware you need at home to begin integrating technology into your children’s ministry program. That’s what I did when I began integrating technology into small class instruction.

Just because it isn’t brand new doesn’t mean it can’t be used.  An older desktop computer with a CD ROM drive can be used to play memory verses games or Bible verse games from CDs that accompany your curriculum. Old smart phones can be used even if the phone itself is no longer activated.  Just use it over wireless to access the internet. (more…)

Think about how you regularly communicate with family, friends, and co-workers.   I would guess that text messaging and email are at the top of your list. Calling them from your phone or messaging on Facebook may be next.

Letter writing is probably very far down on your list yet as children’s ministry teachers we often give kids a paper copy of a newsletter or other communication to take home to parents. What percent do you think actually is delivered?  Think back to when you were a kid and you will probably have a good answer. (more…)

Whether to use a paper or electronic Bible is often a debated and sometimes controversial topic so I was not surprised to hear a Sunday School teacher ardently oppose the use of electronic Bibles in his fourth grade classroom during a recent children’s ministry training session. During church worship services, it has become the norm in many churches to see adult church members referencing their electronic Bibles yet using them in the classroom seems to be a much hotter topic.

In my personal opinion, there is a use for both a paper Bible and an electronic Bible in the elementary Sunday School classroom.  I have listed below a few of the reasons/benefits (in no particular order) of using a paper Bible versus an electronic Bible and vice versa. I welcome the thoughts of others for discussion. (more…)

Have you ever asked kids a Bible review question and gotten the “deer in the headlight” look? Maybe your students are even having difficulty recalling content that you taught only the week before.

It seems as if traditional review methods such as flash cards, board games, word searches, and cross word puzzles do not engage kids as they once did nor do they promote retention of Bible facts.  If you grew up in church, you probably well remember these classic methods of learning and review.  Many of today’s Bible curricula still incorporate these methods. (more…)

Have you ever thought about using Google Earth when telling a bible story to kids in Sunday School or other children’s ministry programs?  Google Earth allows kids to actually see in 3D imagery the geographical features of the land where Jesus walked.

All good story tellers set the stage by first talking about the surroundings and what is going on before ever starting to tell the story.  This is turn brings bible stories to life and makes them even more exciting to children. Of course, images from Google Earth are current 3D satellite images yet many biblical landmarks and locations from bible times still exist. (more…)

What better ways to use e-cards than in children’s ministry to teach kids about caring for others! Most of us can remember getting a card in the mail as a child. It was so exciting to see a card addressed just to you. Someone took the time and effort to show they cared.

Both kids and adults still enjoy receiving cards. With the many free e-card web sites it is easy to incorporate this as a regular activity in your children’s ministry. (more…)

As a children’s ministry teacher or leader, you probably realize the benefits of having wireless Internet access in the classroom. That doesn’t mean your church leaders recognize the instructional benefits. Maybe your church has Internet access in the auditorium and office area but not in the Sunday School classrooms. Maybe your church doesn’t have Internet access at all.

The steps below are the ones I took to successfully encourage the leaders in my church to provide wireless Internet access in my Sunday School classroom.  These steps or a slight variation should work for you, too. (more…)

Do you want to learn more about integrating technology into your elementary Sunday School classroom or children’s ministry program? If so, my Techie Church Kids blog is for you.  My specialty is educational technology integration and I love spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. See my credentials on my About page.

Why have I dedicated myself to writing this blog? I know that kids love technology. What better way to reach a kid for Christ than through a medium they love?  We have to reach kids while they are young. I know you have heard this many times, but our youth are the church of tomorrow. We have to invest in reaching them for Christ in ways they can understand.

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