These Short Years

VBS 2008 – Vacation Bible School 2008 Themes and Curriculum

Tony Kummer — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:27:08 +0000

On Gospel Driven Children’s Ministry, I’ve written an extensive guide to VBS 2008 Themes and Curriculum. I have links to all the major VBS 2008 publishers. This one page overview will be very helpful when choosing your VBS theme for next summer.

Gospel Driven Children’s Ministry

Tony Kummer — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 20:48:45 +0000

Let me introduce you to my new website. After loving WordPress for about 2 weeks I decided to venture off to my own domain. Here are the results. I will leave this site up for achieve but I will be posting all new articles there.

What To Do When Your Child Rebels

Tony Kummer — Fri, 25 May 2007 05:00:06 +0000

Last week, Desiring God posted this helpful list and article by Abraham Piper:

Many parents are brokenhearted and completely baffled by their unbelieving son or daughter. They have no clue why the child they raised well is making such awful, destructive decisions. I’ve never been one of these parents, but I have been one of these sons. Reflecting back on that experience, I offer these suggestions to help you reach out to your wayward child.

In summary:

Point them to Christ.

Pray.

Acknowledge that something is wrong.

Don’t expect them to be Christ-like.

Welcome them home.

Plead with them more than you rebuke them.

Connect them to believers who have better access to them.

Respect their friends.

Email them.

Take them to lunch.

Take an interest in their pursuits.

Point them to Christ. (reprise)

The Puritans On Family Worship

Tony Kummer — Thu, 24 May 2007 05:16:31 +0000

Here is an interesting summary of the New England Puritan’s approach to family life by Kerry Ptacek. The more I read about church history, the more I am convinced that we can learn a great deal from the former generations. Their conception of the Father’s spiritual duty is alien to most of today’s dad. Reading this has encouraged me to be more faithful as a father. I would encourage you to read the whole article here. They have many similar articles on their church website. Here is an brief quote:

The Puritans viewed the male head of the household as the one Biblically responsible for commanding and instructing the family in the way of the Lord. Historians of New England agree on the prevalence of this pattern in the 17th century. According to the standard work on this subject: “Every morning immediately upon rising and every evening before retiring a good Puritan father led his household in prayer, in scriptural reading, and in singing of psalms” (Morgan, pp. 136-137).

New England Puritans, like their counterparts in England and Scotland, did not view family worship as a rival to congregational worship, but rather as its complement: “Domestic instruction and worship was considered indispensable to the success of the weekly services in the church, for religion was too important a matter to be left to weekly lessons” (Morgan, p. 139).

Children’s Ministry Encouragement Game

Tony Kummer — Wed, 23 May 2007 05:00:21 +0000

Earlier this year, I invented this little game for our older elementary small groups. Kids need to see how God has given them talents and skills — to glorify Him. But in the process I thought it would be cool to have them do this by focusing on others. Glen Woods has a similar game on his blog. Here is how my game worked:

Children’s Ministry or Vacation Bible School Encouragement Game

Have the children sit in a circle on the floor.
Use an object to designate which kid has a turn to speak – like a ball.
Model the game by sitting in the circle with the children.
Have them complete this sentence and then pass the object to the child they were talking about — “You are really good at ________________ and I can imagine God using your to _____________.“
The child who receives the object will go next. Instruct them to not repeat until every has had one turn.
It creates a little surprise to see who they are talking about. You may need to redirect the comments if they become redundant or negative.
Example: “You are really good with babies and I can imagine God using you to be a good Mom.” Then hand the object to Sara.
Example: “You are really good at talking and I can imagine God using you to be a teacher.

Look for teaching opportunities. Play the game along with the kids. You might get encouraged yourself.

I’ve transfered this article to my Child Ministry website.

Seeing The Hand Of God – Jonah Part 3 of 3

Tony Kummer — Mon, 21 May 2007 05:00:38 +0000

This is the final of three posts from the book of Jonah. You can read the first one here and the second one here. If you have enjoyed this series please Subscribe in a reader or sign up for updates by Email.

The Hand Of God In The Book Of Jonah

It is striking how many times God does things in this little book. Reading a typical Children’s Story Bible you might not realize how God-centered these few pages of your Bible are. Consider some examples of God’s hand in the book of Jonah.

God sends His Word to Jonah in 1:1-2
God hurls a great wind upon the sea in 1:13
God makes the storm worse in 1:13 (implied)
God causes the storm to cease in 1:15
God appoints a fish to save Jonah in 1:17
God hears Jonah’s prayer in chapter 2 (implied)
God speaks to the fish in 2:10
God sends His Word to Jonah a second time in 3:1-2
God appoints a plant to shade Jonah in 4:6
God appoints a worm to attack the plant in 4:7
God appoints an east wind in 4:8
God questions Jonah in 4:9
God explains his salvation of Nineveh in 4:10-11

As you can see the book of “Jonah” could easily be called the book of “God.” He is the main character. From start to finish this book is about God. He is at work (despite his reluctant prophet) to save a wicked people. In this, God brings glory to himself and shows mercy on the great city of Nineveh.

So when you teach Jonah – make sure you teach about God and not a fish.

3 Reasons Why God Saved Ninevah – Jonah Part 2 of 3

Tony Kummer — Sat, 19 May 2007 05:00:56 +0000

This is the second of three posts from the book of Jonah. You can read the first one here and look for the final post on Monday. Be sure to Subscribe in a reader or sign up for updates by Email.

So Why Did God Save Ninevah?

God was pleased with their repentance and had mercy on them. This was the hope of the King of Nineveh when he called for a city wide-time of humbling.

Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. Jonah 3:9-10 ESV
God wanted to save the children of Nineveh. The last verse of Jonah is often overlooked. In it we find the divine motive for saving the city of Nineveh.

And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?” Jonah 4:11 ESV.

This is God’s explanation. It was the LORD’s sovereign right to have pity upon the children of that wicked city. This phrase is a very typical Hebraic way to speak of children. God was willing to save this city in order to save the young children of Nineveh.
God had pity on the the cattle of Nineveh. Same verse as above but look carefully at the last few works, “and also much cattle?” God cares about cows – deal with it.

On Monday, I’ll post my final thoughts on the book of Jonah.

Salvation Belongs To The Lord – Jonah Part 1 of 3

Tony Kummer — Fri, 18 May 2007 05:00:49 +0000

Over the next few weeks I will be preaching through the book of Jonah in our Children’s Church. While preparing for this series several themes from Jonah really came home in my life. I will share them here as an encouragement to you. These are not my teaching outlines. Rather they are some side thoughts that I wanted to get out on paper. This is the first of three posts from Jonah. Look for the others later this week. Be sure to Subscribe in a reader or sign up for updates by Email.

Salvation Belongs To The Lord

The literary and theological climax of the book of Jonah is his cry for salvation: But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the LORD!“ Jonah 2:9 ESV. In the unthinkable terror and certainty of death he cries to God for salvation.

Jonah is about God’s salvation. Over and over we see the LORD acting decisively to rescue those who turn to Him. Consider:

God saved the sailors from drowning and from their paganism. By God’s providence they are taught to fear the LORD more than the fear the sea. Their prayer in 1:14 and sacrifices in 1:16 demonstrate men with changed hearts. God has revealed himself in a raging sea and they were changed. Notice they were also physically saved from the storm in 1:15.
God save Jonah from disobedience and a watery grave. The storm itself was God acting to bring Jonah to repentance. He was saved from certain death by the fish in 1:17. Then he was saved from the fish and restored to dry land in 2:10.
God saved the people of Nineveh from his judgment. In 3:5 they repent at the preaching of Jonah.
God saved the king of Nineveh from his judgment. In 3:6-9 this pagan emperor humbles himself and his great city before the LORD. The conversion of Nineveh is the most impressive miracle in the book of Jonah. God demanded and secured this repentance. Ultimately the people were saved from God’s righteous wrath toward their wickedness. But they were saved by the LORD.
God saved Jonah from the heat of the day. The plant that gave Jonah shade in 4:6 was and expression of God’s mercy.
God saved Jonah from his hardening heart. God sent suffering in 4:7-8 by removing the plant and sending a scorching east wind. This was God’s mercy to humble Jonah and save him from pride.

In the book of Jonah we see God moving in the lives of people great and small to bring about his salvation. Salvation belongs to the LORD.At this point we should be asking, “Why did God save Nineveh?” That is the topic I will be covering in part 2 of this series. So come back tomorrow for the answer (or read Jonah 4).

What Is So Great About Jesus?

Tony Kummer — Thu, 17 May 2007 05:00:05 +0000

Here is a video slide show I put together for my other website Said At Southern. I’ve taken some photos by my friend Timmy, the audio from John Piper’s sermon at SBTS and some background music from Valley of Vision.

The result: a few minutes for you to meditate on the excellence of Christ.

This video may be an encouragement to your small group, Sunday school class, youth ministry or family worship time. If so let me know.

Will Babies Go To Heaven?

Tony Kummer — Wed, 16 May 2007 05:00:28 +0000

The salvation of infants is more than a theological debate. The questions raised are real struggles for many believers. Many seem to answer these questions in a way that does not look to the scriptures alone for answers. We must reject that approach. Any real hope must be rooted in the Word of God. Parents who are suffering do not need your Oprah Theology – they need to hear from the Lord “who gives and takes away.“

I am glad to point you to a essay written by Matt Privett. He is an undergraduate student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His careful research on this topic is very helpful. Here is the conclusion of his article:

With the evidence pointing toward the idea that all infants and unborn who die are excluded from judgment and included in heaven, the method of their inclusion remains at issue. The Bible indicates that no man is saved by the works that he does, but by grace alone (Rom 3:20; Eph 2:8-9). It is by grace that God has saved sinners throughout all of human history, not just in the New Testament (Gen 15:6). Scripture is explicit that there is no other way to come into God’s favor (Rom 3:21-26). In addition, there is no place in God’s Word that teaches the damnation of infants and unborn. On the contrary, every biblical reference to the issue, whether explicit or implicit, gives reason to believe they go directly into the presence of God when they physically die.

That being the case, infants are saved by the grace of God through the finished, redemptive work of Jesus Christ the way every other human inhabitant of heaven is. All babies are in need of a Savior because of the guilt of Adam; however, they are innocent of personal sinful deeds, rebellious acts, and unbelief.25 These individuals do not reach the state where they comprehend revelation and have the ability to choose or reject the gospel. Thus, they are not condemned and God has provided them the one and only Savior. As a result, one is left to conclude that all infants, unborn, and mentally incapable who die before reaching a state of accountability are among the elect, whom God graciously receives into His glorious presence at the moment of physical death (2 Tim 2:10).

Just as David’s dead infant son went to a place where he would one day be joined by his earthly father (2 Sam 12:23), all infants who die in that state go to heaven. Just as Jeremiah was known by God, consecrated from his mother’s womb, and appointed a prophet to the nations (Jer 1:5), all babies who die are known by God and ultimately glorified with Him (Rom 8:30). Just as John the Baptist was full of the Holy Spirit while still inside the body of Elizabeth, all of the unborn who die are washed from their inherited sinful state by the regenerating and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Tit 3:5). Thus, when asked what the eternal destiny of one of these who die is, one can answer with biblical confidence as MacArthur does, “Instant heaven.”