Every children's sermon I ever heard and most of what I hear people saying to children concerning the Christian Faith has to do with behavior, aka, law. They speak of how children should act, how they should listen to daddy and mommy, be kind to their siblings, etc. Most children's "ministry" spend far more time on how children should act rather than how children are received by Father, which is only by faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Oh, yes, most give some opportunity to "receive" Jesus, but then go on to confine most of the training to being good little boys and girls.
In contrast, most sermon's to adults seem to emphasize forgiveness of sin and, "justification by faith," or, "God has great plans for you," etc. Christendom tends to emphasize to adults what Jesus has done for us, and to children what they should do for Him. We should indeed speak of how we should conduct ourselves, but this, "be good little boys and girls," is so central to children's work that it can all too often lead children to believe that, "the faith of Jesus," is primarily a faith of treating mommy nicely.
Our text today, indeed, Biblical Theology in general teaches that the Law, as Jesus said of the Sabbath, "was made for man, and not man for the [Law]." The Bible teaches that the Law is, "for our good always," and that, "the law was our school master (tutor) to bring us to Christ." As our text declares, "But when the fullness of the time had come," literally, when time had been, "'filled up', God sent forth His Son." The appearing of Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law, the fullness of all which is set forth in the Old Testament. The appearing of Jesus was to, "redeem those who were under the law," literally, to get us, "completely out from." Let the children be, "completely out from," also.
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to show children that they are accepted with You the same way I am, by faith, trust, and obedience to You in Jesus. Amen.
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* Berlin/East Europe Mission: March 26-April 25
* New Articles at: www.apf327.blogspot.com & www.apfjw.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
