Little Theologians: Children, Culture, and the Making of Theological Meaning

<div>Children don't just learn theology. They actively create it, playing with ideas and drawing together aspects of their own lives to form theological understanding. David Csinos offers a groundbreaking exploration of how cultural contexts intersect with the theological meaning-making of children.</div>

Politics & Social Sciences

Csinos, David M.

Social Sciences

McGill-Queen's University Press

Children don't just learn theology. They actively create it, playing with ideas and drawing together aspects of their own lives to form theological understanding. In Little Theologians David Csinos offers a groundbreaking exploration of how cultural contexts intersect with the theological meaning-making of children. The qualitative research that Csinos undertook opened windows onto the religious and spiritual lives of children within four culturally distinct congregations of the United Church of Canada. He began by inviting the children to draw pictures of God and encouraging them to describe what they had drawn. Their answers led to revealing exchanges about who God is, how children understand spiritual experiences, what it means to believe, and what it means that people may believe differently. This innovative study offers an in-depth look at each congregation and how children make theological meaning in ways that reflect the broader culture around them, as well as ways that are all their own. By illuminating the diverse theological understanding of children, Csinos highlights characteristics that are shared among children and those that are unique to each child. Providing a radical twist of perspective, Little Theologians looks to the theological insights and experiences of children to provide a lens for critiquing broader discourses surrounding cultural diversity and spirituality.

Attract kids to church, the logic often goes, and you get parents in the pews. All that's left, then, is to get the kids out of the way. Here children's ministers David Csinos and Ivy Beckwith draw on research in human development and spiritual formation to show how children become disciples and churches become centers of lifelong discipleship. For too long, the local church has focused primarily on programs for children rather than ways of doing ministry with children. But in light of emerging missional movements, the church is changing and forming a new kind of ecclesial culture. And children's ministry must follow suit. Csinos and Beckwith propose a new way of thinking for these modern churches―they suggest that children can contribute to our theological understandings, as well as invest in and practice Biblical justice just like adult church members. Here is a unique resource that explores children's ministry in light of true spiritual formation and discipleship.

Children's Ministry in the Way of Jesus

Religion & Spirituality

Westerhoff III, John H.

Beckwith, Ivy

Christian Books & Bibles

Children know God. They encounter God in diverse ways as they walk along the spiritual journey. Amidst this diversity, four distinct avenues for connecting with God emerge in the lives of children: word, emotion, symbol, and action. These are the four spiritual styles, broad approaches to spirituality and faith through which children experience God and make sense of their lives in the world around them. Children's Ministry that Fits blends insightful research, relevant theory, and practical ministry into a guidebook for discovering and understanding children's spiritual styles. Drawing from theology, personal experience, and the spiritual lives of children, David M. Csinos offers practical wisdom that will help pastors, parents, and teachers to move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches to children's ministry and begin nurturing the spiritual lives of children in welcoming and inclusive environments. ""David Csinos gives us practical insights and ideas to move children's ministry 'beyond one size fits all' and fashion our approaches around the lives of children and their emerging spiritual styles. Csinos provides the helpful lens of the four spiritual styles to guide congregations in developing practical strategies and activities that address the spiritual needs of all children. A great resource for all those who care about the spiritual life of children."" --John Roberto Editor of Lifelong Faith Journal LifelongFaith Associates ""David Csinos' research with rather than just about children honors children's ways of knowing God and recognizes them as fellow spiritual pilgrims on a journey. Children's Ministry that Fits will transform the church's ministry with children and equip the church to move into its unknown but exciting future, the hope-filled future to which I believe Jesus is calling his church. I am greatly encouraged by this new voice in the field of children's spirituality."" --Elsie Rempel Director of Christian Nurture Mennonite Church Canada David M. Csinos has been involved in ministry with children at congregations in the United States and Canada. He studies practical theology at Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.

Children's Ministry That Fits

Wipf & Stock Publishers

A Gospel for All Ages lives at the intersection of two conversations--preaching and intergenerational ministry. By integrating these two topics, an entirely new conversation emerges, one that draws from both, that interrogates both, and that births something new in the process, creating fresh possibilities for a sleepy church. 
The fields of preaching and intergenerational ministry rarely cross paths because they are championed by two different sorts of ministerial leaders. On the one hand, preaching and homiletics has largely been a field for teaching pastors, senior ministers, and other pastoral practitioners who are tasked with the important work of proclaiming the gospel to congregations of adults every week. On the other hand, the cheerleaders of intergenerational ministry have tended to be ministry leaders who find their primary vocation within the formation of adolescents and children. Increasing numbers of Christian educators and leaders who work in children's and youth ministry are lifting high the banner of intergenerational ministry. 
Wherever your tent is planted in one camp or the other, this book is for you. If God has called you to the work of preaching, you find within these pages wise words and best practices for improving and expanding your homiletical practice in light of the eight-year-olds and eighty-year-olds who share a pew on Sunday mornings. If your vocation is Christian education or intergenerational ministry, these chapters will spur you toward that final frontier of all-age worship as you consider how your vocation can include the preaching of the gospel to young and old alike. 
Six creative ministry professionals join author David M. Csinos in providing intergenerational best-practice resources. Each chapter includes discussion questions and exercises for future practice.

A Gospel for All Ages: Teaching and Preaching with the Whole Church

Fortress Press

Children know God. They encounter God in diverse ways as they walk along the spiritual journey. Amidst this diversity, four distinct avenues for connecting with God emerge in the lives of children: word, emotion, symbol, and action. These are the four spiritual styles, broad approaches to spirituality and faith through which children experience God and make sense of their lives in the world around them.

Children's Ministry That Fits: Beyond One-Size-Fits-All Approaches to Nurturing Children's Spirituality

Wipf and Stock

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Csinos, David M.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Csinos, David M.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Csinos, David M.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Little Theologians: Children, Culture, and the Making of Theological Meaning

Little Theologians: Children, Culture, and the Making of Theological Meaning

Children's Ministry in the Way of Jesus

Children's Ministry That Fits

A Gospel for All Ages: Teaching and Preaching with the Whole Church

Children's Ministry That Fits: Beyond One-Size-Fits-All Approaches to Nurturing Children's Spirituality