ToyBoxTales.com

This is one of my little boy’s favorite Object Talks that he has on his iPod. I hear him quoting it in the other room, even though I know at age three he doesn’t get half the jokes! But he does understand prayer, and often reminds us at meals or bedtime to pray! Have you connected with God today?

Source Curriculum: DiscipleTown Unit #1: “How to Worship God”

Order DiscipleTown Unit #1: “How to Worship God”
(via Kidology Store)

Learn more about DiscipleTown
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A conversation between a young 10x magnifying glass and an older 200x microscope illustrates what it means to “Magnify the Lord” in daily life. Use this short teaching video to show the kids or to train a leader to do the talk “live.”

Featured Verse: Psalm 69:30

Source Curriculum: DiscipleTown Unit #1: “How to Worship God”

Order DiscipleTown Unit #1: “How to Worship God”
(via Kidology Store)

Learn more about DiscipleTown
(via Kidology.org)

An Introduction to Object Talks

It was time for a new generation of ToyBox Tales. The first three seasons were done live in Kids Church in front of a live audience and were a lot of fun, so when I started to write the DiscipleTown Kids Church Curriculum, I wanted to include a video to show kids.  However, making ToyBox Tales without a live audience just wasn’t the same. The “magic” of the ad lib in front of a live audience isn’t there when you make a video in a studio. So what did I do? I went to Walmart!

Yup! I went to the store and walked around late one night looking for a new idea. We had tried a fancy new idea with green screen that was pretty cool (maybe we’ll even post that someday), but there was no way we could produce four of those a month! My cart was overflowing with all kinds of ideas that could result in possible videos. But I needed something that I could produce quickly, still played off my wacky sense of humor, and still felt like a ToyBox Tale… even if these were scripted to ensure proper timing and professionalism that matched the excellence that DiscipleLand was bringing to the project.

I finally asked myself, “What do I want to do?”   I answered, “I want to do object lessons.” Then I asked myself, “What are you good at, I mean, what can you do without even thinking about it?”  I laughed while answering, “Pick up objects and start making them talk!” And then it HIT ME…

OBJECT TALKS!

Instead of telling stories with action figures, I would tell stories with objects.  In contrast to just holding an object and talking about it, I would have the objects do the talking! Forget all the props… I just bought some wiggly eyes that I could put on any object.  Add in a T-shirt that matched the trademark DiscipleLand color to allow me to blend into the background, and wa-la, Object Talks were born!

The contest was tested with a sample video posted on YouTube, which allowed for some helpful feedback from family and friends.  It was then perfected and reshot for curriculum usage, which is what you can view above.  Enjoy!

Listen in on a worn-out CP during a 10-minute “therapy” session with noted children’s pastor counselor, NoDuh, the Wide One.

The 100th Toybox Tale is HERE!

Yes, Pastor Karl has made the 100th Toybox Tale – and to celebrate this momentous occasion, this 100th tale is NOT FOR KIDS! Nope, this tale is dedicated to KIDS PASTORS and those who lead children’s ministries. Created for the very first Kidology Online Training Video, this twelve minute toybox tale gives a glimpse into the reality of what it is like to be a children’s pastor! You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, you might just cry! And you might just see yourself.

Children’s Pastor Todd McKeever writes, “This TBT on ‘A day in the life of a children’s pastor”‘was done so accurate and with tons of humor sprinkled in and a hard hitting message at the end that it is obvious that it was done with an intimate understanding from one who has lived it. Great job Karl.” Children’s Pastor Scott Neubaer writes, “I had to laugh – you sent us that link to the TBT Karl, and I tried to watch it but it took me literally three hours to watch it because I kept getting interrupted with various things.” You’ll get why this is funny when you see it for yourself!

You can watch an abbreviated 6 minute version at www.YouTube.com/Kidologist plus another crazy video of Karl in the Kidology Labs.

BONUS: Ever wondered how Karl makes these videos? For the first time ever for this 100th tale, he set up a camera filming himself filming the tale with the actual video in a picture-in-picture so you can see the process and the finished result simultaneously! Watch it here!

NOTE: This video is not available for download, but can be purchased as part of the Online Training Download Kit on Kidology.org.

Here is a “Tale from the Toys” created by Pastor Jack Henry of Grace Baptist Church in Powder Springs, GA.  Featured is a special interview with Noah and the big big ark.  Get to know what gopher wood is, if the ark stinks, and a lot more!

Karl, I finally received the Kidology Handbook this week. After 10 years in the ministry, this may be the best teacher training tool I’ve ever seen. So first, thanks for that. I loved the fact that you included A Day in the Life of a CM. That video was almost exactly like my last two weeks, except that you can add my 2 year old son, my wife, and I all had a stomach virus. I’ve never seen your Toy Box Tales before, but they have already inspired me to create my own Toy Box Tale. It’s my first. It only took me about an hour to create. It doesn’t go along with any Bible Story. It actually is a skit from the 3rd week of the Great ShakeUp curriculum from AWANA. So it may not make total sense to you. Here’s the link on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kl00ep70Xy4 You can also check it out on my children’s ministry website at www.parkviewkids.org. Keep up the good work! In Christ and at His feet,

Christopher G. Sykes, Parkview Baptist Church, AL

So what do you do when Pastor Karl takes a break from making new Toybox Tales? You make your own! Enjoy this tale from Pastor Ryan Wolfe of First Christian Church in Canton, Ohio. See Miss Piggy get sacrificed! Watch the “Hammer” defeat an army of evil enemies. Watch Antiochus Vader fail to try to blow out the candles of the Menorah, and more!

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The children finally meet Aslan and face the evil army of the really bad lady.  Aslan sacrificed himself to let Edmund live.  The children return to the real world and the professor taught them that Jesus died for our sins so that we may have eternal life.

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Four children go on an adventure in the land of Narnia, Toybox Tales style.

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Anakin faced  the consequences when he decided not to follow his leader, Obi Banoobi, and just do what he wants to do.

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