Author: Nathan Hamilton

Helping children learn about Jesus

How to Use A Mystery Bag in Sunday School

“Can you guess what’s in my super amazing fantastically cool green bag of amazingness!?” I’ve used this question to capture the attention of thousands of kids at churches, backyards, schools, community centers, and even a pig farm. (Some of my fondest memories of teaching kids happened on a pig farm.) At pig farms or after…
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Finding Fun in Suffering

“When I grow up, I want to be a daddy so I can lay in bed with snuggly blankets.” That’s the grand ambition of my pint sized princess. Chronic health problems have their benefits I guess. It’s kinda embarrassing that my princess views me this way, but I’m also thankful God has enabled me to…
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A “Thank You!” Game for Kids

My Party girl is belting out “CHICKA-DEE-DEE-DEE!” along with the birds and frogs as they herald the arrival of spring! My allergies join the chorus with reckless abandon as I relax in a lawn chair pushing my darling daughter on the swing. For my kids, spring time might as well be “swing time.” All of…
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Pizza with a Purpose

Pizza and oatmeal are currently tied for 1st as the all time favorite meals in our house. I’m personally not too keen on oatmeal, but I REALLY like pizza! I like to make it. I like to eat it. And I like to use it to have purposeful fun with kids. The next time you’re…
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Crazy Sock Games for Kids

I’d like to thank my parents. Years ago they gave me a pair of crazy colored socks for Christmas. These unexpectedly comfortable socks perfectly fit my unusually large feet and I soon discovered they were a useful tool for children’s ministry. Not long after receiving those socks, I was commissioned to teach a Bible lesson…
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Easy Games for Looooooong Road Trips

“Mom! He’s looking at me again!” “Dad! Her left thumbnail just crossed the invisible yet clearly defined boundary that separates my area of the couch from hers.” “Mom! I know the baby is screaming at the top of her lungs in a rear-facing car seat that situates her mouth less than 3 feet from your…
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Snow Day Sunday School

What was God doing in 1901 when the vacuum cleaner was invented? He was loving YOU! Church may have been snowed out this week, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying Jesus at home as we learned about His steadfast love that has always existed–even before microwaves were invented in 1946! Going to church is…
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Think Skink

My beloved boy left the back door open this morning and unwittingly welcomed a cold blooded intruder into our house. Upon discovering the beady-eyed interloper, my son leapt into action and captured him inside a boot. Thankfully this particular visitor was only about 6 inches long and quite easily overpowered. With the trespasser safely contained,…
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Amazing Animals that Point Kids to God

From lizards that run on water to luminescent sharks, we are literally surrounded by epic object lessons that will help kids discover and enjoy the majesty and power of Jesus! Most kids are fascinated by extremes in nature. The biggest, smallest, fastest, oldest, or even deadliest specimens capture their attention and meld into their memory.…
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Louder Than a Jet Engine

What animal is longer than a school bus, bigger than a dinosaur, and heavier than 25 elephants? Most kids can tell you the blue whale is well-known for its extreme size. But there are several lesser known facts about this gentle giant that will grip their attention and provide a natural opportunity to direct their…
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