"Become Like A Child" Series

All Age Worship, 8 Feb 2004 10 am. Ver 1.2

¡§Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it¡¨ Lk 18;16,17

Other key texts: Mt 11:25, Mt 18:10, Is 11:6, Mt 21:16

10 am Welcome/notices

10.03

1. The place of children

Aim: to show the place of children in God¡¦s Kingdom (ie included), the Bible (give some examples) and the church (included and involved). (Children don¡¦t lead the church- Elders do, but children can be involved- praying for people etc ¡¥a little child will lead them¡¦ Is 11:6). To include dedication

For the beauty of the earth (Rutter)

Blessed be your name in the

Child leads in prayer of praise Ewen sort

Oi, Oi, we are gonna praise the Lord + offering David

10.13

Brief teaching:

Great thing is knowing God is not just for- smart, educated or Adults!

= for ALL

- church is for all! Broad

o children are not, sentimentally, ¡¥the church of tomorrow¡¦

o they are the church of today! Part of the family of God

In fact, in Bible, children have a

- special, central place. High place!

They do in Jesus¡¦ heart

LK 18:15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

- Jesus loves children!

- These are the ones who have got it right!

- Children¡K and those like them¡K DO receive, see, experience God!

MT 18:10 "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

- children can¡K many DO¡K have a natural intimacy and relationship with God

o a closeness¡K and ¡¥discussion¡¦ with Him

October 2002, Charlotte (6 coming up 7yrs) went with her school to a mock-Victorian house. The teacher asked ’who might have lived in this house in those days?’. Little replies came back of ’Mums.... Dads... children... pets’.

After a moment of silence, Charlotte added "God..... Jesus!"

„X that WE lose when we get older

„X that WE long for!

(The average child laughs 400 times a day.

The average adult laughs 15 times a day.

What happens in life that makes adults lose their laughter?

Do we quit laughing because we are old, or do we get old because we quit laughing?)

- They are not perfect (!) but have an open heart

o God responds to that

So- it¡¦s not a miracle that happens here (dedication)

- children ARE the Lord¡¦s

- We are not ¡¥covering ourselves in case something happens¡¦

o God always does what is right

This is THANKSGIVING & DEDICATION (of parents)

When Jesus was asked about who was ¡¥tops¡¦ spiritually:

MT 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

MT 18:2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

So- children are v special to God and to us

I Bible find them- worshipping (on Palm Sunday)

- hearing God (Samuel)

- serving God (Jeremiah)

If you want to be really blessed- get a child to pray for you!

Dedication of Eloise Carisse

Worship group sing ¡§May your life¡¨ (May the saints and Saviour watch over you) over Eloise and then Ewen parades her around the congregation as they start to sing it.

10.25am

Under 6s (sparklers and under) leave while singing:

Your love is amazing

2. Blessings of being child-like

Aim: to show that the blessings of being child-like (not child-ish) are- experiencing KOG/Jesus & entering KOG (Lk 18:16f), God reveals to you (rather than conceals, Mt 11:25f), used by God (Mt 21:16). Cf Nigeria. We have/know everything yet are so poor! Children on palm Sunday got it right!

You are God in heaven

You are beautiful beyond description David

3 mins drama sketch on difference between being child-like and child-ish - David

Repeat after me ¡¥ I will never complain about my children again¡¦

So- why be child-like¡¦?

Because then you will see/experience God. In your heart, not just your head

Knowledge is good¡K wisdom is essential

- but simple faith is what pleases and impresses God