Newsletter 13

Newsletter 13.

Contents.

O.L. 31. Discovering your gifts (Hidden colors).
O.L. 32. Facing trials and troubles (Balloon, water and fire).
O.L. 33. Can we trust our senses? (Audio and visual illusions).
Anecdotes from the doors.


Welcome to my latest Newsletter. I hope you find something here to benefit your ministry.

My own ministry has changed somewhat over the last few months. From being a 'Children's Entertainer', I now advertise myself as a 'Children's Evangelist.' Although the fun-filled programs I present are much the same as before, my emphasis has changed from entertaining the children and showing them that "Bible" can be fun, to reaching them for Christ.

I have just completed what I would describe as one of the most exciting and rewarding weeks of my life. Schools in New Zealand are on holiday at present, and it is thrilling to know that many churches in the Auckland region at least are taking advantage of that and running Kids holiday programs and sometimes camps mainly for non-Church children. Indeed there seems to be a growing awareness among the Auckland churches that children are very important - indeed they are our future! Many churches now also run after-school Kids clubs on a regular basis.

Last week I had the privilege of ministering to hundreds of children at five holiday programs, a camp, a "Family" service and a Sunday school. Most of the children responded to receive Christ, usually following my "gift" illustration (Object Lesson No.8 - Receiving Jesus). The response was so much greater than I had anticipated that after only two days I had given out my entire stock of 150 "Special to God" booklets (Highly recommended and obtainable from "Kidsreach" ( www.kidsreach.org.nz ).

There are some Christians who doubt the wisdom of inviting non-Church children to accept Christ, citing that "they don't really understand", "they only respond to please the Leader or because their friends are doing so", "it is hard to follow them up", "their parents may complain" and "pressure from home and peers will soon make them give up." I also have had my reservations in this area, but my doubts were answered recently by two emails I received.

When I lived in Scotland, I ran a Kids club for non-Church children - Prestwick Crusaders. My emails were from two of those Crusaders, now aged about twenty. They are both following Jesus, and one boy told me that he has recently been baptised, and is hoping to get a job in Christian Broadcasting. I also know that a third member of that little class is now studying at a Bible college.

So yes, I am convinced that we must give children an opportunity to accept Christ because, for all we know, that may be the last time they hear the Gospel and have an opportunity to do so. And if some are insincere or fall away, so what? Surely it is worth it for the ones who don't - even if that is only one in a hundred. In any case, only God really knows their hearts, and He is "well able to keep that which we entrust to him." Actually, I do believe that most children are sincere, although they may not yet be ready to embark on an intensive Bible study course! Indeed, I offered a follow up booklet to one eight year old girl recently, and she responded by saying that she would prefer a balloon instead! I am not, however, an advocate of making an "appeal" after every meeting, believing that is something to reserve for "special" occasions. Otherwise the people may become indifferent in their attitude to making such a vital decision.

I find that children generally are very open to the Gospel. Then comes the huge task of Discipleship! But after all, isn't that what church is all about?

I consider myself very fortunate to be involved in Children's ministry, dealing with people who are so "open" and responsive. In contrast, my main ministry for many years was in the area of "door to door" evangelism. Although that was not without its fulfilling moments, generally it was pretty hard going (see 'Anecdotes from the doors" below). It is very true that without Christ, people usually do grow 'hard in their hearts' towards God. It is so much better to reach them while they are young.

"Sow your seed in the morning and in the evening for you do not know which will grow. Perhaps it all will." (Ecclesiastes 11 v. 6).

Contents.

O.L. 31. Discovering your gifts (Hidden colors).
O.L. 32. Facing trials and troubles (Balloon, water and fire).
O.L. 33. Can we trust our senses? (Audio and visual illusions).
Anecdotes from the doors.



31. Discovering your gifts.


God has given us all many different gifts, talents and abilities. Here is a lesson to help children understand about discovering those gifts.

The ink that comes from a felt tip pen will appear to be just one color, but in fact it will probably be a mixture of different colors. This is how to discover those different colors (c.f. discovering our different gifts). Choose four or five different colored felt tip pens. It is best to use fairly dark colors and fairly cheap pens as these will contain more impurities (i.e. colors). Take a strip of white tissue paper (e.g. 15cm. x 8cm.) and make a line of dots with your different pens about 3cm. from the bottom. Hang your paper over the edge of a glass containing about 2 cm. of water, so that the bottom of the paper is in the water and the dots are about 1cm. above the water level. The water will begin to move up the tissue, and when it reaches the dots, capillary action will cause the hidden colors to travel up the paper at different rates.

After a few minutes, although there will probably be some "smearing", you should clearly be able to see three or four distinct colors originating from each dot.

"The Bible tells us that God has given each of us different gifts to use (Romans 12 v. 6). One of the most exciting things about growing up is to discover what special gifts, talents and abilities you have and then to use them to serve God.

I have made four colored dots on this tissue paper from these four differently colored pens. Although each dot looks as though it is made up of just a single color, actually there are a number of hidden colors hidden within each dot - as we shall now discover as I place the paper in a glass of water.

That is like you. You may think that you are only good at one thing, perhaps running, music, reading, drawing etc. When you get older you will find other gifts that God has already placed in you. Some of you may find that you have a gift for teaching, or for looking after small children. Others may discover they have a gift for writing or telling others about Jesus. Some of you may be good at making friends, listening to others, helping people in need, or giving to the poor. Some may find they are good at encouraging people, hospitality, or looking after the sick.

All these gifts, and many more, can be used to serve God. Jesus actually told us that when we are doing good to others, we are actually doing good to Him. (Matthew 25 v. 40). So discover which gifts God has given you. Concentrate on doing what you are good at, and use your abilities to serve God, because there is nothing more important or wonderful than that."


32. Facing trials and troubles.

Children particularly enjoy any lessons involving fire, water or balloons. The following object lesson involves all three, so should be a big hit!

Everyone faces trials and troubles at sometime in their life, but if we have put our trust in Jesus then He has promised to always be with us and help us through all our troubles.

1. Light a candle - the flame represents our trials and troubles.
2. Produce an inflated balloon - this represents the person who doesn't have Jesus in their life, and is therefore facing the trouble on their own. Let's see what happens when I put the balloon over the flame - BANG.
3. Produce an inflated balloon about one third full of water - this represents the person who has Jesus in their life (c.f. the water). Let's see what happens when I put this balloon over the flame - THE BALLOON IS UNHARMED.

Although both balloons faced the same trial (i.e. flame), the second one came through unharmed - because the water took away the heat before it could do any damage. In much the same way, Jesus is able to see us through our trials and troubles unharmed.


33. Can we trust our senses?

Sometimes our natural senses - sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste - let us down. However, there is one thing that will never let us down, one thing that is totally reliable - God's Word, the Bible.

Try out these hearing and eyesight tests on your class to show them that their senses are unreliable.

1. How many of each type of animal did Moses take onto the Ark?
(None. It was Noah who had the Ark).

2. You are the driver of a train. There are 30 passengers on board. At the first station, 10 passengers get off. At the second station, 5 passengers get on. What is the name of the train driver?
(You will probably have to repeat the question, using the right emphasis "You are the driver of a train - - - - ").

3. It is noon. You look at your watch, the little hand is pointing to 3, and the big hand is pointing to 6. What time is it?
(Noon. If your little hand is pointing to 3, and your big hand to 6, your watch must have stopped!).

4. Let's all spell out the word S. T. O. P. together. Then I will ask you a simple question that you have to answer immediately. S. T. O. P. spells STOP. What do you do when you come to a green light?
(Go.).

5. Let's all spell out the word S. I. L. K. together. Then I will ask you a simple question that you have to answer immediately. S. I. L. K. spells SILK. What do cow's drink?
(Water).

6. Write out the following two sets of words on triangular pieces of paper or cardboard as shown. Show each sentence to your class, and ask them to study it carefully. After about 15 seconds, put the paper away and ask them what it said. Most will get it wrong, missing out a "The" and an "A" respectively.

A
Bird
In The
The Bush


Once
In A
A Lifetime


Anecdotes from the doors.

My colleague Muriel and I once knocked on a door. A young lady (she told us she was 34) answered. The lady obviously was "special needs" - to use a modern expression. However, she was very interested in what we had to say, so we explained the Gospel to her as simply as we could. The lady seemed to understand and respond, so we led her to the Lord.

At that moment, the lady's mother arrived home. She got very angry and demanded to know who we were? and what we were doing? Muriel, in her usual calm voice, replied "We have got some good news for you. Your daughter has just been Born Again into the Kingdom of God."

Now, I have heard of people being rendered speechless, but this was the first and only time that I have actually witnessed it. The mother's mouth began to open and close rapidly, but not a sound was emitted!

At this point. we thought it best to say "Good night" and make our departure, committing both mother and daughter to the Lord as we did so.


My friend Iain once knocked on a door. A window nearby was opened, and a lady's voice from inside asked what he wanted. Iain explained, but the lady said that she couldn't open the door because her legs were "bad" and it would be too painful for her to get up and walk to the door.

Iain replied that Jesus could heal her, and offered to lay his hands on her and pray. The lady agreed. So that is what Iain did - through the open window! The lady then jumped up from her chair, shouting that the pain had all gone.

The following week, Iain revisited the lady. Again the same window was opened. The lady said that her legs were still "good" but that she was still not going to open the door to anyone. Iain reminded her that it was Jesus who had healed her, shared the Gospel, and led her to the Lord - all through the open window!

That lady never did open the door of her home to Iain, but more importantly, she did open the door of her heart to Jesus.


Here are some more "interesting" dialogues "from the doors."

Maurice. "Wouldn't you like to know for sure where you will go when you die?"
Lady. "Oh no, that would spoil the surprise!"

Lady. "I envy you 'born-again' Christians. You seem so sure of your faith."
Irene. "Who is Jesus, according to your belief?"
Lady. " I wish I knew. My church Bible study group often discuss who Jesus is, but we never seem to come
up with any definite answers."

Man. " I have really enjoyed talking to you. You are much more interesting than the Jehovah's Witnesses."

Lady. "When are you coming back again?"
Maurice. "You wouldn't answer my Survey questions, so what is the point in my coming back?"
Lady. "Well, the Jehovah's Witnesses keep coming back. I thought you would want to come back as well."

Lady. "I will not answer any of your questions."
Maurice. "Don't you want to share your faith?"
Lady. "No. I am an elder in my church."

Man. "Now that I have told you all that is wrong with the Church, what are you going to do about it?"

Jim. "We are conducting a Christian survey in your area. Will you answer a few questions for us please?"
Man. "This is much too cold a night for you to be standing outside."
Jim. " Why don't you invite us in then?"
Man. "No way! Good night."

Jim. "We would greatly appreciate hearing your thoughts and opinions about the Christian faith."
Lady. "No thanks. I go to church!"

Muriel. "Do you believe in God?"
Man. "I am not sure."
Maurice. "There either is a God or there isn't. Either a Creator deliberately made you for a purpose, or you are
just a product of time and chance reactions."
Man. "Then I hope I am just a product of time and chance."
Muriel. "Why do you say that."
Man. Because if there is a God, he is a sadistic ogre who causes the untold suffering of countless millions
of innocent children. And I wouldn't want to fall into the hands of someone like that!"

Maurice. "What do you believe will happen to you when you die?"
Man. "I will go to hell."
Maurice. " Wouldn't you rather go to heaven?"
Man. "Oh no. I will meet up with all my mates in hell, and we will have a big booze up!"

Maurice. "We are conducting a Christian survey. Will you answer a few questions for us please?"
Man. "No, You shouldn't be going round knocking on people's doors like this."
Maurice. "We simply want to share the love of Jesus with people."
Man. "I am a church Minister, and people don't like being confronted by fanatics like you."
Maurice. "Don't you think Christians should be sharing their faith?"
Man. "No. Faith is a very personal thing between you and God."
Maurice. "Didn't Jesus tell us to go out and share the Gospel?"
Man. "Yes, with the heathen. But this is a Christian country. There is no need to do it here. If anyone wants to find out more about Christ, all they need to do is go to a church."

Craig. "We are conducting a Christian survey in the area. Will you answer us a few questions about your
beliefs?"
Man. "No. I don't go to church because it is full of hypocrites. I don't believe in God and I think Jesus is just a
myth."
Craig. "Well, you have just answered our first four questions. Will you carry on and complete the other six?"

Maurice. "How often do you go to church?"
Lady. "Quite frequently. I have been to three weddings, one funeral and one christening already this year!"

Lady. "My husband is ill."
'Man of Faith' "God can heal him. No matter how bad his condition, God can make him completely whole.
If you wish, I will lay hands on him, and expect God to heal him. What is his problem anyway?"
Lady. "He has lost both his legs."
'Man of Faith' "-------Oh, I see. ------ On second thoughts, let me give you the phone number of my Pastor!"

Maurice. "What church do you attend?"
Lady. "I go to -------- church. We have a great minister. If you came along you would never want to go anywhere else. His preaching is so clear. He explains the Bible to us in a way that anyone can understand."
Maurice. "That's great. Now, according to your belief, who is Jesus?"
Lady. "That's too confusing a question for me. I've never really thought about it."
Maurice. "Do you believe that Jesus was God Himself in human form, or just a good man?"
Lady. "Well, now you put it like that, I think he was probably just a good man."

Maurice. "What do you believe will happen to you when you die?"
Man. "I will cease to exist. That is what the Bible teaches."
Maurice. "If you read your Bible, you would find that it talks about heaven and hell."
Man. "Heaven and hell are what you make of this life. The Bible says that afterwards there is nothing."
Maurice. "Can you tell me exactly where in the Bible it says that?"
Man. "I don't know the exact reference. But my minister agrees with me. He says that there is no life after
this one."

"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers." (2 Corinthians 4 v. 4), but Jesus says "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8 v. 32).

Note. Thankfully, not all responses "from the doors" were so negative. I will share some of the more positive ones in the next Newsletter.