Teacher Builders

TEACHER BUILDERS

resources for effective children's ministry

    As I have covered in previous editions, it is of vital importance that we as parents and teachers of children and youth spend time on a daily basis in prayer and Bible study - we have looked at a number of excellent devotionals to help you develop this consistent time of study. This issue I want to look at resources to challenge and encourage us in our walk, some which are devotionals and some which are not necessarily devotionals. There are many excellent books we can learn much from and the reviews that follow include just a few of these.
    No Wonder They Call Him The Savior
    Author - Max Lucado
    Publisher - Multnomah
    This amazing book takes us along on a journey to find out what it is that truly matters in life. At the end of this journey, we will not be the same. As we look at the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, we will learn what really matters - and few authors have been gifted with the insight and the ability to communicate that insight to others as has Max Lucado.
     Favorite Features:

33 powerful, short chapters take us to the cross and clearly communicate what really matters in life

study guide for each chapter to help reader think through and apply important truths

this book is written in a way that makes the truths Max writes about understandable and real

    I cannot recommend highly enough this book be read by every parent and teacher. It is so easy to get caught up in our lives and not really think about Who Jesus Is. He Is The Savior - The Only One Who could and would be our Savior. That fact should change our lives. "No Wonder They Call Him The Savior" is a powerful book that will both challenge and encourage us. Extremely well done Max and Multnomah!

    Life Lessons With Max Lucado
    God’s Open Arms - Studies on Grace
    The Touch Of The Master’s Hand - Studies on Jesus
    Author - Max Lucado
    Publisher - Word Publishing
    These Bible study devotionals are based on Max’s books, “In The Grip Of Grace”, and “Just Like Jesus”, and are designed to help us think through, understand and apply the important truths related to forgiveness, grace and how to live a life that reflects Jesus.
    Favorite Features:

excellent for personal Bible study

excellent for group Bible study

12 lessons, each includes Scripture, excerpts from Max’s books, questions related to understanding and application, room to journal your thoughts

studies will challenge and encourage

    As parents and teachers we need to spend time studying and applying God’s Word. These Bible study guides will help us grow as they challenge us to really apply God’s Word to our daily lives. I highly recommend these resources for parents, teachers, leaders and even youth. Extremely well done Max and Word!

    Strength for Today - Daily Readings for a Deeper Faith
    Author - John MacArthur
    Publisher - Crossway Books
    It is so important teachers of children/youth spend time on a daily basis in Bible study and prayer - this applies to all teachers whether they be parents, children’s or youth Directors, Sunday School Teachers/helpers, school teachers, pastors - anyone who teaches kids. There are many excellent resources designed to help us learn to spend time every day studying God’s Word - this book is filled with devotions to last a full year.
     Favorite Features:

365 daily studies

Daily read through the Bible in a year schedule

Scripture index

topical index

    The goal of this devotional is to help the reader learn to do in-depth Bible study so they will be able “to think Biblically” after serious exposure to God’s Word. Just as the title proclaims, reading God’s Word daily will give us the strength we need for each day. If we want to be effective in the ministry and life God has called us to, we need His strength. Very nicely done John and Crossway Books.

    A Touch Of His Goodness
    Author - Charles Stanley
    Photographer - Charles Stanley
    Publisher - Zondervan Publishing
    We all have busy lives - especially those of us who volunteer our time to serve and often one casualty of our business is that we sometimes forget to remember our God is Good. We just get so caught up in all we are doing, experiencing, involved in we just do not even think about how Good God is to us. This book is an excellent tool to help get our perspective back in order as we spend time - over a period of 30 days - reminding ourselves of the fact of God’s Goodness.
     Favorite Features:

30 days of short, encouraging challenging devotions

each day’s devotion includes Scripture, devotional study, a prayer for application and a beautiful photo

each devotion ends with a “Touchstone” - a truth to remember

    Our lives sometimes go along smoothly and we do not question God’s Goodness. Sometimes life is not so smooth and we do question the Goodness of God. I think for many of us, life just sails by most of the time and we just do not think about the many ways God shows His Goodness every day. I highly recommend this book be read by all teachers, volunteers, children’s/youth’s directors and pastors as being fully convinced of the Goodness of God will breathe an amazing life into your service! I also recommend this book for all parents as one of the most valuable gifts we can pass to our children is the total confidence in the Goodness of God! Extremely well done Charles and Zondervan!

Table of Contents

About The Children's Department - Volume 3, Edition 2

Copyright © Lynda Freeman

Last Updated December 2, 1999

Web Page by Lynda Freeman

Send an e-mail to Lynda at dfreemansr@earthlink.net