Introduction to CG Children's Ministry
Common Ground values children as uniquely gifted individuals who are integral members in Christ’s body. Accordingly, our guiding vision for children is to include them in the life and work of the church so they can encounter Jesus. This begins with coming alongside parents to nurture each child’s relationship with Christ. We believe that parents, before any institution, have the primary responsibility for the spiritual nurture of their children; the church's role is to assist in the cooperative effort of that task.
One way we work to fulfill this purpose is by providing children's ministry on Sunday for children from 0-6th grade. As a whole, every activity and lesson is designed to foster in children a deep understanding of a few simple points:
- They belong to God and His community
- They are invited to grow to be more like Jesus
- They can respond to the Holy Spirit’s leadings to serve others
To come alongside parents, the following resources are available to assist in the spiritual nurture of children:
- Training and Equipping Classes – provide parents ways to help their children grow in the ways of the Lord
- Monthly Parent Pages – offer ideas and activities for parents to use as a starting point for interacting with their children regarding spiritual matters
- Parent Resource Page – offers information related to Sunday morning children's ministry, tools for the spiritual formation of children, as well as other resources and guidelines
- House Church Resources – click on "Sermon Reflections" to see family applications for use during weekly meetings
Values
Partnering with parents
- By encouraging parents to be the primary source for the spiritual nurture of their children
- By learning spiritual formation insights from parents
- By equipping parents in their God-given roles
- By having parental involvement in the children’s ministry classroom
- By providing meaningful classroom take-home materials, family application from sermons and house church resources
Belonging to God and His community
- By focusing on God’s love, grace and being made in His image
- By creating a safe, fun and loving environment (physically, emotionally, spiritually)
- By including children as an integral part of the church community; using their gifts, passions and interests to benefit the church
- By having passionate, committed adult mentors teach and lead
- By encouraging shepherding relationships with teachers and peers
Growing in the image of Christ
- By helping children encounter and embrace Jesus personally and communally
- By considering the different learning styles and life and faith developmental stages of children; presenting truth in creative, age-appropriate ways
- By using “God-centered” curriculum that emphasizes the “way of Jesus”
- By teaching for formation/application and not merely information
- By practicing spiritual disciplines in the classroom and at home
Responding to the Holy Spirit
- By expecting God to speak during each class time
- By making room in the classroom to personally, creatively respond to the lesson
- By exploring the passions and talents children have; empowering them to bless the community
- By helping children discover they are part of God’s story to make things right in the world (i.e. encouraging children to pray/dream of solutions to justice issues)
- By providing opportunities for children and their families to serve others in Indianapolis and around the world
Basic Teaching Philosophy
We want children to:
- Understand themselves and how they relate to God
- Learn the particulars of who God is and how He works actively in relationship
- Learn about Jesus, who He is and how to be more like Him
- Learn how to live for God in this world, empowered by the Holy Spirit
This happens through:
- Experience/Formation Lessons are experience-based in order to better form hearts, not just inform minds
- Guidance
Teachers are encouraged to facilitate spiritual conversations, allowing kids to ask questions to further growth in their faith. Parents are encouraged to talk with teachers before or after class about how their child is responding to the content – socially, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, etc.
- Response
Each week after teaching/discussing the Bible lesson, there is a response time to act out /work out what they have learned. The medium varies from week to week (writing, art, worship, silence, conversation, prayer, etc.). |
