Sermon Tone Analysis

Service Introduction

Special guest tonight.

Testimony involves a carnival, a fortune teller, and a chainsaw, and most importantly Jesus.

Family Sunday on November 20th / have the 3-5th graders in here with us

Bible Reading

Over the last two weeks we looked at the story of a Pharisee and Publican who went to the temple to pray

Jesus is teaching all those who are listened who will enter into His kingdom

Summarized well by Jen Wilkin in her book In is Image

“How can it be that the tax collector in Jesus’s parable walks away justified?

The answer lies in what his brief statement teaches.

Because Jesus is the author, each word has been chosen and arranged with perfect intent:

‘God be merciful to me a sinner’ [slide]

Note the word picture the man’s statement creates.

God at one end of the sentence, a sinner at the other, mercy in between.”

What will be the determining factor, what makes a man justified.

God's mercy, demonstrated by the death and resurrection of Jesus, is the only basis on which we can be forgiven, accepted, and declared righteous.

Jesus continues to help those listening understand with the help of some small children

Luke 18:15–17 (KJV 1900)

15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Summary: Just like Jesus received the small children, in this story, He will receive you, if you will come in the same manner.

Sermon Introduction

As we get ready for Thanksgiving who in here might still be stuck at the kids table.

Not too bad.

As one comedian says why would you want to listen to your uncle talk about his 401k when you can watch little Billy pull a noodle from his nose.

There has always been some version of a kids table or maybe even more of a distinction, the kids weren’t even supposed to be in the room

Review the Story

Not uncommon for Jewish people to bring their kids to teacher to be blessed

We see Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the Temple and Simeon held the baby.

Luke 2:27-28 “27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,”

We had something like this happen once at the church.

A family brought their baby to the church.

They had never been to a church before but believed that having the “priest” pray for their child might be helpful.

I prayed for the salvation of the family.

We have little babies, infants but we also have those who could walk to him when he called.

Luke 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him

They brought the children to Jesus for a blessing Mark 10:16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”

Jesus took time for this.

/ Could we pause here a moment?

Why “let them come” and “never forbid them”?

This is the only time our Lord ever spoke blessing on non-believers, only time.

It therefore puts them in a very unique category.

Jesus says “let them come” and “never forbid them.”

Luke 18:16 ..for of such is the kingdom of God.

Summary: Just like Jesus received the small children, in this story, He will receive you, if you will come in the same manner.

Something for your mind, your heart, and your hands.

The theology of children; how Jesus viewed children.

Intent of the passage to ask if you have come to Jesus “as a little child”

Practical instruction on how we should respond to the fact that while in our care children will come to an understanding of right and wrong.

Theology of Childhood

Jesus taking time for children would have been at the very least fascinating to those watching.

No one had this view of kids.

They haven’t accomplished anything with their lives.

We see the disciples didn’t welcome Kids Ministry into the equation.

Luke 18:15 but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

Even disciples still needed helping learning about what matters in the Kingdom of God.

Luke 18:25-26 “25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?”

Jesus is teaching and demonstrating to them the answer to this question.

Did Jesus welcome the children into his lap and the Kingdom because they without sin?

From experience, I expect those of you with children know the answer to this.

But seems a reasonable question being they will enter the Kingdom.

Scriptures makes it very clear that children are not sinless.

This is David’s description of himself in the womb Psalm 51:5 “5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.”

Children are not exempt from being part of all mankind. 1 Kings 8:46 “46 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,)

We come from the womb speaking lies.

Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

Proverbs 20:9 “9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” / Not my kids.

Always say the kids got their good looks from me, because Stephanie still has hers.

They got more than my genes.

They inherited a sinful.

nature

The Bible is very clear.

Ecc 7:20 “20 For there is not a just man upon earth (regardless of age), that doeth good, and sinneth not.”

Please stay with me as I walk us through what is and is not being said about children

They are not without sin, but the Kingdom belongs to them and those who will enter such as them

Death is the evidence that sin exists and they die even before they've made a conscious choice to sin.

It is because of sin that death comes upon all men.

Condition of Accountability

Condition of accountability which is differing ages for differing children.

Until they reach the condition of being personally accountable they belong to God in a special way.

This is not a doctrine made by filling in the blanks and deviding on a narrative that makes us feel good.

I

It is supported in Scripture

Distinction between those who can are old enough to discern and those who are not

Jonah 4:11 “11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?”

Deut 1:39 “39 Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.”

Therefore they have no sense of law.

They have no sense of disobedience.

They have no sense of guilt.

There is no conscious rebellion against the law of God.

The Bible makes a distinction between those who can discern right from left, obedience from rebellion.

So does your family.

This might be why you are still at the kids table.

Infants and small children are referred to in Scripture as innocent Jer 2:34 “34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.”

They do not know yet know to do good.

James 4:17 “17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

Not alone in this understanding.

From the time of David

2 Samuel 12:16-18 “16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.