One of the most challenging areas of ministry for many children’s ministry leaders is in the area of leading children into receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
This week, allow me to share an important key in preparing boys and girls to receive Heaven’s gift: Help #1: Utilize the McDonald’s Happy Meal Principle.
For those of us with children, we know that food inside of the McDonald’s Happy Meal bag is the very same food that we adults are eating, just served in smaller portions. In order to prepare a Happy Meal hamburger, McDonald’s didn’t find miniature cows so that they could produce smaller meat patties. The meat in the Happy Meal hamburger is the very same beef used for the quarter pounder hamburgers, right? But, for the Happy Meal, McDonald’s reduced the portion of beef served. The Happy Meal french fries didn’t come from midget potatoes, did they? Of course not. The french fries served in the Happy Meal are the very same french fries served with the adult meals. But, for the Happy Meal, McDonald’s has provided a kid-sized portion of fries.
Wouldn’t it be insane to try to serve a 7-year-old child a double quarter pounder hamburger with a large order of french fries and an extra large soft drink? Even more insane, wouldn’t it be incomprehensible to expect the child to eat that meal all in one setting? And yet, in ministering on the subject of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, we fail to see that we can overwhelm the children if we serve them an adult-sized spiritual meal in one service.
This teaching is so very, very important that we can’t afford to overwhelm them by serving super-sized portions. Instead, serve this spiritual meal in kid-sized portions. Take what most adults could consume in one setting and serve this message in several class settings. The first week, teach the children on Jesus’ introduction of the Holy Spirit. (John 14). The next week, teach on why Jesus knew that His return to Heaven was important. (John 16:7). The next week, teach on what happens when we receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2). The final week, teach about the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us daily. (Jude 20).
Use wisdom. Don’t super-size the ministry portions. Utilize the McDonald’s Happy Meal Principle (King James – line upon line principle). In doing so, you will see child after child receive this awesome gift from Heaven.
