DONE 240131 BITES Open House: Receiving the Kingdom like a Child

Welcome and Announcements 6:05pm: 2 Min(s)

Initiate kids sending out chips, salsa, drinks

Greeting: (SMILE) Good evening everyone! My name is mark organ, I pastor here at Nehalem Valley Bible Church and on behalf of all the BITES and CHOMPS Kids we say “welcome” and “thank you” for being willing to share your evening with us.

Describe the Youth Group: Our youth group was formed in 2022, in an effort to help kids make faith in Christ their own. BITES Stands for Biblically Instructing Teens for Evangelism and Service. We also have another group that was formed a few months ago for those who are not quite teens, they are called CHOMPS, which stands for Children Helping Out Many People thru Service. We come together every week, unless there is ice on the ground, to make good food, to feast together, to learn about Jesus and how to serve others and evangelize. Part of our service is done at home and at school, some is out in our community but our ultimate goal is to reach others with our faith in Christ.

Thank You: You are here tonight in support of this goal and so we again say thank you. This event is an investment in developing the character and faith of these children and we are so grateful.

Order of Service 6:07pm: 2 Min(s)

Menu:

In a few moments we will begin serving Chicken Enchilada’s Suiza with Spanish Rice and Re-fried beans topped with cheese. For our beverage we will be serving Strawberry Lemonade. If you have special requirements, or if you would prefer coffee or tea please do not hesitate to let your servers know. PAUSE

Fellowship:

Also, you may have noticed the little pieces of paper that have been added to your tables around the candles. These are called Conversation Kick-Starters and the intent of these is to focus our fellowship together around our Savior. We want these Conversation Kick-Starters to stir us up in our praise of Jesus for all that He has done for us.

Message:

At 630pm a brief message will be given.

Dessert:

Afterwards, dessert will then be served; Dessert is a chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream and a chocolate drizzle. We have tea and coffee to go with your dessert too.

Final Comments:

Two final items… 1). if you know someone who would appreciate a meal, maybe they couldn’t be with us tonight or are housebound, please let your server know and they will prepare a to-go tray for you. 2). At the conclusion of the meal we will need to tear down the room - which you are welcome to participate in, although it is not required - and then we will get chairs re-set up.

Prayer 6:10pm: 1 Min(s)

I’m going to ask God’s blessing on the food and then we will kick off the food service.

Abba Father, we thank You for Your graciousness toward us. Thank You for the opportunity to come here and eat delicious food with good company. We know that every good and perfect gift comes from You and so we say, thank You. We ask Your blessing on this food and fellowship and on Your servants. Father, it is our further request that Your Son be at the center of our conversations, may we grow closer to You and to each other because of what takes place here tonight. It is in Christ’s name we pray, amen.

Transition at 6:28pm

Message at 6:30pm:

Setting the Stage: 1 Min(s)

It is the intent of Nehalem Valley Bible Church to know Christ and make Him known. We do that during our regular services but also in our special services such as our youth group ministry to kids and teens.

The goal of our youth ministry is to help kids access the teachings of Christ in Scripture and to grow in their faith. To grow in it, to the point of living it out both in faith and in practice. Because this is important to Christ it is important to us.

Context: 2.5 Min(s)

Here is the context of Mark 10:13-16...Immediately after speaking of hard hearts within the context of divorce earlier in the chapter, Jesus is then approached by several folks desiring that He bless their children. And what are children? Children are tender, soft hearted creatures aren’t they? There is a clear contrast that we are supposed to see - Hard hearts vs soft hearts.

The hard hearts were shown by the Pharisees who were attempting to legitimize divorce for any reason at all. Now, if they were expecting a positive response from Jesus, they certainly didn’t get it. Jesus has rightly described these leaders as hard hearted (Mark 10:5). Not only are they hard hearted, but arrogant too because in seeking to divorce their wives they set themselves over God, they seek to separate what He has united. These Pharisees are arrogant, hard-hearted and willful, abusive takers and we are supposed to see that as that willfulness trickles into our story on Jesus blessing the little children.

Mark, the human author, he then describes some folks bringing their kids to Jesus to be blessed. They come in simple faith, wanting proximity and closeness, they want to touch Jesus and be touched by Him, but cold hardheartedness, this time from Jesus’ disciples, again attempts to supersede what God is drawing together.

The contrast is clear, proud hardheartedness is a disrupt-er of what God desires. He desires closeness, faithfulness, humility and blessing - just what a kiddo brings in simple soft hearted faith. I will be reading from Mark 10:13-16 which says:

Scripture Reading: 1 Minute(s)

Mark 10:13–16“And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.”

Restate: 1 Minute(s)

Paraphrase: So in this narrative kids are brought to Christ to be touched, but someone comes in between, folks that should have known better, Jesus’ own disciples. When Jesus saw what was happening, the text tells us that He was indignant, a word that communicates very strongly Christ’s displeasure, even His anger… So He intervened saying, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Then the text says that He gathered them into His arms, to bless them, to touch them.

Key Takeaways: 2.5Min(s)

1st Takeaway: We Must Not Keep Them Away: Christ deeply desires relationship unhindered. Boy, does this little story help us understand God’s desire to bless, what our relationship with God should look like and even how much He cares for the marginalized in society. Such powerful language is presented here, God is indignant, when anyone comes between Him and little ones. We as adults, parents, grandparents, and even more so as the Church are to do everything - to expend all effort - to bring little ones to Christ. This is something that Christ has very strong feelings on, another chapter back in Mark 9:42““And whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.” Christ desires that we expend all effort to bring little ones to Him.

2nd Takeaway: We Must Come: Moreover, it is so important that we too come like these little ones. In faith, in soft-hearted simplicity to Christ seeking presence and proximity. To receive the blessing of His touch in our lives. Oh, friends, can we see His desire to be with us? How tragic is it that hard heartedness, arrogant willfulness comes between us and Him. O, we must come to Christ too, like a child, not exerting arrogant self will but simply coming to Him. He says unless we come to Him like a child to receive the Kingdom of God we will not receive it at all.

Invitation: 2 Min(s)

What is it to receive the Kingdom of God like a child? It is coming in need, in simple-minded faith accepting what Christ has said. Jesus’ very first recorded words in chapter 1 of Mark tells us that Jesus said this… Mark 1:15 “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” The time is here, the kingdom of God is available at this time, repent of all sin as He says. Then believe that He came to die for those sins and be raised from the dead as He claimed He would. Those that do this simple thing will come in child like faith, asking Him for what He is offering, and will be blessed with relationship with Christ. Those that approach Christ in hard hearted arrogant willfulness, supposing that they can set themselves over God, will never enter the kingdom at all. We might say, “Mark, that is so strong!” Friends, these are Christ’s words that we must reconcile with not mine. We must come to Christ as He has instructed and when we do we will gain Him forever.

Completion of the Evening 6:58pm:

Before we conclude this evening’s events may I ask for all the BITES Team to join me up on stage. They have worked very hard so please let us give them a round of applause. Thank you all!

Prayer 7:00pm:

Abba Father, we thank You for Jesus and His Good News. That He came to die for sinners and be raised to demonstrate that the power and penalty of sin is broken for all who believe. I pray Lord asking that if anyone here is unsure about their relationship with You that they would find resolution this evening. Father, we thank You for this time and for the service of these kiddos - may we all be found in Christ, faithfully serving You until You call us home. It is in Christ’s name I pray, amen.

Now, as I mentioned earlier we are going to begin tearing down the tables and chairs. If you can assist in bringing the chairs into the kitchen or the tables that would be very much appreciated.

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Topics available

faith like a child - Matt 18.5 (N/A), Mark 10.15 (speculation on the contrast of hardness of divorce and the softness of child like faith/also elevated a group of people that were often diminished in the culture - women and kids), Luke 18.17 (self-righteousness vs pleas for mercy and humility

Greater love has no one than this - TOO FRAGMENTED John 15.13

Forgiveness he who has been forgiven much loves much - A BIT TOO LONG

Prodigal son

Come to Me all who are weak and heavy laden

Implications: Minute(s)

Mark those words, unless we come to Christ, simply, needy - like a child we will not receive it at all. Unless, we approach Christ with tender hearts, accepting what He gives we will not receive Him.

Jesus desires to bless these kiddos, to be close to them, and not only them but also all people. Friend, He wants that for you too. He is indignant against all that seek to eliminate access to Him.

He desires that we come to Him simply, humbly as a child, not in hard hearted arrogance but simply out of a desire to be with Him.

We to are to receive the kingdom of God in a similar way

Jesus’ indignation against His disciples is instructive - those that hinder access to Christ invite indignation too, rather than inhibit we ought to be encouraging all, not just children but all to come to Christ. GOOD TRANSITION TO THE INVITATION