2019-01-02 Mark 9:42

Mark 9:42 CSB

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Who do you really care about?

Mark 9:42 CSB

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

The way we view children shows who we really worship.

Mark 9:42 CSB

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Illus: This small verse must be read in the context of the whole of it’s context.

The direct context shows disgruntled disciples because people are not following them.

Within the story the disciples are arguing about who was the greatest.

In large part we are viewing children more and more as a curse.

In recent days there are restaurants opening which are kid free, weddings are now advertised as kid free… and if we are truthful many people (parents included) would be ok if church was kid free.

We see church as our time… and investing in kids during worship is exhausting. Kids are distracting, kids are loud, kids don’t behave, kids require attention.

That said, If you have kids, If there are kids in our worship center, they are our future.

Don’t fall into the trap of the disciples.

Mark 9:33–37 CSB

33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, he called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.” 36 He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.”

Children will embody what we actually believe.

Mark 9:42 CSB

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Illus: My course of study over the past few years for my doctorate has been why children raised in the church leave the church.

Here are the conclusions I came to....

Kids magnify what they see at home.

So, If you are a few times to church a year parent, your kids will completely drop out. They won’t be a few times a year, they will not darken the door of the church.

If you are a parent who displays a vibrant relationship with Christ, your kids will be stronger than you.

One of the big things I have learned is that kids whose parents go to church, but see little impact during the week, will leave church completely.

They way you live at home will determine whether your kids will follow Jesus when they are older.

Matthew 23:13–15 CSB

13 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in. 15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are!

What legacy are you going to leave?

Mark 9:42 CSB

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Do we actually invest into children.

Mark 9:42 CSB

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Illus: As a church we need to step up in our love of children.

We should be beating the doors down on carrie’s office with volunteers for VBS.

Every person in the church should be willing to serve quarterly in the nursery. I know it may not be your gift, but kids are just that important, and there is a need.

We need volunteers to help with kids coming from abuse and neglected households every Thursday nights in CR.

If you have grandkids whose parents don’t come to church, go get them and bring them.

If your next door neighbors have kids, adopt them, sith with them, and bring them.

To parents: You face a temptation to send your kids away during service. You face the temptation of handing them your phone and letting them zone out during the sermon.

When you are a parent, part of your worship to God on Sunday morning is helping your child worship. It is ok for you to whisper during service to help them out. If they are young, have them color pictures from the sermon, count how many times I say a word. As they get older, teach them how to take notes during the preaching. The way your kids will learn to connect and stick in church is for YOU parents to teach them.

Mark 10:13–16 CSB

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.

Parents, your commitment to Christ and his church matter to your kids.

Mark 9:42 CSB

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Illus: Here are some tough words… your kids learn their faith and priorities from you.

If you pick ball over church… your kids learn the value of church.

If your bible sits in the same spot it was left after church never touched, your kids see it.

If you play the game of church, but don’t live out your faith at home, your kids will leave

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 CSB

4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates.

Real faith leaves disciples.

Mark 9:42 CSB

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Kids are apart of our mission field.

Mark 9:42 CSB

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Illus: Kids are far more than a nusience to be tolerated… they are our mission field, our future.

When we look at the kids in our nursery they are the future deacons, teachers and leaders of our church. The way you raise your kids will determine who our church will be in the next generation.

Psalm 127:3–5 CSB

3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the Lord, offspring, a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons born in one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has filled his quiver with them. They will never be put to shame when they speak with their enemies at the city gate.