Kidologists Zone
This is the place to find things written or submitted by the creator of Kidology.org, Karl Bastian.
Use Karl's creativity to your advantage! Browse his ideas, plans, games, and more, and use them as is or adapt them for your ministry!
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The Super Duper Impossible Game Show!
A Game Show that illustrates we can always call on God for help! |
Calling on God in Prayer | |
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New Friend Seating
This is a simple way on one Sunday to gently force all the kids to make some new friends! |
Friendship | |
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The Power of Encouragement
Karl, the Kidologist has had a note from Phil Vischer's mom up next to his desk for over 15 years... find out why! |
Young Leader Encouragement | |
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How to Roll a Coin
Lots of people watch magicians with envy as they roll coins over their fingers with ease... now you can learn the secret from the Kidologist! |
Pocket Magic | |
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A Letter From a Friend
Puppet gets a letter from a friend, is excited, but doesn't open it. Silly huh? Kinda like Christians who are excited about their Bibles, but don't read them. Silly huh? |
Bible is Like a Letter from God | |
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Kids Church Ushers
For one Sunday show the kids what it feel like to be greeted like a celebrity when they arrive at church. |
Service | |
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New Ways to Do the WORDLESS BOOK!
Everyone has seen a Wordless Book, here are some NEW ways to present it! Get Creative!! |
Wordless Book Variety | |
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Grocery Store Encouragement
A BUNCH of ideas for encouraging your volunteers from the aisles of the grocery store! |
Volunteer Encouragement | |
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Joy Boy Skit
A funny skit that teaches that J.O.Y. comes from putting Jesus 1st, Others 2nd and You 3rd. |
JOY | |
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Orange Toss Review Game
A simple tossing game that illustrates that winning in life comes from accepting challenges. |
The Four Soils |
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Hug Love!
A huggable game that lasts the whole kids church service! FUN and memorable!! |
Showing Love | |
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The Good News - Newspaper Game, Week 4
Newspaper games that help teach about sharing the Gospel. |
Sharing the Gospel | |
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The Good News - Newspaper Game, Week 3
Newspaper games that help teach about sharing the Gospel. |
Sharing the Gospel | |
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The Good News - Newspaper Game, Week 2
Newspaper games that help teach about sharing the Gospel. |
Sharing the Gospel | |
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The Good News - Newspaper Game, Week 1
Newspaper games that help teach about sharing the Gospel. |
Sharing the Gospel | |
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Choose Your Lesson Order!
Let the kids choose the lesson order to learn about choices! |
Choices | |
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10 Questions: Bible Book Edition
A popular game used to teach kids the Bible Books |
Learning the Bible |
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The Price Is Wrong
A fun game show gone amuck helps teach kids the meaning of worship! |
Worship | |
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Candy Auction
Using children's love of candy to demonstrate that worship is a show of worth! |
Worship | |
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Kid's Pastor or Circus Master?
Take off your top hat and let someone else tame your ministry’s time-sucking “lions” so you can shepherd children. But how can we keep the main thing — shepherding young hearts —the main thing? |
Leadership / Shepherding | |
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How I Got an Admin
Karl gives some insight on how he lobbied for administrative support from a senior pastor who was trying to be "fair" to all his staff. |
Getting Admin Help | |
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Yummy Water
This object lesson visually demonstrates the change that happens to a person when they become a Christian - they change from ordinary to something very special! |
Gifts of the Spirit | |
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Cloud Technology - What is it?
This is Karl Bastian and Michael Chanley's workshop at CPC 2011. |
Cloud Technology | |
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Puppets – A Helpful Hand in Teaching
Kids and adults respond better to puppets than to almost any other creative teaching method. |
Puppetry | |
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Your Salvation Story
This is a guide on how to prepare a written salvation testimony with the Kidologist's as a sample. Written for kids, but good for all ages. See the PDF for printing and the sample. |
How To Write a Testimony |
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KidCheck Read My Mind
Karl reviews the KidCheck Church Check-In System |
KidCheck | |
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Very Intentional Parenting
Karl provides an overview of his VIP Ministry and exclusive resources related to Family Ministry and D6 Conference. |
Family Ministry | |
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Jesus in My Neighborhood? Lesson and Video
Jesus in My Neighborhood? - Part 3 of 3: This is a FREE lesson and video download (for All Access members) on JESUS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. The video features Jesus visiting a boy for his bedtime prayers and giving him a surprise answer to prayer! |
Jesus in My Neighborhood? Series (3 of 3) | |
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Who is My Neighbor? Lesson and Video
Jesus in My Neighborhood? - Part 2 of 3: This is a FREE lesson and video download (for All Access members) on WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR. The video has puppets answering the question, "Who is Your Neighbor?" |
Jesus in My Neighborhood? Series (2 of 3) | |
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Praisin' in Prayer Puppet Show Recording
A puppet show between a giant pen and a giant pair of sun glasses discussing the need to praise God during prayer. |
Prayer n Praise | |
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Who is Jesus? Lesson and Video
Jesus in My Neighborhood? - Part 1 of 3: This is a FREE lesson and video download (for All Access Members) on WHO IS JESUS. The video has puppets answering the question, "Who is Jesus?" |
Jesus in My Neighborhood? Series (1 of 3) | |
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Falling Parachuter
An illustration that teaches total surrender. Originally written for a lesson on work/service. |
Total Surrender | |
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Mingle! Mingle!
This is a great ice-breaker game that also can be used as a lesson on self-control. |
Self-Control | |
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Proactive Leadership
If you want to be a more proactive leader – don't start your day by checking your e-mail, voice mail, or mail slot at the office. Here is what you do... |
Leadership | |
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Winning the Inner Battle
We don't get our lives pure of sin by picking out sin in our life! We get our lives pure simply by pouring more of God into our lives, and GOD WILL PURIFY US. |
Sin, Purification | |
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Twitter My Facebook
Karl explains Facebook & Twitter and how they can help you in ministry! Taught at CPC in 2009, 2010 and 2011. |
Social Networking | |
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I'm a Banana
Member Exclusive Sneak Peek at Object Talks from DiscipleTown Unit #3 Due out November 20th! |
Spiritual Fruit | |
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Connecting with Kids
If we're really going to make a lasting impact on children, we need to do more than just program for them. We need to make a connection with them that transcends the things that we teach them. |
Forming relationships with kids | |
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Shepherd or Sheepherder?
You went into children's ministry because you wanted to be a shepherd of children – and all too soon you became more sheepherder than shepherd. What changed? |
Shepherding | |
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Family Ministry: Trading One Extreme for Another
Are "FIC" (Family Integrated Churches) really better? Or are we merely trading one ineffective extreme for another? |
Family Ministry | |
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Developing a Ministry-Wide Strategy for Making Disciples
Everywhere around us, we are hearing a growing call: The spiritual formation of children must be done by parents, not for parents. The church’s role is shifting from one of serving and supporting parents to one of empowering, equipping, and encouraging parents. How can children's ministry leaders respond to this call? |
Church Wide Discipleship Focus | |
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The New Deal
What do you bring to the table when it comes to partnering with parents? Maybe it's time to renegotiate your terms. |
Partnering with Parents | |
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The Kidologist's Top Ten in CM
What the Kidologist, Karl Bastian, suggests as the "Top Ten" books, websites, and events for children's ministry leaders. |
Top Books, Websites and Events in CM | |
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Keep Christ in Your Ministry
I have no doubt that children's ministry leaders and volunteers will keep "Christ in Christmas" during this season. I am more concerned about whether we will keep a relationship with Jesus at the center of our life and ministry. Christmas serves as a perfect object lesson on this topic because Christ slips away from our ministries the same way He slips out of Christmas. |
Keeping Jesus First in Ministry | |
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Two Raging Battles
There are two battles raging today in children's ministry. The first battle is for the hearts and minds of our children. It is a battle that we are losing on many fronts. While in many places children’s ministry has "arrived" with its kid-friendly facilities and multi-media "edutainment" style of teaching, there is little evidence that all this "fun" and "excitement" is automatically translating into young, fully-devoted disciples of Jesus Christ. This is a battle that we are all aware of for the most part, and are trying our best to engage and win. |
Partnering with Parents | |
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A Golden Opportunity and an Open Letter to Philip Pullman
Commentary on how Christians should approach Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass. |
Thoughts on The Golden Compass | |
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Video: The Kidology Handbook and You!
Why do you need the Kidology Handbook? Maybe it will help you solve the Rubix Cube or Catch a Crocodile! |
Product Info | |
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Oh Superman in Grand (SONG)
This is Karl's 'Super Hero' song that is referenced in several Kids Church lessons. |
Super Hero Song | |
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Every Day in Every Way (CHANT/SONG)
This fun rap/chant/song will be a powerful worship tool in your ministry |
Cool Chant | |
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Book Report - Postmodern Children's Ministry by Ivy Beckwith
The Kidology Report reviews Ivy Beckwith's book, Postmodern Children's Ministry, and provides practical ideas on how to reach this emerging generation. |
Postmodern Children's Ministry |