JUN/JUL/AUG 2016

disciplesh

ipSOLUTIONS FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL & SMALL GROUP LEADERS

Find out more at MEGASportsCamp.com

MEGA Verse:“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”

DAY EPIC MOMENT BIBLE STORY SPORTS STORY MEGA POINT

1 DISCOVERY Jesus calls PeterMichael Oher, football player

EPIC MOMENTS OF DISCOVERY…

show us we are valued.

2 ADVERSITY Peter reaches for Jesus

Bethany Hamilton, surfer

EPIC MOMENTS OF ADVERSITY…

remind us God is here.

3 GAME CHANGE

Jesus renames Peter

Mariano Rivera, baseball player

EPIC MOMENTS OF GAME CHANGE…

transform how others see us.

4 DEFEAT Peter rejects Jesus2011 U.S.

Women’s national soccer team

EPIC MOMENTS OF DEFEAT…

can be overcome.

5 VICTORY Peter preaches2015 U.S.

Women’s national soccer team

EPIC MOMENTS OF VICTORY…

prove we are winners.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.

Kids practice sports plus discover Bible truths they can apply to their daily lives.

Get involved at a MEGA Sports Camp outreach

this summer! Churches report up to 90% of guests

and 20% of kids ask Jesus into their lives. It’s

action-packed, unforgettable, and life changing–for

both the kids AND the volunteers!

MyHealthyChurch.com • 1.855.642.2011

Find out more at www.MEGASportsCamp.com

“I volunteered to help at my church’s

MEGA Sports Camp outreach this

summer. I completely underestimated

how awesome the experience would be.

I can’t wait to do it again next year!”

— Rebecca

.

Find out more at MEGASportsCamp.com

MEGA Verse:“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”

DAY EPIC MOMENT BIBLE STORY SPORTS STORY MEGA POINT

1 DISCOVERY Jesus calls PeterMichael Oher, football player

EPIC MOMENTS OF DISCOVERY…

show us we are valued.

2 ADVERSITY Peter reaches for Jesus

Bethany Hamilton, surfer

EPIC MOMENTS OF ADVERSITY…

remind us God is here.

3 GAME CHANGE

Jesus renames Peter

Mariano Rivera, baseball player

EPIC MOMENTS OF GAME CHANGE…

transform how others see us.

4 DEFEAT Peter rejects Jesus2011 U.S.

Women’s national soccer team

EPIC MOMENTS OF DEFEAT…

can be overcome.

5 VICTORY Peter preaches2015 U.S.

Women’s national soccer team

EPIC MOMENTS OF VICTORY…

prove we are winners.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan.

Kids practice sports plus discover Bible truths they can apply to their daily lives.

Get involved at a MEGA Sports Camp outreach

this summer! Churches report up to 90% of guests

and 20% of kids ask Jesus into their lives. It’s

action-packed, unforgettable, and life changing–for

both the kids AND the volunteers!

MyHealthyChurch.com • 1.855.642.2011

Find out more at www.MEGASportsCamp.com

“I volunteered to help at my church’s

MEGA Sports Camp outreach this

summer. I completely underestimated

how awesome the experience would be.

I can’t wait to do it again next year!”

— Rebecca

.

U.S. & INTERNATIONAL

PHONE: 1.855.642.2011 7:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (Central Time) Monday–Friday

FAX: 1.877.840.5100 (24 hours a day*)

INTL. PHONE: 417.866.8014 (at customer expense)

INTL. FAX: 417.862.0414 (at customer expense)

MAIL: My Healthy Church 1445 N. Boonville Ave, Springfield, MO 65802-1894

WEB: www.MyHealthyChurch.com

ORDERING INFORMATION

Discipleship Ideas comes to you

every quarter, filled with great

resources† for building disciples

of all ages. For additional

copies of Discipleship Ideas, call

1.855.642.2011.

CANADA

PHONE: 905.542.7400 x4248 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday–Friday Please have your Wordcom account number ready.

FAX: 905.542.1624 (24 hours a day*)

MAIL: Wordcom Christian Resources 2450 Milltower Court, Mississauga ON L5N 5Z6

WEB: www.wordcom.ca · wordcom@paoc.org

†Some products may reflect doctrinal statements and practices not completely in harmony with the stated position of the Assemblies of God. *Due to the large volume of orders, we are unable to notify you of orders received. If you need order confirmation, please place your order by phone. Prices are subject to change without notice. All prices listed in U.S. dollars.

All orders subject to credit approval. Discipleship Ideas is published quarterly. Subscriptions: $4.95 per year; 5 or more to the same address, $3.95 each.

Third party articles used by permission.

© 2016 by My Healthy Church, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.

For more information about all the resources featured in Discipleship Ideas,

visit MyHealthyChurch.com or call 1-855-642-2011.

contentsPA G E 6

Ten Discipleship Steps for Kids

PA G E 8

Radiant Life themes

PA G E 9

Vida Nueva themes

PA G E 1 0

Fun and Laughter

PA G E 1 4

The Mountaintop Experience

10

14

6

Let your kids be part of the story by downloading the Kid Bible Heroes app today.Visit MyHealthyChurch.com/KidBibleHeroes for more information.

MyHealthyChurch.com/KidBibleHeroes1.855.642.2011

6

B Y J O H N H A I L E S

1 Follow ChristEvery journey has a starting place. Are you regularly sharing the gospel with your kids? Do you make space for kids to decide to follow Jesus? Remind kids this is the first step on the journey, it doesn’t end here!

2 Read the BibleAre we encouraging kids to read the Word? Do you offer a reading plan for your kids? Have you taught kids how to find books/chapters/verses in the Bible? Are we requiring our kids to use their Bibles during the kids service?

3 Consistent Prayer LifeAre we placing an importance on prayer? How many times do you pray during your service? Do you show them how to pray? Do you give them opportunities to pray? A strong

relationship with God requires a consistent prayer life. We must model this to kids and challenge them to embrace a prayer life!

4 Water BaptismThis public declaration of faith and decision to deal with sin in their lives is not a step kids should rush. I like the idea of baptizing kids when they graduate the elementary program if they are ready. It needs to be their decision, and we shouldn’t give them incentives to do it.

5 Holy Spirit BaptismReceiving the boldness and empowerment of the Holy Spirit is the only way for kids to live by the Spirit (Romans 8). We must regularly offer kids the opportunity to be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in a heavenly language. This shouldn’t just happen at camp.

Ten Discipleship Steps for Kids

O ur job in Kidmin is to help our kids take their next right step in their walk with God. I have long believed that everyone’s discipleship pathway is different; yet I also believe

that each child’s journey should consist of some similar steps. These experiences can help us gauge our children’s growth, but more importantly, they form the foundations of their faith.

In many ways our role is to help kids take these steps as we challenge them to grow in their faith. We must be careful that we don’t get so consumed in helping kids have fun that we get distracted from helping them move along this pathway. There are many discipleship steps. Below are the top 10 I think every child should take:

THE DISCIPLESHIP PATH WAY

7

6 Hear God’s VoiceI remember the first time I heard God’s voice and recognized Him speaking to me. It was through Scripture, not an audible voice. These are experiences that we never let go of. Are we teaching kids to wait for the leading of the Holy Spirit? Are we teaching them to wait on what God has to speak to them?

7 Experience God’s presenceAre we creating environments and an atmosphere where kids can experience God’s presence? Is our worship centered on kids singing and dancing or on kids experiencing God?

8 Share Their FaithA HUGE step for kids is overcoming the fear that they will be rejected and humiliated for their faith. We must equip and teach kids how to share their faith with friends, and we must give them opportunities to do so in safe spaces on Sunday morning.

9 Pray Over OthersWhen was the last time your kids prayed for one another? As kids grow in their confidence to pray, they need to be encouraged to pray for others and in front of others. This is a simple way kids can be used by God to minister to others.

10 Give to MissionsIt’s a powerful step when kids realize that their lives shouldn’t be all about themselves. This is best seen through a life of giving. Do you encourage kids to give to missions? Do you teach kids ways to raise money for others? Do you make the needs of others plain for kids to see and experience?

Are we creating environments and an

atmosphere where kids can experience God’s

presence?

8

Check out our Summer 2016 unit themes. Radiant Life curriculum provides a proven way to systematically disciple and educate believers of all ages.

NURSERYO N E -Y E A R C YC L E

· Noah and the Ark

· Baby Moses

· Samuel Is a Helper

PRIMARYT H R E E -Y E A R C YC L E

· Paul, a Changed Man

· Paul, a Prisoner for Jesus

HIGH SCHOOLF O U R -Y E A R C YC L E

· The General Epistles

· Dealing with Feelings

· Get Ready!

KINDERGARTENT W O -Y E A R C YC L E

· God Made Our World

· The First Family

· Stories about Patriarchs

YOUNG TEENT H R E E -Y E A R C YC L E

· In the Beginning God Said

· My Daily Voyage with God

· Spiritual Champions

TODDLERS & TWOST W O -Y E A R C YC L E

· God Made Me

· I Am Special

· I Am Growing

· When I Grow Up

MIDDLERT W O -Y E A R C YC L E

· God the Holy Spirit

· God Stands with Us

· God Can Use Us

YOUNG ADULT Graduates & ProfessionalsS E V E N -Y E A R C YC L E

· David and Solomon

· Life’s Transitions

PRESCHOOL & BEGINNING EXPLORERST W O -Y E A R C YC L E

· God Created the World

· God Is with Noah

· God Is with Elijah and Elisha

PRETEENT W O -Y E A R C YC L E

· Spiritual Gifts

· Learning from Kings

· The Book of Revelation

ADULTS E V E N -Y E A R C YC L E

· David and Solomon

· Life’s Transitions

9

Revise los títulos de nuestras unidades de junio a agosto 2016. El currículo paralelo Radiant Life/Vida Nueva provee el mismo discipulado de excelente calidad para alumnos de habla hispana de toda edad. Para una descripcíon de cada unidad, visite www.MyHealthyChurch.com/VidaNueva si necesita ver la tabla de esquemas temáticos de Vida Nueva.

PRIMEROS PASOSCICLO DE DOS AÑOS

JUN A AGO 2016

· La Creación

· Dios ayudó a Noé

· Elías y Eliseo

TESOROS DEL REYCICLO DE DOS AÑOS

JUN A AGO 2016

· Dios hizo nuestro mundo

· La primera familia

· Patriarcas

MIS AMIGOSCICLO DE TRES AÑOS

JUN A AGO 2016

· Pablo, un hombre nuevo

· Pablo, prisionero por Cristo

EL EXPLORADORCICLO DE CUATRO AÑOS

JUN A AGO 2016

· Las epístolas generales

· La batalla de los sentimientos

· ¡Prepárate!

EL COMPAÑEROCICLO DE CUATRO AÑOS

JUN A AGO 2016

· Los dones espirituales

· Enseñanzas de los reyes

· El Apocalipsis

EL EMBAJADORCICLO DE CINCO AÑOS

JUN A AGO 2016

· Jeremías: la Palabra de Dios en tiempos difíciles

· Los postreros tiempos

EL MAESTROCICLO DE SIETE AÑOS

JUN A AGO 2016

· David y Salomón

· Las transiciones de la vida: Etapas de la vida adulta

10

Fun and LaughterI love donuts. I mean, I’m pretty sure everybody loves donuts, but I am one of

the ones who has the courage to proclaim it. In my family, Friday is known as “Donut Day”—on the way to taking my kids to school, we all stop for donuts.

So, when my kids were out of school for Christmas break, I got them up and told them we were going out for Donut Day, but not to just any regular donut place, oh no. I was going to take them to Frost Donuts! Frost Donuts is the extra-fancy donut place—with the Butterfinger donuts, the salted caramel donuts, bacon on the maple bars—you know the place. It is a little too out of the way for regular Donut Day, but Christmas break was the perfect excuse to go.

“Okay, kids, let’s go out for donuts!” I announced. But to my surprise I was met with resistance, “Do we have to? I don’t want to get dressed. Can we just stay here?”

I wasn’t sure what was happening. Kids turning down donuts? Is that even allowed?

I thought about backing down and breaking out the Cheerios instead, but then I reconsidered. I went ahead and forced my kids to go out for donuts! And we had a great time. The BEST time. We laughed, we ate great donuts, we took pictures, and even weeks later we are talking about what a fun morning it was.

B Y D A N M E T T E E R

111.855.642.2011

MyHealthyChurch.com

12

A growing body of research suggests that, when used effectively, classroom comedy can improve student performance by reducing anxiety, boosting participation, and increasing students’ motivation to focus on the material. Six tips to combining laughter and learning:

Learn first. Simply starting your service or devotion with a joke isn’t what this is all about. Although you might get people laughing, start first with the content from God’s Word that needs to be taught.

Understand the rhythm. Your service should still have Jesus in the center of the conversation. If your time with children looks more like a stand-up comedy routine, you’ve gone too far.

Not everything is funny. There are some topics that should be off-limits. Bathroom humor is never appropriate in a children’s service. Parents will not appreciate the joke they retell in the car on the way home.

Be a role model. Kids will think the characters are funny, but always be sure to balance it out with godly role models as well. Are they routinely seeing adult males as immature goof-offs? Or do they also see adult males leading in prayer, sharing God’s Word, etc.

Make the environment fun. Jokes are not the only way to lighten the mood. The use of sounds, colors, scents, games, and activity help kids remember better.

Leaders need to laugh. Instruct your leaders to set the example by laughing at the appropriate times as well. If your leaders roll their eyes, the kids will too.

Laughter is not the only answer for creating amazing learning environments. However, in too many instances we have squeezed out the fun in preference for order and compliance. This week consider the amount of humor and laughter you use to help kids learn God’s Word.

As I drove home, I thought about this truth: Sometimes you have to make people have fun. Whether you are leading a family or a ministry, the same pattern is likely. People involved with their day-to-day routine get busy, and pretty soon they don’t have time to do the things that are really going to be fun. But fun is important. Fun creates relationship bonds. Fun builds memories. Fun refreshes the soul.

In leadership, we often find ourselves in the awkward position of making people have fun . . . or at least we should! As you think about the next year in your church, your ministry, and your family, include some fun.

Schedule funFace up to the fact that your kids, your volunteers, and even you

are going to feel like you are too busy to take the time for fun. But they need it—YOU need it. Put it on the calendar, make the invites, and don’t let people off the hook too easily when they say they are too busy.

Involve other plannersDon’t be the fun dictator. Let other people contribute. They might

suggest something that you wouldn’t think of—they may even be more “in touch” with the rest of your group. And, most importantly, involving someone else produces a person in the group that wants the event to succeed as much as you do.

Be flexibleRemember, some of the most fun times you will ever have will

be when things didn’t work out—the car broke down, the venue was closed, whatever. Remember the goal (to have fun) and don’t get mopey if things don’t go as planned.

Have fun—you won’t regret it!

LAUGHTER

LEARNINGB Y M A R K E N T Z M I N G E R

13

Grow closerto Jesus together.

MyHealthyChurch.com • 1.855.642.2011 ThePowerOfHomeTheBook.com

Availablein Spanish

Availablein Spanish

Visit ThePowerOfHomeTheBook.com to download a free chapter!

Pair with The Power of Home 90-Day Devotional for spiritually healthy families now and in the future.

Help parents take charge of their faith and family with The Power of Home. In his new book, Ted Cunningham encourages every family member to participate in the spiritual growth of their household.

14

I f you’re a youth leader, you’ve most likely had

the same declaration I had with my students. “Don’t leave what God did in your life at the camp or convention. Take it back with you, and use it to spark change.” Unfortunately, we oftentimes follow in the footsteps of the Israelites and quickly forget what God did just moments before. We have a natural propensity to fall back into the same patterns and routines, letting the fire the Holy Spirit set ablaze turn to smoke.

God understands the value of big events and their tangible effects—it’s shown throughout Scripture. Jesus fed the five

thousand, a big event, and then sent his disciples ahead of Him with the leftover fragments from the miracle. Many times we make events the end all, be all. Biblically, events are merely a means to a greater end. Events are meant to be catalysts, as there is always a takeaway from these experiences that can launch us into the next phase of our journey.

For the disciples, they encountered a storm after the feeding of the five thousand. How often after experiencing a powerful move of the Spirit do we encounter worldly storms that try to derail us? People always say things like

“mountaintop experiences don’t have to end.” I beg to differ. The “mountaintop experience” of feeding the five thousand ended and a storm arose. Here is the key: the storm can be just as much of a “mountaintop” as a miracle can be.

Rather than trying to keep an experience alive, we are called to take what we learn from the miracle moment and carry it into the next season—even if it comes disguised as something else. How you steward the miraculous and momentum-creating moments into the next season of your ministry or your life will determine your group’s ability to position your heart for an encounter with the Father.

B Y H E A T H A D A M S O N

The Mountaintop Experience

THE STORM C A N BE JUST A S MUCH OF A “MOUNTA INTOP” A S A MIR ACLE C A N BE.

151.855.642.2011

MyHealthyChurch.com

3/1

6

MyHealthyChurch.com/AdultTeacher

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PERMIT NO. 48SPRINGFIELD, MO

1445 N BOONVILLE AVENUE

SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI 65802-1894