What do you thinkthe world would look like

if no children were living in it?How would it effect:- Our church life?- Life in Lawrence?

- The American culture?- Global interaction?

DISCUSSION QUESTION

MATTHEW 18:1-5 (KNT)…The disciples came to Jesus. “So, then,” they said, “who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Jesus called a child and stood her in the middle of the room.“I’m telling you the truth,” he said.

“Unless you turn inside out and become like children, you will never, ever get into the kingdom of heaven.

So if any of you make yourselves humble like this child,you will be great in the kingdom of heaven. And if anyone welcomes one such child

in my name, they welcome me.

Used to describe the way strangers receivemissionaries sent by Jesus into their homes;

connotes patience, embrace, opennessand genuineness; communicates the postureof receiving someone into my very presence;

“WELCOMES ME…”

Used to describe the way strangers receivemissionaries sent by Jesus into their homes;

connotes patience, embrace, opennessand genuineness; communicates the postureof receiving someone into my very presence;

WHEN YOU DO THIS WITH A CHILDYOU ENTER THE VERY KINGDOM OF GODAND RECEIVE THE PRESENCE OF JESUS

“WELCOMES ME…”

MATTHEW 19:13-15 (KNT)Then children were brought to Jesus

for him to lay his hands on them and pray.The disciples spoke sternly to them.

But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me!Don’t stop them! They are the sort the

kingdom of heaven belongs to!”(NOTE: Talk about cultural reversal?!)

And he laid his hands on them.

- The children are Jewish, black or Native…- The children come from a wealthy family

- The children have parents receivingsome form of public assistance- The children’s parents are

gay or unmarried- The children are refugees

from a country you consider a threat- The children have parents

who are undocumented immigrants

JESUS NEVER SAYS, “Unless…”

MARK 10:13-14People brought children to Jesus for him to touch them.

The disciples reprimanded them.But Jesus was angry when he saw it, and said to them,

“Let the children come to me! Don’t stop them! The kingdom of God belongs to people like that!

I’m telling you the truth:anyone who doesn’t receive the kingdom of God

like a child will never enter it.”

Receiving the kingdom with a heart ofhumility, helplessness, utter dependency, etc.

THIS CAN MEAN:

Receiving the kingdom with a heart ofhumility, helplessness, utter dependency, etc.

THIS CAN MEAN:

Receiving the kingdom as it comes to youin the form of a child…

I THINK IT CAN ALSO MEAN:

“From the very beginning (of our church family)when we were but a small Bible study,

we asked every member, young, old,single and married, to spend time withthe children during a Bible story time.

At various times we would say thatby being with the children, you were being

prepared to experience the kingdom.If you refused, you might be refusing

the kingdom itself.”

DAVID FITCH (emphasis added)

“Being with children…is not a spiritual gift.It is never mentioned in the Scripture

as a spiritual gift. Instead, (we) bring all(our) gifts to the space of ministry with children.

And all who can ‘lower’ themselvesto be present with a child will experienceJesus and his kingdom like nowhere else.”

DAVID FITCH (emphasis added)

EPHESIANS 6:1-4Children, obey your parents in the Lord.

This is right and proper.“Honor your father and mother”

– this is the first commandment that comes with a promise attached – “so that things

may go well with you and that you may live a long life on earth.”

Fathers, don’t make your children angry.Bring them up in the training and

instructions of the Lord.

“In a day when children were viewed asinferior and patriarchs ruled with an iron fist,

Paul, contrary to the prevailing culture,calls parent and child into a space

of mutuality in the Lord…Parent and child come togetherunder one Lord in a mutuality

between them that honorstheir respective roles (in the family…)

DAVID FITCH (emphasis added)

~ IMMEDIATE & EXTENDED FAMILY ON MISSION ~

BENEDICTION (Mark 12)One of the scribes…asked him,

“Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is:

‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

There is no other commandment greater than these.”