"Out Of The Mouths Of Babes"

2 Kings 5:1-14 (ESV)

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr.

West Fort Hood Chapel

Independence Day 2010

First Sunday

Killeen, TX

4 July 2010

Big Idea: God sometimes uses Children to communicate to adults truths about His Grace – God’s unearned and unmerited favor – and love to believers and non believers alike.

Scriptural References: EAI (Expository; Application; Illustration); Ephesians 2:11-22 KJV (One in Christ – Christ died for us all); Romans 5:6-10 (KJV) Christ died for all us; Leviticus 13 – Regulations about Infectious Skin Diseases; John 6:1-15 (ESV) – John shares the story of the Poor Boy in a big crowd who was the source of food for 5,000 hungry grown-ups; Ephesians 5:1-2a (MSG): Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love …; Psalm 34:11 (KJV) Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD; Psalms 53:2 (KJV) God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God; Psalm 53:2 (KJV) God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God; Proverbs 22:15 (ESV) Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him; Proverbs 22:6 (KJV) Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it; Proverbs 31:28 (In regard to the Proverbs 31 Woman/Mother): Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 2 Kings 5: 1-5 (ESV)

II. READ THE PERICOPE: 2 Kings 5: 1-5 (ESV)

III. READ THE TEXT: 2 Kings 5: 2-4 (ESV) – Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.”

IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that God sometimes uses children to communicate to adults truths about His ministry of Grace – unearned and unmerited favor - to believers and unbelievers alike.

V. SERMONIC THEME: "Out of the mouth of babes”

VI. INTRODUCTION:

Most Christian parents know by memory Proverbs 22:15 (ESV) because it is there that it is said: “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him” in other words foolishness lies in the heart of a child but the rod of correction will drive it far from him. I personally think that the “church” holds that particular verse to its heart too much.

Just observing Chaplain Chris Wienrich with the children as they paid close attention to his Sermon of Steps reminds us all of how important our children are to God.

It’s my personal belief that children aren’t taken serious enough when it comes to evangelism and being used in worship to help communicate God’s humor as well as His Grace and Love.

But, I submit to you today that God can – and often does - use our children mightily to communicate His Humor as well as His Grace and Love.

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 1: Who amongst the adults, in attendance today, can ever forget the comedy television show hosted by Bill Cosby from 1998-2000 called, “Kids say the Darndest Things”?

a. As some of you may recall, Bill Cosby would also provide some of the humor in the show?

b. “The premise of the show lied in the fact that children are often guilty of saying some of the Most Embarrassing Things”.

c. And who amongst us, as parents today, can’t identify with that truth?

d. Well, I’m not sure if you’re aware of it but before Bill Cosby hosted the remake of the show; it was originally hosted by Art Linkletter.

e. One of the most memorable shows, hosted by Bill Cosby, aired one of Art linkletter’s shows of the past.

f. In this particular show, Mr. Linkletter was interviewing a young African American child who had Southern drawl. The child appeared to be about 5 years of age.

******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******

MOVE 2: When asked if he has a girlfriend the child responded, “Yes … I have three of them”.

a. When asked how old they were the child responded, “The only one that I know for sure how old she is 30 years old. But, I’m not sure how old the others are”.