As a dad, I love hearing my kids quote Scripture because I know God’s Word will be there for them long after their mom and I are gone. As their kids’ pastor, I love hearing them quote Scripture because I know the Word of God hidden in their hearts shapes their worldview.

The ultimate goal for kids is that they live for God the rest of their lives. Kids are under our care while the soft clay of their spirits is still fresh. We have them during their formative years. During their time in our ministry, they should receive so much of the Spirit of God and the Word of God that they can’t help but live for God, making Him the One they love and trust.

I do physical performances including mime, unicycling, and circus slapstick. I’m in my 50s and my body does not react the same as when I was in my 20s. In order to do what I do, I need to stay physically fit. Just as athletes train, I also need to physically train so that I can do this performance ministry.

As ministry leaders, we know the importance of being in the Word every day. It’s how we learn to know God. It’s one of the primary ways the Holy Spirit speaks truth into our lives. And as kids’ ministry leaders, we should do everything we can to help kids cultivate a love for Scripture … and it might not be as difficult as the statistics make you think.

We see throughout the Bible, especially in Jesus’ parables, that our ability to receive God’s grace is conditional upon the principle that we share God’s grace with others. This should encourage children’s ministries to place a higher emphasis on grace and extending grace to others.

While I'd like to think that every lesson I ever teach will be remembered (or is worth remembering), we all know that isn't the case. For that reason, I've identified three things I want all my kids to know and understand by the time they graduate into youth ministry.