Introduction
Children's Ministry is one of the ministries present in all Christian churches. Some churches call it Sunday School. Every Sunday, adults bring their kids to church and take them to the Kid's room, while they proceed to the Main Sunday Worship service. This is not bad at all, but sometimes, adults bring their kids to Kid's church to avoid distractions. Others, however, don't bring their children to church at all because they think church is only for adults. Often, we overlook these little ones and even the importance of the Children's Ministry. We don’t get involved in the Children's Ministry, maybe because we don’t fully understand that children also belong to the Kingdom of God.
In Mark 10:13-16, we will see how Jesus shows His disciples that children are part of God's Kingdom. We will also learn from Jesus how we can minister to children. As we explore three ways to minister to the children in our church, our hope is that everyone will participate in what God is doing in the hearts of the children we encounter, both inside and outside the church.
Let's bring our children to Jesus. (v.13)
In Mark 10:13, while Jesus was teaching to his disciples, people were bringing their kids to Jesus to lay his hands on them. For sure people who are there and also listening to Jesus, witnessed all the miracles he has done, one of those is when he heals a demon possessed boy. Because of that people wanted their children to Jesus. If us adults don’t bring our kids to Jesus and think that church is only for adults and see them as a distraction, maybe we have a narrow understanding about the Kingdom of God and children will not be able to experience the blessings from God the way we experienced it.
Let's not hinder children from coming to Jesus. (v.14-15)
Jesus was indignant when he saw his disciples hindering the kids coming to Jesus. Like the Pharisees, disciples needed to be reminded that everyone belongs to Jesus, even kids. We are like Pharisees who are self-righteous, if we think that we are the only ones who belong to Jesus and not these kids.
Let's help children experience Jesus. (v.16)
In Mark 10:16, Jesus himself demonstrated his love for the children. He took them in His arms and blessed them. Jesus did not exclude the children for them to experience the blessings from Him. Children inside and outside the church will only experience Jesus, if we who already experienced and are continuing to experience Him in our lives, will help them.
CONCLUSION:
We belong to Jesus, and so do the children. With all their limitations as a kid, they will be able to experience Jesus if we will help them by humbly ministering to them. We have our role to play in what God is doing in the lives of every child in our church. By doing those three ways, we will be able to help them grow in their faith and receive God's blessings.
DISCUSSION:
1. What comes first in your mind every time you see a child inside the church? Outside the church?
2. How did it affect you, after hearing that children are belong in the Kingdom of God
3. What do you think are the reasons some people in the church are not participating in Kids ministry?
4. What have you learned from the message?
5. What are your practical steps in helping the children experience Jesus?