How Can We Motivate Our Kids?

Many kids have lost interest in spiritual matters. They are discouraged about trying to please God. From their perspective, it is not "cool" to be godly. So they focus on their own desires and let the world guide them. The number one challenge in churches today is to overcome mediocrity. Christian kids are satisfied with lukewarm-ness.

To counteract this trend, some churches have replaced content-rich children's ministries with high-energy programs. This may keep kids from being bored and it may eliminate the need to recruit volunteers, but it also severs teacher-learner relationships that foster discipleship. If we routinely motivate kids with flashy events, we are doomed to the "bigger and better" cycle. Each new program must offer more energy, excitement, and "wow" than the previous one.

Instead, we must move kids from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation. Throughout the Bible, God uses a variety of cause-effect techniques to motivate His people. Some are positive and some are punitive; some are earthly and some are eternal. Some are fascinating and some are frightening. Remind children that every human being will someday meet the Creator face-to-face-and give an account to Him.

Every child can be motivated-though not every child responds to the same stimulus. Find ways to lift your child's eyes from self to God. Help him or her realize that our omnipresent God is both loving and just. Establish an appropriate system of rules and rewards. Reinforce attitudes and behaviors that honor God. Show how faith is relevant to life. Encourage, affirm, model, pray.

Free Motivation Tool—P-O-W-E-R Journal

Encourage your kids to Pray from the heart, Obey the Holy Spirit, Worship with the Church, Explain their faith, and Read their Bibles with this special journal sheet. Reproduce as many copies as you need!

Steps to making your free Thanksgiving card:

Download P-O-W-E-R Journal (size: 1,820KB, pdf format)

Kids Need Encouragement

(Ephesians 4:29-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

The Situation: Kids hear, "You'll never amount to anything!" Many children are exposed to an onslaught of criticism, sarcasm, and derogatory comments. These words tear down a child's confidence, competence, and self-esteem. As a result, kids have growing problems of insecurity and fear. They believe the messages that they hear!

The Solution: Just as a battery continually needs to be recharged, your child requires a constant supply of encouragement. To counterbalance negative messages, kids need large doses of support, affirmation, and praise. Look for ways to build your child up. Be his or her biggest cheerleader. Let your kids know that you believe in them-no matter what!

What You Can Do: Negative messages come from a variety of sources. Reduce or eliminate the number of times your child is exposed to hurtful words or detrimental conduct. Surround him or her with sources that will provide positive input. The changes in your child's outlook and performance might amaze you!

Discipleship Tip

Rewards and other extrinsic motivators are effective, but they pale in comparison to a child's intrinsic desire to please the trusted adults in his or her life. Jesus knew this—He taught how actions should spring from a desire to please God. Cultivate a loving, trusting relationship with each of your children and set high expectations regarding their behavior and accomplishments. Jesus did so with His disciples, and their motivation to please Him changed the world. Your kids, too, will reach surprising heights to win your approval.

Product News

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Kids Want to Give Back

Kids are not as consumer-minded as you may think and 91 percent of kids want to help others, says a newly released study by Just Kid, Inc. The market research firm-who surveyed 2,000 children between the ages of 6 and 14-offers strategies based on input from children and encourages retailers to provide kids with less selfish purchasing incentives.

Fifty-eight percent of kids choose volunteering over playing video games and 38 percent would rather see money for their gifts go to a worthy cause instead of receiving a present, says Foxbusiness.com. More than half responded that they have the ability to make a positive change in the world while nine percent said that kids who volunteer are "nerds." But, when the children were given a choice between participating on a sports team or a club that raises money for a worthy cause, 51 percent chose the fundraising club.

Although children may express a desire to help others, Dr. Robert Reiner, child psychologist and Executive Director of Behavioral Associates, said it all has to do with parental "modeling." "If a child's parents are interested [in giving back], there is a chance that they will be interested, too," Reiner said. "But if adults can't deny instant gratification, why should we think kids can?"

Taken from the Pastor's Weekly Briefing, Dec 21, 2007. Copyright (c) 2007, Focus on the Family.

Motivation from God's Word

• "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." Colossians 3:23
• "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might." Ecclesiastes 9:10
• "For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13
• "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3
• "I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
• "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
• "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
• "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6
• "He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:29-31
• "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." John 14:13-14
• "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
• "Do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. Seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you." Luke 12:29-30
• "For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. As for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good." 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13

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