How to Lead Sunday School: Exactly What to Say from Start to Finish
- Eljoh Hartzer, MTh
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
The kids are all staring at you, waiting for you to say something, but you just can't find the words. Nobody talks about how to lead Sunday School - so this post will walk you through what to say from start to finish. By using the methods described in this post, you will become the confident, clear, and caring leader God made you to be.
May you find space here to pause, reflect, and abide.
At the end of this article is a free printable worksheet to prayerfully dive deeper.
How to Lead Sunday School or Kids Ministry
Whether you're a seminary-trained Youth Worker or a volunteer at church, it can feel incredibly daunting to approach a group of kids and try to teach them about Jesus. Believe me, I've been there.
Questions swirl in one's head; How do I get them to sit still? Can they actually encounter God? Why should they listen to me? Do I have what it takes? What if they laugh at me? Why am I even doing this!?
The good news is: Facilitating a Kids program about the Bible is the best thing you can do with your time. It has eternal rewards. It impacts little lives. It really matters.
We just need to learn what to say and how to get it right. Remember, kids ministry is real discipleship. It's not just entertainment. So this matters just as much as what is said from the pulpit in "big church".
Vine Creative Studio holds a collection of what I like to call 'encounter tools', resources connecting hearts with Jesus. You're welcome to try one out with my free Coloring page on the Fishes & Loaves Miracle.
Planning a Program
There are some things that you can get right that will allow the kids to TRUST you. In the end, you want to create or host a safe space for them where they can come, relax, and learn something about Jesus - or, better yet, encounter Him for themselves.
But, again, that's easier said than done... Below are ten tried and tested steps to getting it right.
10 Elements of a Successful Session:
The first 5 minutes you have with a group of kids will determine how the whole program goes. Be friendly but firm in the beginning with boundaries, rules, and structure to start right.
I like starting out by creating order in their little bodies - like standing in a line or circling up. This is the only time I'll raise my voice and shout: "Okay everyone! Welcome to church! Let's all get in a circle. Grab the hand of the person next to you. Huddle up. Come close. Please leave that, Eli, and join us. Thank you. Everybody here? Not quite yet. Let's see if we can all join the circle in... 5... 4... 3... Good job. 2... 1... We did it! Give the person next to you a high 5."
Do you notice how I kept my voice level up, the prompts coming, saying the same thing in ten ways, and I did not stop until we were all on the same page and huddled together. From this point forward, I'll actively lower my voice so that they have to be quiet(er) to hear me.
Children are often dragged along from one thing to the next, but uncertainty is one of the main causes of misbehavior. Give them a step-by-step plan of what your time together will look like.
I like having some decor or a poster pointing to the theme we're busy with (e.g. Kingdom of Heaven poster). At this point, I'll point to it and say something like:
"Who can remember what we're learning about? That's right, we are learning about the Kingdom of God. Today our time together will be focused on the lesson on JOY, meaning happiness, laughter, or delight."
Then I'll quickly walk through the program* more on this below...
Another reason why children act out in groups is that they feel unseen or left out. Take the time to do a name game or roll call to send a message that each individual matters.
Personally, I prefer doing name tags in every group I work with, even when they all know each other, simply because it sends this message loud and clear. It hasn't been officially proven (not that I know of, anyway) but the kids even seem to behave better when they're wearing a name tag, as if they are thinking: "She knows who I am. She sees me."
When starting with the lesson, games, worship, or activities; you need to jump in with high energy. The same applies for other adults or volunteers serving alongside you.
Starting with the name game example above, a pro tip: Remember to introduce yourself first. After introducing each kids' name, also do the volunteers or helpers. It's important that the relationship goes both ways and it helps them feel safe when they know who you are.
As the leader, it's your job to have a friendship with those serving alongside you so that you know you can say: "Sarah, would you please help me out by _____?" or sometimes even "Calvin, you cannot be on your phone while we're busy with a program. If it's not an emergency, I'll ask you kindly to put it away for now... Can you help hand out ______?"
In my experience, they want to help. Otherwise they wouldn't be there. They just don't know how and that is why they make it hard for you. Take responsibility. Learn how to delegate and pull them in!
If you have the opportunity to be with the same group on a recurring bases, it helps to build one set program structure and stick to it. Kids feel safe when they know what to expect.
Here's an example of what that might look like: Kids Church Program
I might say: "Who knows what we're doing next?" It's incredibly rewarding when kids become self-leading in this way because they will help the program go along, giving you breathing room to zoom out and tend to spiritual matters. If the kids know to pack up the craft supplies when they notice the volunteers preparing snack, it opens up space for you to talk to that kid going through a hard time at school...
Every moment of the program should not feel the same. Let them get their wriggles out by doing high energy (play, dance) before low energy (lesson, listen) activities.
This is a practical aspect and not so much about what you say, but it does give you your words.
"Now that we're all nice and tired, I want you all to find a spot to sit down. We're going to listen to a lesson and then respond with a creative activity that I know you will enjoy. Can you touch your ears to show me how you'll listen? Okay... Sarah will begin by reading our story."
Whether you buy a curriculum or write it (we’ll cover that later); children are extremely perceptive about whether or not you believe what you are teaching them.
Maybe the reason why you feel insecure about what to say to the kids is that you don't have confidence in the thing you're teaching them? When I have prepared well, I know the topic of the lesson, and I feel 100% sure the kids will benefit from it, I speak in a different way. My posture changes. My voice is stronger. My mood is more energetic. My smile is more real.
The most important thing about your kids ministry is probably not the curriculum, but rather the relationships you build and the connections you foster - but the curriculum matters a lot too.
How smoothly a program runs is also dependent on who facilitates it. Could you pull in teachers or staff to lend a hand? Could a parent or teenager help with some aspects of it?
Moving beyond your time with the kids, you also need to learn how to speak ABOUT the ministry TO others. You're going to have to update the pastor, the parents, and other church staff on what is going on in the program. Doing so allows you to feel less alone and verbally process challenges and obstacles, praying together and trusting for solutions.
Usually, a portion of the program (or free time before or after) involves play. You can utilize the game as part of the lesson or theme to make it even stronger.
Kids are often bored during these times when the "big church" goes over their time, but you can use your words to turn their play into something intentional.
If we're outside I might say: "Today we will learn about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and how created everything. Let's use some sticks to pack out stickmen on the ground for Adam and Eve, and use the leaves from this tree to pack out flowers and animals in the garden."
At the end of the lesson when it's time to go home, don't just let them run out the door. Try saying: "Thank you all for today. I had fun and especially appreciate when you ______. Next week, we will continue learning about _______. Remember to ________. May you live close to Jesus this week! Bye!"
With all of this said - Kids ministry flourishes when you do not hold too tightly to your idea of how things SHOULD go. Instead, BE with the kids and let them also determine the pace.
Some things to practice saying include: "This was not the plan for today, but maybe it's what God wanted to do" or "I can be flexible and work around that schedule". Kids pick up on the way we speak - to ourselves ("Oh man, this sucks!"), to our volunteers ("I told you that wouldn't work!"), and, of course, to them ("OK guys, slight change of plans: Let's...").
Prayer for the Sunday School teacher who doesn't know what to say:
Dear Lord, please would You come meet me in this insecurity of feeling like I cannot work with kids. Would You annoint my lips and give me the words when I don't know what to say? Would You speak through me? Would You use me as Your vessel? May I always continue to abide in the Vine, Amen.
Your Invitation to Go Deeper
Go even deeper with this idea by using the free worksheet I made for you on this topic:
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