Good Ideas for Children’s Ministry

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What have been some of your best ideas for children’s ministry? I recall back in 1985, while traveling doing evangelistic services, I had created the most unusual contraption for working four puppets at the same time. Alisa and I had a puppet stage and several puppets that we included in our nightly programs and I wanted to do more than just one puppet singing a song while Alisa was out front with the kids. After sketching and thinking it over, along came the craziest design which included pvc pipe, springs, 8 inch bolts, support brackets, fishing line, and more bits and pieces. I still remember holding up four puppets with one hand while the other hand moved the mouths. Just the thought of it makes me chuckle and smile. I know you have stories to share of some GOOD ideas you have had as well. Some of the most hilarious stories I have heard were from friends in ministry sharing how their GOOD ideas turned out.

In today’s Word of Challenge let’s consider the comparison between GOOD ideas and GOD ideas.

Here are a few comparison points.

Not all GOOD ideas end up good or beneficial, but ALL GOD ideas are always good.

All GOD ideas are birthed out of the God’s creative power and His Spirit. (see Isaiah 45:8 below)

GOOD ideas come solely from man’s creative ability.

Therefore, every GOD idea will accomplish what it is sent to do, but not every GOOD idea will end in success.

When using the letters from GOOD and GOD, there is a very simple object lesson that speaks directly to our comparison.

An idea may seem to be GOOD, but not be from GOD. If you take GOD out of the GOOD, all you have left is “O” or nothing. So, if you try to implement a GOOD idea, and it is not a GOD idea, you end up with nothing from your efforts.

God placed His creative ability within us when He created us in His image. In Genesis 11, at the account of the Tower of Babel, we can see man putting that creative ability to use. God said, “If … they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” Nothing would be impossible! The ability to build, design, and construct was a direct reflection of God’s creative power at work in them, but they added their own idea to it. After all that energy and effort they put forth, there was no real accomplishment. Instead, God had to step in and take action to prevent them from going even farther astray.

How does all of this apply to you and I in a practical, day-to-day way? As I see it, this issue hits to the very core of many of the frustrations experienced by ministry leaders. Consider that GOOD ideas can produce situations that cause you to be overworked, overwhelmed, feeling unappreciated, tired, confused, disillusioned, etc. The list really does go on and on. Christ put it very simply when He said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” He was beckoning us to follow Him, follow His way of doing things, follow His example of ministry and life so the ideas we implement will be effective, not frustrating.

In all sincerity, I now include in my daily time with God the very request that the ideas for life and ministry in which I actively engage are GOD ideas and only GOD ideas. I cannot afford to put time, effort, energy, and resources into GOOD ideas which may or may not produce a crop. In strong contrast, it is my desire for every action I take, every word I speak, every thought I think, — everything in every way — , be GOD idea centered and GOD idea born!

My prayer is for you to be enlightened today as to how your life and ministry will be forever impacted and changed by throwing away the GOOD ideas and zealously focusing on the GOD ideas.

Isaiah 45:8 Let fall in showers, you heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness [the pure, spiritual, heaven-born possibilities that have their foundation in the holy being of God] AMPLIFIED Version