WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:07.040 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:08.640 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:32.159 Well, like Molly said, this is the third and final week of our series, Raise Up, where we have been highlighting and celebrating different generations of our church. 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:38.079 Our vision as a church is to awaken this generation to new life in Jesus. 00:00:38.320 --> 00:00:47.039 And connected to that vision, one of our foundational pillars is to raise up the next generation of world changers. 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:56.880 And today, as you have already got a taste, we are celebrating the kids of our church and giving you a little glimpse of all the fun that we get to have with them. 00:00:57.119 --> 00:01:02.000 Today we celebrate them because Jesus celebrates them. 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:11.359 When Jesus was on earth, he lived in a time when culture saw kids as insignificant and unimportant. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:25.680 With all the education and research that we now have about child development and how amazing kids are in every phase of growing up, we've come a long way in seeing the value in kids. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:27.519 Or have we? 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:39.920 As I scroll through social media and read the news and hear people talking about kids, it makes me wonder if we've come very far in seeing the value in kids at all. 00:01:40.159 --> 00:02:01.200 From debates in the New York Times about kids getting to ride first class on an airplane, to parents of small children receiving that side-eye glance when their little one makes any sort of sound in public, we may have more to learn about the value of children than we think we do. 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:10.400 This morning, we're going to look at a few teachings of Jesus to see what he really thinks about kids. 00:02:10.639 --> 00:02:20.719 And our whole goal this morning is to celebrate the kids in our midst as they are in a mode of excitement as this school year comes to an end. 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:29.439 Every year when Move Up Sunday hits my calendar, I get so excited because I love celebrating. 00:02:29.680 --> 00:02:34.960 Weddings, babies, birthdays, Fridays, everything. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:37.840 I'll take any reason to celebrate. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:49.280 And when I'm planning a celebration or attending a celebration, one of the questions that is always on my mind and in discussion is what do you think the food is going to be like? 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:52.479 Is anyone with me when you're going to a party? 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:57.120 And I'm always most interested in the dessert portion of this. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:09.360 So when we're the one planning, we're thinking about the time of day, the people attending, the dietary restrictions represented, unfortunately, the budget. 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:16.719 Connected to this topic of food is also what the food is going to be served on. 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:29.759 At a fancy dinner party or wedding, you might have something like this: a beautiful set of dishes that's reserved only for the most special and fancy of occasions. 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:38.159 This plate, I'm gonna try to hold this and not drop it, is a part of a set of dishes that was passed down to me from my grandma. 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:47.039 And so my grandma had three sons, no daughters, and then out of all the grandkids, I'm the only granddaughter. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:08.000 And these plates have traveled with us. 00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:11.840 We just moved a couple of weeks ago, and these were packaged. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:19.360 We took great care to package these and to pack them in a way where they wouldn't get jostled around or they wouldn't get broken. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:30.240 And in my cupboard, they go on the very top shelf so that they don't get bumped, they don't get cracked, they're not gonna accidentally get broken in our day-to-day life. 00:04:30.480 --> 00:04:33.279 These are not the plates that I use in my everyday life. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:36.959 They're reserved for the most special of celebrations. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:46.399 We typically use these plates for Thanksgiving dinner, where they are promptly hand washed and set right back in their place on that top shelf. 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:53.120 And when we do use these dishes, they're for adults and maybe some big kids only. 00:04:53.600 --> 00:05:02.240 My seven-year-old might have her first chance to use one this Thanksgiving, maybe, but keep this between all of us, please. 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:05.360 Don't tell her, because then I might have to own up to that. 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:15.759 You may remember as a kid your mom or grandma having special fancy plates that were for looking only not to touch. 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:30.399 This plate, however, is one that my three-year-old has dropped, has banged against the table, has used as a drum, and on very special occasions thrown across the room. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:33.120 But here it is, right? 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:37.600 We throw these in a bag when we're going out and about. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:39.759 They're not gonna get broken easily. 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:45.120 And if they do, they're only$2.99 for a pack of six at IKEA, so we're fine. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:54.639 These plates aren't special by any means, but they are perfect for our everyday meal with our kids. 00:05:55.199 --> 00:06:00.879 This morning, I'm gonna take you into a story of a meal that Jesus hosted. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:04.480 So turn with me in your Bible to John chapter 6. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:10.160 It's also in your digital bulletin, and it'll be up on the screen behind me. 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:11.839 Starting in verse 1. 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:16.959 Sometime after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:18.800 That is, the Sea of Tiberias. 00:06:18.959 --> 00:06:24.399 And a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 00:06:24.639 --> 00:06:28.240 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat with his disciples. 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:31.199 The Jewish Passover festival was near. 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:39.839 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat? 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:46.399 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in his mind what he was going to do. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:55.279 Even if you're familiar with this story and are jumping to what's about to happen in your mind, pause here. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:56.879 Linger with me. 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:00.639 Let's get into the mind of the disciples right now. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:03.759 They've been traveling with Jesus. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:10.639 They have seen his amazing miracles, they've seen him miraculously heal people, they've heard his teachings. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:14.240 That over and over again it says the people were amazed. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:26.000 They've watched these crowds be amazed, and they've watched these crowds follow Jesus from place to place, like literally follow him wherever he went. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:32.480 The disciples here, they're looking at this massive crowd that has followed Jesus. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:36.079 And Jesus said to them, How do you think we should feed them? 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:41.360 Now remember the detail that Jesus already knew what he was going to do. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:44.319 So he asked them this question. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:48.319 And they start scrambling for an answer, a plan, a solution. 00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:57.199 In verse 7, Philip answered him, it would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:07:59.759 Jesus said, Where can we buy bread? 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:05.600 And Philip does some quick math with the crowd that he sees in front of him to come up with an answer. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:08.560 That plan's not gonna work, Jesus. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:13.439 Um, I don't think we make that kind of money to feed all of these people. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:22.319 This story shows up in all four Gospels, and in other accounts of this story, the disciples suggest, let's send them away. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:26.240 Jesus, let them get their own food, send them home. 00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:36.320 Most of the disciples are looking at this crowd in front of them and thinking, there's no way that we can feed all of these people. 00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:40.159 We don't have enough money or food, it's getting dark. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:42.799 Jesus, this is a lost cause. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:51.919 We see that the disciples just don't know what to do, which to be fair, on their own power, they have very valid concerns. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:57.360 Feeding 5,000 people on a whim is not exactly an easy task. 00:08:57.679 --> 00:09:01.919 But one disciple answers this question a little bit differently. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:08.080 In verse 8, another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:13.360 Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:17.200 But how far will they go among so many? 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:19.759 Jesus says we need to feed these people. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:22.240 And Andrew says, Hey, look, I found some food. 00:09:22.480 --> 00:09:26.080 He finds the food, and notice who has that food. 00:09:26.320 --> 00:09:32.720 This might be a detail you haven't noticed before, especially if you're thinking of one of the other gospel accounts. 00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:35.200 Andrew notices a boy. 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:43.840 We're unsure of this boy's age, but the original text points to him being a little boy who has five barley loaves. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:49.279 Now, barley indicates that this family was likely poor, that they didn't have much. 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:52.399 And he has two fish. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:58.559 Sometimes we think of like a fish on like a filet of fish that's like kind of big. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:00.080 This is different than that. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:05.360 This, these fish were tiny and were likely used as a spread for the bread. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:09.039 So we're talking about a tiny amount of food here. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:16.000 And Andrew brings this up as notable, but also is like, what can this really do? 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:20.320 Now I can relate to Andrew in this moment. 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:43.759 I'm a mom of a little boy, and when I have a big problem on my hands, like maybe feeding a ton of people when I didn't expect it, is my response more likely to ask him to help, to ask my three-year-old to help me solve this problem, or am I more likely to send him outside to play with his sister while the adults figure out the solution to the problem? 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:45.679 Okay, we can be really honest. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:47.679 It's clearly the second one. 00:10:50.559 --> 00:11:00.639 My typical reaction is to create space away from my kids so that we're able to think and discuss how to solve the problem. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:07.919 I rarely think to call on what they might bring to the table to solve my grown-up problems. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:21.679 Often what they have to offer feels too small or insignificant to make any sort of meaningful difference, like maybe five loaves of bread for 5,000 people. 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:30.000 But when Andrew says, Hey Jesus, there's this little boy here who has a tiny bit of food, this must be the answer Jesus was looking for. 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:34.399 Because he responds in verse 10, have the people sit down. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:38.240 There were plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down. 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:40.639 About 5,000 men were there. 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:46.879 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:48.799 He did the same with the fish. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:56.320 When they all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, Gather the pieces that are left over, let nothing be wasted. 00:11:56.559 --> 00:12:05.120 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:11.279 Jesus could have performed this miracle in a lot of ways. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:16.399 He could have changed something into food like he did with water to wine. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:23.360 He could have made the bread rain down from heaven like the manna for the Israelites, but he didn't. 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:26.480 Jesus does something different here, something new. 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:37.279 He takes the loaves from the little boy, he gives thanks to the Lord, and distributes the bread to every person as much as they wanted. 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:40.399 And when everyone's full, there's leftovers. 00:12:40.799 --> 00:13:04.240 Jesus chose to use this tiny offering from a little boy to not only perform what is still to this day one of his most famous and amazing miracles, but to also set up his teaching in the very next day where he declares, I am the bread of life. 00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:12.559 Jesus chose this little boy to play a vital role in revealing who he is. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.240 How do you think this boy saw Jesus? 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:19.600 What do you think his perception of him was? 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:25.039 When I think of my little boy, he's not going to give up his snack for just anyone. 00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:35.759 This snack that we prepared together, that he's been carrying with him in anticipation of enjoying it himself. 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:47.919 He's not gonna share if he's feeling pressured, he's gonna pull back, he's not gonna share if he feels if he's being bribed with something that he can't see. 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:55.600 It's an act of deep love when a child shares their beloved snack with someone. 00:13:55.919 --> 00:14:00.639 My little boy needs to know the person, he needs to like that person. 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:05.919 That type of sharing flows out of relationship, even if they just met. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:15.759 Jesus must have made this little boy who was willing to give up his bread and his fish feel so loved and comfortable with him. 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:20.159 And how does it seem that Jesus viewed this little boy? 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:22.879 He didn't dismiss the idea from Andrew. 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:24.080 He embraced it. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:30.879 He invited this little boy into the miracle, not as a bystander, but as a key part of what he was doing. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:36.639 Jesus decided that this little boy would be necessary in the miracle. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:38.320 He could have done it himself. 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:40.080 Jesus was capable of that. 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:43.840 He could have used an adult's offering, but he didn't. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:53.360 Jesus chose to rely on this little boy to provide a tiny offering that he would use to impact thousands of people. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:15:00.000 Take a look at this illustration from the Jesus Storybook Bible, my very favorite kids' Bible. 00:15:00.320 --> 00:15:10.080 You may not be able to see it, but in this illustration, Jesus is winking at the little boy with the knowledge of the miracle that he's about to do. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:11.600 Notice their posture. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:13.759 They're very comfortable with each other. 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:17.519 Jesus knew what he was going to do with those loaves and fishes. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:21.120 He knew that this little boy would be a part of the miracle. 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:28.639 And I love how this illustration really embodies the relationship Jesus and this little boy shared in this moment. 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:33.759 A special moment between them as the crowd waits in anticipation. 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:42.159 This story is a window into how Jesus related to kids, how he treated them and how he viewed them. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:49.759 As we continue reading in the Gospels, Jesus gives clear teaching on the position that kids have in his kingdom. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:53.679 Turn to Matthew 18, starting in verse 1. 00:15:53.919 --> 00:16:01.200 At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:07.120 He called a little child among them and placed the child among them. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:11.600 Now remember, this child came willingly to Jesus. 00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:20.240 And he said, Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:26.639 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:32.320 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:44.799 If anyone causes one of these little ones, those who believe in me, to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.759 Wow. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:48.320 Then they traveled on. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:52.080 Jesus and his disciples traveled on to the next place. 00:16:52.399 --> 00:17:06.799 And in the very next chapter in Matthew, I don't even have to turn my page, that's how soon it is, he says, the text says, Then people brought little children to Jesus to place his hands on them and pray for them. 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:09.279 But the disciples rebuked them. 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:18.480 Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:22.720 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:33.359 So from this warning in Matthew 18 to the story in Matthew 19, the disciples clearly didn't get the message. 00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:36.640 Jesus told them, Welcome these children. 00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:39.920 And if you don't, it's gonna be pretty bad for you. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:50.559 And then just after that, in the very next place that they went, they are scolding the parents who are bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:18:13.680 Even though this was a very appropriate thing to do in their culture, to bring your child to be blessed by a rabbi, the disciples saw these little ones as insignificant, unimportant, outside of their circle, and the type of people to exclude from having an encounter with Jesus. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:16.079 We've come far from this, right? 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:22.319 Friends, I think sometimes we're like the disciples in these stories. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:44.880 Sometimes we think that kids aren't old enough, that they're not smart enough, that they're not mature enough, that they're not as important as the adults in the space to really learn important grown-up things, to help in any meaningful way, or even to experience the presence of God in the same way that we do. 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:52.960 But Jesus knew something that the disciples were missing, something that sometimes we're missing. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:59.200 Jesus knew that every child is created in the image of God. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:07.279 Now I could stand here and tell you some funny stories of things kids say and do, because sometimes they do things that are funny. 00:19:07.599 --> 00:19:11.920 But sometimes when we do that, we're discrediting them. 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:17.359 I want to tell you about some of the kids that I know and how amazing they are. 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:25.200 These aren't benchmarks for kids to reach, but they are glimpses into how God has created every kid in an amazing way. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:36.960 There's the two-year-old who has great compassion for her friend every week when she's crying and unprompted brings her a toy to cheer her up. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:45.599 There's the three-year-old who knows every single word of every single song in Frozen, even without the soundtrack playing. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:56.319 There's the four-year-old who can tell me every single name of every dinosaur, even some that I have never heard of before. 00:19:56.720 --> 00:20:04.480 There's the five-year-olds, all the five-year-olds, who ask over 400 questions every single day. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:06.640 That's a real statistic. 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:14.000 There's the first grader who can blast through an entire chapter book series in one summer. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:23.039 There's the second grader who does literal cartwheels and flips and handstands, and every Sunday wants to show me his new trick. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:28.880 There's the third grader who knows how to navigate technology like she invented it. 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:42.559 There's the fourth grader who just last week in her classroom heard a Bible verse said out loud three times and then was able to recite the entire thing back word for word. 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:52.640 And then there are the fifth graders who choreograph a dance in the time that it takes to tear down church, and they still know it the next week. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:21:01.680 Every kid, every kid, every kid is created in the image of God. 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:18.079 And every kid has the God-given potential to be in the presence of Jesus, to walk in step with the Spirit, and to love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:34.880 And if this is really true, if every child is created in the image of God, then kids have a divine capacity to believe, to love, to care, to trust, to reason, to lead. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:46.559 And when we welcome them, when we get to know them, when we include them, we are welcoming the very Jesus we follow and worship. 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:52.000 The Jesus who rose from the dead, the Jesus who is the King of all creation. 00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:58.000 He says, Whoever welcomes a child in my name welcomes me. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.880 When we welcome children, three things happen. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:06.559 First, we share Jesus with the next generation. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:14.400 The ages of four to fourteen are a pivotal time for kids to hear about Jesus. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:26.559 What is referred to as the four to fourteen window is that people are most likely to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior between the ages of four and fourteen. 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:28.720 I have a couple of statistics for you. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:37.680 In a 2015 survey, it was found that 63% of believers came to faith between the ages of 4 and 14. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:47.359 Another survey showed that up to 85% of believers decided to follow Jesus before they turned 18 years old. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.960 Now let me repeat that. 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:15.039 Somewhere between 63% and 85% of all believers first made the decision to follow Jesus as a child. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:32.240 When kids know from a young age that God created them, that God loves them, that Jesus rescued them and wants to be their friend, that is the truth that will define their lives as they grow into adults. 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:38.880 It becomes their very foundation of life that they can return to over and over again. 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:43.119 It's the faith that will carry them just like it carries us. 00:23:43.359 --> 00:23:48.880 When they know Jesus, they have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them just like we do. 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:57.279 This 4 to 14 window is why kids' ministry is so important at our church and why serving in kids' ministry is so valuable. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:59.279 Our leaders aren't babysitters. 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:08.160 It's this team that's made up of about 40 adults and teens who are personally sharing Jesus with this generation of kids. 00:24:08.400 --> 00:24:16.559 Serving with kids' ministry or Camp Wonder is this great way to welcome kids into the presence of Jesus. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:24.640 Awakening kids exist to awaken the kids of this generation to the wonder of Jesus and the truth of God's word. 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:28.400 Kids have an innate sense of wonder. 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:37.519 And at this developmental stage in elementary school, they're learning to decipher between fact and fiction, and they love to know the difference. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:58.720 When we share Bible stories with them that invoke this sense of wonder, like this story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with just five little loaves of bread, then we can help them categorize this story as true because Jesus is real and because truth is found in the Bible. 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:03.839 As they learn, this is building their faith in who God is. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:08.240 When kids are in elementary school, they're motivated by fun. 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:26.000 So when we make learning about God fun by playing a game or giving them something that they can touch or letting them act out the story, which is their favorite, their hearts are becoming open to letting this truth sink in. 00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:31.599 And they will be able to point back to that truth throughout the rest of their lives. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:38.799 When we welcome kids, when we meet them where they're at, we're sharing Jesus with the next generation. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:45.440 And when we welcome kids, we get to experience the presence of God. 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:57.359 Those thousands of people who were fed by those few loaves of bread, they got to experience the power and miracle of Jesus through this tiny offering of a little boy. 00:25:57.599 --> 00:25:59.920 Have you ever heard a child pray? 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:07.519 Or maybe seen a child worship through song, or snuck a peek at a child absolutely devouring the Bible? 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:12.640 I get the great privilege of getting to experience these things here at church on Sundays. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:17.920 But I get the even greater gift of getting to see it happen in my own home. 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:26.720 When my babies were tiny, I would rock them to sleep and I would sing worship songs over them as lullabies as they drifted off to sleep. 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:33.759 Somewhere around three years old, I remember the moment when each of them started singing along with me. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:46.720 These songs about how beautiful the name of Jesus is and the goodness of God went from sweet lullabies of God's love to praising the Lord together before bed. 00:26:46.960 --> 00:27:02.480 Their sweet voices singing out to Jesus about how wonderful and good he is, bring me straight to the presence of God in a way that I haven't experienced in any other setting, even when the bridge of the song turns into the ABCs. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:11.039 Pastor David Fitch said it this way in a chapter in his book about the importance of kids in the church. 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:18.000 He said, When you receive a child into your presence, you also receive the presence of Jesus. 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:20.880 A space is opened up where God can work. 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:29.119 It's a space where God in Christ not only transforms children's lives, but the adults in the space as well. 00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:35.440 The stunning reality is that being with children is an encounter with the living Jesus. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:50.160 Parents in the room, remember as you go through your days that as you're interacting with your kids in the regular moments of life, you are able to experience the presence of God through them. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:53.839 And, parents, make space. 00:27:54.160 --> 00:28:00.480 Make space in your life and in your family for people who don't have children in their home. 00:28:00.720 --> 00:28:15.839 When I was in college, my dearest friend had two toddlers, and it was the greatest gift in my life in that season to be welcomed into their family and to get to have the most precious relationship with her two little boys. 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:27.680 Allow your family to be this space for another adult, maybe a college student in this room, to get to experience the presence of Jesus through being around your children. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:33.680 When we welcome children, we get to experience the presence of Jesus. 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:41.440 And when we welcome children, we learn what faith that inherits the kingdom of God looks like. 00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:46.799 We read this morning Jesus speaking to the value of children in the kingdom. 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:52.319 And each of these teachings was paired with a call for his disciples and us. 00:28:54.079 --> 00:29:00.480 He said, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:05.519 Then he said, The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:13.279 And he said, Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:17.839 Kids, show us how to enter the kingdom of God. 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:20.720 Now I don't want you to misunderstand me this morning. 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:26.720 This is not a sermon that's telling you that anything that you will do will get you into God's kingdom. 00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:29.680 It's quite the opposite, actually. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:35.279 Jesus uses those words, become like little children, humble yourself. 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:40.880 The emphasis here isn't that kids lack pride because sometimes they don't. 00:29:41.200 --> 00:29:49.359 What Jesus is actually saying here is that children will receive a gift and they don't think about how they need to earn it. 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:53.920 When a child sees a present, first of all they want to know if it's for them. 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:58.000 And then when it is for them, they drop everything. 00:29:58.160 --> 00:30:03.680 And they can't think of anything else until they get to open that present. 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:09.680 They aren't thinking about how they've earned it or what they need to do to earn it. 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:14.160 They just want to open it and enjoy whatever is inside. 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:17.599 Kids also have a willingness to be dependent. 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:25.519 They don't feel guilty for accepting help or wonder how they can pay their parents back for all that they do for them. 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:31.359 Infants are completely dependent and unable to provide for themselves. 00:30:31.599 --> 00:30:35.759 Everything is done for them and they willingly accept it. 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:39.279 So how does the kingdom of God belong to us? 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:46.480 When we willingly accept the gift of salvation that Jesus is offering. 00:30:46.720 --> 00:31:01.599 When we don't try to earn it, when we don't try to make ourselves worthy or pretend that we don't need it, Jesus gave his life to rescue each of us and bring us back to relationship with God for eternity. 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:12.319 When he says we need to become like little children, he's saying that we need to accept his beautiful gift of the kingdom of heaven the way they do. 00:31:13.039 --> 00:31:17.680 Without striving and without trying to do it on our own. 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:24.559 When we welcome children, we get to learn what faith that inherits the kingdom of God looks like. 00:31:24.799 --> 00:31:28.079 Jesus said, When you welcome them, you welcome me. 00:31:28.319 --> 00:31:34.240 So this brings me back to my plates that have been sitting here collecting dust as I've been talking. 00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:41.200 Sometimes, when we talk about matters of faith and kids, we treat faith like this fancy china. 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:50.880 It's put up on a high shelf, and kids are only allowed to use them once they're old enough to be trusted to not break it. 00:31:51.359 --> 00:32:02.400 We take spiritual disciplines like prayer or scripture reading or some of our church sacraments like communion or corporate worship, and we tuck them away. 00:32:02.720 --> 00:32:10.559 We deem children too young, too immature, too distracting, not smart enough, not ready. 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:16.000 Now, there's a piece of this that is knowing what's age appropriate for a child. 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:25.039 And sometimes our intellectual version of faith, especially in this very well-educated community, doesn't match their developmental level. 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:29.039 And every child is different in what is appropriate for them. 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:32.880 But we tend to hold back too much. 00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:44.160 We tend to put too much emphasis on what they might not understand, and we put that fancy china plate back on the top shelf for too long. 00:32:45.440 --> 00:32:57.440 But when we remember that every child is created in the image of God, we can approach sharing faith with them more like this plastic IKEA plate. 00:32:57.599 --> 00:32:59.519 It's for everyday use. 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:06.240 Jesus is able to be accessed in the everyday, at every age of someone's life. 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:08.720 This looks like telling them Bible stories. 00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:12.960 It looks like praying with them and inviting them to pray out loud with us. 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:17.680 It looks like welcoming them into corporate worship settings like this. 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:22.480 Even if they don't know every word that's spoken on the stage. 00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:30.880 It's about sharing the Holy Spirit with them and teaching them that they are able to listen for the voice of God. 00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:43.039 When kids are welcomed and invited to access Jesus now, when they're little, their lives will be built right on him with a faith that won't easily be broken. 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:49.119 They will have the opportunity to welcome Him for a lifetime. 00:33:49.920 --> 00:34:00.559 Taking us back to Matthew 18, Jesus said, Truly I tell you, until you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:06.640 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:11.760 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 00:34:12.159 --> 00:34:16.639 When we welcome children, we welcome Jesus. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:21.519 When we get to know kids, it shows them that they matter to us. 00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:34.400 When we're glad to see them at church, when they greet them like we want them here, when we know what sport they're playing and how many siblings they have, it shows them that they are welcome in God's family. 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:38.960 And even more than that, it shows them that they belong in God's family. 00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:45.440 It opens the door for their faith and for every generation that follows after them. 00:34:46.239 --> 00:35:01.039 And also, when we get to know kids, when we greet them like we are really glad to see them, when we welcome them, we are really welcoming Jesus and getting to experience Him and His presence. 00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:12.960 When we pause our busy, sometimes self-centered adult lives to connect with a child and get down on their level, we get to encounter the living God. 00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:15.199 So how do we do this? 00:35:15.360 --> 00:35:18.239 How can we start this like right now, like today? 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:22.159 There's three ways that you can do this here at Awakening this summer. 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:36.960 First of all, once a month this summer, we're going to begin our services with family worship, where the kids and the junior hires will be welcomed into this space just like we did today to worship together as an entire church body. 00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:42.239 After worship, the kids will still head to kids ministry for the fun that I shared about. 00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:47.519 On these Sundays, this is an opportunity for you to put this into practice. 00:35:47.760 --> 00:35:55.039 If you're someone who doesn't have kids who will be sitting with you, be intentional about greeting the kids around you. 00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:59.599 Welcome them into this space as if you're welcoming Jesus. 00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:02.000 Because he says that you are. 00:36:03.119 --> 00:36:14.800 Find joy in their wiggliness and the questions they ask, because that's exactly how God created them, and that's part of them experiencing God in this space. 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:35.519 And if there's a kid near you who seems to be disrupting your own worship experience, before you glance back at their parents, keep in mind that this is a chance for you to experience God's presence in a way that you might not expect. 00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:40.719 Second, you might be feeling a little tug to do a little bit more than that. 00:36:40.960 --> 00:36:43.119 I wasn't gonna come up here and not say this. 00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:46.320 Come explore serving in kids' ministry with us. 00:36:47.119 --> 00:36:47.760 Thank you. 00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:49.920 That's probably one of our leaders. 00:36:50.960 --> 00:36:57.119 It like I said, it's not babysitting, it really is sharing Jesus with the next generation. 00:36:57.440 --> 00:37:07.840 When you see kids get baptized up here, the leaders in kids' ministry are celebrating wildly because they got to play a part in that kid's faith journey. 00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:19.280 They are the ones who know about their broken bones and their dance recitals, and knowing who a child is leads them to be able to have true conversations about God. 00:37:19.519 --> 00:37:23.519 A first step in this could be serving with Camp Wonder in a couple weeks. 00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:25.199 We need some more adults. 00:37:25.679 --> 00:37:33.679 And if you want to explore these ways that you can serve with kids' ministry, write it right on that connection card and bring it out to that booth right after service. 00:37:34.400 --> 00:37:42.559 And lastly, maybe as I was teaching this morning, you had a kiddo or two or ten that were on your mind. 00:37:42.960 --> 00:37:54.079 A way that every person in this room can celebrate Move Up Sunday is by affirming the kids in your own life, whether they attend our church or not. 00:37:54.320 --> 00:37:56.079 We have a table right outside. 00:37:56.239 --> 00:38:01.920 I think there's the balloons on it that I was holding, but maybe middle schoolers took them, but it's right outside. 00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:09.280 On that table are various encouragement cards that are sorted by phases of life. 00:38:09.679 --> 00:38:12.320 On those cards, they have a little prompt. 00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:14.480 I have one here that I can show you. 00:38:14.719 --> 00:38:18.880 Every card has a prompt on it that you can fill in. 00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:27.519 You'll choose a card, you'll fill in that prompt, and then you can hand deliver it or mail it to a child or children in your life. 00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:36.880 Your own kids, kids of friends, kids you serve with, nieces or nephews, grandkids, neighbors, any kids in your life that you can think of. 00:38:38.239 --> 00:38:46.079 Our words about how smart and kind and creative they are will likely stick with them for a really long time. 00:38:46.880 --> 00:39:01.280 As you encourage the kids in your life, you are letting them know that you believe in them, that you value them, and that you see that they are created in the image of God. 00:39:02.159 --> 00:39:13.679 So after service today, when you see all those kiddos running around like crazy outside, especially the ones who ate a whole cotton candy and didn't share, remember this. 00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:18.800 Every child is created in the image of God. 00:39:19.039 --> 00:39:23.679 And by welcoming them, you are welcoming Jesus. 00:39:24.079 --> 00:39:25.519 Will you pray with me? 00:39:32.159 --> 00:39:36.480 Jesus, thank you for the way that you value little ones. 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:43.599 Thank you for the way that you teach us how to experience you more closely through them. 00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:46.880 Jesus, we welcome you in this space. 00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:57.760 And I pray that this morning each of us would take a little step closer to welcoming children the way that you do and seeing them in the way that you do. 00:40:02.320 --> 00:40:07.280 Jesus, would you be in this celebration today? 00:40:07.599 --> 00:40:14.079 Would you let every kid know how much you are celebrating them and smiling at them? 00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:23.920 And Jesus, with the kids and the students of our church, would they walk with you for a lifetime? 00:40:24.079 --> 00:40:29.679 And would we get to be a little part of that by welcoming them into your presence? 00:40:31.360 --> 00:40:33.679 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:40:33.920 --> 00:40:38.320 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:40:38.480 --> 00:40:40.559 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:46.639 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.com slash card.