Embracing Childlike Faith for Spiritual Growth
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound lessons we can learn from children and how their perspectives can transform our spiritual lives. We began by reflecting on the beauty and purity of children's worship, which led us into a discussion about the creative and unfiltered ways children perceive the world. This was illustrated through a short film created by children during our summer camp, which, despite its whimsical elements, conveyed deep spiritual truths in a way that resonated with their generation.
We delved into 1 John 3:1 and Matthew 18:1-3, emphasizing the importance of adopting a childlike perspective to truly understand and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus highlighted the virtues of humility, forgiveness, and trust as essential characteristics of those who are greatest in the Kingdom. We discussed how these attributes are naturally present in children and how we, as adults, can strive to embody them.
Humility is foundational to our walk with Jesus, as it keeps us teachable and open to growth. Forgiveness, often easier for children, becomes challenging when pride takes root in our hearts. Trusting God, much like a child trusts their parents, frees us from the anxieties of life, knowing that our Heavenly Father will provide for our needs.
We also touched on the creativity of children, supported by a NASA study showing that children possess a high level of creative genius, which diminishes as they grow older due to societal and educational constraints. Embracing a childlike creativity can make us more effective vessels for God's Kingdom.
Innocence, often lost as we age, can be restored through the redemptive power of Jesus' sacrifice. Children’s innocence keeps us accountable and reminds us of the purity we are called to maintain. Their devotion and loyalty to those they look up to serve as a model for our relationship with God. Lastly, children's curiosity drives them to learn and grow, a trait we should emulate in our spiritual journey.
We concluded by encouraging everyone to engage with and serve children, as this not only benefits them but also brings healing and growth to us. Serving the next generation is a profound way to experience God's love and learn from the pure, untainted perspectives of children.
### Key Takeaways
1. Humility as a Foundation: Humility is crucial in our walk with Jesus. Without it, we cannot remain teachable or open to growth. Jesus Himself described His nature as humble and meek, urging us to adopt these attributes to truly follow Him. Humility allows us to forgive and love more freely, reflecting Christ's character in our lives. [01:10:54]
2. Trusting God Like a Child: Children naturally trust their parents without worrying about their needs. Similarly, we are called to trust our Heavenly Father, who knows our needs and will provide for us. This childlike trust frees us from anxiety and allows us to live in peace, knowing that God is in control. [01:12:26]
3. Embracing Creativity: Children’s creativity is boundless and unfiltered by societal norms. Embracing this creativity can make us more effective in bringing God's Kingdom to earth. A study by NASA showed that creativity diminishes as we age, but by adopting a childlike perspective, we can break free from these constraints and think outside the box. [01:14:29]
4. Restoring Innocence: Innocence, often lost through life's experiences, can be restored through Jesus' sacrifice. Viewing innocence through the lens of the cross means that we are washed clean and brought back to a state of purity. This restoration allows us to live in a way that honors God and keeps us accountable in our actions. [01:15:30]
5. Curiosity in Our Spiritual Journey: Children’s curiosity drives them to learn and grow, a trait we should emulate in our relationship with God. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach us all things, but to be taught, we must first be curious. Always seeking to know more about God and His works keeps our faith vibrant and growing. [01:18:16]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:00:08] - Opening Prayer
[01:00:48] - Summer Camp Experience
[01:05:34] - Children's Creative Perspective
[01:07:14] - 1 John 3:1 and Our Identity
[01:08:20] - Matthew 18:1-3 and Childlike Faith
[01:10:23] - Seven Characteristics of Children
[01:12:26] - Trusting God Like a Child
[01:14:29] - Embracing Creativity
[01:15:30] - Restoring Innocence
[01:17:07] - Curiosity in Our Spiritual Journey
[01:18:16] - Matthew 18:4-5 and Tender Care
[01:20:25] - Serving the Next Generation
[01:22:42] - Encouragement to Step Out
[01:23:21] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 1 John 3:1 (NKJV): "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him."
2. Matthew 18:1-3 (AMP): "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a little child and set him before them, and said, 'I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you repent [that is, change your inner self—your old way of thinking, live changed lives] and become like children [trusting, humble, and forgiving], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'"
### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 John 3:1, what is the significance of being called children of God?
2. In Matthew 18:1-3, what characteristics does Jesus highlight as essential to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
3. How did the children’s short film during the summer camp illustrate their unique perspective and creativity? [01:05:34]
4. What are the seven characteristics of children mentioned in the sermon that we should strive to embody? [01:10:23]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of humility, as described in Matthew 18:1-3, relate to our daily walk with Jesus? [01:10:54]
2. Why is childlike trust in God important for living a life free from anxiety, according to the sermon? [01:12:26]
3. How can embracing childlike creativity make us more effective in bringing God's Kingdom to earth? [01:14:29]
4. What does it mean to restore innocence through Jesus' sacrifice, and how can this impact our spiritual lives? [01:15:30]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you struggled with humility. How can you approach similar situations with a more humble attitude in the future? [01:10:54]
2. Think about an area in your life where you find it hard to trust God. What steps can you take to develop a childlike trust in Him? [01:12:26]
3. Identify a moment when you felt particularly creative or inspired. How can you cultivate that childlike creativity in your daily life to serve God's Kingdom? [01:14:29]
4. Have you experienced a loss of innocence due to life's challenges? How can you seek restoration and purity through Jesus' sacrifice? [01:15:30]
5. Consider a time when your curiosity led you to a deeper understanding of God. How can you maintain and nurture that curiosity in your spiritual journey? [01:17:07]
6. How can you actively engage with and serve children in your community to learn from their pure perspectives and experience God's love? [01:20:25]
7. What practical steps can you take this week to embody the virtues of humility, forgiveness, and trust in your interactions with others? [01:10:23]
Devotional
Day 1: Humility as a Path to Growth
Humility is crucial in our walk with Jesus. Without it, we cannot remain teachable or open to growth. Jesus Himself described His nature as humble and meek, urging us to adopt these attributes to truly follow Him. Humility allows us to forgive and love more freely, reflecting Christ's character in our lives. When we embrace humility, we acknowledge our dependence on God and our need for His guidance. This keeps our hearts soft and receptive to His teachings, enabling us to grow spiritually and become more like Christ.
Humility also helps us to see others through the eyes of Jesus, fostering compassion and understanding. It breaks down the barriers of pride and self-righteousness, allowing us to build genuine relationships based on love and respect. By humbling ourselves, we create an environment where God's grace can flow freely, transforming our lives and the lives of those around us. [01:10:54]
James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where pride may have hindered your growth or relationships. How can you approach similar situations with humility in the future?
Day 2: Trusting God Like a Child
Children naturally trust their parents without worrying about their needs. Similarly, we are called to trust our Heavenly Father, who knows our needs and will provide for us. This childlike trust frees us from anxiety and allows us to live in peace, knowing that God is in control. When we trust God like a child, we surrender our worries and fears to Him, believing that He will take care of us.
This trust is not blind but is rooted in the knowledge of God's character and His promises. As we grow in our relationship with Him, we learn to rely on His faithfulness and goodness. Trusting God like a child means letting go of our need to control every aspect of our lives and instead, resting in His sovereignty. [01:12:26]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you struggle to trust God fully. What steps can you take to surrender this area to Him and trust in His provision?
Day 3: Embracing Childlike Creativity
Children’s creativity is boundless and unfiltered by societal norms. Embracing this creativity can make us more effective in bringing God's Kingdom to earth. A study by NASA showed that creativity diminishes as we age, but by adopting a childlike perspective, we can break free from these constraints and think outside the box. Creativity allows us to see the world through fresh eyes and find innovative ways to share God's love and truth.
When we embrace childlike creativity, we open ourselves to new possibilities and opportunities for ministry. This creativity can manifest in various forms, such as art, music, writing, or even problem-solving. By allowing ourselves to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, we can use our unique gifts and talents to glorify God and serve others. [01:14:29]
Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."
Reflection: Think of a creative talent or passion you have. How can you use this gift to serve God and others in a new and innovative way?
Day 4: Restoring Innocence Through Christ
Innocence, often lost through life's experiences, can be restored through Jesus' sacrifice. Viewing innocence through the lens of the cross means that we are washed clean and brought back to a state of purity. This restoration allows us to live in a way that honors God and keeps us accountable in our actions. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross provides us with the opportunity to start anew, free from the guilt and shame of our past.
Restoring innocence is not about denying our past mistakes but about embracing the forgiveness and redemption offered by Christ. It is a call to live a life of integrity and holiness, reflecting the purity of heart that God desires for us. By accepting His grace, we can walk in the freedom and joy that comes from being made new in Him. [01:15:30]
1 John 1:9 (ESV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you feel burdened by guilt or shame. How can you embrace the forgiveness and restoration offered by Jesus to live in freedom and purity?
Day 5: Curiosity in Our Spiritual Journey
Children’s curiosity drives them to learn and grow, a trait we should emulate in our relationship with God. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach us all things, but to be taught, we must first be curious. Always seeking to know more about God and His works keeps our faith vibrant and growing. Curiosity leads us to ask questions, explore the Scriptures, and seek deeper understanding of God's character and His plans for our lives.
By maintaining a curious and teachable spirit, we remain open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom He imparts. This curiosity fuels our desire to grow in our faith and to experience the fullness of God's presence in our lives. It encourages us to step out of our comfort zones and to pursue a deeper, more intimate relationship with our Creator. [01:18:16]
Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV): "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."
Reflection: What is one aspect of God's character or a biblical truth that you are curious about? How can you take steps to explore and learn more about this in the coming week?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The Lord was speaking to me about like the difference in perspective. For me, I would have never come up with this. But the more and more, you know, because I've watched it now probably 20 times, the more and more I've watched it, the more the Lord's actually spoke to me through it. Which seems so crazy to me because it's Peppa Pig and candy corns. It's interesting because the thing is, is that Peppa Pig, they said, the kids said, she is just a random, like how any person would be going through life trying to figure out the truth, right? Kind of just in your own world, singing along. And then all of a sudden you trip up and then the enemy comes and attacks you, right?" [01:05:34] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We proclaim Jesus as our Savior and we love and we walk in His ways. We're a child of His. That's our identity. As children of God we need to have the perspective of a child. We can learn and grow so much by stepping outside of the way we view life and step into a perspective from a fresh set of eyes." [01:07:14] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Children are forgiving. Typically children are slower to anger. Typically. But I've noticed that with kids, it's like they'll be fighting and then two minutes later they're best friends again. You know, I think that's something that we can really learn from. And if we're humble, I think the thing that I've realized too in my walk is that if there's pride in any area of our lives, that typically will lead to unforgiveness. It's much harder to forgive if you're not sitting in humility." [01:11:25] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Children are curious. Children strongly desire to learn about the world around them. Having, like I was saying, that perspective of that fresh set of eyes. Everything is so new and so beautiful. I know that when we got baptized, I remember just that day after, it was like everything just seemed so new. Everything was so fresh. And I was seeing it from such a different perspective." [01:17:07] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If children meant so much to Jesus, they should mean something to us too. If he's saying that you can learn from this child, then that means that we need to be around children. So I want to give you an opportunity. You can fill it out. You can not fill it out. But this is your opportunity. If you want to not just serve children or volunteer to help, but actually there's something that the Lord could be doing in you. To serve you. There could be things that he wants to heal in you. There could be things that he wants to teach you through these children." [01:21:40] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "So in Matthew 17 prior to this, we're seeing these wonderful miracles and signs that Jesus is doing. And so the disciples come to him and they're like, well man, if you're doing all this then who's the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And the very first thing that we see in Matthew 18 is him take a child and say this. This is the greatest thing in the kingdom of heaven. Being humble, forgiving and trusting. I also love in the Amplified how it says unless you change your inner self, your inner self, your old way of thinking. That right there is character and perspective." [01:09:51] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Humility is the key to our walk. If we don't have humility, we actually won't succeed in our walk with Jesus. If we're not teachable, constantly teachable. Also something that I realized too as I was reading this, in Matthew 11 Jesus describes himself as being humble, meek, lowly in heart. And I think it's so interesting that Jesus is saying become like this child, but those are also his attributes. Become like him." [01:10:54] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Kids are creative. You saw that with the video. Yes, I know. So as we were sitting down this week, we were talking with Cody and Tersha and I was kind of running through what I was gonna talk about this Sunday. And when I brought up creativity, Tersha was reminded of this statistic that was done by NASA ran a study in 2018 I believe. And it was a study about creative genius. And I'm gonna read it to you real quick. It was so fascinating to me. When Tersha told me this, it says that they wanted to place the most creative engineers on the hardest projects." [01:12:58] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Children are innocent. Children are pure. And in the same way our perspective can shift as we age, so does our innocence unfortunately. Jesus calls us to come back to a childlike state of innocence in him. I think that sometimes we think of innocence as being like naive or kind of ignorant. But there's innocence is purity. And the great thing though is that viewing innocence through the lens of the cross means that when we're washed by his blood that we're brought back to innocence in a childlike state." [01:14:29] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Children are devoted. They're so devoted, especially in people that they look up to. Children, the way that they are devoted to their parents or to their mentors is an undeniable loyalty. And also something too with the devotion is that children want to look like who they're devoted to. Like I remember growing up, it's like however my sister dressed, that's how I wanted to dress. There was that influence of loyalty and devotion. And so in the same way, if we're supposed to be devoted to the father, we're going to want to look just like him. We're going to want to act like him. We're going to want to be everything that he is." [01:16:38] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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