[0.00 --> 14.78] One more time. Let's do that. Good morning, everyone. There you are. There you are. [16.12 --> 22.00] Well, as Pastor Sid mentioned last week, we're going to preach all summer a series called [22.00 --> 28.42] The Hard Sayings of Jesus. And what's behind this series is basically the recognition that [28.42 --> 34.14] if you read through just the gospel accounts of Jesus' ministry and Jesus' teaching, there are [34.14 --> 39.40] going to be many moments where you are moved and you see the beauty and the richness and the goodness [39.40 --> 45.52] of Jesus' teaching. But it's very likely there's going to be things that Jesus says that bother you, [46.06 --> 51.78] that ruffle your feathers. And you're thinking, like, why would He say that? And why would He say [51.78 --> 55.90] it like that? And when we come across these passages, and we all do in one way or another, [55.90 --> 60.16] the goal is not to ignore it. Sometimes that's what we do as Christians, like, hey, that's not [60.16 --> 65.12] in the Bible. Let's not talk about it. Or we want to race past it and not know what to do with it. We [65.12 --> 71.80] actually want to sit with and listen closely to the hard sayings of Jesus, recognizing that He is the [71.80 --> 77.94] smartest, wisest person. He is the living Word, and we want to listen to even the things that we find [77.94 --> 82.92] difficult. And so, because it's summer camp celebration, in the 9 a.m. service, we had a zillion [82.92 --> 88.94] kids up here, and it's very loud and wonderful. I picked a passage that's connected to children, [89.06 --> 93.64] where Jesus teaches on children. So, if you have your Bible, digital or physical, turn with me to [93.64 --> 97.82] Matthew chapter 18, and we're actually going to read verse 1 to 7, not 1 to 5. [97.82 --> 107.20] At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, [107.96 --> 114.66] Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? He called a little child whom He placed among them, [114.76 --> 122.64] and He said, Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter [122.64 --> 129.32] the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes a humble place, becoming like this child, is the [129.32 --> 136.14] greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. [137.22 --> 142.74] If anyone causes one of these little ones, those who believe in me, to stumble, it would be better [142.74 --> 147.74] for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were drowned in the depths of the sea. [147.74 --> 154.22] Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble. Such things must come, [154.30 --> 160.10] but woe to the person through whom they come. It's a heavy teaching, isn't it? [162.44 --> 167.60] Well, when you become a parent, it's almost inevitable that people will come up to you and [167.60 --> 173.20] give you advice, quotes about parenting or golden nuggets, whether you ask for them or not. [173.80 --> 177.14] Brittany and I are one of those couples, and over the years we've heard a lot of good wisdom [177.14 --> 181.42] and teachings and quotes, and I'm going to share just three things that we've heard over the course [181.42 --> 188.98] of our life as parents. The first one is this, parenting is like hiking. The walk can be grueling, [189.04 --> 193.56] but the view is beautiful. The second one, there's a little more dark humor for you. [194.46 --> 199.36] When you become a parent, you can finally understand why some animals eat their young. [200.88 --> 207.04] Told you, I warned you it was dark. And yet we get it, right? And finally, more seriously, [207.62 --> 213.44] children can be our greatest teachers if we have the humility to learn from their lessons. [214.06 --> 217.38] And that last one actually resonates a lot with the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 18. [218.68 --> 223.34] Now, Jesus never had his own biological children, but when we read the Gospels, [223.42 --> 230.94] we see regularly that as he's teaching, children are drawn to him. And I think it's worth pausing just to [230.94 --> 236.48] imagine and think about how this happens not just once, but on a regular occurrence as he teaches in [236.48 --> 242.54] crowds. There's something about him that draws the children. In fact, they're so drawn and magnetized [242.54 --> 247.72] to the person of Jesus that the disciples think they need to intervene by pushing the kids away. [247.82 --> 254.82] And Jesus rebukes his disciples saying, let the children come. The kingdom belongs to these children. [254.82 --> 264.86] Like, Jesus saw them. He loved them for who these children were. And he wanted to bless them. Like, that's Jesus. [265.00 --> 272.10] He really had a deep and beautiful view of and relationship with children. And I don't know about you, [272.18 --> 277.24] but as I think of my own life as a parent and all the rest, there's something in me that celebrates [277.24 --> 286.12] worshiping a king who truly loves children. And in this passage, Jesus gives some very strong teaching [286.12 --> 292.84] on children. The first half of Matthew 18, he says, first, we must become like them in vulnerability [292.84 --> 298.02] and more. I'll say that more in a minute. And the second half, he says, we must do everything in our [298.02 --> 303.70] power to enable them to flourish and to protect them. And we're going to look at both of these sides [303.70 --> 309.12] this morning of Matthew 18. Now, one piece of important context before we get into this passage [309.12 --> 313.70] that's helpful to note is that every culture has a view of and relationship to children. [313.82 --> 317.12] When you grow up in a society, there's just a way we understand the role in society, [317.44 --> 323.60] how we relate to kids. Canada's no exception. And you need to know that in the first century of Jesus' day, [324.58 --> 329.82] kids were not that important. It's actually a very tough life for kids. A lot of them, [329.82 --> 334.82] they were seen as property. They didn't often get named because they first wanted to make sure the [334.82 --> 339.60] kid would survive. And they didn't really have any social value until they could work and provide [339.60 --> 343.94] money for the family, or they could get married and have kids. Kids were usually seen, especially [343.94 --> 349.26] young kids, as property, not as people. And you have to keep that in mind because what Jesus says is [349.26 --> 355.44] punchy and strong in our context, but it is especially challenging and strong in His own. [355.44 --> 360.60] And so with that in mind, we'll dive into this passage, which starts with a question, [360.72 --> 364.06] a question that makes me smile. The disciples come up to Jesus, and what do they say to Him? [364.70 --> 369.94] Jesus, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? I just love that question. They've asked [369.94 --> 374.90] this in more than one place. And maybe they're expecting a story of some, like, spiritual hero [374.90 --> 380.88] from the Old Testament. Or maybe, this is my likely guess, they're trying to figure out how they [380.88 --> 385.42] climb to the top. They're like, okay, how do I get to the top of spiritual greatness? How do I [385.44 --> 390.12] become someone who's great in your rule and your kingdom? And Jesus just totally flips the script [390.12 --> 396.46] on them. What does He do? He draws their attention to a child. And by the way, I love how Matthew [396.46 --> 402.24] includes the detail that Jesus, like, planted the child in the audience. And He draws their attention [402.24 --> 405.86] to this child that He places there, and then He says these words. And by the way, if you've got a kid [405.86 --> 411.56] around you or a child around you, I want you to look at that child and hear me read these words again [411.56 --> 421.02] from Matthew 18. Truly, I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will [421.02 --> 426.62] never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of a child [426.62 --> 435.26] is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Isn't that a fascinating teaching? And maybe you've got some [435.26 --> 440.30] questions, you know, like, I will be honest with you as a parent, and I've had, I have four kids, [440.30 --> 445.50] and I remember when they were young. There have to be ways where Jesus is not thinking that we must [445.50 --> 450.44] become like children. Like, let's just be honest. I see one person nodding, like, this can't be true [450.44 --> 456.88] in every way. Kids can be painfully selfish. Tell me I'm wrong. They can be hard. It's hard for them to [456.88 --> 462.88] control their emotions. They can't be trusted with a great deal of responsibility. They break things. [463.54 --> 467.20] My home is like, there's so many broken artifacts around my house. [467.20 --> 473.06] So these are not the ways that Jesus is referring to children. In fact, in verse 4, he hints very [473.06 --> 479.76] directly at what he's getting at. He talks about the humble, lowly position of children. And commentators [479.76 --> 484.04] will all say that the way that Jesus is getting at becoming like children is in vulnerability, [485.32 --> 491.94] dependence, and trust. And if you are around kids, you've got kids, you get this. Kids are painfully [491.94 --> 500.98] vulnerable, incredibly trusting, to a fault, and very, very dependent. Maybe if you've got kids or [500.98 --> 505.62] you're around kids, you'll know that they'll walk into the most dangerous situation. And as long as [505.62 --> 510.70] you're somewhere nearby, how fitting to have a child cry right now. This is perfect. You can walk, [510.76 --> 514.52] the kid can walk in the most dangerous situation, but as long as you're around as a parent or the [514.52 --> 518.86] adult, they're like, I'm good. They're here. Even if you have no idea what you're doing, the kid is fine [518.86 --> 524.50] so long as they're near you, right? And there's so many times where you just see how vulnerable they [524.50 --> 529.70] are on their own, right? The risks they take without realizing it, all the things that they [529.70 --> 535.40] will do that could end their life if they don't have a parent intervening. But you also know how [535.40 --> 540.42] needy they are. Like if you're a parent, you're going to resonate with this one. Think of how many [540.42 --> 547.02] times in one day kids will ask for your help. One day. You sit down, mom, can you do this? [547.02 --> 551.70] Kids say, dad, can you do this? Like it's like endless. I mean, parents talking after the 9 a.m. [551.72 --> 556.66] service, this was a conversation. Like so many things. Help me brush my teeth. Help me get dressed. [557.00 --> 560.74] Help me get this food ready. Change my diaper. Or if they're really young, they just point. They're [560.74 --> 567.76] like, yeah, needs attention right here. Kids need help. And the punchline, don't miss this, [568.08 --> 572.18] Jesus draws attention probably to a little girl, let's say, in this group where he's teaching. [572.18 --> 579.08] And he says to the adults, that's what you need to be like in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. [580.46 --> 586.58] That's a hard teaching. Especially if you grow up in a Western society like ours that prizes [586.58 --> 592.88] and forms us, even in ways we don't realize, to become self-sufficient, self-dependent, [593.44 --> 598.06] independent people, right? The goal of most of our lives, whether it's told to us or not, [598.06 --> 603.16] it's like you need to take control of your life, make your own decisions, make your own leadership, [603.56 --> 607.74] make your own way, all the rest. And Jesus says, I want you to be like a child, [608.52 --> 614.02] dependent, vulnerable, and trusting. That's really hard for us. [615.58 --> 619.56] I read this quote a few months ago, but I'm coming back to it again this morning. It's from Tim Keller, [619.92 --> 624.42] and he writes in one of his books, he said, accepting Jesus requires humility [624.42 --> 632.14] humility because we will need to admit that we cannot save ourselves by our own means. [633.14 --> 639.18] And I just want to underscore how true that is. It takes humility to be part of the church. It [639.18 --> 644.30] takes humility to accept Jesus. And one of the things I've learned as I've been pastoring at Hope, [644.76 --> 648.24] as I've heard different testimonies on the stage or people coming to become Christians, [648.24 --> 656.74] their story always includes a season or a moment of God humbling them. You ever notice that? And [656.74 --> 660.16] maybe that's true of your life too. It's like God has a way of saying, you think you're something, [660.54 --> 664.80] you think you know how to run your life, now it's going to get tough. Now this is going to happen. [664.88 --> 668.42] I'm going to allow you to experience this, and it's going to humble you, and then you're going to be [668.42 --> 673.86] in the place where you're willing to say, I can't run my life. I don't know how to do this. [673.86 --> 681.66] And I'm willing to ask for help. I'm willing to ask for grace. I'm willing to allow Jesus to take [681.66 --> 688.60] control. It takes humility. And many of us, it takes years sometimes, we realize at some point [688.60 --> 695.16] or another that our looks, our finances, our job, our competency, the intelligence we have, [695.24 --> 701.34] the followers we have on social media, all the friends we have, none of that matters to get us [701.34 --> 708.92] into the kingdom of heaven. It is vulnerable, dependent trust. It's becoming like a child, [709.04 --> 716.66] and man is that hard. And I would add, not only does it take humility and vulnerability and trust [716.66 --> 722.10] to get into the kingdom, is what Jesus is saying, but as God takes hold of your life as you follow [722.10 --> 729.12] Jesus, the goal of God and His discipleship of our lives is to make us humble, to follow the way of [729.12 --> 735.64] Jesus. If we're following Jesus, the way He's going to lead us is the path of humility. Or as Pastor Sid [735.64 --> 739.82] has often said behind the pulpit, I think it might be one of his favorite passages, echoing the words [739.82 --> 745.70] of John in the Gospel of John chapter 3, where he says, as he looks at Jesus, he must become greater, [746.82 --> 755.08] I must become less. There's something about following Jesus that requires all of us to take a tight [755.08 --> 764.00] fist and slowly unclench it and allow Jesus to have control. Handing over the reins, asking for His help, [764.32 --> 770.06] trusting that He loves us and He leads us. That is the journey of a Christian. And by the way, if you're new [770.06 --> 776.66] to the faith or you're exploring the faith, this is where Jesus will take you. And guess what? It's a beautiful [776.66 --> 784.18] path. I mean, that vulnerability and that trust of a child is exactly what Jesus wants in us. And as we [784.18 --> 789.62] live with that dependence, as we live with that vulnerability, He shows up in provision, He shows [789.62 --> 797.66] up as a heavenly Father, and He leads us in the way of life. That's the first half of this passage, [798.18 --> 802.56] becoming like children. And now I want to turn to draw our attention to what I think are a very, [802.56 --> 808.58] great. This is a very hard teaching of Jesus, and that is in 6 and 7. Let me read it for us. [808.68 --> 815.16] If any one of these little ones, those who believe in me, if, sorry, if anyone causes these little ones, [815.24 --> 819.80] those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung [819.80 --> 826.76] around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things [826.76 --> 831.50] that cause people to stumble. Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come. [831.50 --> 835.68] Now, that is a hard teaching. Wouldn't you agree? It's kind of teaching you're like, wow, [835.80 --> 843.52] why did Jesus say that? That's a strong statement. And He wants us to be struck by it. He wants to grab [843.52 --> 849.06] our attention. He wants us to stop and take a good hard look at the children He's entrusted to us and [849.06 --> 854.88] ask, how are we raising them? How are we teaching them? How are we discipling them? How are we modeling [854.88 --> 863.08] life in Jesus in front of them? Now, the image of being drowned by a millstone is a severe image, [863.64 --> 868.08] and if you read any commentary, they'll all say that Jesus is speaking in what's called hyperbole. [868.58 --> 875.50] He's exaggerating to make His point as forcefully and strongly as He can. There are, as Jesus is [875.50 --> 881.28] putting it, consequences to messing with His children. There are consequences to abusing children. [881.28 --> 886.64] There are consequences to taking advantage of children for one's own gain. There are consequences [886.64 --> 895.20] to destroying their innocence because they belong to Jesus. And there is a day when every single one of us [895.20 --> 901.66] has to stand before Jesus Himself and give an account not just for our own lives, but our lives [901.66 --> 907.04] with the kids He entrusted us to, the people He put in front of us to disciple, to train, to teach, [907.04 --> 914.96] to love. We will have to give an account. And it's worth teasing out even what He means by causing to [914.96 --> 920.36] stumble. That can take many different shapes. Causing children to stumble can be abuse, physical, [920.60 --> 927.52] emotional, mental abuse, manipulation of kids for our own gain. It can be neglect, allowing them to be [927.52 --> 931.30] raised by someone other than you, allowing them to do their own thing on their devices and allow that [931.30 --> 936.68] be their formation rather than you. It could be wickedly behaving in front of them and never telling [936.68 --> 941.80] them the way that they should live. And this week in my reading, I realized that a lot of historical [941.80 --> 949.08] teachers on Matthew 18 have said, a key piece is also false teaching. And our words, we have to [949.08 --> 952.96] remember our words and our lifestyle have so much power. And when we tell a child, this is how you [952.96 --> 958.30] should live, and that is not true, that is a very dangerous thing. Or when we withhold from them the [958.30 --> 963.32] right way to live, that is also a very dangerous thing. Our words and our influence have tremendous [963.32 --> 969.44] power over our children. And I learned in my reading this week that in the Jewish time of [969.44 --> 975.74] Jesus' day here, that one of the worst sins in the Jewish mentality was not just sin you committed, [975.86 --> 983.00] but it was enticing another person to sin, causing another person to stumble, being the temptation for [983.00 --> 988.16] another person, having sort of a responsibility in the downfall of another person, particularly [988.16 --> 997.72] those who are vulnerable. And now I want to pause and just recognize that most parents, as we hear [997.72 --> 1002.80] this, we feel that weight, right? We all know as parents that we fail our kids in one way or another. [1002.92 --> 1008.04] We all know that we've inherited generational sin, and we often transfer that down to our children, [1008.14 --> 1011.70] whether we see it or not. And often when we see it, it's too late, and our kids are grown up, and [1011.70 --> 1015.46] they have all the same dysfunction that we have. Anyone else had that? Where you're like, [1015.46 --> 1018.64] I'm never going to do this. And then you do it. You're like, how did I do that? These are my kids. [1018.66 --> 1023.88] I thought I knew better. But let me emphasize what Jesus Himself emphasizes in His ministry, [1024.60 --> 1030.32] that there is grace that is abundant for our sin. And it is never too late to repent of sin [1030.32 --> 1034.48] towards our kids. It's never too late to say those powerful words to our kids, which is, [1034.88 --> 1039.52] I'm so sorry. Will you forgive me? Whether they're still young or they've grown up and hold that [1039.52 --> 1043.86] resentment towards you for the way you parented. It's never too late to ask for that grace [1043.86 --> 1048.86] and to receive it both from our Heavenly Father, who has done all the work through Jesus Christ, [1049.04 --> 1054.14] and to ask that grace from those who we've hurt in one way or another as we are adults. [1056.22 --> 1062.52] Jesus intends for us to feel the weight of that passage, to recognize that these little people, [1062.66 --> 1068.68] even in our church this morning, are a gift He places under our care, and it is our task [1068.68 --> 1075.18] to care for them, to train them, to love them so that they know the good way of Christ. [1075.68 --> 1080.68] That's a heavy responsibility, not to be taken lightly, not to be done flippantly. [1083.50 --> 1088.04] And now, between these two verses, maybe you notice this, there's the beginning of this passage [1088.04 --> 1092.28] where Jesus says, you must become like a child to enter the kingdom. He says, you must do everything [1092.28 --> 1096.26] in your power to protect and care for these children. Right smack dab in the middle of these [1096.26 --> 1101.92] two passages is verse 5, which has been just drawing my attention all week, and I'll read it for us. [1102.24 --> 1112.26] Jesus says, and whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Isn't that such an intriguing [1112.26 --> 1119.82] little line? Anyone who welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Now, there's a number of people [1119.82 --> 1124.04] who, like, illustrate this in different ways, but the main point of what Jesus is saying is, [1124.36 --> 1131.48] He identifies with our children. If you go forward seven verses, you'll see that Jesus identifies [1131.48 --> 1136.26] with the person in prison, with the lowly, with the poor who need care and help, and now we see [1136.26 --> 1142.06] in this passage He says, I identify with your vulnerable children, and when you welcome them, [1142.06 --> 1151.62] you welcome me. So now as we hold this passage, the one that invites us to become like children, [1152.08 --> 1157.08] to protect and love children, and then to receive and welcome children, what is it that Jesus Christ, [1157.40 --> 1164.36] the teacher of this passage, wants to give us as we listen as the church today, 21st century Canada? [1165.00 --> 1169.66] Let me suggest just a few things that have been weighing on me and working around in my heart as [1169.66 --> 1176.74] I listen to this passage. The first thing that hits me is just what a heavy responsibility we have [1176.74 --> 1184.86] as a church. God has entrusted a lot of children into our care. You know, just a few stats to share [1184.86 --> 1191.96] with you. Last I checked in our church between both services, we have 80 children under the age of eight. [1192.54 --> 1197.08] Did you hear that? 80 children under the age of eight. I'm aware that there's a few more on the way. [1197.08 --> 1204.28] That's a lot of kids. Just this year alone, with Tot Romp and Storytime, two of our children's [1204.28 --> 1212.04] ministries in our community, we had 315 children this year participate in our ministries who are not [1212.04 --> 1217.00] part of our church but getting to know us through these ministries. In the last two weeks, we had well [1217.00 --> 1222.70] over 100 kids from our community participate in our summer camp. That is a lot of children [1222.70 --> 1234.60] that God places under our care. This is a big deal. And interestingly, earlier this year, as our [1234.60 --> 1237.84] leaders were talking about sort of where we want to take the church in the next number of years, [1238.32 --> 1243.38] two people pointed out there's a natural skill that every church has, a natural strength. And one of the [1243.38 --> 1249.34] natural skills our church has is caring for children. It always seems to be the case that we have the [1249.34 --> 1253.86] volunteers we need, the help we need, new ministries often emerging organically that care for and [1253.86 --> 1258.34] enfold children. And we praise the Lord for that. It's a natural gift of our church. It's sort of a [1258.34 --> 1264.38] muscle we flex easily, and it blesses our neighborhood. Think of just all some of the [1264.38 --> 1268.22] ways that we do that. We do it through Tot Romp and Storytime, which are drop-in ministries for our [1268.22 --> 1273.50] community. We also do it through summer camp, which we celebrated today, and through our cornerstone [1273.50 --> 1279.24] ministry where kids are upstairs every Sunday. It also includes things like fostering and adoption, [1279.24 --> 1283.64] and there's a number of families in our church that care for kids whose parents are going through [1283.64 --> 1289.04] a tough time or have adopted children who needed a home and made space in their own home and family. [1289.84 --> 1293.56] This is also, by the way, why this year we've partnered with what's called Safe Families BC. [1294.36 --> 1297.74] That is a ministry where people in our church, even now, they come alongside families in our community [1297.74 --> 1302.36] whose parents might be going through crisis, mom and dad are struggling, and we help the kids, [1302.44 --> 1306.10] we help the family so the parents can get healthy, and then we reunite the family at the end. [1306.10 --> 1311.70] But this is just another way we're trying to serve and care for families. And here again now, [1311.70 --> 1320.18] Jesus saying, whenever you welcome one of these children in my name, you welcome me. [1322.02 --> 1325.86] And I think there's a lot of parents, a lot of grandparents, a lot of family members, [1325.86 --> 1331.70] a lot of people serving even at the daycare in our church. There's a lot of tired and difficult days, [1331.70 --> 1337.30] and hear the encouragement from Jesus himself, you welcome me, you receive me, [1337.30 --> 1339.54] as you receive these children in my name. [1341.78 --> 1345.78] But the way that that responsibility is real, and I think this is where I'm going to name a temptation, [1345.78 --> 1352.10] a temptation for Western people in general is that we just do our own thing and we let other people [1352.10 --> 1356.66] do their thing. We don't take responsibility for other people's kids. Sometimes we don't even take [1356.66 --> 1361.14] responsibility for our own kids, right? We give them devices, we keep them busy, we keep them [1361.14 --> 1366.10] distracted. Sometimes, I'll even get closer to home, we try to offload the responsibilities of [1366.10 --> 1370.34] parenting on this program, that program, this school, that school, rather than saying, hey, [1370.34 --> 1375.86] I'm the one that God has entrusted with this child. I am going to be the primary person that disciples, [1375.86 --> 1383.06] loves, teaches, and cares for this child. Taking that responsibility, being part of their story, [1383.06 --> 1386.90] and I just want to say, I'm not just speaking to parents here. I just think as a church of Jesus [1386.90 --> 1394.10] Christ, God entrusts all of us with children. And whenever we baptize a baby, we have everyone [1394.10 --> 1398.58] stand up and you know, I'll say, will you bless this family? Will you care for this family? As God [1398.58 --> 1402.66] gives you opportunity, and you say, yes, we will, God helping us. Those are important words. [1403.78 --> 1410.10] And maybe this is not true of every family, but I have a huge family. I always had relatives that I [1410.10 --> 1414.34] called uncle or aunt that were not my biological relatives. Is that true in any families here? [1414.34 --> 1418.58] You've got that uncle or aunt? Oh yeah, I see one over there. I had an Aunt Carol. I still don't even [1418.58 --> 1423.62] know how our family got to know Aunt Carol, but she was part of all the birthday parties. She was full [1423.62 --> 1428.66] of love. She was one of the safest people you could talk to about anything. And I praise the Lord for [1428.66 --> 1434.90] Aunt Carol. And you don't have to have kids or be biologically related to someone to be that adult in [1434.90 --> 1441.30] the lives of the children around you. And I'll share with you the findings from a book called [1441.30 --> 1445.46] Sticky Faith. If you're a parent or you're involved in the life of a kid, this is a great book. Ten years [1445.46 --> 1452.10] old by now. They did this exhaustive study on children as they believe, children of believers who sort of [1452.10 --> 1455.30] went through high school with all the challenges, went through universities with all the challenges, [1455.30 --> 1460.02] and ended with a sense of, I believe in Jesus and I want to follow him. They interviewed and studied [1460.02 --> 1464.34] those children. They asked like, what were the ingredients that led to what they called [1464.34 --> 1470.42] resilient faith? And you know what the most common thing that was discovered? That in those children's [1470.42 --> 1478.02] lives were five adults, not the parents, five non-parent adults who cared for them, loved them, [1478.02 --> 1483.14] listened to them, showed up, celebrated with them, and just made themselves available. [1484.34 --> 1489.78] And the practical pastor brain here is like, that's not very complicated. You get to show up to birthdays [1489.78 --> 1494.98] and celebrations and holidays. You get to just be there as a someone who loves and cares for and [1494.98 --> 1500.82] listens to. What a gift it would be. And I hope even now as you're listening, the Spirit might be [1500.82 --> 1505.86] just putting people on your mind, your heart, maybe as a sort of the adopted grandparent or aunt or uncle [1505.86 --> 1513.78] or friend or family member to come alongside kids and love them to life. Allow God to use you as one of those [1513.78 --> 1518.90] safe people who really do want to see that child flourish and grow up to use the gifts that God has [1518.90 --> 1524.50] given them and flourish as a follower of Jesus as they get older. I can speak on behalf of young parents [1524.50 --> 1530.10] who would love for people in our church to come alongside them in the journey of parenting their kids [1530.10 --> 1534.74] because most parents are struggling in one way or another and they want the help. [1534.74 --> 1542.50] Let me finish with a story that I heard a number of years ago. It's a story about a girl named Kendra. [1544.10 --> 1549.30] Kendra was born with so much of life stacked against her. She was born with more than one physical [1549.30 --> 1554.74] disability as well as a cognitive disability. The basics of life were hard for her. Speaking was [1554.74 --> 1558.58] difficult. Moving was difficult. There's a lot of assistance from the very beginning she needed from [1558.58 --> 1564.66] the medical community. And her educational life was not easy, right? The classroom was an exhausting [1564.66 --> 1569.54] place and that's not even to mention some of the complex social dynamics that come with being the [1569.54 --> 1576.26] student who needs a little more care in the classroom. In grade two, Kendra entered Miss Lowry's class [1577.14 --> 1582.98] and Miss Lowry was one of those teachers who just saw her. You know, we all have that teacher who just, [1582.98 --> 1588.42] they are so good at their job. And Miss Lowry from the very beginning who saw this girl, Kendra, [1588.42 --> 1595.14] come to her class, wanted to teach her and love her as best as she could. On one particular occasion, [1595.14 --> 1599.06] there was Valentine's Day. And this is a number of years ago. And so I think nowadays, at least in my [1599.06 --> 1603.62] kids' classrooms, everyone writes everyone a card. That's not the case here. People only wrote [1603.62 --> 1608.82] Valentine's cards to the person they liked, that boy or that girl. And Kendra, of course, did not receive [1608.82 --> 1615.06] many Valentine's cards. But she did receive a little card from Miss Lowry and it had one sentence [1615.06 --> 1621.38] written in it that changed her life. You know what that sentence was? All she wrote was this, [1621.38 --> 1632.90] I wish you were mine. True story. She held on to that Valentine's card for years. She first stuffed it [1632.90 --> 1637.22] into her little pencil case, then later it was in her backpack, and then later as an adult she kept that [1637.22 --> 1644.82] in her purse because those words changed her life. The words that represented a teacher who saw her [1644.82 --> 1651.62] and said, I'm going to welcome Kendra. She's going to receive the best care I can give her. She's [1651.62 --> 1656.50] going to read the fullness of my teaching and my love and the season I have with her. She is welcome [1657.14 --> 1665.54] with me. And let me ask, who are those people for you? It's hard for me to imagine many of us not having [1665.54 --> 1672.18] any children in our lives, any possible connections that we can grow and build and sustain. Who are the [1672.18 --> 1677.06] people where even as you listen now you're like, yes, this is the child, the grandchild, the family, [1677.06 --> 1683.46] the neighbor kid that I can invest in and be the kingdom influence for, that safe person that they [1683.46 --> 1695.54] see the love of Jesus in. Christ invites us to become like children and He warns us to protect children. [1695.54 --> 1705.46] And then He says, when you welcome them in my name, you welcome me. Would you join me in praying for our children? [1712.66 --> 1720.02] Father, we begin by thanking you for every child in this church family. We praise you because they are [1720.02 --> 1727.86] fearfully and wonderfully made. They are a gift from you, so thank you. And we pray that your blessing [1727.86 --> 1734.58] would rest on them, that you would give us everything we need from the energy to the strength to the [1734.58 --> 1741.46] perseverance to the love to care for them, to teach them, to model faithfulness before them. [1742.58 --> 1745.62] We pray, Lord, that you would protect them from the evil one, [1745.62 --> 1752.26] from all the temptation that entices them at every season of life. And we ask, Lord, that these children [1752.26 --> 1762.18] you've entrusted to us would thrive as children in your kingdom. Lord, finally, I ask that you would [1762.18 --> 1770.02] teach us to learn from our kids, that we would learn from their vulnerability, their humility, and their [1770.02 --> 1776.58] trust what greatness in your kingdom looks like. And we pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen. [1779.22 --> 1784.66] We're going to sing a loved song by children as our song of response, and you're never too old to sing [1784.66 --> 1787.46] This Little Light of Mine. So let's stand and sing it together. [1788.90 --> 1791.30] 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 5 says, [1791.30 --> 1792.98] You are all children.