But, Then Jesus - week 1

Good work, young man. All right. Good morning.

Welcome to the house. My name is Greg. I'm one

of the pastors here. If we've never met, I would

love to meet you. I'll buy you a coffee, soda,

something. Especially if you want to talk about

Jesus. I like to talk about Jesus. But we can

talk about anything that is important to you.

Today we're kicking off a series that is called

But Then Jesus. And this is one of my favorite

ideas because life will be happening. A story

is going in one direction, but then Jesus. Now,

that exact phrase is not found in the Bible.

If you open up the New Testament and you search,

do you want to use chat CPT? Say, oh, does this

ever show up? You can go to Accordance or the

Logos Bible software. You're not going to find,

but then Jesus, those three words right next

to each other. Then Jesus and but Jesus are found

in the NLT, the New Living Translation, 215 times

throughout just the Gospels. And together, those

two phrases together in the same story or the

same paragraph are found between 25 and 30 times.

But then Jesus. Marissa shared during worship,

some of us have a but then Jesus moment. Something

is happening in but. but then Jesus. Y 'all over

here can't see it, but there's a sign up here

that says, but then Jesus. I've had it in my

office for the last seven years because it is

one of my favorite ideas. And even though some

of us already have, but then Jesus stories, maybe

some of us are waiting for our very first, but

then Jesus stories. I was actually at Starbucks

the other day, and one of the baristas there,

I was sitting at a table on our break, and I

heard she was singing, and she had a really nice

voice. And I said, oh, do you sing? And we were

at the tables next to her. She said, yeah, yeah,

yeah. I go, oh, do you? I said, oh, you know

I'm a pastor. She said, yeah, yeah. And I go,

oh, do you have any, like, you ever sung in a

church? And she said, you know what? I don't

really, I wish I had faith. So I just, you know,

it's just never, I've never felt, I've never

felt the need for that or the desire for that.

And in my head, I'm preparing for this sermon.

So in my head, I'm thinking, I pray that she

has her but then Jesus moment. So let's open

up the Bible and see one of these moments. We're

going to be in Luke 18. If you have a Bible,

it goes Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. So if you

see any of those, you know you're in the right

neighborhood. We're going to be in Luke chapter

Luke 18 · chapter mention

18. If you don't have one, you can download a

digital version or you can grab one of those

blue Bibles off of the tables and flip to Luke.

It's probably like 80 % towards the back in those.

And if you don't have one, you want one there,

you can take those blue Bibles home. Those are

free for you. OK, so we're going to be in Luke

Luke 18 · chapter mention

chapter 18, starting in verse 15. And we have

a tradition. Just giving the scripture our full

attention when we read it in the context of a

sermon. And so you can do that any way that makes

sense to you. But if you'd like to stand with

me, you're also welcome to do that. Luke 18,

starting in verse 15, says this. People were

bringing even infants to Jesus that he might

touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they

sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus

called for them and said, let the children come

to me and do not stop them. For it is to such

as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly,

I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom

of God as a little child will never enter it.

Let us pray. God of every tribe, every tongue,

every color, every age, every nation. We thank

you for the scriptures that we have them to consider.

They have persisted throughout the millennia.

And whatever you have for us to learn today,

I pray that it would stick, that it would make

our faith stronger as we become more like your

son, Jesus. Amen. Amen. Y 'all can have a seat.

Thank you. If you zoom out in this chapter, so

I mean, I just read you three verses right in

the middle. of a chapter, but if you zoom out,

you'll see that this little story about kids

is actually squeezed into an interesting spot.

See, Luke is what is called a synoptic gospel.

Anyone heard that word before? Synoptic gospel.

It's Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the three synoptic

gospels. They're called synoptic because they

are in sync in a lot of ways. They share a lot

of the same Bible verses. 97 % of the gospel

of Mark can be found either in Matthew or Luke.

So yes, in other words, Matthew and Luke just

copied and cheated off of Mark's homework. And

this story about kids and Jesus is found in all

three of the synoptic gospels. It started in

Mark, and then Matthew used it in his. But when

Luke came along, Luke decided to put it... in

a different spot. In Matthew and in Mark, this

story comes right after Jesus is talking about

divorce. And it makes sense. I'm going to talk

to you about your kids right after talking about

divorce because divorce impacts kids. The relationship

between partners and spouses can affect kids.

But Luke, he moves it to a different spot. He

bunches it together with some stories about who

is seen and who thinks. they should be seen.

So this is just your gentle Bible reminder that

not everything that you read in the Gospels happened

in the order that you're reading it. Okay? Why?

Because when someone like Luke is writing this

stuff down, he's not trying to tell a historically

accurate timeline events. He's trying to paint

the bigger picture about Jesus. And so for Luke,

what he's doing is, oh, here's the color that

I want to paint with. What stories about Jesus

are in that color that I can bunch together to

try and get the idea across? And the theme that

Luke continually works on throughout his gospel,

and especially in this chapter, is the theme

of how Jesus sees the outsider. Chapter 18 begins

with a parable about praying, but it's not actually

a parable about praying. Praying is just something

that he's saying, all right, let me give you

a lesson about praying. But this is what actually

happens. Jesus says that a widow is going to

an unjust judge over and over and over again,

trying to get justice. And eventually the judge

gives in. And Jesus says, if an unjust judge

can do the right thing, how much more will your

Father in heaven do what is right? Jesus uses

a story about praying and judges and justice

to show us who is worthy of being seen by God.

And then in verse 9. He tells a parable about

two people praying in public. But again, it's

not actually about praying in public. It's about

who wants to be seen when praying and who they

want to be seen by. The first person wants to

make sure that everyone sees just how great they

are. He says, God, I thank you that I am not

like other people, like the thieves, like the

adulterers, like... That tax collector over there.

And then says that the tax collector over there

prays and beating his chest. Jesus is the only

one that hears him. He prays quietly, God, be

merciful to me, a sinner. Jesus says that it's

the tax man that is seen. It is the tax man that

walks away justified and is seen. By God. And

then the parents bring their kids to Jesus. Actually,

in Matthew and Mark, it just says kids. But Luke

wants to emphasize the idea that these kids don't

have anything to offer you. And so he says, infants.

Looks like I want to make it perfectly obvious

that these kids have very little to offer. So

he says, they start bringing. They're infants.

Now, there's been this idea that gets kicked

around, and I understand why the kids were worthless

in first century. Well, they're not old enough.

It's not that they're worthless. It's that they

had no value when it came to being able to fight

in a rebellion. The disciples weren't interested

in Jesus giving time to children because in the

disciples' minds, they're thinking this is moving

towards rebellion. All right, he's talking about

kingdom now. This is exciting. That's the stuff

that we want. We want a new kingdom. We want

to overthrow the empire. Don't waste time with

little kids. They can't wield swords, Jesus.

But Jesus says, you have to find the kingdom

like a kid. And then verse 18. A rich young ruler

comes along and has everything that the disciples

are looking for. He's a landowner. He's wealthy.

He's the right age for fighting. As far as the

disciples are concerned, this guy is the cream

of the crop. Anyone is worthy of Jesus' time.

Worthy of being seen, it would be this guy. But

Jesus isn't looking at the outside. Jesus sees

someone that has never been on the outside. This

guy's never been an outsider. So Jesus says,

give up everything you have, sell it, and give

the money to the outsiders. And then come follow

me. And the scripture says, when he heard this,

he was sad for he was very rich. So Jesus turns

to his disciples and what happens next is says

that he predicts his own death. Not only to contrast

his own willingness to give everything when the

young ruler would not give anything, but to further

subvert for his disciples. that their desire

for rebellion was misplaced. But then Jesus.

But then Jesus. But then Jesus. Now, any of these

stories could have a sermon all by themselves.

We could have gone like, you know, all right,

we're going to have five weeks just about these

five things. But what I want to focus on, what

I want to go back to, is the story about the

kids. Why? Because in that story, it's not a

judge or pride or Pharisees or money that's getting

in the way of someone worthy of being seen being

seen. Who gets in the way between Jesus and the

kids? Yeah, the disciples. I'm a disciple. If

you follow Jesus and you believe in Jesus, you're

a disciple. You've probably heard the idea that

when you read a parable or a story in the scriptures

that you're supposed to put yourself in it and

go, who am I in this story today? Well, I'm a

disciple. So I put myself in their shoes, and

I ask myself the question, what makes us think

we are not just as likely to get in the way as

they were? What makes us think that we are not

just as likely to get between Jesus and kids

as they were? Because Jesus said, let the children

come to me and do not stop them. Kids belong

in the middle of everything. Kids belong in the

middle of everything. Us well -meaning adult

disciples should never be what gets in the way.

You guys okay if I brag on another church for

a minute? Is that acceptable inside of a church

where you talk about how awesome another church

was? Liam, put this up on the screen. I saw this

online this week. Bendorf Presbyterian Church

right across the river. This is their loud children

policy. They're playing into the idea that, oh,

this looks like a negative thing, but when you

read it, it's nothing but positive. So it gets

effective immediately. If a family is considering

visiting Bretton North Presbyterian Church and

they have a loud child, the following options

are available. Number one, please, Liam. The

family should bring the child. Number two, please,

Liam. The family should make sure they bring

the child. Number three. The family should ensure

the child comes to church. Number four, the family

is to see that the child is brought to church.

You guys are seeing the theme here? Number five,

please. The child is absolutely welcome. The

only thing that I would add is a quote that says,

and everyone in attendance will joyfully accept

your child no matter what. And everyone in attendance

will joyfully accept your child no matter what.

Because it says here at the bottom, if your child

makes noise, you are not bothering us. You are

blessing us. Jesus said, let them come to me.

They're not in the way. They don't need to wield

swords or give money. They are for you, the image.

of how to accept the kingdom of God. And so what

I thought I would do here just for a minute,

I'm going to walk around with this microphone,

and I want to ask some kids some questions. Okay?

I want to give the kids some attention today.

And you don't have to answer if you don't want

to, but I was wondering if some of you guys would

just tell all us adults, what is something you

like? about coming to church with everybody.

Anyone? You want to? I like seeing my friends.

Yeah. Archer? Anything you like? No? All right.

You'll tell us later if you want. Anyone over

here? Anyone? No? All right. I'll come back if

you want. Anyone? Sweetie, high five. Do you

have anything you like about church you want

to say on the microphone? Milo has something.

On the count of three, everyone answer it. How

do you have fun with other people? Ready? One,

two, three. You can ask them all individually

in a little bit if you want. What about anyone

at this table? You like something about church?

You just like it? Wallace, anything? I'm going

to go with Connor, and I'm going to say the people.

The people. Armstrong kids? Luca? Anything you

like about church? Nathan? What do you like?

What do you like about church? I like to come

to church and see everybody every Sunday. Love

it. Yep. Yep. Perfect. Perfect. Now. Oh, okay.

What do you like about church? are coming here?

Water, hot chocolate. Yeah, hot chocolate. Ooh,

hot chocolate, hot. Now, all the kids, this question

is for you kids. I'm going to put this down.

All the kids, answer this question at the same

time. Ready? Kids, look at me. Answer this question

at the same time. It's a yes or no question.

Can you get here to church without your parents?

No. Oh, oh. Oh, Nathan says yes. He's like, I

know how to use the buses, man. He's like, I

can call myself an Uber. It's all good. Now,

parents, I want you to dial into what I'm about

to say. If a kid is lucky from the time that

they can remember their lives around the age

of three, they get 15 years of Sundays until

they're on their own. 15 years. of Sundays until

they're on their own. That is 780 Sundays. If

you account for rest Sundays, for traveling,

for vacation, things like that, let's just round

it down to 750 Sundays between the ages of three

and the ages of 18. If they're here for an hour

and 15 minutes, that comes out to around 900

hours from the time they're three to 15. If that

same child goes to in -person school, a single

year of in -person school will be 1 ,000 hours.

One year of in -person school is more than a

lifetime of Sundays. Every hour matters. Every

Sunday. counts. Now, someone might say, well,

why does that matter? Jesus is at home. And of

course, Jesus is at home. Of course, a thousand

percent, Jesus is at home. Jesus is everywhere.

But you know who's not at home? Levon Williams

and Rosalie Stare. Let me tell you about that.

When I was a kid, I didn't always want to go

to church. In my church environment, my sister

and I were the only kids that didn't have their

mom and their dad at church because my dad wasn't

a Christian yet. Joey, Chris, Don, Nathan, Matthew,

Christian, Nick, and John, David, Andrea, Lindsay,

Lisa, Christine, Stephanie, and Keith, Peter,

Katie, Aubrey, Heidi, Don, Dan. I can go on.

They all had their mom and their dad at church

every Sunday. And so I didn't always want to

be there. I was different. I was an outsider.

The church that we were a part sometimes made

sure that my mom and my sister and I felt like

it. But she felt committed. She needed to have

us in a place that we would hear about. Jesus,

I did not want to always be there. I definitely

wasn't there for the sermons. I wasn't always

there for Jesus, but I was there for the hugs

because I had a standing appointment every Sunday,

second row, center aisle, old lady hugs. Rosalie

would wrap me up like I was one of her own. LaVon

would hug me like I was one of her grandkids.

I believe in Jesus now, in part, because those

hugs were my sanctuary. And LaVon was not in

my house. Rosalie was not in my yard. I needed

more than my mom. And our kids, my kids, My kids

need more than seeing me and Cindy believe in

Jesus at home. They need you. They need hugs

from Africa and from Jen and from Eric. They

need to see Kelsey and Alex the way that they

care for their kids do, the way that Leah cares

for sweetie. They need to see Daryl, a grandfather,

the way that he treats them. My kids, your kids.

We need the whole family. And between 3 and 18,

they only get 900 hours. And so this is my exhortation.

This is my encouragement. Bring your kids to

church. Call your friends that have kids and

say, even if you don't want to go to church,

I will bring your kids. Because there is something

about kids seeing a family that is kind to each

other, that loves each other, that will stick

with them for the rest of their lives. Amen?

Amen. Let's pray. Father God, we thank you for

the mystery that you sent your son. That the

whole world might know that they are loved. I

pray that your spirit talks to the little kid

inside of each of us today. Reminds the little

kid in each of us that we're loved. And then

reminds, if we're an adult, reminds the adult

part of us to not get in the way. But to make

the way. To set the path. to drive the car, to

open the door, to stretch your arms wide and

hug someone because you might be their sanctuary.

In the name of Jesus, amen.