Pentecost 17/Children’s Sunday                   Matt. 19:13                     9/7/08                                              

“God, Love The Children”

The words of my sermon title, “God, Love The Children” could be read as a
prayer, _______________ .  Actually, it would have been better to write it, “God: (colon) Love The Children”, as in God’s command to us to love them.

God doesn’t need for us to pray, asking Him to love children.  He loves them and each of us long before we’re born.  That love never waivers.

And, of course, we do love them.  We feel a very real emotional attachment to children.  We care for them, seeing to all their needs, and to many of their wants.  We see that children receive healthcare, supplemental food, safe housing, and education.

In addition, we as Christians, provide Christian education in the form of Sunday school so that can they learn about God’s love for them and to be good Christians.  It is appropriate that this day, the opening day for Sunday school, that we honor our children and those who work with them as teachers and aides.

By so doing, we can feel justifiably proud of our church.  We have a very good education program and truly dedicated teachers/staff. 

Using lesson materials from our denomination’s publishing house  and Bibles like the ones received today the children are taught the major stories and themes from salvation history.  They know very early in their lives that Jesus love them and died to save them.

Furthermore, they have opportunities to express their faith through crafts and even sometimes teachers provide snacks that instruct. 

Before the kids go down for classes Wylda and Art lead them through an opening worship.  As part of this they also teach songs the young people will later sing the fourth Sundays during the regular worship service, as our youth choir.

 Along with all this, Audrey faithfully introduces the children to serving God in our worship service by training them to be acolytes and crucifers.

This year our children will set an example for us in serving, carrying out what has been dubbed a “Year of Service.”  This was an inspiration of Joyce Adams in which the young people will perform some act of service to others each month.

I said “set an example for us” because while the women’s group and individual members of the congregation engage in ministries that reach beyond our congregation, sadly, we have no social ministry committee.  We do relatively little for people in need beyond our own church family. 

I am hoping that we will be inspired by what our children do.  I am hoping that they will lead us to turn our gaze outward to see the needs beyond our doors.  I am hoping that “God: Love The Children” will come to mean loving actions done by us for God’s children everywhere.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me...” and we do.  From birth when we start sending materials from our cradle roll program to their parents through the early teens when they are assigned a mentor to help them experience adult discipleship, we not only let the children, we do much to bring them to Jesus...and He does lay His hands on them in blessing.

This is a good time though to take stock of what we are doing and what we might do additionally.  It’s so easy to take children for granted and to become complacent about our children’s ministry.  Let’s really pay attention in the months ahead to hear what God is calling us to do for these young members of our church and for others as well.

It used to be said, “Children are the future of the church”.  More appropriately today, we say, “Children are the church.” 

Let’s show we believe this by our actions: 

Come early to church occasionally and visit in a Sunday school class.

Recognize and affirm individual youth for service they give.

Take note of children who are not in worship and call them to let them know they are wanted.

Consider what you might do to serve God by being in ministry to His children by teaching a class, offering to help with a project, starting a youth group or teen class, or inviting a child or youth to help in a ministry that you do here.

Most of all, pray for our children, if possible, by name.

As the sermon title says, “God: Love the Children”.  Let’s do it.  Amen