Well, let me welcome you all to our service this morning. This is a family service. It's
a follow-on from the Holiday Club, which was held during the last week. Isn't it fantastic
to see so many here today, so many children especially? I know you all enjoyed the Holiday
Club, and I'm going to ask you one thing, and that's, can you please make me one of
these T-shirts? And if you make me one of these T-shirts, I'll promise to wait it. Maybe
not necessarily in the post, but I'll wait it. It's great to have you all. It's wonderful
to have you. If you're here as a visitor, we're very pleased to have you with us as well.
Or if you're here as parents of the children for the club, we're delighted to have you with
us as well, and we trust that God will bless us in our time of worship here today. The
bulletin sheet's available for anyone to take a copy. Please just take a copy with you. I'll
just read one or two things from the bulletin sheet today that I want to highlight. Everyone's
welcome in the MA Hall after the service today to meet there for a cup of coffee, for juice,
whatever. Please do come. You can meet others in the hall there for a time. You'll be very
welcome to meet the children there as well. Tomorrow night, the session, the Kirk session,
the elders meet at seven o'clock. That'll be here at the Kenneth Street session room,
and there is important business for the session. Please do ensure an attendance on the part of the
elders especially. There will be no monthly prayer meeting tomorrow because of the Kirk session.
On Friday, Fridays at the Free, the next session of the Fridays at the Free, that'll be from 12 noon to
3 p.m. when the hall will be open for soups and teas and coffees and to give opportunity to people to
meet with friends and to read, to play board games, whatever, just to have a time together.
And there'll be a children's play area as well, as well as items from Dove's Corner Baby Bank.
These are actually free of charge, and you'll see the number there for Callum Murdoe if you want to get
in touch with him. And the services next Lord's Day are at the usual times. Now, as I said, the holiday
club was held through the week. There shall notice here on the holiday club, about the holiday club,
the Epic Explorers Holiday Club, which I know was very successful and was wonderful to have all the
children that attended the holiday club and all the supporters as well. And I want to take this
opportunity, first of all, to thank the children and to thank the parents who actually brought children
or grandparents, whoever they were. It's a wonderful privilege for us to have so many people coming
to the holiday club and indeed to the church as well, like today. So I want to thank the parents
and relatives for that, and the children themselves especially. I want to thank you for coming to the
club and making it such an enjoyable experience. But I want to thank also those who helped to lead
the club, Fiona and Scott, their leadership particularly, but there are others here today
as well who were integral to the success of the club. It's wonderful to have had your commitment
and your application. A lot of work went into the running of the club. Every successful club
has a lot of background work beforehand, and I know this is no exception. So thank you
sincerely for that. Well, we're going to begin our worship today, and we're going to begin
singing in Psalm 34, Psalm number 34. For those who are visitors, the blue Psalm books, if you have
a copy there, there are two sections to it. The first section is called Sing Psalms. The other section
is called the Scottish Psalter. So I'll give out the page numbers. You can find the Psalms from that.
Page 40 for Psalm 34. The tune is Jackson. We're singing verses 1 to 9. The practice is that we
stand for singings and remain seated for prayer. If you're able to stand, if not, don't worry about
it. But if you're able to stand, we'll stand for the singings. So Psalm 34, at all times I will bless
the Lord. I'll praise him with my voice. Because I glory in the Lord, let troubled souls rejoice. And so
on, verses 1 to 9 on page 40. Let's stand.
at all times I will bless the Lord. At all times I will bless the Lord. I'll praise him with my voice. Because I glory in the Lord, let troubled souls rejoice.
together let us praise the Lord. Exalt his name with me. I sought the Lord. His answer came from fear.
set me free. They look to him and shine with joy. They are not put to shame. The suffering man cried to the Lord. From him
deliverance came. The angel of the Lord. The angel of the Lord. Surrows and guards continually. All those who fear and honour him.
He sets his people free. Come to stand. The Lord is good. Who trusts in him is blessed.
O fear the Lord, you saints with need. You will not be open.
O bear the Lord.
You will not be oppressed.
O bear the Lord, you saints with need. You will not be oppressed.
The Lord, you saints with need, you will not be oppressed.
Now we're going to join together in prayer briefly.
Prayer mostly for the children, for the Sunday school, and following on from the club as well.
Let's call upon the Lord in prayer.
Our gracious and almighty God, as we come to gather here in this place of worship, we look to you for your blessing.
And we thank you for the privilege of being here, that we are here around your word, that we are here to hear the teaching of your word,
that we are here to receive your blessing as you are pleased, O Lord, in grace to bless us.
We pray your blessing today for the children.
As we come, Lord, we ask that your blessing will enhance their young lives,
and that you will bless them even from this tender early age,
so that they will grow up as your children, as your people in the world.
We ask your blessing to follow all that happened in the holiday club.
And we thank you, Lord, for all who attended.
We thank you for all who helped in different ways.
And we thank you for the way that not only was the teaching of your word and about yourself brought out,
we give thanks that they were able to do so in an enjoyable environment.
And we ask today that your blessing will follow the work of the club.
We pray, Lord, for every family, for every home represented here today.
We pray for us as children and as parents and grandparents and relatives,
Lord, that our prayer will always be that your blessing will follow us,
that you will keep us in the ways in which we seek to live for you in this world,
and that you will grant us, Lord, your blessing from day to day.
Hear us now, we pray, and pardon our sin for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
Well, I read somewhere one time, I think it was actually on a car bumper sticker,
one of those stickers you get sometimes you see on cars,
and the sticker said,
Grandchildren are great.
I should have had them first.
And there's many a person here today will agree with that sentiment.
And grandchildren are great.
We've had grandchildren with us,
family in the family in the manse over the last month or so.
The last of them are now away, and we always miss them when they go.
But grandchildren are great.
All children are great and should give us enjoyment in helping them in life.
But I also read something this morning which said that God has no grandchildren.
God has no grandchildren.
Now, why was that said?
Why do you think that was said?
Well, because God has children, spiritual children, not just young people like yourselves.
All the old folks here today who trust in the Lord, who have come to accept Jesus,
they are God's children, God's family.
And God has no grandchildren, but He has children, many, many children.
And we become children of God by coming to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ,
by coming to accept Him, to receive Him,
to live in the way that God Himself sets out for us in the Bible, in His truth.
And as we do that, we are children of God in the world in which we live.
Spiritually, God receives us, makes us His children.
In other words, the Bible has a word for that.
We use it in other senses as well.
It's the word adoption.
God takes us and makes us His children when we come to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ
and receive in Him and believe in Him and follow Him.
And we are always welcomed by God when we come to receive Jesus.
We're going to be saying the Lord's Prayer in a few moments.
And as you know, the Lord's Prayer begins with the words,
Our Father.
So we come to know God as our Father when we come to Him through Jesus
and when we come by accepting what Jesus has done on the cross
and accepting Him as our Savior in this world.
That's when we come to know God as our Savior.
We're not saved because our mums or dads or grandparents might be saved and might be Christians.
We don't become Christians.
We don't become followers of Jesus just because maybe our parents are doing that.
Sometimes you find that that's always the case with royal children.
You know that when children are born into the royal family,
they become royal children because their parents are royal.
Princes or even the king.
But it's not like that with Christians.
We need to become children of God for ourselves.
It doesn't actually happen to us just because our fathers, mothers, grandparents are actually children of God.
And when we become children of God, we show that we are children of God.
How do you think we show that we are children of God?
Well, we show we are children of God by living the kind of life that Jesus expects of us,
that God tells us about in the Bible.
The kind of life that honors Him, that trusts in Him, that follows Him,
that wants to tell other people about Him.
That's what children of God do.
And you've been learning in the Holiday Club over this past week about Jesus Himself in the Gospel of Mark,
that He's the Son of God, that He came into the world to die,
and He died the death of the cross, and then He rose again from the dead.
And these are the things that we want to make known to the world around us as we live as children of God.
So our lives should be different to others who don't want to know about Jesus,
and we have to lovingly and patiently tell them about Jesus and why He is important to us.
So children of God, and from a youngest age, as we'll see in the sermon today,
which is about the children of the kingdom,
we actually want to become children of God from our very earliest days.
We don't want to leave it until we're older.
God receives children, young children like yourselves.
So now we're going to say the Lord's Prayer together.
Let's just say the Lord's Prayer.
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
I'm going to sing again, and it's wonderful to hear all these children's voices singing today.
I know you learned some songs during the holiday club,
and we'll hear some of these in the hall afterwards.
You'll be singing some of them there, I think.
So we're singing Psalm 25, the first version.
That's on page 231.
The tune is Golden Hill.
We're singing these verses 4 to 9.
Show me Thy ways, O Lord.
Thy paths, O teach Thou me.
And do Thou lead me in Thy truth.
Therein my teacher be.
So that's Psalm 25, the first version.
And it's on page 231.
And from verse 4, down as far as verse 9.
Let's stand again to sing.
Amen.
God, Lord.
Amen.
Let it my teacher be.
For thou art God that dost to me salvation send.
And I upon thee all the day expecting to attend.
Light and the mercies, Lord.
I pray thee to remember.
And lovingkindnesses for thee have been novel forever.
My sins and faults of you.
To thou, O Lord, forget.
After thy mercy, think on me.
And for thy goodness great.
God good and uprightness.
A whale sinner's show.
A meek in judgment he will guide.
And make his path to know.
Now we're going to read from the Bible, from the Word of God.
Our reading is in the Gospel of Mark.
I know you were going through the Gospel of Mark at the Holiday Club,
so we're following on with our reading from the Gospel of Mark today.
That's chapter 10, beginning at verse 13.
And if you're using church Bibles, it should be around page 1020.
Around 1020 or so in your Bible.
So the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10, from verse 13.
We'll read down as far as verse 31.
And they were bringing children to him, that's to Jesus,
that he might touch them.
And his disciples rebuked them.
But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant,
and said to them,
Let the children come to me.
Do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.
Truly I say to you,
Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child
shall not enter it.
And he took them up in his arms and blessed them,
laying his hands on them.
And as he was setting out on his journey,
a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him,
Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?
And Jesus said to him,
Why do you call me good?
No one is good except God alone.
You know the commandments.
Do not murder.
Do not commit adultery.
Do not steal.
Do not bear false witness.
Do not defraud.
Honor your father and mother.
And he said to him,
Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him,
and said to him,
You lack one thing.
Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
And come, follow me.
Disheartened by the saying,
he went away sorrowful,
for he had great possessions.
And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples,
How difficult it is,
it will be for those who have wealth,
to enter the kingdom of God.
And the disciples were amazed at his words.
But Jesus said to them again,
Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God.
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.
And they were exceedingly astonished,
and said to him,
Who then can be saved?
Jesus looked at them and said,
With man it is impossible, but not with God.
For all things are possible with God.
Peter began to say to him,
See, we have left everything and followed you.
Jesus said,
Truly I say to you,
there is no one who has left house or brothers or sister
or mother or father or children or lands
for my sake and for the gospel
who will not receive a hundredfold.
Now in this time,
houses and brothers and sisters and mothers
and children and land
with persecutions
and in the age to come,
eternal life.
Many who are first will be last
and the last first.
And we pray that God will follow with this blessing
that reading of his own word.
Before we look back at this passage,
let's again call upon the Lord in prayer.
Let's pray.
O Lord, our God,
we thank you once again for your word.
You have sent your word to us
so that we might know you,
so that we might live by faith in you,
so that we might follow you
and be in our lives pleasing to you in all things.
We thank you, Lord,
that while we are so imperfect
and so sinful,
and as we confess our sins to you again today,
we give thanks for the perfection
that belongs to you as our God.
And we give thanks for the perfection of Jesus,
for the way that he came into this world
and took to himself our human nature
and lived a perfect human life.
We thank you for the perfection
of the work that he did,
the perfection of his life
as it goes on in heaven
and as he remembers us, O Lord.
So we give thanks for all the blessings
that we receive
by virtue of his death and resurrection.
Bless us here, Lord, today as a congregation.
We thank you for all the privileges that are ours.
We thank you, Lord,
as we reflect upon our lives,
that you have not marked up our iniquity against us,
that you have not dealt with us as we deserve,
that you have chosen, Lord,
to be gracious and merciful
and loving toward us.
And, Lord, we pray today
that in response to that grace
and to that patience
and loving kindness of God,
that we ourselves might come
in receiving the benefits of your kingdom,
that we might come to give our lives to you
and live lives that will be pleasing to you.
Remember us, Lord,
in all our circumstances in life.
We pray that you'd bless us
when we are not together here,
that you'd bless us in our homes,
in our family life,
that you'd bless us in our community,
and grant your blessing to us
in all that we do from day to day.
Whatever age, Lord, we are at today,
we pray that we may know
the benefit of trusting in you,
that we may know you as our God
and as our Savior,
that we may be glad
to tell of the wonderful works
of the Lord to others around us.
We pray, O Lord,
that your blessing today
will be with those who,
and in particular,
needs that we know of
in the congregation
and in the community we belong to.
Remember those especially
who have illness,
especially serious illness,
we pray for them.
We pray that your good hand
will be upon them
for their healing,
and, O Lord,
if it be that they will not be healed,
if it is your will
that it will be otherwise.
Give them your peace.
Give them in their hearts
to know the comfort
of believing and trusting in you.
And we ask, O Lord, too,
that you'd bless
all those today
who miss the passing,
miss loved ones
who have passed away.
We pray that your blessing
will be with all the families
who are mourning today
and who come, Lord,
to reflect upon
so much in life
that is now gone.
We pray that you bless them.
Your promise is
that those who mourn
will be comforted.
We know that this is also true
for us literally,
and we pray
that all mourning hearts today
will know your comfort
and will know the blessing
of your Holy Spirit,
even blessing such times
of trouble to us.
Grant us, Lord,
we pray that in our community
we will see
a further influence
of the gospel.
We thank you for
the gospel that we have today.
We pray that it may reach forth
into all our communities.
We pray that we may
know your blessing
from on high.
We pray that you would
turn us back
as a people
to yourself
and to your ways
to honor you,
to respect your ways,
to value your laws
and your gospel
and your promises.
We pray for all
who are in authority, Lord,
locally as well as nationally,
and we commend them
to you today.
You require of us
in your word
to pray for those
who are in authority,
for those who are in government,
locally and nationally.
We pray for such, Lord,
throughout the world
that as we have been
praying together
in the Lord's Prayer
that your kingdom come,
that your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
So we pray, Lord,
today that this will
increasingly be the case,
that many will be turned
from spiritual
and moral darkness
into the light
of your kingdom,
into the blessings
and the joy
and the peace
that comes from knowing you
and being your children
in this world.
Lord,
bless us then now,
we pray,
and continue to look after us
and to watch over us
and to keep us safe
in this life.
We pray this
with the pardon
of our sin
and our cleansing.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, we can turn back again
briefly to Mark chapter 10.
Mark chapter 10,
and we're looking at
verses 13 to 16 especially.
I'm going to divide
the sermon into two
just to make it
a bit easier, I think,
for the little ones
who are present with us.
So in the middle
of the sermon,
we'll have another singing
and come to the second part
of the sermon then.
Incidentally,
anyone who does need
to go out
and take the children out,
please feel free
to do that at any time.
It's not a problem.
We're glad to have
the children with us.
So if we read again
from Mark chapter 10
at verse 13,
they were bringing
children to him
that he might touch them,
and the disciples
rebuked them.
But when Jesus saw it,
he was indignant,
that means he was very angry,
and said to them,
let the children
come to me.
Do not hinder them,
for to such belongs
the children,
the kingdom of God.
Now, you know
that something serious
is taking place.
I mean,
everything in the Bible
in a sense is serious,
but you know that something
is really serious
when you read about Jesus
and his ministry in the world,
the time that he was
in the world like this.
When you read
that he was indignant,
that he was very angry,
something obviously,
seriously,
is wrong.
What is it that made
Jesus so angry?
What made it,
made him so indignant?
It's a very strong word
that Mark uses here
in this word indignant.
It means he was indeed
very, very angry.
What was it that made him
so angry?
You might expect
Jesus never to have been angry,
but here he is.
He was angry on this occasion,
the other occasions as well.
And of course,
unlike us,
when Jesus is angry,
it doesn't mean
he was sinfully angry,
but it does mean
he was indignant
and very annoyed.
Well, what was it
that made him annoyed?
Well, we're told
what it was,
that people were bringing
children to him,
parents probably mostly,
bringing children to him
that he might touch them,
and that was to bless them,
touch them,
that he would convey
his blessing to them.
And his disciples
rebuked him.
That's why Jesus was angry.
His disciples didn't like this.
His disciples thought
this was wrong.
His disciples thought,
no, children shouldn't
be brought to Jesus.
It's just troubling him.
It's not something
that's appropriate
at this moment.
That's what they thought,
and that's why Jesus
was indignant
with his own disciples.
You might expect
that his own disciples
would have reacted
differently to children
being brought to Jesus
for his blessing
to be conveyed to them,
but obviously,
they didn't understand
things as they should,
and they were wrong
about this.
And Jesus,
in his indignity,
indignance,
indignant spirit,
said,
let the children
come to me
and don't hinder them.
Don't keep them back.
Don't put anything
in their way
to prevent them coming.
For to such belongs
the kingdom of God.
These children
were infants.
They were children
of an age
that you could pick up
and hold in your arms,
and so they were
very young children,
and this is why
Jesus was indignant,
because the disciples
thought this is not
appropriate for children
this age to come
to be brought to Jesus.
And you can see
from that
how important
children are
to the Lord.
How important
it is for Jesus
that children belong
to his kingdom
as well as adults.
That Jesus
is willing
to welcome children
as they are brought
to him.
And that's something
that we'll see
in a moment
as important
to ourselves
as adults,
that not only
do we bring children
to the Lord
and tell them
about the Lord,
but we try
and make sure
that there's nothing
in our lives
or anywhere else
that stops them
from coming to him.
So first of all,
let's look at
Christ's command.
Let the children
come to me.
It's a command
that he says
to the disciples.
And do not hinder them,
for to such belongs
the kingdom of God.
So here's his command.
Let the children
come and do not
hinder them.
And we'll look at that first
before we move on
to the rest of the passage.
Let them come to me.
And of course,
that's, as we said,
addressed to verse 13,
the disciples rebuking them.
This is how Jesus reacted.
This is how Jesus spoke
to the disciples.
Let them come to me.
It means
a positive action
on our part
to bring children
to the Lord,
to bring young people
to him.
It's more than just
hoping that they'll
make their own way
to the Lord,
that they'll one day
find out for themselves
how important Jesus is.
This is a positive command
to these disciples.
Let the children
come to me.
In other words,
encourage them
to come to me.
Make every effort
to make sure
that they come to me.
Not let them
find their own way.
Some people have that view,
don't they,
that children really,
even if they're brought
to church,
that's a good thing.
But let them grow up,
first of all.
Let them make up
their own minds
as to how important
Jesus is to them
or otherwise.
Well, that's not
what Jesus is saying.
Jesus is saying,
from the youngest days,
we teach them
about the Lord.
Parents are encouraged
to teach their children,
to direct their children
to come to the Lord.
That's what the holiday club
was about, after all.
The holiday club
was about Jesus,
about Jesus
in the Gospel of Mark,
this Gospel we're looking
at this passage from.
The holiday club
was about that,
about Jesus
and the importance
of Jesus,
Jesus as our Savior,
Jesus as the Son of God,
Jesus the perfect man,
the perfect Son of God
as well.
Everything to do
with Jesus
in the Gospel of Mark
is to do with
getting to know Him.
Who is He?
Why is He important?
Who is He important to?
He's important for all of us.
But here,
the disciples
are rebuked.
They're told off
by Jesus
and Jesus gives
this command,
let the children
come to Me.
That's what the holiday club
was about.
But,
it was about that
in an enjoyable environment.
I'm not saying,
and I'm not,
I'm hoping
that coming to church
is enjoyable as well
in the best sense
of the word.
because learning
about Jesus
should be enjoyable.
Why shouldn't it be
enjoyable
to learn about Jesus?
Maybe we think,
well,
some people do think
that religion
or things to do
with the Gospel,
with the Bible,
is pretty boring stuff.
It's not enjoyable.
You don't really want
to get into it too much.
You just keep
a kind of passing interest
in it.
But here is a passage
that tells us,
as many other passages
in the Bible tell us,
learning about Jesus
should be enjoyable.
It should be something
that we actually enjoy doing.
It should be a pleasure to us.
And I hope all the children,
I know they did,
they enjoyed the holiday club.
And it's important,
along with the teaching of Jesus,
to have enjoyable activities.
That's what childhood is for.
We live in a world
when sadly,
a lot of children
are not allowed
to be children.
Their childhood
is taken from them
because they're given teaching
that really belongs
to adulthood.
Teaching about relationships,
teaching about this,
that, and the other,
that really are not
suitable
for the age
at which they are
as children.
Children must learn
in an enjoyable environment.
not have anything
pressed upon them
that's not appropriate
to their own age.
That's what the gospel
is doing.
That's what we're seeking
to do with the holiday club
and even with church as well.
Because here is Jesus saying,
let the children
come to me,
but let them enjoy
finding out about me.
And I want to encourage you
as well.
Maybe you're here today
and perhaps you don't
usually go to church.
You're, as I said already,
most welcome to be here today
and any other time.
And I hope if it's
just coming today
because your children
were at the holiday club,
and especially if you don't
belong to any other church,
please think about
coming regularly
because it's so important
for our children
to be learning about Jesus
in an enjoyable way
and to have their lives
built around that great truth
of who Jesus is.
So please,
if you are in that category today,
please come back.
Please bring the children
to the Sunday school,
which I know is also enjoyable
for all those who come.
And many of the leaders here
at your holiday club
are also teachers
in the Sunday school.
So let them come to me.
And he says,
do not hinder them.
See, he added that as well.
He didn't just say,
let the children come to me.
He said,
do not hinder them.
What he meant by that was,
don't put anything in their way
that would be a block
or a barrier
or prevent them coming to me.
Now that's a big challenge for me,
and it's a big challenge
for you as adults as well,
whether we're parents
or grandparents or relatives
or even just people
in the congregation
who know these children,
know who they are,
and even if we don't,
what he's saying is,
don't put anything in their way.
Don't do anything
that will put them off
finding out about Jesus,
coming to trust in Jesus,
coming to know the Lord
for themselves.
And I have to apply that
to my own way of life.
You have to apply that
as an adult today
to your way of life.
It's a great challenge,
and it's a great privilege
to be able to bring
the teaching of the Bible
to our children
in our homes,
in our Sunday school,
in the holiday club,
wherever.
But I have to look
to my own life
and ask,
is there something
in my life today
that children will see,
and children I know
will see things
that perhaps we don't see
as adults very readily.
Is there something
in my life
that proves to be
a barrier to children
coming to know the Lord?
Is there something
that puts them off?
Is there something
about my way of life
that suggests
I'm not really serious
about trusting in Jesus?
Well, you and I
have got to look to that.
Is our life
a positive encouragement,
in other words,
for our children
to come to know the Lord?
Or in our conversation,
is the way we speak,
is that conducive
to encouraging our children
to come to know the Lord
and to trust in Him?
In our conversation,
in our language,
is there something there
that doesn't actually fit
with being Christians,
with being people
who are children of the Lord?
Is there something
that our children might see
in which they might say,
well, you know,
I don't think I want
to trust in the Bible
if that's really the way
it doesn't really affect people
very positively?
Let's look at our conversation,
our way of speaking.
Let's look at our way of life.
Let's look at our priorities.
Is my priority,
as I show that to my children
or grandchildren as they are now,
is that,
is what I,
what I,
what they see in my life,
is the priority given to God?
Am I as a grandparent
or as a parent yourselves,
are you,
am I,
showing our children
that God comes first?
That we put God,
that we put Jesus
top of the list
of what's important to us?
Because if we do that,
then our children
are going to see
that we're serious
about our faith,
that we're serious
about teaching them
the things of the Bible,
that we're serious
about teaching them
about God
and who He is
and why He's important.
So that's why He's saying,
not just let them come to me,
but do not hinder to them.
Do not hinder them.
Don't put anything
in their way.
In other words,
things like,
oh, children are too young
to come to know Jesus.
Just leave it until
they've grown up,
until they're able
to make up their own minds.
Well, you can,
you must never say
to your children
or to your,
to your grandchildren,
you're too young
to be a Christian.
You're too young
to come to Jesus.
You're too young
to come to know
what it is
to live a Christian life
that's pleasing to God.
Never say to them,
just wait until you have
your career fixed up
first of all.
Whether it's,
when you come to teenage years,
maybe that's something
that's in our mind.
What sort of career
are our children,
our young people
going to have,
going to develop?
And some people might think,
well, is it not better
just to let them
concentrate on that?
And then maybe think about
being somewhat serious
about their faith,
about God,
about Jesus afterwards.
Well, no.
No, because that's not
what God is giving
as a priority.
Because if God
is in the right place
in our thoughts,
in our hearts,
in our way of life,
that's the basis,
that's the foundation
on which we then
move on to everything else.
Whether it's our parenthood,
our life in the family,
our life in the world,
our career,
our choice of career,
whatever it is,
it has to be
firmly based,
stable foundation
that Jesus himself is.
There's the first thing then,
Christ's command,
let the children
come to me
and do not
hinder them.
So let's just sing
while we take a wee break
and move on to
the next part of it
after we've sung
some verses.
And again,
we're singing
from Psalm 34,
the same as we did before,
this time verses 10 to 14.
And the tune is
St. Stephen.
This is on page 40 again.
At verse 10,
Young lions may grow
weak and faint
and hunger for their food,
but those who wait
upon the Lord
will not lack any good.
Come here,
my children,
gather round
and listen to my word,
and I will help you
understand
how you may fear
the Lord.
And how wonderfully
the psalmist puts it there
very much in line
with what Jesus said
to the disciples.
He's not just encouraging
the children to come.
And here, of course,
he means
not just young children,
but others as well
who are children of God.
But I will help you
understand
how you may fear
the Lord,
how you may respect
the Lord.
That's a privilege
in life
to teach
younger children
how to fear the Lord.
So we'll sing
verses 10 to 14
to his praise.
We'll stand again
to sing.
Amen.
Young lions
may grow weak
and faint
and anger
for their food,
but those who wait
upon the Lord
will not look
like any good.
Come here,
my children,
gather round
and listen
to my word
and I will help you
understand
how you may fear
the Lord.
Does anyone
delight
and long
to see
good days
then keep
your tongue
from evil
see
your lips
from lying
ways
depart
and turn
from evil
paths
and practice
what is right
and practice
what is right
desire
to know
the way
of peace
pursue
and
with
your might
well let's turn back
for a short time again
to Mark chapter 14
let the children
come to me
do not hinder them
for to such
belongs
the kingdom of God
truly I say to you
whoever does not
receive the kingdom
of God
like a child
shall not
enter it
and he took
them in his arms
and blessed
them
laying his hands
on them
why does Jesus
say here
as he continues
here he just
doesn't give a command
very often
you find the
commands of God
are accompanied
with an explanation
or some further
teaching along
with the commands
of God
and that's what
you find here
he said let them
come to me
do not hinder
them
but then he added
for to such
belongs
the kingdom
of God
whoever does not
receive the kingdom
like a child
shall not enter it
what did he mean
by that
what is it that
characterizes
children
especially those
young infants
that he took up
in his arms
to bless
why is he saying
whoever doesn't
receive the kingdom
like a child
shall not enter
what is it about
such children
of that age
that makes them
an image
if you like
of what it is
to enter
the kingdom
of God
well first of all
there's the element
of trust
good parenting
is the kind
of parenting
that conveys
to our children
that we are
worthy of
their trust
that they can
safely trust us
to show by our
consistency of life
that we are
actually genuine
in seeking the best
for them
even if sometimes
it means
that there's a rebuke
here and there
but trust
making
making it clear
to our children
that we are
trustworthy
that we can trust
that they can trust
in us
is so important
that of course
was especially
true of Jesus
he is the ultimate
in being trustworthy
everything about him
makes him worthy
of our trust
because there are
no lies
there's nothing
there that would
really raise
suspicion about him
that's how it is
with ourselves
and our children
as well
our grandchildren
we are to
live in such a way
that removes
every suspicion
so that the child
will come to
trust in us
and trust in our word
and trust us
they see us
living that kind
of life
now God is
the ultimate
parent
we read earlier
and prayed together
the Lord's Prayer
our Father
who is in heaven
and he is the ultimate
parent
because as you
scan the Bible
from beginning
to end
as God's word
where God is telling
us about himself
and about ourselves
you'll find
nothing there
to raise
suspicions
about God
everything there
shows that God
is worthy
of our trust
God is always
true to his word
God never says
something he doesn't
mean
God never takes
back what he says
of anything of his
promises
or anything at all
that he says to us
in his word
and you can see
from everything
there that
you have
no reason
to suspect
God
to suspect
God's goodness
or God's wisdom
or God's motives
you know
you'll often find
people saying
when something bad
happens in the world
in people's lives
where is God
how could God
have allowed
such a thing
to happen
and these questions
are not easy
to answer
and those of us
who preach the gospel
should not pretend
that they are easy
to answer
they're difficult
questions
they're things
that really
bring us
sometimes
a very acute
searching of mind
before we can try
and answer
such questions
but a lot of people
will say that
because they want
to dismiss God
out of their lives
altogether
they don't think
God is important
enough to really
put in any
important place
in their lives
but Jesus
who is the
revealer of God
the Son of God
everything you see
about Jesus
is revealing God
to us
what God is like
and so Jesus
when he's saying here
about trusting
in God
or entering
the kingdom
as a little child
is really like
trusting in the Lord
trusting his word
trusting that what he says
is true
but it also means
acceptance
because a child
accepts the word
of a trustworthy parent
sadly we live
in a world
when children
sometimes
are not
brought up
in the way
that we would like
sometimes children
are abused
children are
not treated properly
that's the kind
of world
we live in
but when you have
a loving parent
a parent who really
wants the best
for their children
well a child
comes to learn
acceptance
of that person's word
or acceptance
of things
from that parent
that the parent
offers to them
and is happy
to give them
as gifts
or whatever
in other words
when you give
a child
a gift
certainly children
of that young age
there's no
no haggling
no argument
no saying
I don't like that
it's
I'd rather something
better
you might find that
as they grow up
certainly
it's not always
like that is it
sometimes
when we do grow up
we think
well that's not
really what I'd like
I'd prefer something else
but what this is saying
to us is that
children
these infants
in arms
that Jesus took up
they don't actually
argue about
what their parents
are keen to give them
they don't argue
about the care
that parents
take of them
the gifts
that parents
are able to give them
they don't haggle
about that
they don't dispute that
they actually
receive
these gladly
and that's why
it says here
whoever does not
receive the kingdom
like a child
shall not enter it
see God
is not in the business
of selling
eternal life
he's not saying
this is yours
if you can actually
match up
your life
to it
he's not saying
this is yours
if you can do
something that makes
you worthy of it
in my sight
he says
this is yours
if you trust
my word
if you receive it
as I'm offering it
to you
God is saying
if you receive it
on my terms
and you don't
haggle over it
and you don't think
you could have done
better yourself
this is for you
this eternal life
this salvation
this is my gift
to you
that's why I sent
my son
into the world
to die the death
he died on the cross
God is genuine
and sincere
and wholehearted
in saying
here is my kingdom
here is
where I rule
here is where my throne
is situated
here is
all the benefits
of my kingdom
of my salvation
that I give
to those who trust
in me
trust in me
receive it
take me at my word
and so you accept
all that God
is offering us
today in the gospel
if you come to him
trusting his word
knowing that he's
genuine
because that's
the ultimate parent
isn't it
God
our father
so today
we accept
his pardon
don't we
come to express
our sin to him
we repent of our sin
we say
Lord
I know I've done wrong
I know my life
is not what it should be
please accept me
please receive me
and that's really
receiving the kingdom
receiving
the word of God
receiving the salvation
you receive
his righteousness
and his peace
and his joy
these are things
to be received
God is
serious
and honest
about
reaching out to us
in the gospel
with these
and of course
that challenges
our own sense
of worth
or pride
because it's
very difficult
for us
isn't it
to get into
our minds
that we don't
have to pay
anything
that we don't
have to contribute
anything
to our salvation
it hits your
sense of pride
that all of that
is taken away
that God
has done everything
in Christ already
that all we need
to do
and are required
to do
is receive
the salvation
for which
Jesus died
but our
natural minds
don't like that
because it
hits our pride
that we don't
contribute something
towards our salvation
that we don't
actually have to
give God
something
in order for him
then to receive us
in response
look at verse 17
as he was setting
out on his journey
a man ran up
and knelt before him
and asked him
good teacher
what must
I do
to inherit
eternal life
and here's a man
you see
he's walking up
towards the entrance
the door to salvation
in Jesus Christ
and here he is
he's walked right
past the door
to eternal life
because he's come
with these words
Lord
what must
I do
he's thinking of
his own contribution
something that's
required of him
to do
before God
will receive him
before he can enter
into eternal life
what must I do
to inherit eternal life
and God is really
saying to us today
it's not about
what you are able
to do
or not able to do
it's about what
Jesus has done
that's
really the entrance
to eternal life
and as you receive
that Jesus
and give over
your life to him
and trust in him
so you come
to enter the kingdom
like a little child
you receive it
because God is honest
because God is serious
because you are needy
of that salvation
that God himself
is actually extending
to you in the gospel
and if you're here today
and you're not yet a Christian
you're not yet saved
you've not yet come
to follow Jesus
seriously
wholeheartedly
and then Jesus
is saying to you
well here's your opportunity
today
Jesus is saying to you
here is my kingdom
here are all the riches
of my kingdom
here are all the riches
I died
to actually provide
for you
here are all the riches
I suffered
in order to bring
them to you
all you need to do
is receive them
make them yours
say yes Lord
this is what I need
thank you
help me to live
a life
of thankfulness
in the Psalms
we find
Psalm 116
the Psalmist saying
in regard to
the Lord's own
benefits to him
we quite often
sing these verses
and
the Psalmist
is really addressing
God in them
where he said to God
what shall I render
to the Lord
for all
this benefits
to me
what shall I render
to the Lord
what will I give
the Lord
in return
for all
his benefits
to me
how can I pay
him back
what he says
is
I will take
the cup
of salvation
and call upon
the name of the Lord
in other words
he's not saying
I will give
anything
he's saying
I will receive
I will take
the salvation
that God
is offering
to me
and so it is
for us today
as well
we come as
children
to trust
in Jesus
we come to
accept what
Jesus is offering
and he's offering
himself
as a saviour
to us today
and as we do
so
there's one
other element
I can mention
just briefly
in closing
and that's
the element
of joy
we don't
become
Christians
just
to enjoy
the experience
there's more
to it
than that
but joy
is very
firmly
a part
of the
Christian
life
you children
know what
it's like
to receive
a gift
and especially
if it's a gift
that you've
mentioned
you would like
to get
at Christmas
perhaps
your parents
might ask you
what would you
like as a
Christmas gift
not that
they'll necessarily
promise
yes you'll
get that
but
very often
that's what
they'll try
and get you
and if it's
something you've
asked for
at Christmas
time
and you open
your partial
you take the
wrapping off
on Christmas
morning
and you see
that's exactly
what you asked
for
and actually
it looks
far better
than it did
in the catalogue
or wherever
you saw a picture
of it
so you go
wow
that's awesome
or whatever
the current word
is today
wow
that's awesome
that's how it
should be
with Jesus
as well
for us
when we
receive the
gift that
God gives
us
his offering
to us
Jesus himself
the gift
and salvation
that comes
in him
today this
should be
and every day
this should be
our reaction
because this
is God's
grace
God's
forgiveness
God's
adoption
this is
really
heaven
in preparation
if you like
and we
should be
saying
wow
what
an amazing
gift
God has
given to me
in giving me
a saviour
in giving me
salvation
in giving me
to belong
to
the kingdom
of God
well may God
bless these words
to us today
we're going to
conclude our service
now singing
in Psalm 89
Psalm 89
and verses
15 to 18
that's page
345
Psalm 89
verses 15
to 18
345
over to
346
and the tune
this time
is Sheffield
O greatly
blessed
the people
are
the joyful
sound
that know
in brightness
of thy face
O Lord
they ever
on
shall go
verses
15 to
18
of Psalm
89
O greatly
blessed
the people
are
O
greatly
blessed
the people
are
the joyful
sound
that know
in brightness
of thy
face
O Lord
thee
ever
on
shall
go
thee
in thy
name
shall
all
the day
rejoice
exceedingly
and
in thy
righteousness
shall
thee
exalted
be
on
high
because
the
glory
of
their
spread
doth
only
stand
in
thee
and
in
thy
favour
shall
our
horn
and
power
exalted
be
for
God
is
our
defence
and
he
to
us
doth
safety
bring
the
Holy
One
Lord
Israel
is
our
almighty
king
I want
to say
to the
children
before we
close
with
the
benediction
not only
has it
been
really
great
having
you
but
thank
you
too
for
the
way
that
you've
sat
through
the
service
and
for
the
way
you
listened
to
what's
being
said
as
well
and
that
gives
us
great
joy
to
see
that
you're
so
good
at
listening
to
the
gospel
so
thank
you
again
for
that
now
I'll
go to
the
side
door
here
to
my
left
after
the
benediction
I'd like
the
children
if they
can
come
out
that
door
and
I'll
give
you
a
high
five
on
the
way
out
okay
now
may
the
grace
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
love
of
God
the
Father
and
the
communion
of
the
Holy
Spirit
be
with
you
now
and
ever
more
Amen
God