2. The Status of CHILDREN

4. What is the status of the Children in our Church
What is the status of the Children in our Church? What is the status of Children in your heart and mind?

5. 1. Children are the brightest reflection of God’s Glory

6. Ps 139:13 (NIV) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

7. Psalm 8:1 (MSG)
God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name.   2 Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;        toddlers shout the songs     That drown out enemy talk,        and silence atheist babble. 

8. 2. They are the most receptive to the Gospel

9. Mk 10:13 (NIV) People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

10. 3. They are TODAY’S Church and are pivotal to its future

11. 4. They teach us about God and encourage us to be more like Him

12. 5. They are an example of what it means to be a disciple in the Kingdom of God

13. Mt 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 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.

14. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

15. We need to “THINK CHILDREN!”
SO WHAT?
We need to “THINK CHILDREN!”
1. THINK CHILDREN or THINK LIKE CHILDREN when it comes to being a disciple in the Kingdom of God!

16. Secondly God wants us to constantly “THINK CHILDREN” and be doing whatever we can to disciple them and nurture them
a. You might feel led to Sponsor a Compassion Child?

17. b. We need to see Children as an integral part of our church
c. A special word to Parents: We need to disciple our Children in partnership with the local church

18. Ps 78:1 (NIV) O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old— 3 what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

19. 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. 8 They would not be like their forefathers—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him.