Childlike or Childish

Successful in faith?

 2   To be a blessing to our children, we simply need to become childlike ourselves—to believe God’s call and to receive God’s grace for the task. Jack Hayford Blessing Your Children (2002)

Jack Williams Hayford, Jr

Maturity of faith is found in childlike trust—trust that sees ourselves as small and God as mighty.

John D. Barry; Rebecca Kruyswijk

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive, the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.

Phillip asked us last week what our definition of success is , he challenged us to look at our motives and then really consider if they mattered when it came to the gospel.

Just a few weeks earlier Beau Spoke on warnings , I quote “Human warnings could happen , God’s warnings will happen “. He gave us a warning against compromise.

See both of these resonated with me in preparation for this sermon series. Our church is growing. not just numerically, but spiritually. We’re seeing incredible things happen for the kingdom in our church.

So how do we become successful spiritually in answering the question, what does it matter? without compromising our mission and getting comfortable. ?

We ....Cannot. … become childish.

How do I measure my faith. Its all on humility and dependence.

1. Choose Childlike Humility and Dependency

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 18

At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “So who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a small child and had him stand among them. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me.

Humility- a modest view of ones own importance.

There are two types of people in Mark 10. the. ones who are bringing the children. to Jesus, and the ones who are keeping the children from Jesus.

First of all to the parents out there. , what success are you showing your kids? spiritually? Are you bringing your kids to Jesus? H as life convinced you that Jesus doesn’t have enough time for them? Or has life convinced you that you dont have enough time for Jesus?

See in verse 3 it says, unless you turn. ( Humility. ) and become like children (dependency) You won’t inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

So what does humility look like, “Its seeking the Lord before everything, even if you are confident in your ability.” But asking isnt enough, you have to wait on the Lord. Thats what dependency is.

Let’s just clear the record. , I’m not your typical hip. Youth pastor. I’ll even make fun of them for the new language they use sometimes. And whenever I’m called out for my age. I’ll always respond back with. “ I cont care, have a mortgage, a wife and kids. I have made it. While its funny, this is most of our mentalities when it comes to God. “Look at all the good stuff I have done God without your help.”

When we start looking at our lives this way, we start losing our dependency for God.

When we lose dependency, we make spiritual compromises, when we make compromises, God, church, community and serving become optional and when these become optional. The church

2. As you come back to Jesus, bring your kids.

When you look at the Greek verb. for blessed them. it’s emphatic, Literally meaning fervently blessing them. David Guzik. said, children can receive the blessing of Jesus without Trying to make themselves worthy of it or pretending they do not need it. . none of us are worthy of God’s grace, but we need it every day. And when we start being childish. in our faith, his grace isn’t enough. Remember, the children in this lesson. are not just the next generation, which is our responsibility. But it’s also a reminder to us. There’s a standard we have to meet. and that is to have a child like faith.

3. Ditch Childish Habits

1 Corinthians 13:11

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 13

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. 13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.-

Notice how it said, I put aside childish things. inverse 11. not childmike, but childish. It really goes back to your priorities. If anything you desire outside of God’s will gets in front of God’s will. Then you’re being childish. But if you desire the will of the Lord, and you sit and wait until it tells you to move. That’s been childlike.

So to finish up. ask yourself today. is your faith, childlike and leading people to Jesus? or raise your faith? childish and leading people to yourself?