Let Them Come
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· 1 viewThe church today must be as Christ and welcome the children to Him.
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Introduction
Focus Passage: Luke 18:15-17
Luke 18:15–17 (NASB 2020)
15 Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.
16 But Jesus called for the little ones, saying, “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
Outline
Bring the children (v.15a)
Bring the children (v.15a)
Luke 18:15a (NASB 2020)
15 Now they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them...
We saw a prime example of what it means to bring the children this morning. As Austin and Shelby brought Taylor to the Lord to be dedicated. As they came this morning to dedicate Taylor, as I am always reminded at baby dedications, of Hannah dedicating Samuel to the Lord. If you remember the story of Hannah. She and her husband could not have children. She trusted the Lord for a child though. She prayed in tears, while at the temple in worship, and asked God for a child. She promised God to dedicate her child to the Lord if He would answer her prayers. As she prayed in faith, God answered her prayer. She conceived and gave birth to a son, the prophet Samuel.
When he was old enough to be weaned, Hannah brought Samuel to the priest, Eli, and reminded him of her and her prayer. We find then, recorded within the Scriptures, that Hannah was faithful as God was faithful to her.
27 For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my request which I asked of Him.
28 So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
Hannah brought her son to be dedicated to the Lord. Austin and Shelby do the same today. They bring Taylor to be dedicated and consecrated to the Lord. My did the same for me. I remember the conversation I had with my father growing up. He told me, that shortly after he got saved, he came home and held me in his arms and lifted me as high as he could and told God that I was his. He could not raise me alone. He wanted God to raise me. Brothers and sisters, bringing the children to Jesus makes all the differences.
Just as Austin and Shelby bring Taylor today, may be do the same with all our children here at Central Baptist Church. May we learn to bring our children to Jesus.
1. Bring the children to Jesus for healing - ‘…bringing even their babies to Him...’
1. Bring the children to Jesus for healing - ‘…bringing even their babies to Him...’
This is the picture before us. The people believed Jesus to be a Rabbi, a great teacher. They knew that he was a miracle worker. The moms and dads were bringing the children to Jesus to be healed of their illnesses and physical deformities.
2. Bring the children to Jesus in faith - ‘…so that He would touch them...’
2. Bring the children to Jesus in faith - ‘…so that He would touch them...’
Those parents believed if their child only touched Jesus, they would be healed. Let this be our stance as a church as well. Let us know that our children are sick. Let us know that our children need Jesus. Let us know that bringing our children to Jesus will make all the difference. We must be about the business of bringing the children of CBC to the Lord. We must be about bringing the Taylors, the Chloes, the Rickys, the Abbys, and the Addys. We must be about bringing all the children to the Lord. For in Him alone can they find healing. In Him alone can they find peace. In Him alone can they find life. It is our duty, our responsibility to bring to the Lord.
Just as these parents were fighting the crowds that day and desperate to get their children to Jesus, let us fight for the children of Central Baptist Church. Let us fight for Taylor and others, to get them to Jesus. Let us fight the temptations of this world. Let us fight the lies of Satan. Let us fight the perversions that abound. Let us fight, knowing Jesus is the only cure for the universal problem that all of mankind has, sin.
As we bring the children to Jesus and as we fight for the children, let us...
Stop shunning the children (v.15b)
Stop shunning the children (v.15b)
Luke 18:15b (NASB 2020)
15b ...but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.
The parents were fight to get their children to Jesus, which is a good thing, especially when He’s the answer to all. However, the disciples looked at them as an inconvenience. They looked at them as an annoyance. They believed Jesus didn’t have time for children. Remember, women and children had very little, if any, value in the first century. What a picture. The disciples, called to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world, pushing children away from Jesus. How dare they do this? Yet, are we not doing the same? May we stop shunning the children.
1. Stop shunning the children through treating them as an inconvenience
1. Stop shunning the children through treating them as an inconvenience
2. Stop shunning the children by treating nursery duty and children’s church as a chore
2. Stop shunning the children by treating nursery duty and children’s church as a chore
I was scrolling through Facebook the other night and I came across one of the most honest and direct memes I had seen in a while. It read, I would rather have a church full of crying babies than a church full of none. Praise God for crying babies within the church house.
3. Stop shunning the children by seeing children and youth ministry as some how second place in the ministry of the church
3. Stop shunning the children by seeing children and youth ministry as some how second place in the ministry of the church
4. Stop shunning the children by making excuses as to why you cannot minister to them
4. Stop shunning the children by making excuses as to why you cannot minister to them
Brothers and sisters, the Taylors, the other children, the other youth, they are the church of tomorrow. They are the church of today. Rather than shunning the children, let us doing something far greater, let us...
Lead the children to Jesus (v.16a)
Lead the children to Jesus (v.16a)
Luke 18:16a (NASB 2020)
16a But Jesus called for the little ones, saying, “Allow the children to come to Me, and do not forbid them...
While the disciples were fighting and telling the parents that Jesus didn’t have time for their children, Jesus’ attitude was far different. He said, bring the children to me. Take them by the hand and lead them this way. What a great picture of what we, as Central Baptist Church, are to be doing...
We must know that...
1. Jesus is drawing the children to Himself - ‘…Jesus called for the little ones...’
1. Jesus is drawing the children to Himself - ‘…Jesus called for the little ones...’
2. Jesus wants us to clear a path for the children - ‘…Allow the children to come to Me...’
2. Jesus wants us to clear a path for the children - ‘…Allow the children to come to Me...’
How do we lead a path to Jesus for the children of CBC and Bald Knob. We clear that path through nursery. We clear that path through Sunday school. We clear that path through children’s church. We clear that path through VBS. We clear that path through church camp. We clear that path through youth ministry. We clear that path through prayer. We clear that path through supporting, embracing, and genuinely loving every Taylor, every Serenity, every Asher’Gray, every Caroline, every Branch, every Caden, every Cason, every child that we come in contact with. Children are not an inconvenience, they are gift from God and should be cherished as such.
3 Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Let us stop being a stumbling block to the children and causing them to sin. Let us be stepping stones and building blocks to the children/youth around us that they may come to Jesus. Jesus gives us a pretty clear warning of the results for being a stumbling block, a cause for children to sin and reject Jesus.
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him if a heavy millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea.
3. Jesus wants the children lead to Him
3. Jesus wants the children lead to Him
There is only one way to truly lead children to the Lord and it is the same way we are all lead to Jesus and that is through a clear picture of the Gospel. The Gospel is easy enough for a child to understand, yet profound enough for scholars to debate over it. Share Jesus. Over 50% of all people, who will become Christian, will do so before the age of 13. By the time one gets into their 60s, there is a 95% likely hood that individual will never accept Christ and die in their sins. Let us be about leading children to Jesus.
Finally, let the Taylors, let the Olivias, let the Lilas be an example to us.
Let the children be an example to you (vv.16b-17)
Let the children be an example to you (vv.16b-17)
Luke 18:16b–17 (NASB 2020)
16b ...for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
17 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
After Jesus rebukes the disciples for attempting to keep the children away from Him, He explains why. He says, in many ways, observe them. Let who they are, at this moment, be an example to you. We know that not every attitude, every action, every decision that a child makes is an example to follow. We also know that is the same for us as adults as well. However, in that moment, in the innocents of that stage in life, as children, there is some truth that must be applied to our life today as it relates to God and especially Jesus, as our Lord and Savior. For within their spirit, their attitude, one finds the key to salvation, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. He goes and states, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.
1. Let children be an example to you in humility
1. Let children be an example to you in humility
2. Let children be an example to you in dependence
2. Let children be an example to you in dependence
3. Let children be an example to you in faith
3. Let children be an example to you in faith
Remember, we are not saved by our own actions or our own works. We simply saved by the grace of God that in turn gives us the ability to respond in faith to the drawing of God.
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.
And in our humility and dependence, let us cry out to the only one that can save, Jesus Christ…and find a new birth and a family, the family of God.
13 for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
3 Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name,
Conclusion
Let us bring our children to Jesus. Let us not shun our children. Let us clear a path and lead them to Jesus. Finally, let us follow their example in humility, dependence, and faith all the way to the cross of Christ and find salvation for our souls.