Sermon Video: Faith like a child - Luke 18:15-17

In this passage, Jesus uses a minor incident in which his disciples attempt to keep parents who are bringing their children for Jesus to bless from bothering him, a decision that he reverses when he welcomes the children, as yet another teachable moment.  As he welcomes the children, Jesus declares that the kingdom of God actually belongs to those are are somehow like these little children.  On top of that, Jesus completes the analogy by saying metaphorically that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they do so, "like a little child".  So, what is it about children, in general, that makes their attitudes or mentality ideal for entrance into the kingdom of God?  There are several possible answers, and because the text doesn't spell it out explicitly our answers are not dogmatic, but among them are these three child-like attributes: (1) children are dependent, not independent.  They aren't trying to earn things on their own but are content to receive what they need from others.  The pride of the Pharisee in the previous passage kept him far from God despite his massive efforts, while the humility of the wretched tax collector convinced him to rely upon God's mercy, which he found. (2) Children are trusting, not cynical.  The cynicism that we all experience, usually beginning in our teen years, is a learned response due to the lies and betrayals that we experience in life.  Trust, however, is crucial to our acceptance of what God has done for us, we must rely upon his promises, in that sense, children have the advantage for they have not yet learned to doubt the truth.  (3)  Children are enthusiastic, not apathetic.  Lastly, we need to have hope, we need to believe in order to enter the kingdom of God, if we have none we won't even seek redemption.  For children, as the saying goes, "hope springs eternal", they believe in the possibility of good things (Santa Claus being a prime example of this innocent hope) when adults instead see every potential problem.
We must enter the kingdom of God, "like a little child", and once we have done so, it is important for us not to lose those qualities, even if life conspires to beat them out of us, we can always return to our roots, returning to Jesus with the trust, enthusiasm, and dependence of a child.

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Sermon Video: "to become children of God", John 1:10-13

As the prologue to the Gospel of John continues, John writes of the lack of reception of the Word of God by first his own creation, which did not recognize him, and then his own people, who did not receive him.  This rejection, both baffling and ironic, could have been a disaster for humanity, but God’s mercy triumphed over man’s obstinacy to extend God’s grace to “all who received him” regardless of who they might be.  That God would continue to work to forgive humanity despite the difficulties that effort continues to encounter is certainly a testament to the mercy of God, but John’s explanation of God’s actions doesn’t stop at his mercy, it continues to and showcases God’s grace.  Those who do receive the Word, the Christ, are not only forgiven, but far beyond that they are also given the “right to become children of God”.  God is not only willing to forgive, and avert the wrath we had earned through rebellion, but also desires to reconcile humanity to himself by making those who accept him part of his family.  This spiritual adoption is a blessing unlooked for, and certainly one that is not capable of being earned, a true act of Amazing Grace from God to us.  What does it mean to be a “child of God”?  There are rights and privileges that come with it, but in the end the most important thing may be the knowledge that God chose you as his own, he loved you enough to seek you out, and that is certainly a reason to know joy at Christmas.

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