It Is an Unexpected Pleasure for Me to Be Able to Preach to You This Morning

The Children Sermon Remember in Africa holding babies; chances are some of the babies had very little interaction with people with white faces. But time and Last week: What can we learn; aka dog sermon; well-received time again, we would take them and hold them, and they had no fear or Do it again, except change dogs to children. Apparently we can also apprehension about us just because we looked different... learn some life lessons from children… Jesus seemed to think so: When children are out in public with their parents, sometimes they see Matthew 18:2-3 Jesus called a little child to Him, and He placed the child somebody who appears different. Or maybe at some event and someone is among them, and said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like in a wheelchair, or some other physical trait. little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” They’re curious. They look, but they’re not judging. At least not until Mark 10:13-14 People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to mom or dad say, “Don’t stare; look away…” And little by little they are place His hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw taught that being different might not be a good thing. this, He was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, But it’s more than just conditioning people to be wary of strangers or people and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” who look different. Unfortunately we live in a time and place where so I picked out 3 lessons... many people want to focus on those differences and use them to divide… Need to love even if different... 1. Love and Accept Unconditionally. Luke 10:30-34 Jesus: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to We’re all different; the world is full of people who are in one way or Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and another different from others. But children don’t really care that people are beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.” Priest, Levite, different from each other in various ways. Samaritan Until a child is told to “Never talk to strangers!” they don’t really Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for know what a stranger is. by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Speaking of strangers, Jerry Clower used to tell a story about a Strangers can turn out to be wonderful and interesting people. Plus what is a very religious general store owner named Duvall Scott who friend before he/she is a friend but a stranger waiting to be a part of your always recited a Bible verse every time made a sale and put the life? money is the cash register... Children treat strangers much better... until they’re taught not to... 2. Learn How to Apologize and Forgive. Some experts say: our natural inclination is that of acceptance as opposed to I read about children at a parochial school where they were required to go non-acceptance. Children aren’t instinctively afraid of people they don’t into confessional and tell all their sins to a priest. Problem was that many of these young children often forgot their sins. So the priest suggested that know, and they’re often happy to interact with them. teachers have students make lists. The next week a child went and kneeled But somewhere in life a lot of us were taught to be wary of anyone we don’t down and unfolded his paper. Then he began, "I lied to my parents. I know. Which is why some people get in elevators and find it to be an disobeyed my mom. I fought with my brothers and..." There was a long awkward and uncomfortable experience. There other people maybe just a pause. Then a small angry voice said, "Hey, this isn't my list!" couple of feet or so away from you, but everyone pretends they’re all alone. We all have lists, and we all need to do some confessing from time to Somewhere in life lots of people get conditioned to make judgments about time. Not to a priest, but to each other... people simply because of their gender or race. I don’t think children are born with that; it develops only because they are taught to notice differences James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for and act accordingly. one another, that you may be healed. Back in the 1700s, there was a Prussian king known as Frederick the “Notice the beauty that you are and notice how far you have come. No Great. He was once touring a Berlin prison. The prisoners fell on their matter what your past looks like and no matter how scary the future may knees before him to proclaim their innocence -- except for one man, seem, if you choose to stop worrying and really focus on what is, you will who remained silent. Frederick called to him, "Why are you here?" realize that your worries were in vain.” "Armed robbery, Your Majesty," was the reply. "And are you guilty?" I know we are taught the value of goals, and at a certain point in life we "Yes indeed, Your Majesty, I deserve my punishment." ought to have some good and important goals. We ought to be Frederick then summoned the jailer and ordered him, "Release this concerned about the future so that we can properly prepare for it. guilty wretch at once. I will not have him kept in this prison where he But there’s a difference between planning for the future and worrying about will corrupt all the fine innocent people who occupy it." the future. In Luke 18, the proud Pharisee said, “God, I thank Thee that I am not like Research shows that an average person worries a lot. other people who struggle with shortcomings and sins.” On the other hand, 40% worry about things that will never happen the lowly tax-gatherer humbled himself and said, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” 30% worry about things in the past that can't be changed Only 8% worry about real problems that will actually be faced Kids punished but come back in just a moment to say I’m sorry... Young children don’t usually have great big goals as yet, and I don’t think Proverbs 28:13 “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but they spend much time worrying about it. They also don’t have many he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.” regrets from the past (not much to regret). What they DO have is right now. Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving They live mostly enjoying the present moment. And because of that, one another, as God in Christ forgave you. children are probably much happier than adults. They’re not worried about Children… they get upset and the next moment they forget about it. They the past or the future. They’re just living in the present. forgive and forget so easily. Remember the picture I showed last week of the man sitting on a bench I remember when I was a kid there was a family that lived one street over, and his dog was sitting beside him? The man was thinking about so and they had 3 boys about the same age as I was. Best friends, but once in a many different things that were apparently pretty important to him. while fuss and fight, but next day we were friends again. The dog, on the other hand, was thinking of that moment he was sitting Why? Because at one point we had decided to be friends, and bad days there enjoying the moment he was spending with his best friend. were just a part of being together a lot... Should we have goals? Yes. Should we spend all our time now worried Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, was reminded one about some other time? Should we miss out on the peace and joy we have day of a vicious deed that someone had done to her years before. But right now because we can’t stop thinking and worrying about another time? she acted as if she had never even heard of the incident. Sometimes on a day off work, I’ll decide to watch a couple of movies, "Don't you remember it?" her friend asked. "No," came Barton's reply, but end up seeing the first 10-15 minutes of 10-15 different movies. "I distinctly remember forgetting it." Jerry Seinfeld: difference between men and women: Women want to see what is on TV. Men want to know what ELSE is on TV. 3. Don’t Worry about Tomorrow Children live in the present moment. Someone once said: “Why worry about tomorrow when tomorrow is not They beautifully lose themselves in whatever it is they are doing. here yet? You are here, now, in this moment. Just open your eyes and really see what happens to you and all around you. A child’s mind does not have the clutter that adults have. There is not this inner battle of mental noise that a lot of us have. Children know how to be content in the present moment. They’re not all wrapped up in what they could/should be doing, but in what they ARE doing. They know that what they are doing right here and now is more than enough. Ruthie likes to jump Josiah and Eli like to do church and lead singing Micah like to come in my office and play with my hippopotamus (says cuter) And I’m pretty sure not a one of them is thinking much about tomorrow while they’re doing what they like to do. Why don’t children worry more about the future? Probably because they have a mom or dad who takes care of all those things. And if they’re in control, then there’s nothing to worry about. What about us? Don’t you wish you could be like children: not worried about tomorrow because you have someone else whose job it is to take care of all those things?!

GUESS WHAT? YOU DO!  Psalm 56:1-4  Proverbs 3:5-6 (we’re going to end with this) Trust and Obey (v1-2)