RESCUE the World One Child at a Time
Children’s Day
August, 25 2002 AM
As we look through the eyes of grace at the world around us, we see a desperate situation ahead for the Church, the Nation, our entire world.
We know that Christ is the Answer.
He has been the answer through out history.
He has been the answer to our nation.
He is the answer in our little world.
He is still the answer to all of those who are lost and dying without Him.
This morning we will focus on God’s plan to RESCUE Children from the grips of this evil world because they are the true victims of these sinful times.
Children need to be RESCUED by God working in Power through His people, The Church.
Galatians 1:1-5
Paul, an apostle--sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-- [2] and all the brothers with me,
To the churches in Galatia:
[3] Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, [4] who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, [5] to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Paul declares in this passage that Christ’s purpose for giving himself up for the remission of our sins was the beinning of the most important RESUCE mission that was ever embarked upon.
Today this mission continues through the Power of Christ’s saving grace and the deliberate continuation of this mission through the work of God’s Church.
As we become a part of this RESCUE mission, I would suggest a focus of this congregation to be on the children of our community. If we determined the greatest innocence of this evil age, I believe we would discover that our children and the children of our community are at the heart of that innocence. What better place to focus our RESCUE.
In this message I want to outline a 6 step plan for rescueing this world 1 child at a time. These 6 steps are outlined in an acrostic of the word RESCUE.
RECEIVE: Matthew 10:41-42
Matthew 10:41-42
Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. [42] And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
Receiving children into the church or into our live, is the first step. Before a child comes into our building they must be attracted and excited by what’s happening. Next they must feel welcomed and accepted, finally they must feel involved and a part of something. Our main focus in receiving children will be:
a. Go to where the children are.
(community outreach)
b. Get the word out through advertising.
(newspaper, flyers, word of mouth)
c. Make the facilities and programs attractive.
(decorate the rooms, plan exciting activities)
d. Make rooms and locations easy to find.
(put up signs and bulletin boards)
e. Make information easily available.
(print an attractive brochure)
f. Welcome the children personally.
(Set up a reception booth in the gym for visitors)
EXPOSE: Ephesians 5:13,14
Ephes. 5:13-14
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, [14] for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
Each child will be exposed to the truth of the gospel through all areas and activities related to the children’s ministry. We will teach them the word of God in the manner that best suits their style of learning. Our main focus in exposing the children to Christ will be:
a. Maintain a high standard of what is being taught in all classes.
b. Make sure that teaching time is relevant to the particular age group that is being taught.
c. Model what we teach to the children.
d. Make it exciting, fun, and interesting.
e. Make it stick.
f. Devotion time at all activities.
SURRENDER: Romans 10:9,10
Romans 10:9-10
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
We will encourage children to surrender themselves to Christ in everything they do. This is the area of the ministry that will bring the Child to a decision. It will be a decision on how to live, how to act, how to love others, how to serve God, or how to accept any of the truths of the gospel. However, the main goal in this area is to bring each child to the crucial moment of accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. Our main focus in bringing a child to surrender will be;
a. Prayer time at the end of each lesson, asking God to help them apply the lesson.
b. Altar call during children’s worship services to make a commitment to Christ.
c. Prayer at the end of activities to apply the truth taught during the devotion time.
d. Leading children to Christ one on one.
CHALLENGE: 1 Peter 2:2,3
1 Peter 2:2-3
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, [3] now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
We will challenge them to live out the truth of the gospel. This step takes the lesson beyond the classroom and into the home, school, and neighborhood. Parents and family members will be, the key in this area of ministry. The main focus on Challenging children will be:
a. Parental involvement in all aspects of the ministry.
b. Encouraging parents to take an interest in what their child is learning at Church. (Take home papers, communication, phone calls, visitation)
c. Family focused activities.
d. Take home assignments and projects.
UTILIZE: James 1:22-24
James 1:22-24
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. [23] Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror [24] and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
This is the mission of the ministry. We want to help the children discover their spiritual giftedness and put it to use for God’s glory and purposes. The main focus of Utilization is:
a. Children’s mission projects
b. Work projects.
c. Doing things for others in the community.
d. Discovering spiritual giftedness.
Putting feet to their faith.
ENLIST: Matthew 28:18-20
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Enlistment completes the circle of our purpose as a children’s ministry. This is where the children learn to receive other children into God’s family. The main Focus of enlistment is:
a. Encourage children to invite friends.
b. Have children and parents canvas their own neighborhoods.
c. Have outreach activities like Super Saturday Night, VBS, and Backyard Bible Clubs.
Note to all who browse this message:
The purpose of this message is to combine practical ideas with Biblical mandates. I hope you find it useful.
