Celebrating the Vital Role of Children in Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Children as the Present Church

Children and youth are not just the future of the church; they are an integral part of its present. Their involvement in every aspect of the service today demonstrates their active role in our community. This challenges us to value and nurture their contributions, recognizing that they have much to teach us about faith and devotion. Our young members are meeting Jesus and growing in their faith, and their vibrant presence is a testament to the blessing we have in our church. Despite the nationwide decline in church attendance, especially among younger generations, our church stands as a beacon of hope and vitality.

Jesus himself said, "Let the little children come to me," and we strive to embody that spirit. Our children have been exploring who Jesus is to them through various Bible stories, such as the man lowered through the roof, the woman who touched Jesus' robe, and the boy with the loaves and fishes. These stories have helped them understand Jesus as a healer, provider, and friend. By recognizing the importance of children in the church, we are reminded that they are not just the future but the present of our community. [35:26]

Matthew 18:3-4 (ESV): "And said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"

Reflection: How can you actively involve and support the children and youth in your church community today?

Day 2: Relentless Pursuit of Jesus

The story of friends tearing off a roof to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus serves as a powerful metaphor for our spiritual lives. We are called to be relentless in our pursuit of Jesus, breaking through barriers and overcoming obstacles to reach Him. This undignified passion is something we see vividly in our children and should strive to emulate. Our children and youth exemplify this undignified passion, reminding us all to approach our faith with the same fervor and determination.

This story was brought to life through a fun, interactive activity that highlighted the importance of being relentless in our pursuit of Jesus. Just as the friends in the story were determined to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, we too must be relentless in our pursuit of Him. This means breaking through barriers and overcoming obstacles to reach Him. Our children and youth exemplify this undignified passion, reminding us all to approach our faith with the same fervor and determination. [50:52]

Luke 5:18-19 (ESV): "And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus."

Reflection: What barriers or obstacles are currently hindering your pursuit of Jesus, and how can you break through them today?

Day 3: Faith Through Stories

Our children have been learning about Jesus through key Bible stories, understanding Him as a healer, provider, and friend. These stories are not just historical accounts but living lessons that shape their understanding of who Jesus is to them personally. This approach to learning can deepen our own faith as we revisit these stories with fresh eyes. By reflecting on these stories, we can gain a deeper understanding of Jesus and His role in our lives.

The stories of the man lowered through the roof, the woman who touched Jesus' robe, and the boy with the loaves and fishes have helped our children understand Jesus as a healer, provider, and friend. These stories are not just historical accounts but living lessons that shape their understanding of who Jesus is to them personally. By revisiting these stories with fresh eyes, we can deepen our own faith and gain a deeper understanding of Jesus and His role in our lives. [27:38]

Mark 5:34 (ESV): "And he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.'"

Reflection: Which Bible story has had the most impact on your understanding of Jesus, and how can you revisit it today to deepen your faith?

Day 4: Modeling Childlike Faith

Observing the faith of our children challenges us to adopt a more childlike approach to our relationship with God. Children often exhibit a pure, undiluted passion for Jesus, unencumbered by the complexities and doubts that adulthood can bring. Embracing this childlike faith can lead us to a more genuine and fervent spiritual life. By observing the faith of our children, we are reminded to approach our relationship with God with the same purity and passion.

Children often exhibit a pure, undiluted passion for Jesus, unencumbered by the complexities and doubts that adulthood can bring. Embracing this childlike faith can lead us to a more genuine and fervent spiritual life. By observing the faith of our children, we are reminded to approach our relationship with God with the same purity and passion. This childlike faith can lead us to a more genuine and fervent spiritual life. [52:33]

Matthew 19:14 (ESV): "But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you simplify your faith and approach God with the same purity and passion as a child today?

Day 5: Community and Support

The service highlighted the importance of community in nurturing faith. From the leaders and helpers who guide our children to the collective prayers for wisdom and protection, it is clear that faith is a communal journey. Supporting each other, especially our young members, is crucial for a thriving spiritual community. By coming together as a community, we can nurture and support each other's faith journeys.

From the leaders and helpers who guide our children to the collective prayers for wisdom and protection, it is clear that faith is a communal journey. Supporting each other, especially our young members, is crucial for a thriving spiritual community. By coming together as a community, we can nurture and support each other's faith journeys. This communal support is essential for a thriving spiritual community. [57:56]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: How can you actively support and encourage someone in your faith community today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we celebrate the vibrant and essential role of children and youth in our church. From welcoming guests to leading worship and prayers, our young members have taken over every aspect of the service. This is a testament to the blessing we have in our church—a thriving community of children and young people who are meeting Jesus and growing in their faith. Despite the nationwide decline in church attendance, especially among younger generations, our church stands as a beacon of hope and vitality.

We reflected on the importance of children in the church, emphasizing that they are not just the future but the present of our community. Jesus himself said, "Let the little children come to me," and we strive to embody that spirit. Our children have been exploring who Jesus is to them through various Bible stories, such as the man lowered through the roof, the woman who touched Jesus' robe, and the boy with the loaves and fishes. These stories have helped them understand Jesus as a healer, provider, and friend.

The service also included a powerful demonstration of faith and determination, inspired by the story of friends tearing off a roof to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus. This story was brought to life through a fun, interactive activity that highlighted the importance of being relentless in our pursuit of Jesus. Our children and youth exemplify this undignified passion, reminding us all to approach our faith with the same fervor and determination.

We concluded with a heartfelt prayer for our children, youth, and their leaders, asking for wisdom, protection, and a lifelong commitment to faith. The service ended with an invitation for everyone to join in prayer and worship, celebrating the incredible contributions of our young members.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Children as the Present Church: Children and youth are not just the future of the church; they are an integral part of its present. Their involvement in every aspect of the service today demonstrates their active role in our community. This challenges us to value and nurture their contributions, recognizing that they have much to teach us about faith and devotion. [35:26]
2. Relentless Pursuit of Jesus: The story of friends tearing off a roof to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus serves as a powerful metaphor for our spiritual lives. We are called to be relentless in our pursuit of Jesus, breaking through barriers and overcoming obstacles to reach Him. This undignified passion is something we see vividly in our children and should strive to emulate. [50:52]
3. Faith Through Stories: Our children have been learning about Jesus through key Bible stories, understanding Him as a healer, provider, and friend. These stories are not just historical accounts but living lessons that shape their understanding of who Jesus is to them personally. This approach to learning can deepen our own faith as we revisit these stories with fresh eyes. [27:38]
4. Modeling Childlike Faith: Observing the faith of our children challenges us to adopt a more childlike approach to our relationship with God. Children often exhibit a pure, undiluted passion for Jesus, unencumbered by the complexities and doubts that adulthood can bring. Embracing this childlike faith can lead us to a more genuine and fervent spiritual life. [52:33]
5. Community and Support: The service highlighted the importance of community in nurturing faith. From the leaders and helpers who guide our children to the collective prayers for wisdom and protection, it is clear that faith is a communal journey. Supporting each other, especially our young members, is crucial for a thriving spiritual community. [57:56]
### [57:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[17:30] - Introduction and Celebration of Youth
[27:38] - Who is Jesus to Us?
[35:26] - Children as the Present Church
[40:48] - Learning Bible Verses with Makaton
[46:50] - The Story of the Paralyzed Man
[50:52] - Relentless Pursuit of Jesus
[56:58] - Prayer and Reflection
[57:56] - Honoring Youth Leaders
[62:43] - Praying for Our Children
[67:09] - Final Prayers and Worship
[78:59] - Closing and Announcements

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In the story of the paralyzed man in Mark 2:1-12, what actions did the friends take to bring their friend to Jesus? How did Jesus respond to their faith? [50:52]
According to Matthew 19:14, what does Jesus say about children and their place in the kingdom of heaven? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on children being the present church? [35:26]
In John 6:1-14, how did the boy with the loaves and fishes contribute to the miracle? What does this story teach us about the role of children in God’s work? [27:38]

Interpretation Questions

What does the determination of the friends in Mark 2:1-12 teach us about the importance of community and support in our spiritual journey? How can we apply this in our church community? [50:52]
How does Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:14 challenge our perception of children in the church? What practical steps can we take to ensure children are valued and included in our church activities? [35:26]
Reflecting on the boy’s role in John 6:1-14, how can we encourage children to use their gifts and talents for God’s work? What are some ways we can support them in this? [27:38]

Application Questions

How can we, as a church, better recognize and nurture the contributions of our children and youth? Share specific examples of how you can support a young person in their faith journey. [35:26]
The sermon highlighted the relentless pursuit of Jesus, as seen in the story of the friends tearing off the roof. What barriers or obstacles are currently hindering your pursuit of Jesus? How can you overcome them? [50:52]
Children often exhibit a pure and undiluted passion for Jesus. Reflect on your own faith journey. How can you cultivate a more childlike faith in your daily life? [52:33]
The service emphasized the importance of community in nurturing faith. How can you contribute to building a supportive and nurturing environment for the children and youth in our church? [57:56]
Think about the Bible stories that have shaped your understanding of Jesus. How can revisiting these stories with fresh eyes deepen your faith? Share a story that has been particularly impactful for you. [27:38]
The sermon concluded with a prayer for wisdom, protection, and a lifelong commitment to faith for our children and youth. How can you incorporate praying for the younger generation into your daily routine? [56:58]
Reflect on a time when you saw a child or young person demonstrate a strong faith. How did it impact you? What can you learn from their example to apply in your own spiritual life? [52:33]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for outreach

1. "We know that nationwide and other parts of the western world, numbers of people going to church are declining. And we really feel that God has blessed us as a church that we have got teenagers who are in our church who have been coming right from when they were tiny and they're still here, they're meeting with Jesus. We saw some of them get baptized the other week which was such an encouragement to me, I hope it was to you as well." [17:30] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Jesus said let the little children come and we want to be like that in this church. We believe that our children have something to say to us this morning. We believe that they are meeting with Christ in our children's groups, in our youth groups, and that they want to share with you this morning what Jesus is saying to them." [18:44] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Children, you were brilliant as always. Now, I feel a little bit sad sometimes when people talk about children and young people being the church of tomorrow, because actually they are 100% the church of today." [35:26] (113 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "And we find a lot in our children's works groups and our youth groups as well. That there comes with childhood and young adulthood, there remains that kind of real undignified passion when it comes to getting to know God. Actually for a child, they would absolutely push past a crowd full of adults to get what they wanted." [51:40] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We've got young people who passionately care for Jesus, who do believe that Jesus is their everything, that Jesus is there for them when they're hurting. He's there for them in good times. He's there for them when they're lonely. He's there for them on their first day of school, during exams, during breakups of friendships, during their first day of university. And hopefully they will take that on to adulthood." [52:33] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "And I think Scott just wanted to hop up to say something extra about the Away Day. Thank you very much. And does the video look like it might play now? No? Okay. Fantastic. Let's hand over to Bear. So just to really greet you very warmly this morning to those who are joining online as well and I know that this morning the service may feel a little bit different to usual but we really feel in Lynn Baptist Church that we're incredibly blessed to have the amount of children and young people that come to our church." [17:30] (280 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And the same is true in this story as well. That Ivy and Bea read out to us. You've got a group of people who see that inside this house, there is the ultimate prize, the ultimate treasure for this man, for this friend that they have who cannot walk. I'm sure that they've tried everything else. I'm sure they've tried healers. I'm sure they've possibly tried themselves praying for the man. Maybe they've taken him to holy rivers and washed him, many different things. And they've reached the point where they recognize. And understand that the person inside that house, the person of Jesus is the ultimate treasure." [50:52] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And I hope that this morning you would take that challenge for yourself as well, that you would want to become more like that group of friends that tore apart the roof of the house to meet Jesus. Just like that. Just like our young people who race upstairs every week, not just for the biscuits, but also for an opportunity to hear more about Christ." [52:33] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "And I think we've seen some of that. We've seen some of that this morning, haven't we? We've seen in these young people a confidence for the Lord, a confidence in the gospel. That means that I have great hope for what the future of our church means." [52:33] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "And for me, as I work with these children, and I know it's the same for a lot of our Kids Work leaders as well and our youth leaders, it becomes quite a challenge for me on a weekly basis to be able to model my faith on what these children have." [52:33] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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