12 Short Devos You Can Share With Your Volunteer Team

As a children's ministry leader, one of your responsibilities is investing in your volunteers. You should invest in them spiritually. Practically. Emotionally. The spiritual investment is to help them grow spiritually. To help them mature in their faith and grow closer to Jesus. The practical investment is to help them grow in their practical ministry skills. The motivational investment is to encourage and motivate them as they serve. I recommend rotating between these three types of devos. The devos can be done through pre-service huddles, emails, YouTube videos, Facebook, etc. I am going to give you 4 in each category. Feel free to use any of these for your ministry. Spiritual Devos (help them grow spiritually) Devo 1 - The Key to Being Used by God Key verse - "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God." Romans 1:1

• Paul was first and foremost a servant of Jesus.

• Are you willing to serve others and put others before yourself?

• The way up is down in God's kingdom.

• As you serve others, you are setting yourself up to be used by God in a mighty way.

Devo 2 - God at Work Key verse - “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.

• Trouble, trials and tragedies are part of life. They are not good, but God will use them to bring something good to pass.

• Trust God and hang onto Him when you are going through rough times.

• No matter how horrendous the trial, God will bring something good out of it.

Devo 3 - Your Mask First Key verse - "Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you." 1 Timothy 4:16

• Pre-flight safety instructions on airplane.

• If cabin pressure drops, oxygen masks will fall down.

• If you are traveling with a child, put your own mask on first and then help the child.

• Why do they say this? It's because if you pass out, you can't help the child.

• As you serve in children's ministry, make sure you are keeping your spiritual tank full. This will enable you to serve out of the overflow and pour into the children.

Devo 4 - Jesus at the Center Key verse - "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

• Jesus doesn't want to just be a part of your life, He wants to be the center of your life.

• He wants to do a total makeover and remodel. He wants control of everything you do.

• What areas of your life are you still holding onto?

• Put Jesus first and everything else will fall in place.

Practical Devos (help volunteers grow in their ministry skills) Devo 1 - Get On Their Level Key verse - "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." 1 Corinthians 9:22-23

• Paul went the second mile to connect with people about Jesus.

• We should do the same for the kids and families we are striving to reach.

• One way you can do this is by kneeling and getting on the same eye level of the toddlers, preschoolers, etc. when you are talking with them.

• A great time to do this is when you are welcoming them into your classroom.

Devo 2 - Face-to-Face Key verse - "For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face." 3 John 1:14

• Paul was longing to see his friends and fellow believers face-to-face.

• There is nothing that can take the place of you having face-to-face interaction with the kids you are ministering to.

• Every child needs to have someone look at them each week, call them by name and have face-to-face conversation.

Devo 3 - Encouraging Words Key verse - "So speak encouraging words to one another."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

• Your words have the power to build up or tear down the kids you minister to.

• Be purposeful about building up kids with your words.

• Compliment them. Brag on them. Let them know you care.

Devo 4 - The Little Things are the Big Things Key verse - "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much." Luke 16:10

• Excellence is found in doing the small details well.

• When you are working on a project, make a list of all the small details that need to be done.

• Walk around your children's rooms, hallways, etc. and make a list of things that need to repaired, added, replaced, etc.

Motivational Devos (encourage and motivate your volunteers) Devo 1 - Nothing is Wasted Key verse - "It is the same with my Word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." Isaiah 55:11

• Do you ever feel like you are not making a difference?

• You have a promise from God that anytime you share His Word with others, it will produce fruit.

• Some of the fruit you will see now and some of the fruit you will see down the road.

• Teach and share God's Word with this promise. His Word is never wasted.

Devo 2 - You Are Helping Kids Win Key verse - "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." I Thessalonians 5:11

• Show the video clip of Jack Hoffman. It is at this link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jmisv1Spck

• When you serve in children's ministry, you are encouraging kids and families.

• Who can you help win? Who can you cheer for? Who can you impact?

Devo 3 - Stand in the Gap Key verse - "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it..." Ezekiel 22:30

• Show the video of Don Ritchie. It is at this link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JmaINbQHak

• You can make a difference in the lives of others.

• God is looking for people who will stand in the gap and help others.

• Will you be that person?

Devo 4 - From a Child Key verse - "and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:15

• Nursery and Early Childhood ministry is not babysitting.

• It is ministry at the most important time in a person's life. More growth happens in the early years than any other time in life.

• When you serve in the nursery and early childhood areas, you are making a huge impact. You won't realized the full scope of your ministry, until get to heaven.

• Continue to pour into the next generation - teach them, pray for them and invest in them.