HAVE A CHILDLIKE FAITH (Outline)
June 25, 2023 – Pentecost 4 – MARK 10:13-16
INTRO.: The Lord Jesus encourages us to have a childlike faith. We remember the power of God’s living and active word. God’s word is so powerful that it can and does change our stony hearts into hearts of flesh. Hearts of flesh where the Word of God is planted. Takes root. Grows. Bears abundant fruit. “So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through the word of Christ” (ROMANS 10:17). Children hear long before they read. Faith DOES come by hearing!
HAVE A CHILDLIKE FAITH. I. Faith in Jesus alone. II. Blessed by Jesus’ love.
I. CHILDLIKE FAITH: FAITH IN JESUS ALONE
A. Verse 13a. Some people were bringing little children to Jesus so that he could touch them.
1. People heard about Jesus’ miracles. Jesus showed compassion for mankind.
2. These people bringing little children wanted the same for their little children.
B. Verse 13b. Disciples tried to stop the people. This was worldly thinking not godly thinking.
1. Verse 14a. Jesus was not happy with what the disciples were doing: stopping people.
2. The disciples were not doing what Jesus would do. Jesus took time for everyone.
C. Verse 14b. “Let the little children come to me!” This was Jesus’ positive rebuke of the disciples.
1. “Do not hinder them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
2. God’s kingdom belonged to these little children. God’s kingdom was in these little children.
3. False teachers taught God’s kingdom could be found here. Or there.
4. Jesus: God’s kingdom in believers’ hearts. God’s kingdom in hearts of little children. Faith.
D. Jesus own words state that little children have faith. They can believe. They do believe. Even at birth a child knows the mother’s voice. And the father’s voice. They have heard these voices in the womb. It is the sound of comfort. Security. Elizabeth was expecting a child in her old age. She was in her six month. Mary comes to visit her cousin Elizabeth. She tells her the good news that the Lord has chosen her to give birth to the Savior. Elizabeth: “In fact, just now, as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy!” (LUKE 1:44). The yet unborn child who heard and believed the good news was John. John the Baptizer. In faith he leaped for joy. The Savior was near.
E. Over and over the Lord God of Armies teaches about salvation. Eternal life. God does not limit salvation to people of certain ages. Again and again salvation comes to humanity by the grace of God. Through the love of the Lord Jesus. By faith worked in peoples’ hearts by the Holy Spirit. We are reminded to pray for the authorities. In this way we may lead peaceful lives. “God our Savior…wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 TIMOTHY 2:4). ALL people!
F. Apostles taught the same truth to those bothered by their sins. They spoke the truth in Jerusalem that the crowds were responsible for crucifying Jesus. They were cut to the heart. Wanted to know what to do to be saved. “Peter answered them, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call’” (ACTS 2:38, 39). Repentance and baptism meant for ALL. Promise made to ALL. Little children are most definitely included in all people. Little children believe. Little children also sin. Early on they do manipulate their parents. We are sinners from birth (PSALM 51). Scripture does not teach age of accountability. That is simply worldly thinking not godly teaching. Little children believe in Jesus.
HAVE A CHILDLIKE FAITH. Childlike faith believes in Jesus alone for eternal salvation.
II. CHILDLIKE FAITH: BLESSED BY JESUS’ LOVE
A. Some people brought little children to Jesus. They wanted him to touch them.
1. The disciples tried to stop the people. Jesus had other plans. Wanted people to be saved.
2. The kingdom of God belonged to little children. They had faith to believe in Jesus. Savior.
B. Verse 15. Jesus re-emphasized the truth that little children had faith. Are believers in Christ.
1. Without the faith of a little child no one would enter the eternal kingdom of God.
2. Jesus said this reinforce the truth that the kingdom of God belongs to little children
C. Verse 16. “And he (Jesus) took the little children in his arms…” Little children is a specific word.
1. The Greek used is for children from birth to the age of weaning. Or unable to be carried.
2. People brought little children = carried them. Jesus took in his arms = young, small children.
3. Jesus touched the children. Blessed them. Sent them on their way. God’s kingdom people.
D. Faith is a miraculous gift from God. When we hear the word of Christ our faith grows. Our soul is strengthened by grace. By Scripture. Little children are given that same blessing as a gift from the Holy Spirit. They hear the Word. They believe. As believers they praise the Lord. “From the lips of little children and nursing babies you have prepared praise because of your foes, to put a stop to the enemy and the avenger” (PSALM 8:2). On Palm Sunday the children shouted “Hosanna!” Only a believer can praise the Lord. The very miracle of birth silences the enemies of God. Many are trying to reinstate wholesale abortion on demand. When a child is born the murderous heart is often softened. People can see the hand of God in the precious life of a newborn child. Hearts are changed by the very lives of a child.
E. People were bringing children to be touched by Jesus. The Lord Jesus still touches us every day. We may not always notice. The Lord God of Armies is ready to save us from destruction. And does. With excitement Peter looked to Jesus for the ability to walk on water. But Peter saw the wind. Wind is not really visible. What happened is the Peter took his eyes off of Jesus. He began to sink. Peter did not drown. “Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him (Peter), and said to him, ’You of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (MATTHEW 14:31). Why did you look away? Doubt? It is much the same with each one of us. We look away from Jesus. We trust in ourselves. Or others. Soon troubles can begin to overwhelm us. We seem to be drowning. The Lord reaches out. Saves us from danger.
F. Even more importantly the Lord Jesus touches us in spiritual ways. Touches our very souls. We begin life as sinners at the moment of conception (Psalm 51:5). By the washing of water with the Word in baptism the Lord grabs us out of Satan’s kingdom. We are made members of God’s kingdom. Our sins are forgiven. Baptize ALL nations. Very visibly the Lord also touches our souls in the blessed sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?” (1 CORINTHIANS 10:16).
CONCL.: The Lord Jesus encourages us to have a childlike faith. Childlike faith totally trusts in Jesus, our Savior. Childlike faith has complete confidence in Christ alone. Little children believe in Jesus. Little children are blessed by Jesus. We have an advantage as members of God’s kingdom. “See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are! The world does not know us, because it did not know him” (1 JOHN 3:1). Our perfect, loving heavenly Father calls us his children. Continue to grow in and HAVE A CHILDLIKE FAITH. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
PENT. 4 readings: JEREMIAH 20:7-13; 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-8; MATTHEW 10:21-33; (PSALM 91)
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