Embracing Youth: Recognizing Their Role in Faith

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the unique story from the Gospel of Luke that offers a glimpse into Jesus' life as a 12-year-old boy. This narrative is significant because it is the only account of Jesus' youth, highlighting his Jewish upbringing and the devout nature of his family. However, the focus today is not solely on Jesus' identity as a Jew but on the deeper incarnational meaning and the role of young people in the church.

The story of Jesus in the temple serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of including young people in the life of the church. Just as Jesus was welcomed by the teachers in the temple, we are called to embrace children and youth, allowing them to participate fully in the community of faith. This inclusion is not about waiting for them to mature or understand every theological nuance but about recognizing their inherent value and the unique perspectives they bring.

Reflecting on a personal story from my early ministry, I recall two young boys eager to participate in communion, despite not fully understanding its significance. Their enthusiasm and desire to belong highlight the innate longing in young people to be part of something greater. This longing should be nurtured, not stifled, by the church. We must create spaces where children are seen, heard, and valued, recognizing that they are not just the future of the church but an integral part of it today.

Furthermore, the story of Jesus in the temple challenges us to reconsider where we look for Jesus in our world today. Jesus' response to Mary and Joseph, questioning why they were searching for him, invites us to see him in the marginalized and oppressed. Jesus is present in the cries of those suffering, in the struggles of the marginalized, and in the hearts of those society deems broken. By recognizing Jesus in these places, we fulfill our calling to bring hope and love to the world.

Key Takeaways:

1. Inclusion of Youth in the Church: The story of Jesus in the temple reminds us of the importance of including young people in the church. They should be welcomed and encouraged to participate, not just as future members but as vital parts of the community today. Their unique perspectives and enthusiasm can enrich the church's life. [06:20]

2. Nurturing the Longing to Belong: Children and youth have an innate desire to belong and be part of something special. The church must nurture this longing by creating spaces where they feel included and valued, allowing their excitement and curiosity to flourish. [04:30]

3. Recognizing Jesus in the Marginalized: Jesus' presence is found in the marginalized and oppressed. By looking for Jesus in these places, we align ourselves with his mission to bring hope and love to the world, breaking down barriers and embracing all people. [12:37]

4. The Church as a Learning Community: The church is a place where all, regardless of age, are learning and growing in faith. We must embrace this journey together, recognizing that understanding and belief are processes that unfold over time. [09:00]

5. The Kingdom of God Belongs to Children: Scripture tells us that the kingdom of God belongs to children. This truth calls us to value and include children in the life of the church, recognizing their importance and the lessons they can teach us about faith and community. [10:14]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:30] - Jesus' Jewish Upbringing
- [02:40] - Story of Communion
- [03:51] - Longing to Belong
- [04:30] - Embracing Youth
- [05:15] - Jesus in the Temple
- [06:20] - Inclusion in Faith
- [07:29] - Youth as the Church Today
- [08:10] - Creating Space for Youth
- [09:00] - Learning and Growing Together
- [10:14] - Finding Jesus Today
- [12:02] - Jesus in the Marginalized
- [12:37] - Breaking Down Barriers
- [14:18] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 2:41-52

Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of Jesus being found in the temple at the age of 12, and how did the teachers respond to him? [05:15]
2. How did the young boys, Alex and Logan, react during the communion service, and what was the congregation's response? [02:40]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the role of children and youth in the church today? [07:29]
4. How does the sermon describe Jesus' presence in the marginalized and oppressed? [12:02]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might the story of Jesus in the temple be the only account of his youth included in the Gospel of Luke? [01:30]
2. How does the inclusion of young people in the church community reflect the deeper incarnational meaning of Jesus' life? [06:20]
3. In what ways does the sermon challenge traditional views of when children should be included in church activities? [08:10]
4. How does recognizing Jesus in the marginalized align with the mission of the church as described in the sermon? [12:37]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt excluded from a community. How can this experience inform your approach to including young people in your church? [04:30]
2. What are some practical ways your church can create spaces where children and youth feel seen, heard, and valued? [08:10]
3. How can you personally encourage young people to pursue their faith in unique and exciting ways? [07:29]
4. Consider the marginalized groups mentioned in the sermon. How can you actively seek to recognize and support Jesus' presence in these communities? [12:02]
5. How can your church community better embrace the idea that children are not just the future of the church but an integral part of it today? [09:00]
6. What steps can you take to ensure that the enthusiasm and curiosity of young people in your church are nurtured rather than stifled? [04:30]
7. How can you personally contribute to breaking down barriers and bringing hope and love to those who are marginalized in your community? [12:37]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined:

Day 1: Embracing Youthful Voices in Faith
The story of Jesus in the temple as a young boy serves as a profound reminder of the importance of including young people in the life of the church. This narrative highlights that children and youth are not merely the future of the church but are vital members of the community today. Their unique perspectives, enthusiasm, and energy can enrich the church's life and mission. By welcoming and encouraging their participation, we acknowledge their inherent value and the fresh insights they bring to our faith journey. The church is called to create an environment where young people feel seen, heard, and valued, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to the community. [06:20]

"And he said to them, 'Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?' And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them." (Luke 2:49-50, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively include and encourage a young person in your church community this week, recognizing their unique contributions to the faith journey?


Day 2: Cultivating a Sense of Belonging
Children and youth have an innate desire to belong and be part of something greater than themselves. This longing should be nurtured by the church, which is called to create spaces where young people feel included and valued. By doing so, we allow their excitement, curiosity, and desire to belong to flourish. The church must be intentional in fostering an environment where young people can explore their faith, ask questions, and grow in their understanding of God. This nurturing approach helps them develop a strong sense of identity and belonging within the community of faith. [04:30]

"Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." (Mark 10:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for young people in your church or community group?


Day 3: Seeing Jesus in the Marginalized
The story of Jesus in the temple challenges us to reconsider where we look for Jesus in our world today. Jesus' response to Mary and Joseph invites us to see him in the marginalized and oppressed. By recognizing Jesus in these places, we align ourselves with his mission to bring hope and love to the world. This perspective calls us to break down barriers and embrace all people, especially those who are suffering or deemed broken by society. By doing so, we fulfill our calling to be agents of change and bearers of God's love in the world. [12:37]

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?" (Isaiah 58:6, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community or life is marginalized or oppressed, and how can you be the presence of Jesus to them this week?


Day 4: The Church as a Learning Community
The church is a place where all, regardless of age, are learning and growing in faith. Understanding and belief are processes that unfold over time, and the church must embrace this journey together. By fostering a culture of learning and growth, the church can support individuals in their faith journey, encouraging them to explore, question, and deepen their understanding of God. This communal approach to faith development helps create a supportive environment where everyone can grow and thrive in their relationship with God. [09:00]

"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." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to a culture of learning and growth in your church, encouraging others in their faith journey?


Day 5: Valuing Children in the Kingdom of God
Scripture tells us that the kingdom of God belongs to children, calling us to value and include them in the life of the church. This truth challenges us to recognize the importance of children and the lessons they can teach us about faith and community. By valuing children and their contributions, we gain fresh insights into the nature of God's kingdom and the qualities that are essential for living a life of faith. The church is called to embrace the wisdom and simplicity of children, learning from their example and incorporating their perspectives into the broader community of faith. [10:14]

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 18:1-3, ESV)

Reflection: What can you learn from the children in your life about faith and community, and how can you apply these lessons to your own spiritual journey?

Quotes

"From there, we come to today's message. Jesus as a boy, 12 years old, on an annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Passover. And from there, we go right to Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River at age 30. So why this story? What is so significant about this story, this encounter, this event, that it is the singular event from Jesus' childhood years?" [00:00:59]

"My first call out of seminary, I was working at a UCC church in Palos Park as the youth and children's pastor. The custom of this church was that children did not take their first communion until they were confirmed. One Sunday, while communion was being served, I looked at the church and I said, I looked out from the table, and I saw two young brothers, Alex and Logan." [00:02:40]

"They could sense that something special was happening and they wanted to be included. So filled with longing, they sprung up from their pews, simply excited to be involved. They didn't know what was happening. They didn't understand the deeper theological meaning of the bread and the wine, but they knew that this was something special and they wanted to be part of it." [00:04:08]

"We spend so much time in churches telling children that they have to wait, telling them they're too young, too immature, that they haven't learned enough yet, that the world and the church aren't ready to embrace them and include them fully. Too often we separate and segregate them into their own spaces and ministries, apart from the rest of the body, instead of inviting them into the fold." [00:05:15]

"Passover has ended, families are heading back to their homes from Jerusalem, and the Jewish leaders and teachers are gathered in the temple, talking. When up walks the 12-year-old boy. We don't know what they were discussing, but I can imagine it was not the kind of conversation children were usually invited into. These teachers could have simply excused the boy, told him to go find his parents, but they didn't." [00:05:47]

"They let him ask questions and listen intently to what he had to say. They gave him permission to wonder, to learn, to ask, to speak, to share, and to listen, to pursue God in his own ways. Jesus, as a child, was embraced and invited into the inner circle, not pushed to the side and told people to wait." [00:06:20]

"Then Jesus grew and matured and began to minister to and teach others himself, inviting children once again, just like he was once invited to be at the center, giving them a place of importance, not in the future, but right here, right now. What if we as a church embraced children in the same way?" [00:06:50]

"Children already know that something special happens here. They are excited and yearning to be part of it, but that excitement will not last forever if we don't nurture it. Instead of sending our young people off somewhere else, we are called, like the rabbis, like Jesus, to invite them in, to let them pull up a chair and know without a doubt that they belong here." [00:08:20]

"It doesn't matter if they understand why we have communion, or why we pray, or how we pray, or know every detail about Jesus' life or anything else of the sort, if no one was allowed to participate in the life of the church until they fully understood all aspects and elements of faith and religion and worship, there would be no churches to be part of." [00:08:58]

"After all, our scriptures tell us the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. And this brings me to the other message I want to leave you with today. A deeper meaning we can find in this passage about where to look for Jesus today. After confronted by Mary once they found him in the temple, Jesus' response, kind of shocked and confused, says, why were you looking for me?" [00:09:51]

"Perhaps all these years later, having parented Jesus and watched over him, they lost sight of that prophecy, forgot who Jesus was and who he was destined to become. Maybe they were simply focused on raising this earthly boy whom they called theirs. Maybe they got so caught up in day-to-day living that they had stopped thinking about visits from angels and that night under starlit sky in a stable when Jesus was born and people came from faraway lands to kneel at the manger." [00:10:41]

"I came to do God's will on earth, bringing hope from heaven above. I came to break down barriers and fill the world with love. Why are you looking? Didn't you know where I'll be? I'm in the hearts of lost and least. Through them, you can find me." [00:13:44]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?