Family Service - Children of the Kingdom

Well, let me welcome you all to our service this morning. This is a family service. It's

a follow-on from the Holiday Club, which was held during the last week. Isn't it fantastic

to see so many here today, so many children especially? I know you all enjoyed the Holiday

Club, and I'm going to ask you one thing, and that's, can you please make me one of

these T-shirts? And if you make me one of these T-shirts, I'll promise to wait it. Maybe

not necessarily in the post, but I'll wait it. It's great to have you all. It's wonderful

to have you. If you're here as a visitor, we're very pleased to have you with us as well.

Or if you're here as parents of the children for the club, we're delighted to have you with

us as well, and we trust that God will bless us in our time of worship here today. The

bulletin sheet's available for anyone to take a copy. Please just take a copy with you. I'll

just read one or two things from the bulletin sheet today that I want to highlight. Everyone's

welcome in the MA Hall after the service today to meet there for a cup of coffee, for juice,

whatever. Please do come. You can meet others in the hall there for a time. You'll be very

welcome to meet the children there as well. Tomorrow night, the session, the Kirk session,

the elders meet at seven o'clock. That'll be here at the Kenneth Street session room,

and there is important business for the session. Please do ensure an attendance on the part of the

elders especially. There will be no monthly prayer meeting tomorrow because of the Kirk session.

On Friday, Fridays at the Free, the next session of the Fridays at the Free, that'll be from 12 noon to

3 p.m. when the hall will be open for soups and teas and coffees and to give opportunity to people to

meet with friends and to read, to play board games, whatever, just to have a time together.

And there'll be a children's play area as well, as well as items from Dove's Corner Baby Bank.

These are actually free of charge, and you'll see the number there for Callum Murdoe if you want to get

in touch with him. And the services next Lord's Day are at the usual times. Now, as I said, the holiday

club was held through the week. There shall notice here on the holiday club, about the holiday club,

the Epic Explorers Holiday Club, which I know was very successful and was wonderful to have all the

children that attended the holiday club and all the supporters as well. And I want to take this

opportunity, first of all, to thank the children and to thank the parents who actually brought children

or grandparents, whoever they were. It's a wonderful privilege for us to have so many people coming

to the holiday club and indeed to the church as well, like today. So I want to thank the parents

and relatives for that, and the children themselves especially. I want to thank you for coming to the

club and making it such an enjoyable experience. But I want to thank also those who helped to lead

the club, Fiona and Scott, their leadership particularly, but there are others here today

as well who were integral to the success of the club. It's wonderful to have had your commitment

and your application. A lot of work went into the running of the club. Every successful club

has a lot of background work beforehand, and I know this is no exception. So thank you

sincerely for that. Well, we're going to begin our worship today, and we're going to begin

singing in Psalm 34, Psalm number 34. For those who are visitors, the blue Psalm books, if you have

a copy there, there are two sections to it. The first section is called Sing Psalms. The other section

is called the Scottish Psalter. So I'll give out the page numbers. You can find the Psalms from that.

Page 40 for Psalm 34. The tune is Jackson. We're singing verses 1 to 9. The practice is that we

stand for singings and remain seated for prayer. If you're able to stand, if not, don't worry about

it. But if you're able to stand, we'll stand for the singings. So Psalm 34, at all times I will bless

the Lord. I'll praise him with my voice. Because I glory in the Lord, let troubled souls rejoice. And so

on, verses 1 to 9 on page 40. Let's stand.

at all times I will bless the Lord. At all times I will bless the Lord. I'll praise him with my voice. Because I glory in the Lord, let troubled souls rejoice.

together let us praise the Lord. Exalt his name with me. I sought the Lord. His answer came from fear.

set me free. They look to him and shine with joy. They are not put to shame. The suffering man cried to the Lord. From him

deliverance came. The angel of the Lord. The angel of the Lord. Surrows and guards continually. All those who fear and honour him.

He sets his people free. Come to stand. The Lord is good. Who trusts in him is blessed.

O fear the Lord, you saints with need. You will not be open.

O bear the Lord.

You will not be oppressed.

O bear the Lord, you saints with need. You will not be oppressed.

The Lord, you saints with need, you will not be oppressed.

Now we're going to join together in prayer briefly.

Prayer mostly for the children, for the Sunday school, and following on from the club as well.

Let's call upon the Lord in prayer.

Our gracious and almighty God, as we come to gather here in this place of worship, we look to you for your blessing.

And we thank you for the privilege of being here, that we are here around your word, that we are here to hear the teaching of your word,

that we are here to receive your blessing as you are pleased, O Lord, in grace to bless us.

We pray your blessing today for the children.

As we come, Lord, we ask that your blessing will enhance their young lives,

and that you will bless them even from this tender early age,

so that they will grow up as your children, as your people in the world.

We ask your blessing to follow all that happened in the holiday club.

And we thank you, Lord, for all who attended.

We thank you for all who helped in different ways.

And we thank you for the way that not only was the teaching of your word and about yourself brought out,

we give thanks that they were able to do so in an enjoyable environment.

And we ask today that your blessing will follow the work of the club.

We pray, Lord, for every family, for every home represented here today.

We pray for us as children and as parents and grandparents and relatives,

Lord, that our prayer will always be that your blessing will follow us,

that you will keep us in the ways in which we seek to live for you in this world,

and that you will grant us, Lord, your blessing from day to day.

Hear us now, we pray, and pardon our sin for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

Amen.

Well, I read somewhere one time, I think it was actually on a car bumper sticker,

one of those stickers you get sometimes you see on cars,

and the sticker said,

Grandchildren are great.

I should have had them first.

And there's many a person here today will agree with that sentiment.

And grandchildren are great.

We've had grandchildren with us,

family in the family in the manse over the last month or so.

The last of them are now away, and we always miss them when they go.

But grandchildren are great.

All children are great and should give us enjoyment in helping them in life.

But I also read something this morning which said that God has no grandchildren.

God has no grandchildren.

Now, why was that said?

Why do you think that was said?

Well, because God has children, spiritual children, not just young people like yourselves.

All the old folks here today who trust in the Lord, who have come to accept Jesus,

they are God's children, God's family.

And God has no grandchildren, but He has children, many, many children.

And we become children of God by coming to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ,

by coming to accept Him, to receive Him,

to live in the way that God Himself sets out for us in the Bible, in His truth.

And as we do that, we are children of God in the world in which we live.

Spiritually, God receives us, makes us His children.

In other words, the Bible has a word for that.

We use it in other senses as well.

It's the word adoption.

God takes us and makes us His children when we come to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ

and receive in Him and believe in Him and follow Him.

And we are always welcomed by God when we come to receive Jesus.

We're going to be saying the Lord's Prayer in a few moments.

And as you know, the Lord's Prayer begins with the words,

Our Father.

So we come to know God as our Father when we come to Him through Jesus

and when we come by accepting what Jesus has done on the cross

and accepting Him as our Savior in this world.

That's when we come to know God as our Savior.

We're not saved because our mums or dads or grandparents might be saved and might be Christians.

We don't become Christians.

We don't become followers of Jesus just because maybe our parents are doing that.

Sometimes you find that that's always the case with royal children.

You know that when children are born into the royal family,

they become royal children because their parents are royal.

Princes or even the king.

But it's not like that with Christians.

We need to become children of God for ourselves.

It doesn't actually happen to us just because our fathers, mothers, grandparents are actually children of God.

And when we become children of God, we show that we are children of God.

How do you think we show that we are children of God?

Well, we show we are children of God by living the kind of life that Jesus expects of us,

that God tells us about in the Bible.

The kind of life that honors Him, that trusts in Him, that follows Him,

that wants to tell other people about Him.

That's what children of God do.

And you've been learning in the Holiday Club over this past week about Jesus Himself in the Gospel of Mark,

that He's the Son of God, that He came into the world to die,

and He died the death of the cross, and then He rose again from the dead.

And these are the things that we want to make known to the world around us as we live as children of God.

So our lives should be different to others who don't want to know about Jesus,

and we have to lovingly and patiently tell them about Jesus and why He is important to us.

So children of God, and from a youngest age, as we'll see in the sermon today,

which is about the children of the kingdom,

we actually want to become children of God from our very earliest days.

We don't want to leave it until we're older.

God receives children, young children like yourselves.

So now we're going to say the Lord's Prayer together.

Let's just say the Lord's Prayer.

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

Amen.

I'm going to sing again, and it's wonderful to hear all these children's voices singing today.

I know you learned some songs during the holiday club,

and we'll hear some of these in the hall afterwards.

You'll be singing some of them there, I think.

So we're singing Psalm 25, the first version.

That's on page 231.

The tune is Golden Hill.

We're singing these verses 4 to 9.

Show me Thy ways, O Lord.

Thy paths, O teach Thou me.

And do Thou lead me in Thy truth.

Therein my teacher be.

So that's Psalm 25, the first version.

And it's on page 231.

And from verse 4, down as far as verse 9.

Let's stand again to sing.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

God, Lord.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Let it my teacher be.

For thou art God that dost to me salvation send.

And I upon thee all the day expecting to attend.

Light and the mercies, Lord.

I pray thee to remember.

And lovingkindnesses for thee have been novel forever.

My sins and faults of you.

To thou, O Lord, forget.

After thy mercy, think on me.

And for thy goodness great.

God good and uprightness.

A whale sinner's show.

A meek in judgment he will guide.

And make his path to know.

Now we're going to read from the Bible, from the Word of God.

Our reading is in the Gospel of Mark.

I know you were going through the Gospel of Mark at the Holiday Club,

so we're following on with our reading from the Gospel of Mark today.

That's chapter 10, beginning at verse 13.

And if you're using church Bibles, it should be around page 1020.

Around 1020 or so in your Bible.

So the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, from verse 13.

Mark 10 · chapter mention

We'll read down as far as verse 31.

And they were bringing children to him, that's to Jesus,

that he might touch them.

And his disciples rebuked them.

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant,

and said to them,

Let the children come to me.

Do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Truly I say to you,

Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child

shall not enter it.

And he took them up in his arms and blessed them,

laying his hands on them.

And as he was setting out on his journey,

a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him,

Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

And Jesus said to him,

Why do you call me good?

No one is good except God alone.

You know the commandments.

Do not murder.

Do not commit adultery.

Do not steal.

Do not bear false witness.

Do not defraud.

Honor your father and mother.

And he said to him,

Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him,

and said to him,

You lack one thing.

Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor,

and you will have treasure in heaven.

And come, follow me.

Disheartened by the saying,

he went away sorrowful,

for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,

How difficult it is,

it will be for those who have wealth,

to enter the kingdom of God.

And the disciples were amazed at his words.

But Jesus said to them again,

Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God.

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle

than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.

And they were exceedingly astonished,

and said to him,

Who then can be saved?

Jesus looked at them and said,

With man it is impossible, but not with God.

For all things are possible with God.

Peter began to say to him,

See, we have left everything and followed you.

Jesus said,

Truly I say to you,

there is no one who has left house or brothers or sister

or mother or father or children or lands

for my sake and for the gospel

who will not receive a hundredfold.

Now in this time,

houses and brothers and sisters and mothers

and children and land

with persecutions

and in the age to come,

eternal life.

Many who are first will be last

and the last first.

And we pray that God will follow with this blessing

that reading of his own word.

Before we look back at this passage,

let's again call upon the Lord in prayer.

Let's pray.

O Lord, our God,

we thank you once again for your word.

You have sent your word to us

so that we might know you,

so that we might live by faith in you,

so that we might follow you

and be in our lives pleasing to you in all things.

We thank you, Lord,

that while we are so imperfect

and so sinful,

and as we confess our sins to you again today,

we give thanks for the perfection

that belongs to you as our God.

And we give thanks for the perfection of Jesus,

for the way that he came into this world

and took to himself our human nature

and lived a perfect human life.

We thank you for the perfection

of the work that he did,

the perfection of his life

as it goes on in heaven

and as he remembers us, O Lord.

So we give thanks for all the blessings

that we receive

by virtue of his death and resurrection.

Bless us here, Lord, today as a congregation.

We thank you for all the privileges that are ours.

We thank you, Lord,

as we reflect upon our lives,

that you have not marked up our iniquity against us,

that you have not dealt with us as we deserve,

that you have chosen, Lord,

to be gracious and merciful

and loving toward us.

And, Lord, we pray today

that in response to that grace

and to that patience

and loving kindness of God,

that we ourselves might come

in receiving the benefits of your kingdom,

that we might come to give our lives to you

and live lives that will be pleasing to you.

Remember us, Lord,

in all our circumstances in life.

We pray that you'd bless us

when we are not together here,

that you'd bless us in our homes,

in our family life,

that you'd bless us in our community,

and grant your blessing to us

in all that we do from day to day.

Whatever age, Lord, we are at today,

we pray that we may know

the benefit of trusting in you,

that we may know you as our God

and as our Savior,

that we may be glad

to tell of the wonderful works

of the Lord to others around us.

We pray, O Lord,

that your blessing today

will be with those who,

and in particular,

needs that we know of

in the congregation

and in the community we belong to.

Remember those especially

who have illness,

especially serious illness,

we pray for them.

We pray that your good hand

will be upon them

for their healing,

and, O Lord,

if it be that they will not be healed,

if it is your will

that it will be otherwise.

Give them your peace.

Give them in their hearts

to know the comfort

of believing and trusting in you.

And we ask, O Lord, too,

that you'd bless

all those today

who miss the passing,

miss loved ones

who have passed away.

We pray that your blessing

will be with all the families

who are mourning today

and who come, Lord,

to reflect upon

so much in life

that is now gone.

We pray that you bless them.

Your promise is

that those who mourn

will be comforted.

We know that this is also true

for us literally,

and we pray

that all mourning hearts today

will know your comfort

and will know the blessing

of your Holy Spirit,

even blessing such times

of trouble to us.

Grant us, Lord,

we pray that in our community

we will see

a further influence

of the gospel.

We thank you for

the gospel that we have today.

We pray that it may reach forth

into all our communities.

We pray that we may

know your blessing

from on high.

We pray that you would

turn us back

as a people

to yourself

and to your ways

to honor you,

to respect your ways,

to value your laws

and your gospel

and your promises.

We pray for all

who are in authority, Lord,

locally as well as nationally,

and we commend them

to you today.

You require of us

in your word

to pray for those

who are in authority,

for those who are in government,

locally and nationally.

We pray for such, Lord,

throughout the world

that as we have been

praying together

in the Lord's Prayer

that your kingdom come,

that your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

So we pray, Lord,

today that this will

increasingly be the case,

that many will be turned

from spiritual

and moral darkness

into the light

of your kingdom,

into the blessings

and the joy

and the peace

that comes from knowing you

and being your children

in this world.

Lord,

bless us then now,

we pray,

and continue to look after us

and to watch over us

and to keep us safe

in this life.

We pray this

with the pardon

of our sin

and our cleansing.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Well, we can turn back again

briefly to Mark chapter 10.

Mark 10 · chapter mention

Mark chapter 10,

Mark 10 · chapter mention

and we're looking at

verses 13 to 16 especially.

I'm going to divide

the sermon into two

just to make it

a bit easier, I think,

for the little ones

who are present with us.

So in the middle

of the sermon,

we'll have another singing

and come to the second part

of the sermon then.

Incidentally,

anyone who does need

to go out

and take the children out,

please feel free

to do that at any time.

It's not a problem.

We're glad to have

the children with us.

So if we read again

from Mark chapter 10

Mark 10 · chapter mention

at verse 13,

they were bringing

children to him

that he might touch them,

and the disciples

rebuked them.

But when Jesus saw it,

he was indignant,

that means he was very angry,

and said to them,

let the children

come to me.

Do not hinder them,

for to such belongs

the children,

the kingdom of God.

Now, you know

that something serious

is taking place.

I mean,

everything in the Bible

in a sense is serious,

but you know that something

is really serious

when you read about Jesus

and his ministry in the world,

the time that he was

in the world like this.

When you read

that he was indignant,

that he was very angry,

something obviously,

seriously,

is wrong.

What is it that made

Jesus so angry?

What made it,

made him so indignant?

It's a very strong word

that Mark uses here

in this word indignant.

It means he was indeed

very, very angry.

What was it that made him

so angry?

You might expect

Jesus never to have been angry,

but here he is.

He was angry on this occasion,

the other occasions as well.

And of course,

unlike us,

when Jesus is angry,

it doesn't mean

he was sinfully angry,

but it does mean

he was indignant

and very annoyed.

Well, what was it

that made him annoyed?

Well, we're told

what it was,

that people were bringing

children to him,

parents probably mostly,

bringing children to him

that he might touch them,

and that was to bless them,

touch them,

that he would convey

his blessing to them.

And his disciples

rebuked him.

That's why Jesus was angry.

His disciples didn't like this.

His disciples thought

this was wrong.

His disciples thought,

no, children shouldn't

be brought to Jesus.

It's just troubling him.

It's not something

that's appropriate

at this moment.

That's what they thought,

and that's why Jesus

was indignant

with his own disciples.

You might expect

that his own disciples

would have reacted

differently to children

being brought to Jesus

for his blessing

to be conveyed to them,

but obviously,

they didn't understand

things as they should,

and they were wrong

about this.

And Jesus,

in his indignity,

indignance,

indignant spirit,

said,

let the children

come to me

and don't hinder them.

Don't keep them back.

Don't put anything

in their way

to prevent them coming.

For to such belongs

the kingdom of God.

These children

were infants.

They were children

of an age

that you could pick up

and hold in your arms,

and so they were

very young children,

and this is why

Jesus was indignant,

because the disciples

thought this is not

appropriate for children

this age to come

to be brought to Jesus.

And you can see

from that

how important

children are

to the Lord.

How important

it is for Jesus

that children belong

to his kingdom

as well as adults.

That Jesus

is willing

to welcome children

as they are brought

to him.

And that's something

that we'll see

in a moment

as important

to ourselves

as adults,

that not only

do we bring children

to the Lord

and tell them

about the Lord,

but we try

and make sure

that there's nothing

in our lives

or anywhere else

that stops them

from coming to him.

So first of all,

let's look at

Christ's command.

Let the children

come to me.

It's a command

that he says

to the disciples.

And do not hinder them,

for to such belongs

the kingdom of God.

So here's his command.

Let the children

come and do not

hinder them.

And we'll look at that first

before we move on

to the rest of the passage.

Let them come to me.

And of course,

that's, as we said,

addressed to verse 13,

the disciples rebuking them.

This is how Jesus reacted.

This is how Jesus spoke

to the disciples.

Let them come to me.

It means

a positive action

on our part

to bring children

to the Lord,

to bring young people

to him.

It's more than just

hoping that they'll

make their own way

to the Lord,

that they'll one day

find out for themselves

how important Jesus is.

This is a positive command

to these disciples.

Let the children

come to me.

In other words,

encourage them

to come to me.

Make every effort

to make sure

that they come to me.

Not let them

find their own way.

Some people have that view,

don't they,

that children really,

even if they're brought

to church,

that's a good thing.

But let them grow up,

first of all.

Let them make up

their own minds

as to how important

Jesus is to them

or otherwise.

Well, that's not

what Jesus is saying.

Jesus is saying,

from the youngest days,

we teach them

about the Lord.

Parents are encouraged

to teach their children,

to direct their children

to come to the Lord.

That's what the holiday club

was about, after all.

The holiday club

was about Jesus,

about Jesus

in the Gospel of Mark,

this Gospel we're looking

at this passage from.

The holiday club

was about that,

about Jesus

and the importance

of Jesus,

Jesus as our Savior,

Jesus as the Son of God,

Jesus the perfect man,

the perfect Son of God

as well.

Everything to do

with Jesus

in the Gospel of Mark

is to do with

getting to know Him.

Who is He?

Why is He important?

Who is He important to?

He's important for all of us.

But here,

the disciples

are rebuked.

They're told off

by Jesus

and Jesus gives

this command,

let the children

come to Me.

That's what the holiday club

was about.

But,

it was about that

in an enjoyable environment.

I'm not saying,

and I'm not,

I'm hoping

that coming to church

is enjoyable as well

in the best sense

of the word.

because learning

about Jesus

should be enjoyable.

Why shouldn't it be

enjoyable

to learn about Jesus?

Maybe we think,

well,

some people do think

that religion

or things to do

with the Gospel,

with the Bible,

is pretty boring stuff.

It's not enjoyable.

You don't really want

to get into it too much.

You just keep

a kind of passing interest

in it.

But here is a passage

that tells us,

as many other passages

in the Bible tell us,

learning about Jesus

should be enjoyable.

It should be something

that we actually enjoy doing.

It should be a pleasure to us.

And I hope all the children,

I know they did,

they enjoyed the holiday club.

And it's important,

along with the teaching of Jesus,

to have enjoyable activities.

That's what childhood is for.

We live in a world

when sadly,

a lot of children

are not allowed

to be children.

Their childhood

is taken from them

because they're given teaching

that really belongs

to adulthood.

Teaching about relationships,

teaching about this,

that, and the other,

that really are not

suitable

for the age

at which they are

as children.

Children must learn

in an enjoyable environment.

not have anything

pressed upon them

that's not appropriate

to their own age.

That's what the gospel

is doing.

That's what we're seeking

to do with the holiday club

and even with church as well.

Because here is Jesus saying,

let the children

come to me,

but let them enjoy

finding out about me.

And I want to encourage you

as well.

Maybe you're here today

and perhaps you don't

usually go to church.

You're, as I said already,

most welcome to be here today

and any other time.

And I hope if it's

just coming today

because your children

were at the holiday club,

and especially if you don't

belong to any other church,

please think about

coming regularly

because it's so important

for our children

to be learning about Jesus

in an enjoyable way

and to have their lives

built around that great truth

of who Jesus is.

So please,

if you are in that category today,

please come back.

Please bring the children

to the Sunday school,

which I know is also enjoyable

for all those who come.

And many of the leaders here

at your holiday club

are also teachers

in the Sunday school.

So let them come to me.

And he says,

do not hinder them.

See, he added that as well.

He didn't just say,

let the children come to me.

He said,

do not hinder them.

What he meant by that was,

don't put anything in their way

that would be a block

or a barrier

or prevent them coming to me.

Now that's a big challenge for me,

and it's a big challenge

for you as adults as well,

whether we're parents

or grandparents or relatives

or even just people

in the congregation

who know these children,

know who they are,

and even if we don't,

what he's saying is,

don't put anything in their way.

Don't do anything

that will put them off

finding out about Jesus,

coming to trust in Jesus,

coming to know the Lord

for themselves.

And I have to apply that

to my own way of life.

You have to apply that

as an adult today

to your way of life.

It's a great challenge,

and it's a great privilege

to be able to bring

the teaching of the Bible

to our children

in our homes,

in our Sunday school,

in the holiday club,

wherever.

But I have to look

to my own life

and ask,

is there something

in my life today

that children will see,

and children I know

will see things

that perhaps we don't see

as adults very readily.

Is there something

in my life

that proves to be

a barrier to children

coming to know the Lord?

Is there something

that puts them off?

Is there something

about my way of life

that suggests

I'm not really serious

about trusting in Jesus?

Well, you and I

have got to look to that.

Is our life

a positive encouragement,

in other words,

for our children

to come to know the Lord?

Or in our conversation,

is the way we speak,

is that conducive

to encouraging our children

to come to know the Lord

and to trust in Him?

In our conversation,

in our language,

is there something there

that doesn't actually fit

with being Christians,

with being people

who are children of the Lord?

Is there something

that our children might see

in which they might say,

well, you know,

I don't think I want

to trust in the Bible

if that's really the way

it doesn't really affect people

very positively?

Let's look at our conversation,

our way of speaking.

Let's look at our way of life.

Let's look at our priorities.

Is my priority,

as I show that to my children

or grandchildren as they are now,

is that,

is what I,

what I,

what they see in my life,

is the priority given to God?

Am I as a grandparent

or as a parent yourselves,

are you,

am I,

showing our children

that God comes first?

That we put God,

that we put Jesus

top of the list

of what's important to us?

Because if we do that,

then our children

are going to see

that we're serious

about our faith,

that we're serious

about teaching them

the things of the Bible,

that we're serious

about teaching them

about God

and who He is

and why He's important.

So that's why He's saying,

not just let them come to me,

but do not hinder to them.

Do not hinder them.

Don't put anything

in their way.

In other words,

things like,

oh, children are too young

to come to know Jesus.

Just leave it until

they've grown up,

until they're able

to make up their own minds.

Well, you can,

you must never say

to your children

or to your,

to your grandchildren,

you're too young

to be a Christian.

You're too young

to come to Jesus.

You're too young

to come to know

what it is

to live a Christian life

that's pleasing to God.

Never say to them,

just wait until you have

your career fixed up

first of all.

Whether it's,

when you come to teenage years,

maybe that's something

that's in our mind.

What sort of career

are our children,

our young people

going to have,

going to develop?

And some people might think,

well, is it not better

just to let them

concentrate on that?

And then maybe think about

being somewhat serious

about their faith,

about God,

about Jesus afterwards.

Well, no.

No, because that's not

what God is giving

as a priority.

Because if God

is in the right place

in our thoughts,

in our hearts,

in our way of life,

that's the basis,

that's the foundation

on which we then

move on to everything else.

Whether it's our parenthood,

our life in the family,

our life in the world,

our career,

our choice of career,

whatever it is,

it has to be

firmly based,

stable foundation

that Jesus himself is.

There's the first thing then,

Christ's command,

let the children

come to me

and do not

hinder them.

So let's just sing

while we take a wee break

and move on to

the next part of it

after we've sung

some verses.

And again,

we're singing

from Psalm 34,

the same as we did before,

this time verses 10 to 14.

And the tune is

St. Stephen.

This is on page 40 again.

At verse 10,

Young lions may grow

weak and faint

and hunger for their food,

but those who wait

upon the Lord

will not lack any good.

Come here,

my children,

gather round

and listen to my word,

and I will help you

understand

how you may fear

the Lord.

And how wonderfully

the psalmist puts it there

very much in line

with what Jesus said

to the disciples.

He's not just encouraging

the children to come.

And here, of course,

he means

not just young children,

but others as well

who are children of God.

But I will help you

understand

how you may fear

the Lord,

how you may respect

the Lord.

That's a privilege

in life

to teach

younger children

how to fear the Lord.

So we'll sing

verses 10 to 14

to his praise.

We'll stand again

to sing.

Amen.

Young lions

may grow weak

and faint

and anger

for their food,

but those who wait

upon the Lord

will not look

like any good.

Come here,

my children,

gather round

and listen

to my word

and I will help you

understand

how you may fear

the Lord.

Does anyone

delight

and long

to see

good days

then keep

your tongue

from evil

see

your lips

from lying

ways

depart

and turn

and turn

from evil

paths

and practice

what is right

and practice

what is right

desire

to know

the way

of peace

pursue

and

with

your might

well let's turn back

for a short time again

to Mark chapter 14

Mark 14 · chapter mention

let the children

come to me

do not hinder them

for to such

belongs

the kingdom of God

truly I say to you

whoever does not

receive the kingdom

of God

like a child

shall not

enter it

and he took

them in his arms

and blessed

them

laying his hands

on them

why does Jesus

say here

as he continues

here he just

doesn't give a command

very often

you find the

commands of God

are accompanied

with an explanation

or some further

teaching along

with the commands

of God

and that's what

you find here

he said let them

come to me

do not hinder

them

but then he added

for to such

belongs

the kingdom

of God

whoever does not

receive the kingdom

like a child

shall not enter it

what did he mean

by that

what is it that

characterizes

children

especially those

young infants

that he took up

in his arms

to bless

why is he saying

whoever doesn't

receive the kingdom

like a child

shall not enter

what is it about

such children

of that age

that makes them

an image

if you like

of what it is

to enter

the kingdom

of God

well first of all

there's the element

of trust

good parenting

is the kind

of parenting

that conveys

to our children

that we are

worthy of

their trust

that they can

safely trust us

to show by our

consistency of life

that we are

actually genuine

in seeking the best

for them

even if sometimes

it means

that there's a rebuke

here and there

but trust

making

making it clear

to our children

that we are

trustworthy

that we can trust

that they can trust

in us

is so important

that of course

was especially

true of Jesus

he is the ultimate

in being trustworthy

everything about him

makes him worthy

of our trust

because there are

no lies

there's nothing

there that would

really raise

suspicion about him

that's how it is

with ourselves

and our children

as well

our grandchildren

we are to

live in such a way

that removes

every suspicion

so that the child

will come to

trust in us

and trust in our word

and trust us

they see us

living that kind

of life

now God is

the ultimate

parent

we read earlier

and prayed together

the Lord's Prayer

our Father

who is in heaven

and he is the ultimate

parent

because as you

scan the Bible

from beginning

to end

as God's word

where God is telling

us about himself

and about ourselves

you'll find

nothing there

to raise

suspicions

about God

everything there

shows that God

is worthy

of our trust

God is always

true to his word

God never says

something he doesn't

mean

God never takes

back what he says

of anything of his

promises

or anything at all

that he says to us

in his word

and you can see

from everything

there that

you have

no reason

to suspect

God

to suspect

God's goodness

or God's wisdom

or God's motives

you know

you'll often find

people saying

when something bad

happens in the world

in people's lives

where is God

how could God

have allowed

such a thing

to happen

and these questions

are not easy

to answer

and those of us

who preach the gospel

should not pretend

that they are easy

to answer

they're difficult

questions

they're things

that really

bring us

sometimes

a very acute

searching of mind

before we can try

and answer

such questions

but a lot of people

will say that

because they want

to dismiss God

out of their lives

altogether

they don't think

God is important

enough to really

put in any

important place

in their lives

but Jesus

who is the

revealer of God

the Son of God

everything you see

about Jesus

is revealing God

to us

what God is like

and so Jesus

when he's saying here

about trusting

in God

or entering

the kingdom

as a little child

is really like

trusting in the Lord

trusting his word

trusting that what he says

is true

but it also means

acceptance

because a child

accepts the word

of a trustworthy parent

sadly we live

in a world

when children

sometimes

are not

brought up

in the way

that we would like

sometimes children

are abused

children are

not treated properly

that's the kind

of world

we live in

but when you have

a loving parent

a parent who really

wants the best

for their children

well a child

comes to learn

acceptance

of that person's word

or acceptance

of things

from that parent

that the parent

offers to them

and is happy

to give them

as gifts

or whatever

in other words

when you give

a child

a gift

certainly children

of that young age

there's no

no haggling

no argument

no saying

I don't like that

it's

I'd rather something

better

you might find that

as they grow up

certainly

it's not always

like that is it

sometimes

when we do grow up

we think

well that's not

really what I'd like

I'd prefer something else

but what this is saying

to us is that

children

these infants

in arms

that Jesus took up

they don't actually

argue about

what their parents

are keen to give them

they don't argue

about the care

that parents

take of them

the gifts

that parents

are able to give them

they don't haggle

about that

they don't dispute that

they actually

receive

these gladly

and that's why

it says here

whoever does not

receive the kingdom

like a child

shall not enter it

see God

is not in the business

of selling

eternal life

he's not saying

this is yours

if you can actually

match up

your life

to it

he's not saying

this is yours

if you can do

something that makes

you worthy of it

in my sight

he says

this is yours

if you trust

my word

if you receive it

as I'm offering it

to you

God is saying

if you receive it

on my terms

and you don't

haggle over it

and you don't think

you could have done

better yourself

this is for you

this eternal life

this salvation

this is my gift

to you

that's why I sent

my son

into the world

to die the death

he died on the cross

God is genuine

and sincere

and wholehearted

in saying

here is my kingdom

here is

where I rule

here is where my throne

is situated

here is

all the benefits

of my kingdom

of my salvation

that I give

to those who trust

in me

trust in me

receive it

take me at my word

and so you accept

all that God

is offering us

today in the gospel

if you come to him

trusting his word

knowing that he's

genuine

because that's

the ultimate parent

isn't it

God

our father

so today

we accept

his pardon

don't we

come to express

our sin to him

we repent of our sin

we say

Lord

I know I've done wrong

I know my life

is not what it should be

please accept me

please receive me

and that's really

receiving the kingdom

receiving

the word of God

receiving the salvation

you receive

his righteousness

and his peace

and his joy

these are things

to be received

God is

serious

and honest

about

reaching out to us

in the gospel

with these

and of course

that challenges

our own sense

of worth

or pride

because it's

very difficult

for us

isn't it

to get into

our minds

that we don't

have to pay

anything

that we don't

have to contribute

anything

to our salvation

it hits your

sense of pride

that all of that

is taken away

that God

has done everything

in Christ already

that all we need

to do

and are required

to do

is receive

the salvation

for which

Jesus died

but our

natural minds

don't like that

because it

hits our pride

that we don't

contribute something

towards our salvation

that we don't

actually have to

give God

something

in order for him

then to receive us

in response

look at verse 17

as he was setting

out on his journey

a man ran up

and knelt before him

and asked him

good teacher

what must

I do

to inherit

eternal life

and here's a man

you see

he's walking up

towards the entrance

the door to salvation

in Jesus Christ

and here he is

he's walked right

past the door

to eternal life

because he's come

with these words

Lord

what must

I do

he's thinking of

his own contribution

something that's

required of him

to do

before God

will receive him

before he can enter

into eternal life

what must I do

to inherit eternal life

and God is really

saying to us today

it's not about

what you are able

to do

or not able to do

it's about what

Jesus has done

that's

really the entrance

to eternal life

and as you receive

that Jesus

and give over

your life to him

and trust in him

so you come

to enter the kingdom

like a little child

you receive it

because God is honest

because God is serious

because you are needy

of that salvation

that God himself

is actually extending

to you in the gospel

and if you're here today

and you're not yet a Christian

you're not yet saved

you've not yet come

to follow Jesus

seriously

wholeheartedly

and then Jesus

is saying to you

well here's your opportunity

today

Jesus is saying to you

here is my kingdom

here are all the riches

of my kingdom

here are all the riches

I died

to actually provide

for you

here are all the riches

I suffered

in order to bring

them to you

all you need to do

is receive them

make them yours

say yes Lord

this is what I need

thank you

help me to live

a life

of thankfulness

in the Psalms

we find

Psalm 116

the Psalmist saying

in regard to

the Lord's own

benefits to him

we quite often

sing these verses

and

the Psalmist

is really addressing

God in them

where he said to God

what shall I render

to the Lord

for all

this benefits

to me

what shall I render

to the Lord

what will I give

the Lord

in return

for all

his benefits

to me

how can I pay

him back

what he says

is

I will take

the cup

of salvation

and call upon

the name of the Lord

in other words

he's not saying

I will give

anything

he's saying

I will receive

I will take

the salvation

that God

is offering

to me

and so it is

for us today

as well

we come as

children

to trust

in Jesus

we come to

accept what

Jesus is offering

and he's offering

himself

as a saviour

to us today

and as we do

so

there's one

other element

I can mention

just briefly

in closing

and that's

the element

of joy

we don't

become

Christians

just

to enjoy

the experience

there's more

to it

than that

but joy

is very

firmly

a part

of the

Christian

life

you children

know what

it's like

to receive

a gift

and especially

if it's a gift

that you've

mentioned

you would like

to get

at Christmas

perhaps

your parents

might ask you

what would you

like as a

Christmas gift

not that

they'll necessarily

promise

yes you'll

get that

but

very often

that's what

they'll try

and get you

and if it's

something you've

asked for

at Christmas

time

and you open

your partial

you take the

wrapping off

on Christmas

morning

and you see

that's exactly

what you asked

for

and actually

it looks

far better

than it did

in the catalogue

or wherever

you saw a picture

of it

so you go

wow

that's awesome

or whatever

the current word

is today

wow

that's awesome

that's how it

should be

with Jesus

as well

for us

when we

receive the

gift that

God gives

us

his offering

to us

Jesus himself

the gift

and salvation

that comes

in him

today this

should be

and every day

this should be

our reaction

because this

is God's

grace

God's

forgiveness

God's

adoption

this is

really

heaven

in preparation

if you like

and we

should be

saying

wow

what

an amazing

gift

God has

given to me

in giving me

a saviour

in giving me

salvation

in giving me

to belong

to

the kingdom

of God

well may God

bless these words

to us today

we're going to

conclude our service

now singing

in Psalm 89

Psalm 89

and verses

15 to 18

that's page

345

Psalm 89

Psalms 89:15–18