Why Kids Are So Important

Why Kids Are So Important

Series: Kids of the Kingdom

May 4, 2014

Kids Message:

(Gather kids and ask 1 kid to put an easy puzzle together. Tell him/her that if they put it together under the time limit then they will get a prize. Say, “Go!” but give them only 5 seconds. Say, “Time UP!” Do this for 2-3 kids.)

Well, nobody won the prize. Sorry. How many of you don’t think that was fair? How many of you think I should have given you more time? Were you frustrated? angry? You know, there are lot of things in this world that we don’t have enough time for…

• Teacher wants you to get an assignment done…

• Parents don’t give you enough time playing video games, or pick up toys…

• Not enough time to eat before you have to go to school.

Those are all important, but what if the thing that doesn’t get enough time is YOU? For example…How does it make you feel when your Mom or your Dad tells you that they don’t have enough time to play with you? (ask for response)

Let me read to you a verse from Luke 18:15-17 in the bible…”People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 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. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

In this story, children were being brought to Jesus, but his helpers were saying to them…”Leave Jesus alone! He doesn’t have enough time for these little kids…He’s a busy man! So take them away!” Do you know what Jesus said when He heard them say that? He said, “NO!!! Let them come to me! It doesn’t matter how busy I am…I always have time for children…I love them…they matter very much to me”. I want you to remember that about Jesus. He always has time for you! If you are hurting, or crying, or lonely, or feeling like nobody loves you…Jesus ALWAYS has time for you! He’s God, so He’s never too busy for you to talk to Him and tell Him your problems. He’s never too busy to help you. Can you remember that? OK. Sorry for not giving you enough time to finish the puzzle, and even though none of you won the prize, I want to give it to you anyway.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed or not, but we’re making reaching kids for Jesus, a major emphasis here at Summit Church, and I just thought it would be a good idea to tell you why all the sudden we’re so into children’s ministry.

Tell story of how God spoke to me about kids being the keys to the kingdom…

I was frustrated and worn out when went on Sabbatical…no one being saved. Start…”Lord, give me the keys to this community” After done…Kind of like, “Oh, by the way, Kids”. That’s all He said! Burden got unbearable! Found myself crying for the kids as saw on street. I had to do something! So I started working that direction…crazy idea…pastor meeting Bev Daily… little did I know that they were praying for churches in this area!

Like said, so blessed that God is starting with our church! We will have the 1st Kids Club in Contra Costa County!!! I believe with all my heart that they are the key to reaching the lost, the unchurched especially in this area.

So this morning I want to give you 4 reasons why children are soooo important to Jesus according to this passage, and why they should be important to us…

1. Children are at the center of God’s HEART.

I have a confession to make…in most of my ministry, I was too busy to give the time and focus I needed to give to children. It wasn’t that I didn’t care about them. I love kids. I had four of my own, loved spending time with them, love my grandkids, love kids in our church. It’s just that I was too busy focusing on the needs of the adults to spend much time thinking about the needs of the kids in our church. I apologize for that! And I want to change it.

The Lord has convinced more than ever, how much He loves kids. They’re at the center of His heart! In fact, as we’re going to find out…they are the keys to the kingdom of God. You say, “Well, how can you be sure about that? Well, mostly by the reaction Jesus had to the disciples when He discovers that they’re “shooing” the kids off! The disciples thought Jesus was “too important, too busy” to be bothered with such trivia, and so they actually ‘rebuked’ the parents for trying to bring them to Him. The word ‘rebuke’ is a very strong word in the grk. “epitimao”. Literally it means they censured them, they reprimanded them. In the noun form it means “punishment.” They were really laying into these parents for having the audacity to think Jesus would want to bless their children!