Jesus Drops the Mic

Kids in the Mainstream - Jesus’ Ministry 2

This is part 2 in a series of posts about kids belonging in the mainstream of church life. Part 1 is here.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (Matthew 19:13–15 ESV)

This episode comes just one chapter after Jesus told his disciples that they had to change and become like children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. That they had to humble themselves like children in order to be great. That when they welcomed children, they were welcoming Jesus.

But here the disciples rebuke and try to send away people who want to bring children to Jesus. Some folks are hard on the disciples here, but I don’t think they were bad guys. They probably observed that some “important” people were waiting to see Jesus. Or maybe a crowd was gathered to hear him preach. They wanted to prioritize and keep things moving.

Jesus famously scolds his disciples and welcomes the children, but that’s not all. The passage  says that after he laid his hands on the children, HE WENT AWAY! Yes, I just shouted. Because, after blessing the children, Jesus dropped the mic and left. 



Whoever was waiting to talk to him, whatever crowd had gathered to be healed or hear him teach--they had to come back another day. That’s how emphatic Jesus was about the importance of children.

This passage challenges me to be fully present with my own children and to prioritize ministry to children in my church. How about you?

Kids in the Mainstream - Jesus' Ministry

This is the first in a series of posts about kids belonging in the mainstream of church life.

When you picture Jesus and his disciples, do you picture children with them?  I mean, except for that one time when he had to rebuke the disciples. If we look closely, several episodes in the Gospels indicate that Jesus often had kids around during his ministry years.

We get the following exchange in Matthew 18: 1-5

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, 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. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, . . ." (ESV)

Jesus called a child and put him in the middle. Notice that Jesus didn't have to send someone out to find a child somewhere. The child (maybe several children) were already with Jesus and his disciples. We’ll see in future posts that Jesus seems to have had children around all the time.

Jesus told his disciples:

• to turn and become like children

• to  humble themselves like children, and

• to receive children.


These three things would be very difficult for the disciples to do if they weren’t around children regularly!

Imagine two people, both trying to become like children and humble themselves like children. One has a list of childlike qualities to emulate. The other actually spends time with children. The one with the list will struggle with the abstract task. But the one who is around children catches their qualities like catching a cold. This one enters the kingdom of heaven like a child and becomes great in the kingdom while becoming humble.

Jesus was wise to spend time with children, and we would be too!

How do you and your church community treat children? Are they in the mainstream of church life?

photo credit

Feeling Inadequate?

I’m a pastor who hasn’t been to seminary and a preschool director who isn’t a licensed child-care provider. (We do have a wonderful licensed provider on our staff though!) Most of my relevant training has been on-the-job or through my own studies.

People tell me I’m doing well, but I still deal with feelings of inadequacy from time to time, especially when I’ve worked my tail off on a sermon and it still doesn’t feel quite right. It’s not to the point of impostor syndrome, but still.

That’s why I was so encouraged the other day when I read Paul’s words to the Corinthians:

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. (2 Cor. 3:4-6 ESV)

If you’re like me and feel insufficient to the task sometimes--in your parenting, ministry, work, or school--let’s remember this: Our sufficiency is from God, not ourselves.

How about you? Do you ever feel like you don't have what it takes? How do you deal with it?

Photo by H. Michael Karshis