Rhyme Times are reinforcers that I use with most of my lessons. They are sometimes easier for the kids to remember than the points of the lesson.
I usually put an incentive out for those who will memorize and recite the Rhyme Times (a piece of candy or an inexpensive toy from a place like Oriental Trading Company). While I have some serious reservations about the negative impact of incentives, I feel that it’s worth the risk to get the teaching concepts ingrained in the kids’ minds.
Here are the Rhyme Times I’ve come up with so far (organized by topic). Hope you can use some of them. I’ll add to this list occasionally. (And if you need a Rhyme Time for a topic, leave a comment. I’ll put several together for you.)
Memory Verse and Rhyme Time – 2010 Kids’ Camp
Rhyme Times and Memory Verses – Kids’ Camp – 2011
Faith
Faith is believing in things unseen
God is the Rock on which we lean!
‘
Through faith in God, we have been saved;
Through Jesus’ death, our penalty waved!
‘
Mountains move when we have faith,
And God’s protection keeps us safe!
‘
Forgiveness
Jesus helps me to forgive.
Holding a grudge is no way to live.
‘
When we stay angry and resent
More of our energy than theirs is spent.
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God forgives us with the measure we use;
Be careful when angry of which one you choose.
‘
God forgave us of more than we could pay;
We should treat others in just the same way.
‘
Fruit of the Spirit
Love – God wants us to share the love He sent to us from up above.
Joy – Jesus fills our life with joys that don’t depend on wealth or toys. (or “lots of toys” or “fun or toys”)
Peace – When we’re stressed and need release, God will help us find our peace.
Patience – A patient heart will stop and wait, because the Lord is never late. (or “A patient heart will wait and not take Satan’s bait.”
Kindness – God repays those He can find who set their hearts on being kind.
Goodness – When you’re good, you do what’s right. You try to walk within the light.
Faithfulness – Being faithful means you’re true to things the Lord asks you to do.
Gentleness – A gentle spirit helps those who hurt. It’s never mean or rude or curt.
Self-Control – Discipline and self-control will help you reach a godly goal.
‘
God’s Covering & Protection
God loves me; I’m under His care.
Wherever I go, He’s always there.
‘
Jesus told us He is God,
And said that He would never leave.
He sent His Holy Spirit
‘Cause He keeps His promises to me!
‘
God’s out in front and watching my back.
He always protects me from Satan’s attack.
‘
The center of God’s will for me
Is the safest place that I can be!
‘
God’s Love & Forgiveness
Even when others’ patience is spent,
God still loves me one hundred percent!
‘
I may not be the best,
I may not be a dream.
But even when I’m messing up
Jesus wants me on His team!
‘
He loves me like I am today,
And sees what others cannot see;
While others only see my faults,
Jesus sees the best in me!
‘
Stealing, cheating, lying, doubting,
Bragging about all the things I’ve got…
Even when I’m doing wrong
Jesus loves me no matter what!
‘
Gospel
The word “gospel” means “good news,”
The story of Christ takes away the blues!
‘
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Tell the victory Jesus has won!
God’s Presence
When we try to put God first,
He will satisfy our thirst!
God’s Purposes
What God’s doing can be hard to see,
But I know He has a plan for me.
‘
Often what’s hard is a tool and a test.
God will help me to do what’s best.
‘
God has a purpose, a plan and a dream.
My present struggles are more than they seem.
‘
Heaven
When I get to heaven, I’ll be richly blessed.
God is waiting to give me His best.
‘
One day we’ll join Jesus in His glory,
And then we’ll begin the rest of our story.
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This life is a Dot;
Eternity is a Line;
Living for God in my Dot
Will make my Line shine!
‘
This life is a Dot;
Eternity is a Line;
Loving a lot in my Dot
Will make my Line shine!
‘
Obedience & Purity
Not everything that others do
Is what God wants to see from you!
‘
Those who listen and obey
Don’t have to learn the harder way!
‘
Those with courage do what’s right
Even when they’re filled with fright!
‘
Just like Daniel in his story,
God wants me to bring Him glory!
‘
He’s not satisfied with just a part;
Jesus wants my entire heart.
‘
My heart is the soil where God plants His seeds;
When I obey Him, I don’t get weeds.
‘
Prayer
Talking to God is a very good way
To show Him I love Him every day.
‘
“I love you!” “I’m sorry!” “Thank you!” “Please!”
Remember these phrases, and pray with ease!
‘
Lift up your friends and family in prayer,
Because God will help even when you’re not there.
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“Yes” “No” “What’s Your Hurry?”
Three answers to prayer that take away worry.
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Worry, Fear, Stress and Challenges
When you’re afraid of fighting sin,
Trust in God; He’ll help you win!
‘
When the storms of life are really scary
And my problems seem to double,
I pray to God and trust in Him;
And Jesus helps me with my trouble!
‘
When the Enemy turns up the heat,
Remember Jesus has him beat!
‘
Even when life seems so unfair,
God won’t allow more than I can bear.
‘
If we trust Him and obey,
God makes bad things go our way.
‘
When my life is built on the Rock,
It will withstand each and every shock.
Teach Them 
hello! God Bless you in your ongoing work. I was just wondering why you don’t use memory verses instead of rhymes. Also do you have lessons on the Bible stories or do you mostly do topical lessons? I love your work. You are gifted in making spiritual truths relevant and understandable to children. I am just finding that the children do not know the Bible very well.
Hi, Deena. Thank you for your comment! I love memory verses and should use them more. I think I’m just not in the habit of incorporating them. It’s a good area for me to start improving, and I’ll start adding those to the lessons I post. In the meantime, I think some of the Scriptures used in the lessons might turn out to be good verses to memorize.
I also love teaching on Bible stories. I haven’t been as disciplined about writing those down over the years, so I need to go back and start putting them to paper. I taught a series on David this year at summer camp, and I’ve posted two of the four-lesson series. You can find them here and here.
This week, I promise to post lessons 3 and 4 from that series. I’ve also got a series on Peter and one on Joseph that I’ve taught in previous years at camp. I’ll see if those can be polished up and posted, too.
Hope these will be helpful for your ministry! Thank you for the great suggestions!
Michael
I love the rhymes. I like to use a Bible Verse to reinforce the main truth I’m teaching and a rhyme line (if I can come up with one).
Michael, do you happen to have rhymes for each of the Fruit of the Spirit?
thank you,
Sherrie
Hey, Sherrie…I didn’t, but I made an attempt. Feel free to modify these to suit your context, but maybe they will get your started.
Love – God wants us to share the love He sent to us from up above.
Joy – Jesus fills our life with yous that don’t depend on wealth or toys. (or “lots of toys” or “fun or toys”)
Peace – When we’re stressed and need release, God will help us find our peace.
Patience – A patient heart will stop and wait, because the Lord is never late. (or “A patient heart will wait and not take Satan’s bait.”
Kindness – God repays those He can find who set their hearts on being kind.
Goodness – When you’re good, you do what’s right. You try to walk within the light.
Faithfulness – Being faithful means you’re true to things the Lord asks you to do.
Gentleness – A gentle spirit helps those who hurt. It’s never mean or rude or curt.
Self-Control – Discipline and self-control will help you reach a godly goal.
Hope these are helpful!
Michael
Fruit of the Spirit rhymes?
Love your rhyme time! Need to teach core gospel value…faith in God. Any rhymes? 🙂
Hi, Sara…I may need a little more explanation about what “core gospel value” means, but here are a few attempts. Let me know if these miss the target, and I’ll try to come up with something closer to what you are looking for:
The word “gospel” means “good news,”
The story of Christ takes away the blues!
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Tell the victory Jesus has won!
Faith is believing in things unseen
God is the Rock on which we lean!
Through faith in God, we have been saved;
Through Jesus’ death, our penalty waved!
Mountains move when we have faith,
And God’s protection keeps us safe!
Hope these help!
Michael
Thanks for the wonderful & encouraging rhyme, I shared 2 of them on fb, just to let my friends be encouraged too..
Thanks, Olivian! I appreciate it!
You have done a great big job, you will get the heavenly reward.
Does it matter a rhyme or hymn, they both make Him known,
in your way to praise Him and to teach others to do it a fun way.
Keep it up your good work.
Your website is amazing. You are truly gifted in teaching! I plan to use these in our children’s church ministrysessions! Do you have lessons orgainzed by theme/series?
Beautiful work!!!! I think rhymes is a good support to bible stories or illustration for those.
I am copying your rhymes!! Whatever it is useful to teach about God’s loves, it is welcome!!
thank to share!!
Cristina From Argentina