Sermon Tone Analysis

Elders Pictures

Candidating

Like Jesus

When you have nothing to offer.

If Jesus can love an immigrant, Jesus can love anyone.

If Jesus can love a meth addict, Jesus can love anyone.

If Jesus can (Insert those who repulse you here), Jesus can love anyone.

If Jesus can love me, Jesus can love anyone.

If Jesus can love you, Jesus can love anyone.

If Jesus can love a cat...

They came to Jesus because they had nothing to offer.

The lesson about children is that they are welcome in God’s kingdom.

He is available to them.

God’s care for them shows that he cares for all.

The kingdom is not only for adults.

The lesson for disciples is that children are good models for a disciple.

Children trust their parents and rely on them.

So disciples should rely on their Father.

To be a part of the kingdom, we must receive it in the way a child walks through life.

Entry is blocked to those who do not trust the Father.

God accepts those who run into their Father’s arms, knowing that he will care for them.

In our day, children are seen as a priority.

It is normal to hear, children are our greatest resource.

So when we see a passage like the one we are looking at today we get warm fuzzies because of course Jesus wants the children to come to him, the disciples were simply child haters.

They disrupt the service and Jesus is a busy man.

Trust

In most of human history children were viewed as potential adults.

It is only since the 1840s that laws came into play that protected children in the workplace didn’t take them out of the work place, and started moving children towards mandatory education.

In 1924 we were given the Geneva Declaration on the rights of the child.

The first international human rights document that addressed children’s rights.

Dependence

The etymology of child comes for the Latin infans which means “the one who does not speak” During the Roman occupation that age was 0-7 years.

During the industrial revolution children were seen as a cheap work force that was small and agile for the mines and machinery.

With the exception of a few cultures, children were at worst free slaves and at best they were potential adults.

In the nation of Israel, children had a little more value if they were able to survive past the age of eight.

Then they at least had the potential to live to the average age of 37 and could contribute to society.

Infant mortality was so high that it created a culture of distance from young children especially by the Father.

Children were seen to have not much to offer up to a certain age.

Some of us think we have something to offer the world or even God.

Some of us feel like we are just taking up space.

Some of us today wonder why no one recognizes us or our achievements.

Some of us wonder if we will achieve anything.

Some of us think we have something to offer the world or even God.

Some of us feel like we are just taking up space.

Some of us today wonder why no one recognizes us or our achievements.

Some of us wonder if we will achieve anything.

I played competitive baseball for a total of one season.

the team I was on was called the Subaru Bratts after the car.

In total I has able to hit two pitches in my career.

One was a pop fly and my friend Brad caught it.

The other was an epic swing.

Some hitters when they swing hard end up catching the catcher with their bat.

My swing was so hard and fast that it spun me around and I hit the ball as the bat came around the back of my head.

It was a fair ball but no one really knew what to do about it.

All you need to know is I never made it home.

I had nothing to offer the sport of baseball.

Who are you when you have nothing to offer?

This is one of the greatest questions you can answer in life.

In our society we are seeing the devaluing of human life.

In Canada we see this happening on either end of the age spectrum.

In 2017 their were over 90000 abortions performed in Canada.

Since the legislation was passed for Medical assistance in dying over 7000 procedures have taken place.

The value on human life is diminishing while the value of human choice is increasing, even if those choices do not benefit life.

More and more, those who don’t contribute to being human are seen as less than human.

In the name of not being a burden we lose people to the right to choose and the right to die.

In ancient Rome it was normal to abandon unwanted babies especially girls.

Early Christians were known for rescuing these children and providing for them.

Who are you when you have nothing to offer?

Today's account in our series like Jesus is in .

Without a doubt, Jesus valued children.

Before the passage we are looking at Jesus had a few interactions with kids.

Delivering the demon possessed boy:

Mark 9:

When Jesus was talking with his disciples about his upcoming death the disciples were arguing about who among them was the greatest.

Sitting down with them in a house Jesus, took a talked with them about who was greatest.

Causing a “Little One” to stumble

Jesus reminded his disciples of the dangers of a belief system based on works alone.

About those who promoted such a system he said,

Causing a “Little One” to stumble

Mark

Which brings us to the passage we are looking at today.

Before we deal with the event lets address in brief, God’s Kingdom:

Child: A prepubescent human thought of with endearing notions.

Indignant: Being angry with something unjust or wrong

In most of human history children were viewed as potential adults.

hinder: stop someone from doing something or being in a certain state

Before we deal with the event lets address in brief, God’s Kingdom:

This has the idea of something that is right now and not yet attached to it.

Christ is building his kingdom through the lives of his Followers, God is active in the world and calling people to him (That is the right now) He has promised to return some day and set everything right (That is the not yet).

Colossians gives us a great picture of what it looks like.

(NCV) And you will joyfully give thanks to the Father who has made you able to have a share in all that he has prepared for his people in the kingdom of light.

13 God has freed us from the power of darkness, and he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

God’s Kingdom: A place to belong, a place to be fully known, a place to find forgiveness, and love, a place to be delighted in, in place of truth and purpose.

God’s kingdom is a place of pure freedom.

Yet we often see it as a world of does and don’ts.

It is a place of freedom, where I am free to know and be known.

Where I am free to learn to love well.

Where I am free to discover a purpose for my life that isn’t based on my paycheck.

Where I am free to live content with less while the world strives for more.

So many followers of Jesus in our country are tired.