Contemplating the kids...
It's been my habit to blog periodically on the topic of each Sunday's sermon. I sometimes get out of the habit, as was the case between May and this month, but our sermons at Elevate Church myelevatechurch.com have been so good, I can't help but share.
Something I was taught long ago, and still practice today: taking notes. You will always absorb and remember more of what you hear, when you take notes. It's also true that sharing information with others helps us to learn the material ourselves, and part of my reason for sharing is my own desire to internalize these messages.
We are excited to welcome new children's ministers to our leadership team this month, and today's sermon was shared by Phillip Heider, our new Children's and Family Life pastor. He began by sharing about God's calling on his life - a passion for discipling the next generation of world changers. These young babies and children who will grow up in a fast changing world - a world very different from the world most of us grew up in. Phillip's calling is to the next generation of Jesus followers. To instill in them the truth of Jesus, and to instill a love for Jesus that empowers them to be salt and light to the world.
I was excited about what he shared...all the more so because working with children in a structured setting has not been a gifting of mine. I love children; playing with children, engaging with them; listening to them, and celebrating them. Still, when it comes to teaching children in a classroom setting, I feel at a total loss. We desperately need young adults and older adults who share Phillip's passion for teaching and bringing up this next generation to know and love Jesus.
To lay groundwork for what the calling to influence the next generation looks like, Phillip pointed out our need to begin with a Kingdom mindset. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus reminds us to store up our treasures in heaven, not here on earth. Every treasure we have here on earth, including the people and pets we love, will one day be gone. In the words of scripture, every earthly treasure is vulnerable to rust and moths, and the natural process of death, destruction and loss. Spiritual treasure is immune from such things - there are no thieves in heaven, no rust, no moths; no loss or destruction.
Wherever your treasure is, there will be your heart also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
Where is your treasure? Your heart? Your passion? Is it here on earth? With things, success, or people you love? Remember that people are temporary too, though we love them no less for that fact. At the end though, everything earthly is temporary, even our beloved spouses, children and family.
As I listened to Phillip's message, I was reminded of a popular saying, "I'm ALL in!" A great saying - it speaks to commitment and passion, and a willingness to stay the course, no matter what comes.
I asked myself today, what am I "all in" for?
Fortunately, we have a fairly reliable way to determine whether we are "all in," and for what. Here is a gauge you can use right now, and it will tell you where your heart is, and what captures your passion in life today:
1. Where do you spend your time? Daily. Weekly, Monthly. Annually.
2. Where do you invest your energy?
3. Where and how do you spend your money?
Returning to the children and youth for just a moment...how do you impact a generation for Christ? We have the most powerful example in the life of Jesus, Himself. He selected 12 men to follow him during his short 3-year ministry on earth. These guys were a somewhat raggedy bunch...fishermen, and tax collectors. They weren't 'spiritual leaders' by any definition. Not at all.
And yet, with the exception of Judas, who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and then committed suicide, these men turned the world as they knew it upside down. Their treasure was decidedly not of this world. They risked everything to tell the story of Jesus, the Christ. To testify to his miracles, his death, and his resurrection.
How did a bunch of mostly unrelated men from different backgrounds become world-changers?
Jesus taught them; lived with them, cried, laughed, ate, drank and slept with them. They did life together. Jesus lived out the teachings of scripture before their eyes. There was no inconsistency between the man and the message. Day in, and day out...the man Jesus lived consistently the message of God's story. The story of God's desire to be in relationship with us, and the story of God's power to change our hearts, minds and lives through the power of forgiveness and redemption.
When you think about the kids in your world, whether they are your children, or the children of someone you know - remember this story of Jesus and the 12 guys whose lives were changed forever. You have the same opportunity to make a radical impact on the lives of children. I have the same opportunity. The power to live a life of love, grace and holiness is available to us when we are followers of Jesus. The capacity to live a life of consistency and godliness is within our reach.
Whether you have a vocational calling to children's ministry, or not; we all have a calling to impart the love and power of Jesus' life to the children we come in contact with. We have no time to waste - the world needs us to impact these kids, because the world will need these kids to be its godly leaders in the days ahead. The beginning of the school year is the perfect time to get started.
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