The Sunday School Junkie!

You signed up for the games, the object lessons, and the excitement of reaching kids. Then came the preparation, the prayer, and the responsibility. What happens when ministry asks more of you than you expected?

In this episode of Sunday School Junkie, James shares three lessons from Simon of Cyrene, the man compelled to carry Jesus’ cross: he was compelled, he carried it close, and it went home with him. Drawing on a message he shared with his teaching team, James challenges us to move from “I have to” toward “I get to,” stay close to Jesus through daily prayer, and remember that what happens in a classroom can reach a family for years to come.

An encouragement for Sunday school teachers, children’s ministry volunteers, and leaders who need a fresh sense of purpose in the work they already do.

CHAPTERS

00:00 SSJ introduction

00:32 A message for the teaching team

01:19 Simon in Mark 15

02:14 He was compelled

06:45 He carried it close

08:54 It went home with him

10:23 Rufus and a possible family connection

11:51 How we carry it today matters

12:12 Closing and SSJ outro

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Mark 15:21; Matthew 5:41; Romans 16:13; Luke 9:23

REFLECTION

What part of your ministry has become an “I have to,” and how could prayer help you approach it again as an “I get to”?

Share this episode with a Sunday school teacher or children’s ministry volunteer who needs encouragement.

There’s a space every ministry worker knows—the moment God calls… and your confidence hasn’t caught up yet.

That tension? That hesitation? That “I’m not ready” feeling?

You’re not alone. And more importantly—you’re not disqualified.

In this episode, I dive into the very real gap between calling and confidence, unpacking:

• Why this gap shows up in every calling
• How even lesser-known Bible figures like Ananias stepped into it
• The truth about “imposter syndrome” in ministry
• Why nobody starts out good—and why that’s actually the point
• What God can do when you say yes before you feel ready

Plus, this week’s Twist Game: “Ready or Called?” challenges you to rethink what readiness really looks like in Scripture.

If you’ve ever hesitated, second-guessed, or felt unqualified… this one’s for you.

Main Takeaways

• The gap between calling and confidence is normal
• Feeling unready does not mean you’re uncalled
• Most “imposter syndrome” is just being early in the process
• Growth comes from stepping, not waiting
• God gets the glory when we start unqualified

Practical Steps

• Say yes faster than you overthink it
• Start small—but start
• Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle
• Stay consistent, even when it feels messy

In this episode, we tackle one of the biggest conversations in creative and ministry spaces right now: AI.

Is it a helpful tool? A threat to creativity? A shortcut? A steal?

This conversation digs into the tension many people feel as artificial intelligence becomes more common in writing, teaching, content creation, and communication.

We talk honestly about the hesitation people now have when they hear or see something good and immediately wonder, “Was that AI generated?”

But this episode goes deeper than technology. It explores the difference between assistance and authenticity. AI may be able to help organize, generate, or polish, but it cannot replace burden, conviction, calling, or the spiritual weight behind real ministry. Whether it is teaching a Sunday school class, writing a book, or using any other creative tool, there are things that come from prayer, experience, and God-given burden that no machine can truly reproduce.

If you’ve wrestled with where to draw the line, how to think about AI, or how to protect authentic creativity in a world full of generated content, this episode is for you.

• The growing suspicion around AI-generated content
• Why AI creates hesitation around appreciating creativity
• The feeling some creators have that AI has “stolen” something from them
• The difference between using a tool and replacing true burden
• Why spiritually meaningful communication cannot be fully automated

AI may be a tool, but it is not a substitute for burden, calling, creativity, or the voice God gave you.

What happens when God places something inside you that won’t let go?

In this episode, we explore the life of Bezaleel—a young man called, filled, and gifted by God to build and teach. His name means “in the shadow of God,” and his story reminds us that calling isn’t about age, experience, or confidence—it’s about what God has placed within you.

From passion that can’t be satisfied to purpose that must be shared, this episode challenges every listener: if God gave you a heart to teach, you won’t be able to keep it to yourself.

• Passion reveals what you truly love—and what you can’t get enough of
• The world chases satisfaction but never finds it
• God-given purpose brings a deeper fulfillment
• Bezaleel was young, but he was filled, skilled, and called
• Teaching isn’t just a task—it’s a calling placed in the heart
• When you teach God’s Word, you’re building a place for His presence in others

When you teach God’s Word, you’re building a resting place for His presence in someone’s life.

If God has given you a heart to teach—don’t wait.

Step into it.Stir it up.Share it.

Because when you love it… you just can’t get enough.

Episode Summary

Children’s ministry is one of the most meaningful callings in the church — but sometimes it feels like we’re juggling a dozen things at once.

In this episode of Sunday School Junkie, Brother Booker joins the conversation to talk about the realities of balancing ministry, family, responsibilities, and the constant demands of life. Together we explore practical principles for managing the chaos, building healthy routines, and staying focused on what matters most.

You’ll hear about the importance of patterns and priorities, the role of delegation in ministry, and why protecting your family and personal walk with God must always come first. The episode also includes a fun “Booker or Bogus” segment that puts some surprising ministry claims to the test.

If you’ve ever felt stretched thin trying to serve well in children’s ministry, this conversation will remind you that while the juggling may be real, God can help you keep the right things in the air.

Episode Chapters0:08 – Welcome to Sunday School Junkie0:50 – The Juggle Is Real3:32 – The Twist: Booker or Bogus8:15 – Juggling Chaos and Routine15:07 – Juggling Principles and Patterns25:39 – Identity and Motivation in Ministry29:14 – Family First: Balancing Life and Ministry32:02 – Taking Small Steps Toward Big Goals33:41 – Closing Thoughts and Encouragement

Key TakeawaysMinistry often feels chaotic, but healthy routines help create stability.

Delegation is essential for long-term ministry health.

Your identity should come from God, not from ministry performance.

Family must remain a priority even when ministry demands increase.

Small consistent steps accomplish far more than occasional bursts of effort.

Faithfulness over time matters more than perfection in the moment.

If Part 1 was the why, this episode is the how.

We open cold with a powerful dramatization of creation from Childlike Media and explore a simple but weighty truth:

God created with words.

“Let there be light.”

And there was.

If His words created environments, atmosphere, culture, and momentum — and we are made in His image — what are ours creating?

This episode moves from theology to practicality...

We unpack how Scripture demonstrates that words matter:

• Words can move mountains.

• Words reveal the heart.

• Words steer direction.

• Words build (or break) culture.

Then we dive into our most interactive TWIST yet — a live, choose-your-own-adventure game called “Last Sunday.” It’s fast, fun, and revealing. You’ll laugh… and maybe wince a little.

We also share a real story about a door decorating contest that perfectly illustrates the tension between intent and impact — and why awareness matters more than perfection.

The challenge is simple:

If last Sunday wasn’t what you dreamed of… Let’s make last Sunday the last Sunday like that.

Because words don’t just describe ministry.

They shape it.

The opening creation dramatization is from Childlike Media.Check out their incredible work here:

👉 www.youtube.com/@ChildlikeMedia

Scriptures Referenced (KJV)In This Episode

• Genesis 1 (Creation account)

• Mark 11:23

• Matthew 12:34

• Matthew 15:11

• James 3:5–11

• Colossians 4:6

• Proverbs 18:21

• Proverbs 16:24

If this episode encouraged you, challenged you, or made you think differently about how you speak in ministry — share it with a fellow leader.

Words matter.

And so do yours.

Words feel small—but they shape everything that comes next.

In this episode of Sunday School Junkie, James sits down with Chris Bradshaw to unpack a phrase many have heard him say for years: Words matter. Not as a slogan, but as a steering wheel. Together, they explore how the language we use in children’s ministry forms identity, influences behavior, and quietly becomes a child’s inner voice.

From correcting behavior without damaging self-worth, to choosing phrases that call kids toward who God made them to be, this conversation is practical, honest, and deeply needed for anyone leading kids, volunteers, or teams.

Along the way, they tackle the tension between discipline and dignity, growth and mess, standards and compassion—and why the order and weight of our words matter more than we realize.

The episode wraps with a memorable challenge (and a witty send-off from Samantha Bradshaw) that will stick with you long after the audio ends.

The Twist: Word Order Workout

A fast, fun segment that proves a powerful point:
Even when we don’t know the rule, we feel when word order is wrong.

By comparing phrases that sound natural versus awkward, the game highlights how instinctively our brains respond to structure—and why, in ministry, the order and emphasis of our words can either confuse or clarify, wound or heal.

In This Episode:

• Why “words matter” isn’t a cliché—it’s leadership reality

• Separating behavior from identity when correcting kids

• “If you pray for rain, expect the mud” — growth always gets messy

• How a few changed words can immediately change outcomes

• Shame language vs. honor language

• Why labels carry stories—and why leaders must choose words carefully

• Speaking life, hope, and future into kids who may not hear it anywhere else

• The biblical weight of words (Matthew 12, John 1)

• The words we speak often become the words kids believe

• Correction should address actions without attacking identity

• Language can either push people away or pull them back

• Leaders don’t just manage behavior—they shape futures

• If God creates by speaking, we should speak with care and intention

Listener Challenge:

What words are you sowing into the lives of the children you serve?

This week, listen to yourself closely—especially in moments of correction. Choose words that keep standards high and spirits intact. Speak life on purpose.

About the Guests:

Chris Bradshaw is a trusted voice in Apostolic Children’s Ministry, known for his practical wisdom, clarity, and deep care for kids and leaders alike.

Samantha Bradshaw closes the episode with a sharp, lighthearted reminder that proves—once again—words matter.

What if the story you’ve told a hundred times still has something new to teach you?

In this episode of Sunday School Junkie, we’re joined by children’s pastor and author Eric Stender to explore the power of perspective—in Scripture, in ministry, and in everyday KidMin moments.

Eric shares how a chaotic Sunday School class unexpectedly gave birth to one of his most effective teaching tools: retelling Bible stories from unexpected viewpoints. From the lion in Daniel’s den, to the thief on the Jericho road, to even the forgotten water jar at the well, Eric shows how rotating the camera doesn’t change the truth—it reveals it more clearly.

Together, we talk about:

·      Why perspective makes familiar Bible storiesfeel fresh again

·       How misread behavior in kids often comes down tohunger, hurt, or hidden struggles

·       The difference between biblicalcreativity and drifting from Scripture

·       Why perfection is the enemy of progress—and whywaiting “until it’s ready” often means never starting

·       How self-publishing, collaboration, and feedbackcan unlock the resources already inside KidMin leaders

This episode also introduces a fun, practical segment—the Perspective Pivot—challenging every listener to take thisweek’s lesson and retell it from a new angle.

Key takeaway:You don’t lose truth by changing perspective—you often discover it.

🎯 Listener Challenge:Take one Bible story you’ve taught countless times. Rotate the camera. Tell it from a different viewpoint. Then ask your class:  “What did you notice this time that you never noticed before?”

What happens when people who’ve worked together for years finally sit in the same room for the first time?

In this special bonus episode of Sunday School Junkie, recorded on New Year’s Day in Branson, Missouri, James & Kimberly Pelletier sit down in person with Jason & Kim Ashley from Growing Up With Pawpaw for an unscripted, real-time conversation about kids ministry, creativity, calling, and the surprising fulfillment that comes from investing in something bigger than yourself.

This isn’t a polished interview. It’s friends talking shop — laughing, reflecting, and unpacking what they’ve learned while building curriculum, podcasts, and resources for Apostolic kids across the country.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• How God connects people long before geography ever does

• Why the more you serve the Kingdom, the more fulfilled life becomes

• Building safe, Apostolic content for kids in a noisy digital world

• Balancing outreach and discipleship in Sunday School

• Why collaboration beats competition in children’s ministry

• The unseen ripple effect of saying “yes” to kingdom ideas

If you’ve ever wondered whether your ideas matter, whether your effort is worth it, or whether you’re called to something more — this conversation will remind you why serving the Kingdom never leaves you empty.

Resources mentioned:

• Apostolic Radio for Kids (ARK): wpfkids.org/ark

• Apostolic Sunday School: apostolicsundayschool.com

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone serving in kids ministry. You never know who’s one conversation away from stepping into their calling.

What if the biggest problem in kids ministry isn’t behavior—but how we interpret behavior?

In this Season 2 kickoff episode of Sunday School Junkie, we dive deep into the principle of assuming positive intent—a leadership mindset that has the power to reduce conflict, strengthen teams, and radically improve how we minister to children, parents, and volunteers.

The episode opens with a real-life, laugh-out-loud story about a grandmother who assumed friendliness instead of frustration—and how that simple perspective shift exposes a much bigger truth about human nature.

From there, we explore:

• why our brains naturally assume the worst,

• how fatigue and past hurt distort interpretation,

• and why Scripture consistently points us toward seeing the heart before reacting to behavior.

Using powerful biblical examples—including Hannah and Eli, Samuel and Eliab, Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman, Mary and Martha, and Peter walking on water—we see how God responds to intent, not just action.

There’s also a fun mid-episode Twist segment, honest humor imagining “What if Jesus was like us?”, and highly practical application for:

• handling challenging behavior in kids,

• leading volunteers with grace,

• and building a healthier, more Christlike ministry culture.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated, misunderstood, or worn down in ministry—this episode will reframe how you see people and remind you why grace must always come first.