Quick Answer
Childlike faith means humbling yourself, trusting your Heavenly Father completely, and following him without needing to know the plan, the way a child trusts a parent. Scripture uses the word ‘child’ 99 times in the New Testament and never once uses ‘adult’ to describe believers.
Key Takeaways
- The word ‘child’ appears 99 times in the New Testament while ‘adult’ is never used to describe believers.
- Matthew 18:1-6 teaches that whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Becoming an adult in God’s kingdom often means getting distracted, thinking we know better, and forgetting God is our Father.
- God isn’t disappointed when we fail, he hurts for us because he already knew how it would turn out.
- Simplicity, not having to know the plan, not caring how you look, is what the church is missing today.
- Mark 10:15 warns that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.
What does it mean to become a child of God?
As I was preparing this message, I kept thinking about how much I love being a youth pastor because I get to be a big kid, have fun, and do silly things. That’s where the idea for this message came from: becoming a child. Did you know the word child is used 99 times in the New Testament? Ninety-nine times. You know how many times the word adult is used? Never.
God calls us his children. He says become a child of mine, he doesn’t say become an adult of mine. As we start heading into a new season, I think part of recalibrating is getting back to the basics of what it means to be a child of God and what that requires of us.
I think it’s one of those things where as you get older and become an adult, you start to get in the way of what God has planned for you. You start to think you know a little bit better. You stop paying attention as much and start forgetting that he’s your Father, he created you, you didn’t create him. We struggle as adult Christians because we forget how to be children of God.
What does Matthew 18:1-6 teach about becoming like a child?
In Matthew 18:1-6 it says the disciples came to Jesus asking who’s the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and calling a child to him, he put the child in the midst of them and said unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, and whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. But whoever causes one of these little ones to sin, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.
That’s some harsh language from Jesus, but he understands the gravity of a child’s innocence. We love kids because of their innocence. They listen to what the adult in the room says. As a parent, your kids look to you to provide, to educate, to equip them, because they don’t think that way. They just want to go have fun and play, because mom’s got it, dad’s got it. Why should it be any different in his kingdom? If we’re allowing God to lead us and being his children, then God provides. Our job is simple, just like kids on a playground who don’t care about anything but playing with their friends while it’s the parents’ job to worry about what’s going on around them.
Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like the children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones to sin, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Matthew 18:1-6
What does the story about his son and the car teach about trusting God?
I tell a story, and my son gets mad every time I tell it, but it’s one of my favorites because it shows how we are when it comes to God’s kingdom. My son had worked hard, gotten his taxes done, had about two grand, and said, Dad, I’m going to buy me a car. I told him to go ahead. He came to me with a plan, and when I asked where the car was, whether he’d seen it, he said no, but he’d emailed some guy. In my head I knew this wasn’t going to go the way he hoped.
It broke me, because I knew what was about to happen, just like it breaks God when he knows what’s about to happen to us and we don’t listen to him or pay attention. Sure enough, the guy took his money, never delivered the car, and my son lost his two grand. What made it painful for me wasn’t the money, it was that instead of coming to me and letting me love on him, he hid from me for two days because he thought I was disappointed in him.
It wasn’t disappointment, I was hurting for him because I understood how this was going to turn out. God is the same way with us. He’s not disappointed in us, he hurts for us when we don’t allow him to lead us, when God clearly puts things in our path saying you probably shouldn’t go this way, but we say, no, God, I got a plan, I got this figured out.
Why is simplicity what’s missing in the church today?
As a grandfather, I love my five-year-old grandson so much. He’s the best thing ever, and he don’t know nothing, so whatever grandpa says, he’s in it, we’re going to ride together. It’s the best feeling because he doesn’t think, he just does whatever grandpa says, he’s obedient. Why are we not that same way in our relationship with God? Why are we not that kid where it doesn’t matter, we’re just going to be obedient?
Why do we have to know the plan? My grandson doesn’t care about the plan, he cares whether grandpa’s going to get there so we can have some fun and get ice cream. The plan does not matter to him one iota. Why does the plan matter so much to you? What are you going to do differently than the God who created you about the plan? Nothing but mess it up.
A kid doesn’t have an identity, he’s just a kid. He doesn’t care how he looks. How many of us have kids who wear two different shoes and three different shirts, and in their mind they’ve got shoes on, clothes on, they can go play. That simplicity is what we’re missing in the church today. That simplicity is why people are looking for other groups to belong to instead of this one, because we’ve gotten in the way of being children and decided we’re going to be adults, thinking we know better than God.
If you know me long enough, I always say my job is to be obedient, my job is never to ask why.
Pastor Eric Williams
How should we talk to God like a child talks to a parent?
You know how God likes to sit there and listen to you pray about the smallest things, because it’s about having a relationship with your Father, sitting there having a conversation with him. It’s one of the things I love most because I get to spend time with him, be his kid, and relieve all the other stuff I carry because I’m too stubborn to give it to him.
We tell kids their life is easy because they don’t have a care in the world, because we carry it for them as parents. But we try not to allow God to carry ours. We don’t have the conversation. We would be so distraught if our kid was in trouble and didn’t come to us, yet we do the same thing to God, we don’t reach out and say, hey, can you help me, Father, I need you right now, I am struggling.
The guys get on me because in my prayers I always say, God, please show up and show out, because I have the expectation that my Dad’s going to show up and show out. As his child, I’m demanding things from my Father the way my kids demanded things from me, because I had to provide. It’s funny because when things are really crazy in a kid’s world, all they want is to be hugged and loved, they don’t need an explanation, they just need to know you’re there.
What is preventing you from being a child of God?
Mark 10:15 says, truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. He didn’t say be an adult, he didn’t say you had to have it together or figure it out. He just said be a child and watch what I do. One of the things I love about children is that nothing’s ever too serious with them. Why is it so serious with us?
What are you holding on to that’s preventing you from being a child of God the way you should be? You have the good book, you know the truth, why are you allowing yourself to sit in the struggle when God’s saying, come to the Father, come to me my child? He knew you before you were formed, he knows how many hairs are on your head, nobody on the planet knows that but God does.
It boggles my mind because we are quick to tell other people to trust God, quick to preach it, but we’re not quick to set the example ourselves. We know the truth, and we know what the lie is, and the lie tells us we need to be adults, that we’ve got this handled, and then when we fail, we want to run from God.
Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.
Mark 10:15
How does God respond when we fail him?
My son hid from me for two days because he knew he didn’t listen to his dad. When I met up with him, I just gave him a hug, told him I love him, and asked what’s next and how I could help. That’s what God does. He’s not trying to keep a record of wrongs, his son died so your sins can be forgiven. Why would you think he cares if you mess up?
If you’re a child of his, you know you can go to your Dad and he’s like, come on, let’s go to the next thing. That’s the beautiful thing about being in his kingdom, understanding that our sins are forgiven, we are free as a child of God. I get to sit with my Father and say, hey, remember that time when I probably shouldn’t have done that, but I didn’t get hurt, I know you probably helped me out right there, I appreciate it.
There’s no place I don’t belong because my Dad owns everything, it’s his house. Why should I feel uncomfortable if I’m following my Father? A kid will follow you wherever you go because they trust that mom knows, dad knows. God is the same way, he says come on, let’s go, which is why Jesus talks about leaving the ninety-nine to go find the one, because everybody matters to him.
What does it mean to humble yourself and receive God like a child?
As I wrap up, I want to go back to Matthew 18, verses four and five. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven, and whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. Being that way, we get to receive God and we get to share him, saying, hey, let me come tell you about my God, come be a child with me, let’s go to the playground and hang out, let’s go be kids for the greatest Father on the planet, the one who always shows up and never disappoints.
We are made to be imperfect, but he’s not, and he shows us how to work through that. Be a child of God and let him be the Adult, let him be the Father.
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.
Matthew 18:4-5
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the sermon focus on the word ‘child’ instead of ‘adult’?
The speaker points out that the word ‘child’ is used 99 times in the New Testament, but the word ‘adult’ is never used to describe believers. God calls us to become children of his, not adults of his.
What does Matthew 18:1-6 teach about greatness in the kingdom?
Jesus put a child in the midst of the disciples and said that unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
What did the story about the speaker’s son buying a car illustrate?
The speaker’s son ignored warning signs and lost his tax money to a scammer instead of listening to his dad’s caution. The speaker used this to show that God isn’t disappointed when we fail to listen to him, he hurts for us because he already knows how it will turn out.
Why do adults struggle to trust God the way children trust their parents?
As people get older they start thinking they know better, stop paying attention, and forget that God is their Father who created them, which causes them to get in the way of what God has planned.
What does Mark 10:15 say about entering God’s kingdom?
Mark 10:15 says whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it, meaning we’re called to simply be a child and watch what God does rather than trying to figure it all out ourselves.
How does God respond when we make mistakes?
The speaker explains that God is not trying to keep a record of wrongs since his son died so our sins can be forgiven. Like a father who hugs his son after he hid in shame, God welcomes us back and helps us move to the next thing.
Watch the full message from Convergence Community Church to hear this teaching on childlike faith in its entirety.
Read the full transcript
Good morning, good morning, good morning. Welcome, welcome, welcome. All right, who’s ready to worship? Okay, I have you guys stand to your feet. We can begin.
Amen. Thank you, worship team. Well, God bless you guys. Good morning, welcome to Convergence Community Church, where Community is our middle name. We’re glad to have you here joining us in the rec center today. What a beautiful day it is outside today, but we’re glad to be inside here worshiping God.
Pastor Eric’s Anniversary and Technical Challenges 3 min mark
I know it looks a little different today. Why is that? Well, that’s because Pastor Eric’s out today. Him and Stacy are out out on their 25th wedding anniversary. So we gave them, we gave them the day off and we said, yeah, no, go, go have fun. And so, of course, with that comes along all of the challenges and problems that we’ve been having tech-wise and stuff like that this morning trying to get set up. But God is good and we’re making our way through it. Amen, amen.
Bulletin and Online Resources 4 min mark
So hey, everything you need this morning you’re going to find at bulletin.convergence sd.com. That’s our online bulletin. In fact, if you’re joining us for the first time today, we invite you to go there, fill out the connect card that’s at the top of the page so that we know that you visited with us today. But also you’re going to find our worship lyrics and our sermon notes and our event calendar there. That’s bulletin.convergence.com, b l l t n dot on convergence s dot com. And and it’s mobile friendly. You can go on your mobile phone.
Ways to Give 6 min mark
Look at that. There are four different ways you can give at Convergence Community Church. You can give online at convergence.com. You can text your gift as well to 84321. Or you can drop dring in the little brown box back there on the back counter. And um, if you’re old school and you want to mail it in, you can do that as well. PO box 1 91131, San Diego, California 92159. I mixed it up for you guys there this morning so it wasn’t the same old, same old, same old.
Connect Groups and Events 7 min mark
Hey, um, our connect groups meet throughout the week. It is a long time between Sundays, so we encourage you guys to go and hang out with our connect groups throughout the week. On Mondays, we have our ladies that meet at 6:30 p.m. Thank, thank you ladies. Gentlemen, you meet on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. There we go. And then our middle schoolers, high schoolers, and college folk meet on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. We have a lot of those around. We just got back from nuts SP from last week and I’m still thinking about the funnel cake. I’m just telling you, it’s the truth. I’m still thinking about the funnel cake. I almost made a trip up there yesterday. Would you believe me if I said that just to get fun? I thought that’s ridiculous. Who would drive that far to get fun? Okay, I would, folks. I would.
Soup and Celebration Night 7 min mark
Hey, our favorite event is coming up. Well, I say our, but it’s, I know it’s my favorite event. And we hear so many great comments about it throughout the year. But is our soup and celebration night of worship. Why is it our favorite event? Well, we get to worship, which is awesome. But yeah, there’s like eight or nine different soups there. So it is awesome. You can Dy a bunch of different soups. They’re so good. It’s just a great night. Make sure you come out and join us. That’s going to be Sunday, November 17th. That’s next Sunday, uh, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. over David Lily, lean’s house. There’s my dad down there, back there. Thanks, Dad, for hosting this year for us, as always. If you need the address, you can find it on the flyers that are on the back table over there. Feel free to grab a flyer on the way out, invite some friends to come along with you, invite some neighbors. It’s a fun night. We hang out, we eat soup, which is so good. There’s so many different soups. Did I mention there’s like nine different soups? I know I did, but I just want you to remember there are like nine different soups there. And it’s awesome. And chili. Dad’s making chili. It’s going to be great. So make sure you come along and have some of that and invite your friends with us. A great night of worship also.
Operation Christmas Child and Other Ministries 9 min mark
Right now, we got our operation um Christmas Child going on. That’s the boxes that you see over there. For those of you if you haven’t grabbing a box yet, make sure you pick one of those up on the way out your door today. Fill that up. Put one big toy in there and a bunch of little stuff in there for Christmas for kids around the world. It’s an it’s an easy way to give back. So help us out and do that as well. Um, but uh, we’ve already got some boxes back. Thank you for that. And I think uh, coming up this week is going to be our last week we’re doing that. So make sure that you uh, you do that before we get into our sleeping bags for the homeless drive coming up in December. Man, the time’s going by quick. Uh, last but not least, do us a favor and grab your cell phones out of your pockets and would you check in to Facebook? Because every checkin goes to helping kids in need around the world in our partnership with Cosley. So we’d love for you to be able to do that as well.
Prayer and Worship 10 min mark
Okay, let’s pray and get back into worship. Lord, we thank you for this glor glorious day that you’ve given us today. And a glorious day it is, indeed. We just ask for your blessing over the rest of our worship and over our service today in your name. Everybody said amen. Would you all please join me and rise back up to your feet?
He’s preparing a place for me far beyond what hearts of mine he bird or eyes have. I believe that a day is coming he’s returning to his bright like the altar burning see the l r roing. Oh praise to God the Father. Oh praise to Christ the son. Oh prise to the Holy Spirit. Our God has over the K who was and is in heav more will be Jesus mighty name.
I from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how could I ever walk away from the one who save my life? No, I’ll never be ashamed of the Gospel Jesus Christ. How could I ever walk away from the one who saved my life? No, never be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How could I ever walk away from the one who save my life? Oh praise to God the Father. Oh praise to Christ the son. Oh praise to the Holy Spirit. Our God has overcome the King was and is heav more will be Jesus mighty name. I believe. Oh praise to God the Father. Oh praise to Christ the son. Oh praise to the Holy Spirit. Our God has the K was and is in heaven for will be in Jesus mighty name. I believe. Jesus mighty name.
Opening remarks and prayer 11 min mark
Okay, hey there we go. Hey, good morning church family. How are we doing today? It is awesome to see you all here. Uh, beautiful day again, it is amazing. So uh, I’m going to pray Us in and then do it. So father God we just come before you today just thankful uh just for another chance to be here as a family God just to worship you and praise you father. So I pray as um God as we have into today that every word that is said God will will be um will just be from you father and that what needs to be said and what what you need to have conveyed to us God that it would it would be a strong and powerful message in each of Our Lives God. I pray for missan as she goes with the kids God. I pray that you would just help her um just to teach the kids God what you have for them God and I pray for uh Pastor Eric today as we get into time with him God. I just pray that you would give him the words that you want him to say God and that it would just be an impactful message in our lives and your name I pray amen. Kids you are dismissed and uh like I said please help me welcome Pastor Eric Williams.
There we go see if you move too early then you get this whole feedback thing your ears and you blow your sound and it gets the thing um um good morning welcome. Uh before we get started father God thank you so much for this time Lord. I Thank you so much for this opportunity to be able to speak your truth to them to who’s here God to who’s around God online wherever it be God. I pray that your word lands where it needs to land and God you take anything away from me that does not need to be spoken today Father with that and your blessing amen.
Becoming a child and the word choice in scripture 18 min mark
So when I was doing this message and it was one of the things in my head and being a youth pastor I love it. I love it for the simple reason of I get to be a big kid. I get to have fun. I get to silly. I get to do stupid little things we get to just it is the best thing in the world and as I was doing this and as I I’m going to learn how to use this thing because I’m not good with the stand so we’re gonna work this out um but my message this morning is becoming a child. Do you know in the New Testament the word child is used 99 times? 99 times the word child is used in the New Testament. You know how many times the word adult is use? Never. God cses his children children. He says become a child of mine. Doesn’t say become an adult of mine. He says become a child of mine.
Becoming childlike and the path to adulthood 22 min mark
And I think one of the things that we need to as we are starting and and I think about this and I recalibrate and I’m always trying to figure out how do I want to head into the next year or what it look like what are little things I can tweak and I think part of is getting back to the basis of what it is to be a child of God and what does that look like what does that require of us because I think it’s one of those things as you get older you become adult you start to get in the way of what God got plann for you you start to think you know a little bit better you stop paying attention as much you start understanding and start forgetting that he’s your father he created you you didn’t create him we struggle as adults or adult Christians because we forget how to be children Christians. We forget how to be a child of God.
Matthew 18 and becoming like a child 25 min mark
And so it is in Matthew 18: 1-6 it says at the time the disciples came to Jesus saying who’s the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and calling out to a child he put him in the midst of them and said truly I say to you unless you turn and become like the children you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me but whoever causes one of these little ones to believe in me to sin it would it be better for him to have a great milestone fast around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea that’s some harsh language from Jesus. It is some harsh language but he understands the gravity.
Innocence and trust in children 26 min mark
The Innocence. We love kids because of their innocence. We love kids because it’s one of those things where they listen to what the adult says in the room. As a parent you have kids your kids look at you to provide they look at you to educate they look at you to equip them because they don’t think that way they think they just want to go have fun and just play around because mom’s got it dad’s got it why should it be any different in his kingdom if we’re going to God if we’re Allowing God to lead us if we’re being his children then God provides all our job is simple just like the kids in that playground they come here to play with their friends or play with each other they don’t care about nothing else but playing with those kids and playing with each other it’s their parents job to worry about what’s in the sand what’s going on around them none of that stuff matters today and when you start becoming adult when you’re adulting in God’s kingdom you start getting distracted you’re not focused and God’s like Hey listen I got this remember I created you so do what I need you to do Go Make Disciples you know how you make disciples just go make friends go hang out in the playground stop worrying about all the other stuff.
The story of his son and trust 28 min mark
It is it is one of those things it’s interesting and I tell a story cuz and my son gets mad every time I tell a story but it’s one of my favorites cuz this this is how we are when it comes to his kingdom. So my son had worked hard got his taxes done had about two grand he was like Dad I’mma buy me a car. I said you go son go ahead and get yourself a car. So he comes to me he’s like Dad I got this plan and I said Son and so he’s trying to tell me I’m like so my first question always is where’s the car at have you seen the car he’s like no dad but I emailed this guy and so and so and so and I’m like listen where’s the car at cuz in my head I know this don’t sound right it don’t feel right nothing about this is about to go down the way he hope is about to go down but he’s like no dad listen to my story listen to my story and I’m like okay so I listen to his story as he tells the whole thing of what this guy tells him to do and everything and it breaks me it breaks me because I know what’s about to happen it breaks God when God knows what’s about to happen to us when we don’t listen to him we don’t allow him to speaking to us we’re not paying attention it breaks him.
And so as it goes on this happen on like a Tuesday my son says Dad I’ll pick the car up and I’ll call you call you tomorrow couple days go by I don’t hear nothing from my son I know why I don’t hear nothing from my son because it went exactly like I thought it was GNA went the guy took his money he never got the car and the guy never could do anything about it all gone two grand gone what he saved for his tax money all gone here’s the thing and here’s what makes it hard and makes it painful for me me because instead of coming to me and allowing me to love on him he didn’t because he thought I was disappointed in him and it wasn’t disappointment I was paying for him because I understood what was going to go on because I knew how this was going to turn out God’s the same way with us God’s not disappointed in us he hurts for us when we don’t allow him and we don’t follow him we don’t allow him to to tell us when God God clearly puts things in your path to say Hey you probably shouldn’t go this way or do this thing but you like no D God I got a plan I got a I got this figured out and he’s like it don’t work that way remember and I I said this earlier 99 times is the word child used in the New Testament never once is the word adult remember what you became when you became a child of God you cast off your old ways that means you started to listen you started to understand that God loves you and your God that loves you your father who creates your father says hey I will sit with you in those places wants to help you so that in those places you know where it comes from it is one of those.
Things where if you’re a kid and and and it’s it’s interesting because as a grandfather one of those where I love my grandson I just eat him up he’s just five years old he’s the best thing ever and he’s just he don’t know nothing so whatever grandpa says he’s like in it we we going to ride together it is the best feeling ever because he don’t think he just does whatever grandpa says he’s obedient why are we not that same way when it comes to God in our relationship with him why are we not that kid that’s just it doesn’t matter we’re just G to be obedient why do we have to know the plan my grandson don’t care about the plan he’s Grand care about whether Grandpa’s gonna get there and we gonna have some fun and get some ice cream the plan does not matter him one iota why does the plan matter to you what are you going to do different than the God who created you about the plan nothing but mess it up if you know me long enough I always say my job is to be obedient my job is never ask why I don’t need to know why I don’t need to question the one person who’s perfect who has never felt who was always there I don’t need to know why it is it is.
Jesus on receiving the kingdom like a child 32 min mark
One of those where um as I was digging the scripture I was looking at this and Jesus is very simple with this and it’s always one to is if you just sometimes not look beyond the text but look in the text it tells you and I love this when it you know and he says right here in in verse 5 he says whoever receives one such shall in my name receives me that is that that when we’re imitation of him then we receive him then we’re showing him then we’re giving him a kid doesn’t have an identity he’s just a kid he don’t know who he is where he going where they going whatever they are just who they are and that is they don’t care about none of else they don’t care how they look that I mean how many of us done have kids that just wear two the wrong shoes throwing by three different shirt like they just it’s like where are you going looking like a hobo but in their mind it’s like I got on shoes I got on clothes I can go play it doesn’t factor in their mind that way that Simplicity is what we’re missing in the church today that Simplicity is why they are people looking for other groups to belong to and not this one because we have gotten in the way of being children and decided we’re going to be adults because we think we know better than God you cannot perfect the plan that’s already perfect he made it simple yo job is just to follow it your job is to be a child and say okay God you tell me to run through here I’m going to run through here I whatever it may be and if it means I wear two wrong shoes and a different color shirt then I’m GNA do that it is just that simple stop complicating it he says it over and over again in the New Testament Jesus talks about it all the time there’s a reason for it.
Childlike focus and conversation with God 33 min mark
You know how interestes it is to sit there and and for those who’ve talked to kids and whatever um you sit there you talk to a kid and they just it is one of those things where they’re just in it they’re focused on you locked on you no matter what the conversation is it can be the dumbest thing that’s why I love about kids because I can talk about the crazy stuff and they will just sit there and let me ramble and I like to talk so it’s fun it is fun you know how God likes to sit there and listen to you pray about the sest things but what it is that you’re having a relationship with your father you’re sitting there having a conversation talk to him it is one of the things I love to do most because it just literally is like I get to spend time with him I get to be his kid I get to releve all the other stuff that I have to carry because I’m too stupid to give it to him.
Parents carrying burdens and reaching out to God 34 min mark
Think about it your kids’s life is easy right now we tell kids your life is easy because you don’t have a care in the world because you because we carry it we carry it their parents our job is we carry that but yet we try not to allow God to carry ours we don’t have the conversation we would be so straught if our kid was in trouble and need and didn’t come to us didn’t say hey Mom Dad I need your help this is what’s going on I’m in this place I’m struggling yet we do the same thing to God we in a we’re in a place where we the one person that is always there for us we don’t reach out to and say hey can can you help me father I need you right now I am struggling in this this sin has a grip on me this depression has a grip me this anxiety which you told me not to be anxious about anything has a grip on me Father Can you help me and he always shows up.
The guys get on me because in my prayers I always say God please show up and show out because I have the expectation of my dad’s going to show up and show out I put him in that place say father I need you to cuz I can’t and you can as his child I’m demanding things from my bed because my kids demanded things and needed things from me that I had to provide so my dad does the same thing if I’m imitating him if I’m being his child then I’m stepping in place say father can you I need you this is going on this is how bad it is and a kid ain’t kid it’s it’s funny because when when things are really crazy in the kids world all they want to do is be hugged and loved they don’t need an explanation they just need you to know that you’re there God sitting there like just let me know I’m letting you know I’m here and it could be whether it be spiritual in your time alone it could be relationships that you have.
Being the parent and mentor God calls you to be 36 min mark
I I I look at my kids and it’s one of those things whereas I am as a single dad I was so proud that my kids had so many friends of different whatever ethnicities or whatever but they just had friends they picked some really good friends and they still have some of them to this day which is crazy in my brain because you know I didn’t think relationships last with this Young Generation like that but they do and it was a beautiful thing to watch as they all just you know I became the cool dad I became a dad that everybody wanted to come you know hang around with because I was that one whereas I was going to feed into my kids there was never nothing that we could not talk about there was never nothing that we could not have a disc it was never nothing that I was not going to be available for you because I wanted to know that I’m always going to be here you know till God removes me but I always going to be here for him like the god I imitate like the God I serve like the God I’m a child of I’m going to exhibit that to them I exhibit that to those that I Mentor that I love on that are either they part of youth group who used to be part of this church or have moved on I still have that because that is what my God calls me to do.
What is preventing you from being a child of God 38 min mark
What is preventing you today from being a child of God the way you should be what is stopping you what is the delting thing that you’re trying to do that you think is better to listen to God letting God be the father and the leader the head of the house it is said sometimes one of the best things about leadership is learning how to follow learn how to follow learn how to understand that I’m going to serve learn to understand that it is humble and humility and not Pride as a man you know we we we’re built on ego bado and pride so it’s harder to go ask for help at times it’s harder to say hey I need can you help me especially when you have to provide for others I learned that lesson early about being humble because it wasn’t about me Church it ain’t about you it’s about those who are out there struggling that need to know God humble yourselves and be a child and allow him to lead you to those that need to be present whether it be here or whatever other some other Church whatever but they need to get to God.
Mark 10:15 and receiving like a child 39 min mark
Mark 10:15 it says truly I say to you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall never shall not enter it I truly say to you whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it it is spoken of how we should be he didn’t say be an adult he didn’t say you had to have it together he didn’t say you need to figure it out he didn’t say anything he said just be a child and watch what I do one of the things that I love about children and and if you’ve been around them enough you know they just they are simple Joys nothing’s ever too serious with them why is it with us what do you holding on to that’s preventing you and I ask this question and I’ll ask it again what is holding you preventing you from being a child of God the way you should be you have the good book you know the truth why are you allowing yourself to sit in the struggle when God’s like come to the father come to me my child he knew you before you were formed he knows how many hairs are on your head the Bible says it don’t nobody on the planet knows that but God does God knows those things that you won’t tell nobody but he knows so why not go to him why not sit with your father and say Dad I know need.
You it is, it is in my brain. It it boggles my mind because we are quick to tell other people to do it, we’re quick to preach it, but we’re not quick to set the example. And we know the truth, know exactly what it is, we know what it is, and we know what the lie is. And the lie allows us to say, “Hey, you need to be adult, you can handle this ‘cuz you got this.” And then when you fail, because I’ve been in that place, then you want to run from God because it’s like, “Oh, I know I did wrong.” Like my son, he hid from me for two days because he knew I didn’t listen to my dad. And when I met up with him, I just gave him a hug to him, I love him, I was like, “What’s next? How can I help you?” That’s what God does. He’s not trying to keep a record of wrongs. His son died so your sins can be forgiven. Why would you think he cares if you make a mistake, if you messed up? But if you’re a child of his, you know you can go to your dad and he’s like, “Come on, let’s go to the next.” That’s the beautiful thing about being in his kingdom. That’s the beautiful thing about understanding that our sins are forgiven. We are free as a child of God.
I get the chance to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I get to sit in my father and say, “Hey, you know, remember that time when I rode that like, and I probably shouldn’t have went down that hill, but you know, and I didn’t break my leg. I know you probably help me out right there. I appreciate it all that time I should have, but you did, and we’re good,” because I understood who I am as a child of God.
Belonging in the Kingdom 41 min mark
I, I, I think the biggest thing I’ve learned in understanding how to move, especially being a ministry, is there’s no place that I don’t belong because my dad owns everything. It’s his house. Why should I feel uncomfortable if I’m following my father? A kid will follow you to wherever you go. Your kid will follow wherever you go because they like, my mom knows, my dad knows, I’m not worried. God is the same way. God’s like, “Hey, come on, let’s go.” Hence why, you know, Jesus talks about, you know, leaving the ninety-nine and going to find one. Everybody matters. All his kids does.
Humility and Receiving God 42 min mark
As I wrap up and I call the worship team up, I want to go back to Matthew and I want to read verse four and five for it says, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Humility, got to be humble. Five: “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” Being that way, we get to receive God, and we get to share. We get to say, “Hey, listen, let me come tell you about my God. Hey, come be a child. Me, hey, let’s go to the playground and hang out. Hey, let’s go, you know, get some candy, somebody. Hey, let’s go, let’s go be kids for the greatest father on the planet, the one that always shows up and never disappoints.”
Following as a New Father 43 min mark
As you start your journey, about to be a dad for the first time, there’s so many things going through your head, and God’s like, “Just follow me and watch how I lead you.” It’s a beautiful thing because we are made to be imperfect, but he’s not, and he shows us how to get through that, he shows us how to work through that. We a child of God, and let him be the adult, father God.
Closing Prayer 44 min mark
We thank you so much for this time, Lord. We thank you so much his ability to be able to sit in this place, understand what it is to become a child of yours, God, what it looks like, what it requires of us, God, what it calls us to be, Lord. I thank you so much for this opportunity, God. I pray that we get back to the just simple joint roots of becoming your children and the way, father, that we are just so bound to you, that we’re humble, that we understand, father, that in our, in what we may consider disappointment, it is pain you because we didn’t go to you in the first place. We thought we knew better, God. I pray this message land where it need to land, God. I pray I did you justice, God. I pray, father, that it is understood what it is to be a child of God and what it feels like, God, knowing that, father, in this time, we all need you. We all should be turning, you, our eyes should be fixed on you so that you can fix what is present in front of us, father. Thank you so much, and in your son’s name I pray, amen. Thank you you please join us in worship to the end today off.
Worship and Praise 45 min mark
He breaks the power of sin and darkness whose love is mighty and so much stronger. The king of glory, the king above all kings. Who shakes the caller with holy thunder and leaves us breathless in on wonder. The king of glory, the king above all kings. This is amazing grace. This is a faith that you would take my that you would bear my cross, you would lay down your life that I would be set free. Jesus, I for all that you’ve done for me. Who brings our chaos back into order, who makes the open a son and daughter, the king of glory, the king of glory. Who R the nations with truth and justice, shines like the sun all of its brilliance, the king of glory, king above all king. Death is insisting grace. This isn’t failing love that you would take my face that you would bear my cross, you will lay down your life that I be oh, Jesus, I sing worthy. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. Worthy is the king who conquered the grave. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. Worthy is the king who conquered the grave. Worthy is the Lamb who slain. Worthy is the king who conquered the grave. Worthy is the Lamb who slain. You are worthy. Oh, this is amazing grace. This is a faith that you would take my place that you would bear my cross, you would lay down your life that I would be set free, oh Jesus, I sing for all that you done for me.
Final Blessing and Dismissal 46 min mark
Amen. Father God, we just thank you for today, God. We just thank you that we don’t have to worry, God, because you know everything. You know exactly what we need, God. So would you just help us to have that faith like a child, father God? I just thank you for for who you are and who you continue to be, God. You never change. You stay the same, God. Thank you for your mercy and your grace. Would you help us to remember it, and that you know the best, God, and that you have a perfect plan for us, father. We thank you. We praise you. And all these things we say, amen. Church family are dismissed.