What Christians can learn from Children

Establish the need: Can we learn from children?

 

Purpose: This session we will explore five things we can learn from children so that we can live out a life that glorify God more.

• Kids teach you conduct matters (Proverbs 20:11)
• Kids teach us humility matters (Matthew 18:2-6)
• Kids teach us about God’s love (Matthew 18:10)
• Kids teach us the importance of the kingdom of God (Mark 10:13-16)
• Kids teach us to praise God (Psalm 8:2 see Matthew 21:15-16)

 

Kids teach you conduct matters:

“It is by his deeds that a boy distinguishes himself, If his conduct is pure and right.” (Proverbs 20:11)

Proof

1. The Hebrew for “boy” is “Naar” that convey someone who is young.
2. Here we see here that character matters.
3. For the case of the youth, his deeds makes one set apart.
4. Likewise as Christians we know that God wants us to be “holy,” which means to be set apart: but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”” (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Practice

1. Are you able to notice how kids can be distinguished from others in their behavior, whether for good or bad? Likewise know that your behavior matters too!
2. Are you living your life in a way that people can see you are set apart for God and Christ? We should pursue holiness!

 

 

Kids teach us humility matters:

“And He called a child to Himself and set him among them, 3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever receives one such child in My name, receives Me; 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.” (Matthew 18:2-6)

Proof

1. In the context Jesus’ disciples asked him a question:: but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”” (1 Peter 1:15-16)
2. Jesus’ example was to bring up a child as an illustration in verse 3.
3. Next Jesus tells His disciples that people must change to be like children in verse 4; an obvious example of comparison to children are being made!
4. In what ways are we to be like children? Verse 4 indicate it is when someone “humble himself”
5. This was serious and important enough about the need to be humble that Jesus said in verse 4 that without humility “you will not enter the kingdom of heaven”
6. If one is humble will also humbly accept others; that include receiving children as verses 5-6 emphasize.

Practice

1. Do you see the importance of being humble? Jesus thought this was important!
2. Do you observe how children can be humble as an example for us? One way children show their humility is trusting and depending upon others.  Likewise we are to trust and depend on God.  How are you doing with this in your life?

 

 

Kids teach us about God’s love:

“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones; for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:10)

Proof

1. Jesus here is talking about kids when He said “little ones”
2. He tells His audience that in regards to children not to look down upon them: “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones” (Matthew 18:10a)
3. Why is that? The next clause begins with “for” which tells us why.
4. The reason is God has angels watching them which stresses the care and love God has for children.
5. We must realize here that God loves in general and loves children in particular in this passage.

Practice

1. Do you need to be reminded that God is a God of love? The Bible teaches so: John 3:16, etc.
2. Be reminded that when we see kids and love them that more than our love, God loves them more than we do!
3. Go ahead and look up and study and meditate on verses on God’s love. We need to know God loves us as a motivation to love Him back and also as motivation to obey God!

 

 

Kids teach us the importance of the kingdom of God:

“And they were bringing children to Him so that He would touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Allow the children to come to Me; do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” 16 And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.” (Mark 10:13-16)

Proof

1. In verse 13 people were bringing kids to Jesus to be blessed but the disciples of Jesus hindered that by rebuking the people doing so.
2. This action by Jesus provoked a strong reaction in Jesus in verse 14:
   1. There was anger: “He was indignant” (verse 14)
   2. Jesus also allow them permission for kids to come to Him: “Allow the children to come to Me; do not forbid them” (verse 14)
   3. Also Jesus gave the reason: “, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (verse 14)
3. Jesus emphasized the importance of a child like faith in verse 15.
4. So Jesus blesses the kids in verse 16.

Practice

1. May we see the importance of the Kingdom of God.
2. May we also see the importance of not hindering people from the Kingdom of God.
3. But also importantly may we see the importance of being used by God to lead others to the Kingdom of God. How are you doing in this area?

 

 

Kids teach us to praise God (Psalm 8:2 see Matthew 21:15-16)

Proof

1. God shows the importance of children even with the task of praising God: “From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have established strength Because of Your enemies, To do away with the enemy and the revengeful.” (Psalm 8:2)
2. This is reiterated by Jesus: “But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant, 16 and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus *said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?”” (Matthew 21:15-16)
   1. In the context Jesus faced opposition who didn’t want children to praising Jesus in verse 15.
   2. So Jesus quotes Psalm 8:2 against the religious leaders in verse 16.
   3. Also I think this suggests that Jesus is God in how Jesus used Psalm 8:2.

Practice

1. Do you see the importance of praising God?
2. Do you prioritize worship of God in your daily life?
3. For those with family, do you prioritize family worship with your spouse and children?