Children’s Ministry
Introduction
Here are some resources to help communicate Jesus to children, in the healing atonement and restoration paradigm. The activities stress the healing and cleansing power of Jesus.
Resources
Evangelism Tools for Children’s Ministry
Our list of favorite illustrations and activities for children, such as the gospel in chairs, the cleansing stain, the dissolving paper, etc.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
A Catholic curriculum and approach to children’s learning that involves building a beautiful environment and a Montessori style of interaction.
Pete Enns, Telling God's Story, Year One: Meeting Jesus: Instructor Text & Teaching Guide
Olive Branch Books | Amazon page, Feb 2011. A very helpful curriculum using an age-appropriate philosophy. The material starts with Jesus, to develop a relationship with Jesus. The material only explains the Old Testament to the extent that it is useful and helpful in understanding Jesus. Philosophically, the authors believe that studying Genesis, etc. is age-appropriate for high school when young people can understand science, history, and literature.
Zoe Kanavas, The Bible for Young People
Narthex Press | Amazon page, Jan 2005. “Beautifully illustrated Bible stories for young readers from both the Old and New Testaments. Translated from the Greek, the stories are theologically Orthodox. They are written in a fascinating style that will keep the interest of the very young (to whom they can be read), or for those up to age 14.”
Katherine Bolger Hyde, Everything Tells Us about God
Ancient Faith Publishing | Amazon page, Jan 2018. “The world is like a giant puzzle God made that teaches us about Himself. Every piece earth, sea, and sky, plants, animals, and people reveals something about who He is and why we're here. Everything Tells Us about God will help children recognize the beautiful and sometimes mysterious pieces of this puzzle for themselves.” Hyde is a writer, a member of St. Lawrence Orthodox Church, and a resident of the redwood county of the California central coast.
Exaltation Press | Amazon page, Dec 2018. A beautiful resource for small children.
Exaltation Press | Amazon page, Jan 2019. A beautiful resource for small children.
Exaltation Press | Amazon page, Feb 2019. A beautiful resource for small children.
John Kosmas Skinas, Pictures of God: A Child’s Guide to Understanding Icons
Conciliar Press | Amazon page, Mar 2009. “When the Son of God came down from heaven to become a man like us, He made it possible for us to see Him, touch Him, and make pictures of Him-pictures which we call icons. This little book brings God and His saints vividly into children's lives through icons, explaining in the simplest terms what each icon means and what the role of these holy pictures-and the holy stories and people they depict-can be in our lives. The colorful pages of Pictures of God are perfect for occupying little hands in church, for explaining the world of icons in the first years of Sunday school, and for read-aloud time with little ones at home.”
Christian Parenting Resources
Philip Mamalakis, Parenting Toward the Kingdom: Orthodox Christian Principles of Child-Rearing
Ancient Faith Publishing | Amazon book, Oct 2016. An excellent book about parenting that recognizes that children need connection and attachment, and desire to please and imitate their parents for good reasons, because they are made in the image of God and called to His likeness.
Bible Studies and Messages from The Anástasis Center:
Check out sermons, small group leader notes, exegetical papers, and other notes on Scripture. Also, check out our YouTube Channel or read our blog. Read Atonement 101 and Theology 101 for short introductions to two of the topics we care about most. And see the resources from the top menu.
Resources by Topic:
These topics involve frequently asked questions. We write about, speak on, and curate links to other people’s resources on, the following topics. Christians have reflected on these topics from earliest times, and we include those links.
