Kids Under Construction An Episcopal church, in one of its publications, revealed some answers given to church school questions by children. They’re beautifully incorrect.
One answered, “Noah’s wife was Joan of Arc.” The fifth commandment: “The fifth commandment is to humor you father and mother.”One of my favorites: Lot’s wife? “Lots wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night.” They were studying church history, and one child said, “The pope lives in a vacuum.”One little girl said, “A Christian can have only one wife. This is called monotony.”
One grandmother was sharing pictures of her grandchildren with another grandmother. The two of them took turns bragging. Finally, one asked the other the ages of her grandchildren.
Pointing at her pictures she answered, “The doctor is two, and the lawyer is four.”
Kids always evoke emotions. We are passionate about them. Sometime we are frustrated beyond belief with their ideas and notions.
The Bible has some things to say about children.
“If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks.” Psalm 127:1
If someone could just produce a manual for raising or building kids we would all rush out to purchase it.
I don’t know anyone that feels like they understand parenting. You may think you know all about it today but just wait till you have children or if you already have them just wait until tomorrow when everything changes and they get a little older.
Children represent at least three things that I would like you to consider for just a few moments this morning. We have been celebrating children today. We are dedicating 23 babies in our two morning services. That is an incredible thing. Here are the three things that I want you to remember as we see all these kids today.
1. Kids are a Priority to our Heavenly Father
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Math. 19:14
Jesus made them a priority and so should we. Too often today our society is allowing children to raise themselves. We don’t have time for them. We are too busy to get involved.
The disciple’s sort of felt like this when parents started bringing their children to Jesus.
Are you taking time for kids?
Are you mentoring and serving as an example?
2. Kids are a Promise for the Future
“Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift, the fruit of the womb His generous legacy?” Psalm 127:3
SOMEDAY by Charles R. Swindoll (I adapted this somewhat to bring it up to date.)
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, things are going to be a lot different. The garage won't be full of bikes, electric train tracks on plywood, sawhorses surrounded by chunks of two-by-fours, nails, a hammer and saw, unfinished "experimental projects," and the rabbit cage. I'll be able to park both cars neatly in just the right places, and never again stumble over skateboards, a pile of papers (saved for the school fund drive), or the bag of rabbit food--now split and spilled.
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, the kitchen will be incredibly neat. The sink will be free of sticky dishes, the garbage disposal won't get choked on rubber bands or paper cups, the refrigerator won't be clogged with nine bottles of milk, and we won't lose the tops to jelly jars, catsup bottles, the peanut butter, the margarine, or the mustard. The water jar won't be put back empty, the ice trays won't be left out overnight, the blender won't stand for six hours coated with the remains of a midnight malt, and the honey will stay inside the container.
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, my lovely wife will actually have time to get dressed leisurely. A long, hot bath (without three panic interruptions), time to do her nails (even toenails if she pleases!) without answering a dozen questions and reviewing spelling words, having had her hair done that afternoon without trying to squeeze it in between racing a sick dog to the vet and a trip to the orthodontist with a kid in a bad mood because she lost her headgear.
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, the instrument called a "telephone" will actually be available. It won't look like it's growing from a teenager's ear. It will simply hang there...silently and amazingly available! It will be free of lipstick, human saliva, mayonnaise, corn chip crumbs, and toothpicks stuck in those little holes. We will be able to use the computer when ever want even during prime time. SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, I'll be able to see through the car windows. Fingerprints, tongue licks, sneaker footprints and dog tracks (nobody knows how) will be conspicuous by their absence. The back seat won't be a disaster area, we won't sit on jacks or crayons anymore, the tank will not always be somewhere between empty and fumes, and (glory to God!) I won't have to clean up dog messes another time.
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, we will return to normal conversations. You know, just plain American talk. "Gross" won't punctuate every sentence seven times. "Yuk!" will not be heard. "Hurry up, I gotta go!" will not accompany the banging of fists on the bathroom door. "It's my turn" won't call for a referee. And a magazine article will be read in full without interruption, then discussed at length without mom and dad having to hide in the attic to finish the conversation.
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, we won't run out of toilet tissue. My wife won't lose her keys. We won't forget to shut the refrigerator door. I won't have to dream up new ways of diverting attention from the gumball machine...or have to answer "Daddy, is it a sin that you're driving forty-seven in a thirty-mile-per-hour zone?"...or promise to kiss the rabbit goodnight...or wait up forever until they get home from dates...or have to take a number to get a word in at the supper table...or endure the pounding of a sub woofer just below the level of acute pain.
Yes, someday when the kids are grown, things are going to be a lot different. One by one they'll leave our nest, and the place will begin to resemble order and maybe even a touch of elegance. The clink of china and silver will be heard on occasion. The crackling of the fireplace will echo through the hallway. The phone will be strangely silent. The house will be quiet...and calm...and always clean...and empty...and we'll spend our time not looking forward to Someday but looking back to Yesterday...and thinking, "Maybe we can baby-sit the grandkids and get some life back in this place for a change!"Kids are your future.
3. Kids are a Pattern for our Faith
“Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as the little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the sea.” Math. 18:3-6
This certainly is a startling word from Jesus.
We will never be able to be an example to our children without faith. We must have faith in our Heavenly Father.
My son, my daughter, never forget the things I've taught you. If you want a long and satisfying life, closely follow my instructions. Never forget to be truthful and kind. Hold these virtues tightly. Write them deep within your heart. If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.
Don't be conceited, sure of your own wisdom. Instead, trust and reverence the Lord, then you will be given renewed health and vitality. PARENTS BRING THEIR CHILD, CARRIED BY THE FATHER.
INTRODUCTION:
It is our wonderful privilege today to participate in the public dedication of these children. Following the example of devout parents of the Bible, their parents have expressed their desire to present their children to the Lord. This dedication may not require the supreme sacrifice like that of Abraham who was called upon to offer his son on the altar, or that of Hannah who left her son Samuel to serve in the Temple with Eli. However, it is a sober commitment to responsibly care for that which God has given, and to be prepared to release him to His work when that time comes.
CHARGE TO PARENTS:
The primary responsibility for the care of your child, of course, rests on the parents, The Scriptures say,
"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
"Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
As you engage in this task with joy and peace, may you earnestly seek the Lord daily for His wisdom - for all the events that will occur, all the decisions to be made and all the needs to be met. For as James says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that gives to all men liberally."
May you also daily give thanks to God for your child and for the joy and love he brings to your home. And as he grows, may you earnestly strive to spend adequate time with him, developing in him a strong moral foundation for life and an awareness of the Lordship of Christ and His abiding presence.
CHARGE TO THE EXTENDED FAMILY:
Grandparents and extended family also have the benefit of the influence provided by his extended family, who are being asked to provide backup support for his spiritual training.
It is your responsibility to provide a caring, supportive group for this family. I ask you to be faithful in prayer for them, and support their efforts to establish a strong Christian home built on Christian principles. And I urge you to demonstrate a real interest in and concern for these children as they grow physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.
CHARGE TO THE CHURCH:
There is one other agent of influence represented here today -- the church. And at this time members of this congregation may stand to evidence the acceptance of their part of this responsibility. I charge you to do all that you can to provide and support a place of worship in this community where these children may hear the full counsel of God's Word. I urge you to be faithful in providing programs for instruction in discipleship, and to demonstrate affectionate kindness towards all of your little ones. And I charge you to covenant before God to set an example by your lives and to maintain an atmosphere in your church which shall inspire them to desire the Christian way of life.
COMMITMENTS:
And now, Parents, in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses,
Do you solemnly undertake to bring up your child in the fear and admonition of the Lord?
Do you promise early to seek to lead them to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and serve Him as his Lord?
Do you promise, as far as in you lies, to set before your son or daughter examples of consistent Godly living?
And now, on the authority of God's Holy Word, and as a minister in Christ's church, I dedicate these children and these families, to the Lord, and to His service, according to His will. PRAYER AND CLOSING COMMENT:
2004/05/23
Sermon Reources available here...
Content goes here
Content goes here
Content goes here
Content goes here
Content goes here
Content goes here
Content goes here
Sermon Reources available here...
Content goes here
Content goes here
Content goes here
Content goes here
Content goes here
Content goes here
Content goes here
Kids Under Construction An Episcopal church, in one of its publications, revealed some answers given to church school questions by children. They’re beautifully incorrect.
One answered, “Noah’s wife was Joan of Arc.” The fifth commandment: “The fifth commandment is to humor you father and mother.”One of my favorites: Lot’s wife? “Lots wife was a pillar of salt by day and a ball of fire by night.” They were studying church history, and one child said, “The pope lives in a vacuum.”One little girl said, “A Christian can have only one wife. This is called monotony.”
One grandmother was sharing pictures of her grandchildren with another grandmother. The two of them took turns bragging. Finally, one asked the other the ages of her grandchildren.
Pointing at her pictures she answered, “The doctor is two, and the lawyer is four.”
Kids always evoke emotions. We are passionate about them. Sometime we are frustrated beyond belief with their ideas and notions.
The Bible has some things to say about children.
“If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks.” Psalm 127:1
If someone could just produce a manual for raising or building kids we would all rush out to purchase it.
I don’t know anyone that feels like they understand parenting. You may think you know all about it today but just wait till you have children or if you already have them just wait until tomorrow when everything changes and they get a little older.
Children represent at least three things that I would like you to consider for just a few moments this morning. We have been celebrating children today. We are dedicating 23 babies in our two morning services. That is an incredible thing. Here are the three things that I want you to remember as we see all these kids today.
1. Kids are a Priority to our Heavenly Father
Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Math. 19:14
Jesus made them a priority and so should we. Too often today our society is allowing children to raise themselves. We don’t have time for them. We are too busy to get involved.
The disciple’s sort of felt like this when parents started bringing their children to Jesus.
Are you taking time for kids?
Are you mentoring and serving as an example?
2. Kids are a Promise for the Future
“Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift, the fruit of the womb His generous legacy?” Psalm 127:3
SOMEDAY by Charles R. Swindoll (I adapted this somewhat to bring it up to date.)
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, things are going to be a lot different. The garage won't be full of bikes, electric train tracks on plywood, sawhorses surrounded by chunks of two-by-fours, nails, a hammer and saw, unfinished "experimental projects," and the rabbit cage. I'll be able to park both cars neatly in just the right places, and never again stumble over skateboards, a pile of papers (saved for the school fund drive), or the bag of rabbit food--now split and spilled.
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, the kitchen will be incredibly neat. The sink will be free of sticky dishes, the garbage disposal won't get choked on rubber bands or paper cups, the refrigerator won't be clogged with nine bottles of milk, and we won't lose the tops to jelly jars, catsup bottles, the peanut butter, the margarine, or the mustard. The water jar won't be put back empty, the ice trays won't be left out overnight, the blender won't stand for six hours coated with the remains of a midnight malt, and the honey will stay inside the container.
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, my lovely wife will actually have time to get dressed leisurely. A long, hot bath (without three panic interruptions), time to do her nails (even toenails if she pleases!) without answering a dozen questions and reviewing spelling words, having had her hair done that afternoon without trying to squeeze it in between racing a sick dog to the vet and a trip to the orthodontist with a kid in a bad mood because she lost her headgear.
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, the instrument called a "telephone" will actually be available. It won't look like it's growing from a teenager's ear. It will simply hang there...silently and amazingly available! It will be free of lipstick, human saliva, mayonnaise, corn chip crumbs, and toothpicks stuck in those little holes. We will be able to use the computer when ever want even during prime time. SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, I'll be able to see through the car windows. Fingerprints, tongue licks, sneaker footprints and dog tracks (nobody knows how) will be conspicuous by their absence. The back seat won't be a disaster area, we won't sit on jacks or crayons anymore, the tank will not always be somewhere between empty and fumes, and (glory to God!) I won't have to clean up dog messes another time.
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, we will return to normal conversations. You know, just plain American talk. "Gross" won't punctuate every sentence seven times. "Yuk!" will not be heard. "Hurry up, I gotta go!" will not accompany the banging of fists on the bathroom door. "It's my turn" won't call for a referee. And a magazine article will be read in full without interruption, then discussed at length without mom and dad having to hide in the attic to finish the conversation.
SOMEDAY WHEN THE KIDS ARE GROWN, we won't run out of toilet tissue. My wife won't lose her keys. We won't forget to shut the refrigerator door. I won't have to dream up new ways of diverting attention from the gumball machine...or have to answer "Daddy, is it a sin that you're driving forty-seven in a thirty-mile-per-hour zone?"...or promise to kiss the rabbit goodnight...or wait up forever until they get home from dates...or have to take a number to get a word in at the supper table...or endure the pounding of a sub woofer just below the level of acute pain.
Yes, someday when the kids are grown, things are going to be a lot different. One by one they'll leave our nest, and the place will begin to resemble order and maybe even a touch of elegance. The clink of china and silver will be heard on occasion. The crackling of the fireplace will echo through the hallway. The phone will be strangely silent. The house will be quiet...and calm...and always clean...and empty...and we'll spend our time not looking forward to Someday but looking back to Yesterday...and thinking, "Maybe we can baby-sit the grandkids and get some life back in this place for a change!"Kids are your future.
3. Kids are a Pattern for our Faith
“Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as the little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the sea.” Math. 18:3-6
This certainly is a startling word from Jesus.
We will never be able to be an example to our children without faith. We must have faith in our Heavenly Father.
My son, my daughter, never forget the things I've taught you. If you want a long and satisfying life, closely follow my instructions. Never forget to be truthful and kind. Hold these virtues tightly. Write them deep within your heart. If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.
Don't be conceited, sure of your own wisdom. Instead, trust and reverence the Lord, then you will be given renewed health and vitality. PARENTS BRING THEIR CHILD, CARRIED BY THE FATHER.
INTRODUCTION:
It is our wonderful privilege today to participate in the public dedication of these children. Following the example of devout parents of the Bible, their parents have expressed their desire to present their children to the Lord. This dedication may not require the supreme sacrifice like that of Abraham who was called upon to offer his son on the altar, or that of Hannah who left her son Samuel to serve in the Temple with Eli. However, it is a sober commitment to responsibly care for that which God has given, and to be prepared to release him to His work when that time comes.
CHARGE TO PARENTS:
The primary responsibility for the care of your child, of course, rests on the parents, The Scriptures say,
"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
"Bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
"These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
As you engage in this task with joy and peace, may you earnestly seek the Lord daily for His wisdom - for all the events that will occur, all the decisions to be made and all the needs to be met. For as James says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that gives to all men liberally."
May you also daily give thanks to God for your child and for the joy and love he brings to your home. And as he grows, may you earnestly strive to spend adequate time with him, developing in him a strong moral foundation for life and an awareness of the Lordship of Christ and His abiding presence.
CHARGE TO THE EXTENDED FAMILY:
Grandparents and extended family also have the benefit of the influence provided by his extended family, who are being asked to provide backup support for his spiritual training.
It is your responsibility to provide a caring, supportive group for this family. I ask you to be faithful in prayer for them, and support their efforts to establish a strong Christian home built on Christian principles. And I urge you to demonstrate a real interest in and concern for these children as they grow physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.
CHARGE TO THE CHURCH:
There is one other agent of influence represented here today -- the church. And at this time members of this congregation may stand to evidence the acceptance of their part of this responsibility. I charge you to do all that you can to provide and support a place of worship in this community where these children may hear the full counsel of God's Word. I urge you to be faithful in providing programs for instruction in discipleship, and to demonstrate affectionate kindness towards all of your little ones. And I charge you to covenant before God to set an example by your lives and to maintain an atmosphere in your church which shall inspire them to desire the Christian way of life.
COMMITMENTS:
And now, Parents, in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses,
Do you solemnly undertake to bring up your child in the fear and admonition of the Lord?
Do you promise early to seek to lead them to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and serve Him as his Lord?
Do you promise, as far as in you lies, to set before your son or daughter examples of consistent Godly living?
And now, on the authority of God's Holy Word, and as a minister in Christ's church, I dedicate these children and these families, to the Lord, and to His service, according to His will. PRAYER AND CLOSING COMMENT:
An Episcopal church, in one of its publications, revealed some answers given to church school questions by children. They’re beautifully incorrect.