Matt:
Amen. Come on. That is so, so good. I just leaned over to Josie and said, "I just want you to notice how enthused people are until we get up there." Um, I'm just telling you, there's a little bit of a difference and it is a great, great day to come and just celebrate what God has been doing over this last week. Um, listen, if you are visiting with us today, um, beside me is Miss Josie Run. All right? Um, yeah. Man, you have a reputation. Um, Josie is our director of Childhood Ministries here and listen to know Josie is to love her. Her and her team absolutely are the best kids team on the planet. I mean, they really, really are. This past week has shown it and it has been a great week. I wanna talk about the week a little bit, uh this week and bring out a couple maybe other things that maybe you don't know about the week or some behind the scenes action from it.
Josie, I want you to give us maybe some stats. Um, exactly how big was this week? Um, how did the building feel? Do we have room left over? I mean, can we expand? Do we have plenty of spots for people? And I hear a little rumor that we completely shut down traffic for all of West Cobb this week, um, this week, which is a dream of every pastor, right? Um, this week, Josie, give us a glimpse into the week on how big was it?

Josie:
Yeah, it was big. It was electric and, and you're not kidding. I had a mom tell me, "It took me 30 minutes to get here from Mars Hill Road." And so at, for the 9:00 AM drop off. Uh, but we had 1551 kids here this week, which is just incredible. To give you ... Yeah, it's amazing. Um, to give you a perspective on that, that's larger than any elementary school in our area. So, uh, the Lord just really pressed in this year to make room. So we reallocated some stuff, did things a little bit differently so that we could free up as many classrooms as possible. We had 83 VBS classrooms, that doesn't count crafts and music and those kind of things, but actual classrooms where they got to sit and learn about Jesus, 83 of them. So the logistics behind that, because that means 83 different rotation schedules.
Um, 1500 kids means that's like 19 kids per classroom. Of course, it balances a little different, but, um, but that we were able to meet the needs. So yeah, we have more room. We're gonna bring them back next year. Um, volunteers, 565 volunteers. Come on. Volunteer team members. You cannot thank you enough just pouring into the lives of kids this week, so it was pretty special.

Matt:
So, so, okay, I'm a child of the '80s. Uh, when I showed up at VBS, I just felt like it just happened. Uh, nobody did anything for it. I knew they did. Um, but give us, give us a little bit of the why, because Josie, there is so many elements that goes into 83 different rotation schedules and all ... I mean, this is adult volunteer run, student volunteer run. Give us a little bit of the why behind it. I mean, like, why spend months recruiting volunteer? Why spend months doing background checks and why open the building for, for four or five hours a day for five days? I mean, give us a little bit of the why behind the what, because this is a lot of effort.

Josie:
It is, but Mark 9:37 says, you know, "Whoever welcomes a child in my name welcomes me and not just me, but the one who sent me. " So as we're welcoming children in the name of Jesus, his spirit is here, his presence in here is here and he's moving, not just in the lives of the children, which is what we expect to se, but also in the lives of those who are serving. And so what our kids got to see this week was they got to see, um, the kids, the students were up here last week who came back from Kenya, who we had trained to be able to share their faith doing that in the VBS, uh, classrooms and throughout the week. And so that is powerful for our kids to see God working and moving in the next generation of the church and for them to share their faith so powerfully, that has an impact on children.
And then we saw our adults with special needs jumping in to serve all around the building in the way they serve with such joy and just such wonder that was impactful for our kids to see. And then what they saw was the church doing what the church do- does best and that's, that's loving, not just through their words, their testimony through their words, but through their actions. Jesus said, "You will know us by our love." And that's what we saw and felt this week. And then at the end of the week, hearts and lives changed as a result of all that God did.

Matt:
Now, Josie, not just a few hearts and life change. Yeah. Tell us what happened,

Josie:
Um,

Matt:
And how many kids' lives were changed this week.

Josie:
Yeah, by the end of the week, there were 110 kids who gave their life to Christ.

Matt:
Come on. That's awesome. So a lot of people, um, maybe dropped off, picked up. Uh, a lot of people kind of maybe saw just their area of service. Um, but a lot of us don't know exactly what happens in a kid's life from that nine o'clock to that noon or whenever you did guys decide to pick them up. Um, what happens in that? Walk us through maybe the life of the third grader in BBS. What are the elements? What does it all point to? How does it work? Well,

Josie:
The third grader gets, uh, comes into the building in the children's building and then they have to check in and then walk all the way over to the other corner upstairs where their classroom was. Um, and then they would check in with their teacher, do some opening activities and then they'd be in this room, uh, at 9:30 AM for a large group worship rally. And it's full of energy and excitement. It's kids singing the VBS songs, singing those truths that they're learning in their classrooms. They're finding out who won the Penny Wars and who won the canned food drive for the day. And then there's a live group teaching from in here. Uh, then they move out into their rotation schedules and they might hit a craft classroom. Every one of the elements that we include in a VBS day, they all point them to Jesus.
And so in crafts, they're making a craft that's based around the theme, but then they're also having a missions moment where they're get to s- they get to see how Jesus is working in other places. So we followed a, a missionary who was in the Midwest and then we also followed one get this overseas in Nairobi, Kenya. Wow. And so then we had our kids who would come back from there able to testify, "I was there." So that was really cool. Then they go into a music class and where they're singing, again, these songs with these spiritual truths and learning how to connect. But then they go home singing those songs. They're out on the rec field learning how to love like Jesus, um, through some friendly competition. And then they end up in their classrooms for about 50 minutes and there's some really good Bible teaching that happens there, fellowship, conversation, relationships built and there were just some really sweet moments in classrooms this week.
And so they, uh, pack as much fun and as much Jesus into the week as we possibly can.

Matt:
So everything all week is pointing, uh, towards Jesus, towards loving Jesus, towards who God is in their life. And, and then you get to like the Thursday morning. Uh, now if you've ever been around BBS, especially Bern Hickory, Thursday morning is the morning where foundation's been built, everything has been poured in, the pieces of the gospel have been there and then Thursday morning there's, there's like a thousand plus kids first through fifth graders in this room and Josie steps up and is able to articulate the gospel. Now listen church, I, man, this is one of the favorite days of my whole church here is to watch Josie connect just in a meaningful way with the gospel and put it into words that connect into these kids' lives. Josie, give us what happened on that Thursday. I know we've kind of mentioned 110 kids surrendered their lives to Jesus, but, but what was it when you were standing up here and presenting the gospel?
What did you feel and what were you seeing that morning?

Josie:
Yeah, so the week kind of builds to that and so we started by introducing them to the question, you know, who is Jesus? And then day two, who are you in relation to Jesus? And then day three, why does this matter? So then by the time you get to day four, it is, you know, now that you know of this, the question is, do you believe? And so as we present the, you know, the gospel, uh, I have everybody at the end raise their hand and make a fist and because I don't want kids, you know, having to raise hands and feeling intimidated. So just raise your hand and make a fist. Now, if you are ready to tell Jesus you believe in him, if you are ready to make that decision today, then just flash your hand at me and just little hands flashing all over the building, but it won't stop there.
Then I say, "Okay, if you flashed your hands up with me, then, then go talk to your teacher, tell your teacher what you wanna do. " And so then there are quiet conversations with, with teachers and youth leaders all over this room and then all throughout the building where we're finding out, "What'd you come talk to me about and what decision did you want to make today?" There's no pressure for a child because we're not interested in a stack of decision cards. We're interested in heart change. And so, uh, you know, like we said, by the end of the week, 110 children had given their life to Christ, but it is a powerful moment when you walk around this building and see kids, you know, counseling with their teachers, with their youth leaders and to recognize the spirit of God is just moving it throughout the building.

Matt:
Man, it was so good, uh, just kind of standing in the back of the room on Thursday morning and then after it, um, Josie texts me about, I don't know, a couple hours after and says, "Hey, there's this, there's this little kid, um, we'll call him Judson," so that was his name. Um, we'll c- and, um, and, and he said, "He has to talk to you. " And I was like, "Well, I've already talked to Judson, uh, this morning. I already know. " And then Judsey's like, "Nuh-uh. He's gonna talk to you again, um, and tell you. " And he, and we walked over and he said, "I need to speak to you in private, Mr. M- M- Mr. Petty." Uh, and then he said, "I can't believe I'm talking to a pastor." Uh, and I was like, "Buddy, it's not a big deal, I promise." So we sat down over here and talked and he said, "Hey, I today became Jesus' savior." I'm like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, Benny.
Uh, let, let's, let's just, let's shape that up a litle bit different." He goes, "Oh, oh, whoa, I mixed that up." He goes, "Jesus became my savior today." <laugh> Uh, and it was so, so good to hear his heart. You know, Jesse, what is, I mean, the theme this week was, was illumination station. Obviously, uh, just looking at that Jesus is the light of the world, why, because, I mean, it, that theme really, really hit hard. Yeah. Why did that theme hit so hard based on where kids are today? 'Cause, because it's a different day in, in kids' life, right? Mm-hmm.

Josie:
Yeah. Jesus is the light of the world. He came to shine a light to expose the truth, you know, that we are out in darkness and, and we don't know him and that's kind of the reality for kids now. Springtide Research Institute did this study of 13 year olds, uh, Gen Alpha, 13 year years old would be the oldest of the generation that we're serving now in the children's building. Um, and so they asked them, "Hey, what's going on in your homes and as it relates to faith-based conversations? Do you talk about the things of God?" And 38% of them said, "No, that's not a part of the conversation at our house." 39% said, "Hmm, somewhat. That's 77% of kids got, that, that aren't having these kinds of conversations." So the reality is, is that when kids come to us, they don't know who Jesus is, which is why that was, you know, hammered home every single day and they don't know that God created them.
So that's really what we pointed them to all week long. Um, the good news is that the research is also showing us that even though they're this kind of low baseline knowledge, there's a high curiosity. There is an eagerness to learn and understand and know the things of God and they're looking for authenticity and real relationship. They're looking for Jesus- Yeah. ... and that is exactly who they found this week.

Matt:
Wow. So if there's one maybe message, uh, that you and your team kind of from y'all's perspective over in the kids building could give us, uh, what's one message you would want to give the families of this church as well as just families that brought their kids this week to VBS? What would you want to say to them about this past week and about maybe just some upcoming life?

Josie:
Yeah. You know, what you saw, families, thank you for bringing your kids, thank you for trusting us with them, but the way we poured into them and loved on them this week and pointed them to Jesus, that's not unique. That is what we do every single week, week in and week out. Um, we are a church that believes in ministry to children and that is, you know, our whole hearts are behind that. I had a little boy stop me in the hallway, um, earlier this week and with all this recognition, he had gotten caught in one of those traffic jams of the 83 people, I mean, 83 classrooms, but he said, "I know you. Um, you're the one who opens the Bible for us." And I just, you know, I prayed, like, Lord, thank you- Yeah. ... because even a first grader recognizes that this is a place where we open the Bible, where we're honest with them- Sure.
... and we tell them truth. And so that was just a really humbling moment for me and I'm just so very grateful. So hey, families, we want you to be here. We, you know, you're here today. We want you to come back and be a part of this because this church loves you and we love children.

Matt:
That's right. Josie, what, as we close up this section, um, man, I would love for you to just pray over every one of these decisions that have been made this week. Pray over this church and the stewarding of these decisions as we help them grow in their faith for hopefully generations to come and would you just offer up a prayer for all of us parents, maybe just to feel a little bit more of that weight of walking with our kids and their faith. Would you do us a favor and do that this morning? Church, would you just do me a favor? Can we just stand and maybe offer that prayer to the Lord this morning and I'm gona have Josie lead us in it. Let's pray together.

Josie:
God, thank you for this week. God, thank you for the way that we saw you move powerfully, um, in the lives of the children. God, thank you for every decision made. Protect it and nurture it, God, and help people to come alongside them who can disciple them so that we are seeing fruits from this week, not just, you know, throughout the summer, but into eternity. God, thank you for those who, the children who made decision, who did not make decisions yet. God, um, just continue to move in their hearts and in their lives. We know your spirit doesn't stop moving when the VBS weekends, but God, thank you for the parents who brought their kids. God, um, we just pray for them for their, uh, for their strength, for their endurance, but also, God, that they would make you the center of their households and that, um, they would come and enjoy in and allow us to walk alongside them, God, as they raise their children to know you.
And we just thank you for all these things in your name. Amen.

Matt:
Amen. Would you say thank you to Josie one more time? Awesome. Awesome, awesome, awesome. You guys can have a seat. If you got a copy of scripture this morning, I want you to turn with me to Mark chapter 10, Mark chapter 10 and I want to show you a passage of scripture that even for the last couple of months, God has just gripped my heart with it because I've known exactly what today was gonna look like. I knew that God shows up mightily every single year when we gather kids together and we teach them about Jesus and, and because Mark 10 actually teaches us a lesson that has been on mighty display this week in the building watching these kids experience Jesus. When we've been able to watch them just worship without self-consciousness. We've been able to watch them pray expecting God to answer them and to move in their lives.
We've been able to watch them just open up the word and, and ask profound questions knowing that God receives those questions and we've been able to watch them experience a God who welcomes any of us who just come to Him and trust in Him and to say to Him, Lord Jesus, here I am. Church, these kids taught us this week. And I was just reminded of this, that it doesn't take some, some massive theological education to, to know Jesus. It doesn't take a lifelong of, of knowing every nuance of scripture to meet Jesus, but meeting Jesus and knowing Jesus is literally me and you and all of these kids just surrendering to who the Lordship of Jesus is in our lives and offering all of us to him. March chapter 10, Jesus is heading to Jerusalem for the last time. His, his disciples are with them and, and, and the disciples are being boneheads how they always are.
You'll see that in a minute and they're trying to protect Jesus like Jesus needed to be protected, right? But Jesus is walking down the road and he's teaching these truths as, as things came up along the road and Jesus here in Mark chapter 10 teaches us like, like kids need to know also, he teaches us actually in this text that, that we are to live for Jesus not with a child-ish faith but a child-like faith is what Jesus does in Mark chapter 10. You say, "Man, I don't, I don't really know what that looks like. " Well, good, because for a few minutes this morning, that's actually what Jesus is gonna show us. He's gonna show us some traits of what kids have that make them so rich in being able to surrender to Jesus. Let me read the text to you and I'll show you a couple traits this morning out of it.
Mark 10:13 says this, "It says people were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them." Now, Paul's there for a minute because that's just a profound statement. You gotta think that, that this has actually happened a lot in this time period. People would bring their kids to, to the rabbis of the day because they wanted their kids to receive a blessing. They wanted them to get off on the right foot, kind of like baby dedication would be for us. But in this moment, in, instead of receiving them and organizing the day, the disciples began to rebuke the people for bringing someone to Jesus. Well, Jesus doesn't like it. Look at verse 14, it says this. Then Jesus, when Jesus saw this, he was indignant. Now, we don't use that word a whole lot, but it literally means he was mad.
Not a little bit mad, not kind of mad. I mean, it's that kind of mad when you know your mama was about to blow, all right? That's the mat says this, when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and he said to them, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of God, you may wanna circle or underline these next couple of words, belongs to such as these." Truly, I tell you, Jesus says, "Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. " It kinda blows up the universalist thinking of the day, right? And he took the children in his arms and he placed his hands on them and he blessed them. Now look, this text is not taught a whole lot. Actually, it's not even pointed out a whole lot.
We read it, we kinda have a awe moment because we can picture it in our heads, but we don't spend a lot of time in it, but it is a powerful text. And here's why I wanna show it to you. Actually, this text is shown to us in all three of the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. And it's also shown in every single one of those gospels right before the story of the rich young ruler. Why? Because it gives us an incredible contrast of the rich young ruler that has decided that he has it under control and will not submit to Jesus and the child that literally jumps into the arms of Jesus and is praised. You see, the rich young ruler had everything figured out. It was all calculated. There was a moment in his life where he was just trying to squeeze Jesus into his story, but oh, the kids came with a faith that just walked into who Jesus is relentlessly and had what I would just kind of call a radical trust.
In fact, write this down. This is the first trait of a childlike faith. Number one, it would have to be that kids have this ability to have a radical trust. And if we as believers in Jesus are gonna walk from with this adultish faith that we have just kind of fallen into the monotony of and walk into a childlike faith that we are gonna have to have a radical trust. Now, kids have this uncanning ability to trust, don't they? They trust us at least when they're little as their parents, don't they parents? Remember when you were teaching your kid to swim, remember when your teacher was good, except for that one kid, probably the third child that would jump in the pool, no matter if anybody was outside, right? But the rest of them, remember the rest of them, you would get them on the edge of the pool and they would be terrified on the edge, literally almost shaken and you would stand in the three foot section and you'd say, "Jump, I'll catch you.
" And what happened almost every single time that you told them to jump into your arms? They did what? They jumped. Why? You ever thought about why? Was it because they understood the physics of how water and our bodies work? Was it because they understood how to swim? No. Here's what they understood. They understood that the person that was in the pool has my trust. Now they couldn't articulate that, but that's what it looks like. Childrens jump because their parents tell them to jump because they trust them. Why? Because they trust the parents. Listen to me. Listen, listen. That's what it looks like to follow Jesus. It doesn't necessarily mean we understand everything, but it means we understand the who in the relationship. Look at verse 14 with me again. Watch what it takes because this is trust, is what it takes to follow Jesus.
Look at verse 14. It says, "When Jesus saw this, he was indignant and he said to them, let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Now, here's what this is not saying. It's not saying that all these kids were radically saved in this moment as kids. No, they were too young. The Greek language here said that they would be almost infantish in the text. It's not saying that we're saved because of their parents' faith. That's not what it is. Although it is good to point out that the kids would have never been into the presence of Jesus without their parents getting them there. That is a big moment for all of us to let soak in a little bit. But what Jesus is saying here is that those who approach him with the traits like a child, verse 14, those are the ones that the kingdom of God belongs to.
Those that come to Jesus relentless trusting and saying, "Here I am." It's the quality and not the age that matters. This is what Proverbs three: five and six tells us. When it says, "To trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways, acknowledge him and he'll direct your path." Thi- this is Jesus' language in Matthew chapter six and verse 26 and 33 where Jesus says, "Hey, listen, look at the birds of the air. They don't sow or reap or store away in barns, yet our heavenly Father feeds them and are you not much more valuable than they. " And then he goes on to say this in verse 33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God in his righteousness and then all those things will be added to you. " You see, children just show us, "Hey, they don't worry about tomorrow.
They trust in the ones who hold them. Oh, parents, believers, students, adults. What if we grabbed onto this? What if we understood that we were invited into the presence of God with this childlike infancy and intimacy and not our adulthood doubting? You seeing the difference? I got to think about this this morning, this week myself. I was like, man, I started asking myself questions. I don't know if you ever do this, but I can have a whole conversation with myself sometimes. I started asking myself, "Man, I wonder what situation in my life am I not trusting God with the outcome in? " I, I got to thinking about myself. I was like, "Man, what am I demanding of God that he explained every little detail instead of just coming to him open-hearted and saying, I trust you. " And we move. Church, let me ask you, what is on trust gap this week that every single day, every single morning this week, maybe you just need to offer yourself to the Lord and you just need to say, "Hey, God, I know I've held this.
And I know I've, I've held on. I know I've been hesitant, but Jesus here I am." Children, number one, just have this radical ability to trust. That's where the kingdom comes in. But secondly, also, number two, on top of that, the second trait that I want to point out is also children. Number two, have this ability to have total dependence, to which I don't think we have a hard time understanding as parents, do we? We know that our kids, when they are small at least, even when they're older, they do, they just don't understand it, right? Totally depend on us. N- now it's been a minute since Melissa and I have had toddlers, but, but, but have you ever thought about the fact that a toddler does not wake up thinking that I'm hope I'm good enough to deserve breakfast today? No. They just understand that they are totally dependent on that adult human in their life to provide for their needs.
That's the childlike faith. That's the approach that God has said. We are to come before him just completely dependent on who he is. Here's the key. Here's the key. They know kids know where their provision comes from. Have you ever thought about the fact that the older we get and the more mature we get in our faith, the more we think that we have it under control and that I am the one that I can get myself out of this situation, or I am the one that can work myself out of this situation. Or maybe even you're at the point where you're saying, "I am the one that can work my way into salvation." But listen, I want you to see what it says here about this. Look at verse 15. It says this. It says, "Truly, I tell you anyone who will not work for the kingdom of God." No, no, no, that's not what it says.
That's not what it says. Watch what it says. Truly, I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. W- what does that mean? What's the key word there? The keyword there is to receive. That's the keyword is to receive. That is not to work, that is not to will my way, that is not to be born into. The keyword is to receive. It literally means to accept it as a gift to totally welcome it, not as an achievement, nothing from my resume, but empty-handed. Here it is. Here's where it comes from. Empty-handed, I come to God and I literally say, "God, I come to you with nothing to offer, but move in me. " That, that's what kids teach us. That's where Jesus is leaning into it right here. I mean, uh, that, this is how kids live, right?
They know they don't come with anything to offer us. I mean, we've never had a toddler in our life go, "Hey, mom, I'll pay you back for this meal when I get a paycheck one day." No.
Listen, our role as God's people is to receive the gift that God has given us to jump into his arms and to live out who he has made us. That's it. That's all of it. That's our role as God's people, right? Verse John 1:12 and 13, it says, "Yet to all who did receive him to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God." Do you see that? You didn't work your way into it, you didn't will your way into it. It's not because of any actions. It's not because of anything that you offered God. It's because of what God has offered us that we have the chance to jump into the arms of Jesus. We don't produce the righteousness. No. Ephesians two eight nine says, "For it is by grace that you've been saved through faith. It's not of yourself lest anyone should boast.
It's a gift of God. It's a gift of God. Listen, salvation comes with empty hands. It comes with us looking at God saying, Deliver me. I am a sinner in need of a savior and all I can bring to you is my self. Have you ever realized that even our best attempts to offer something before Jesus doesn't add up? It's because of him. I love this. I love this vi- this is why the rich young ruler is right after this text. If you think about the contrast again, right? What do these kids come to Jesus offering? Nothing. In fact, they couldn't even get there without their parents being there. But what does the rich young ruler do? You remember the story? The rich young ruler comes up to Jesus and he's, he's asking Jesus, "What do I need to do to be saved?" Remember that?
How do I need to ask to be saved? Here's what I've already done. He makes it known, right? The rich young ruler makes it done. Well, I've done this and I've done this and I've done this. And in Jesus, what does he do? He exposes his self-sufficiency and in the rich young ruler, he doesn't leave saved and sanctified and given his life to Jesus. No, he left sad and lost because he kept control of his life. You see, children came empty handed. The rich man came with his hands filled and only on can receive the kingdom of God. Let me ask you something this morning. What are you still trying to control that God is trying to pry from your hands? What is it that you're still trying to, to trying to bring to God as something that you're worth it? No. We come to God as an infant saying, Lord Jesus, save me.
Walk with me. What if we just confess our ins- insufficiency and, and stop pretending we have it all together and look to God and say, "I am totally dependent on you, on you. " Kids teach us this. Number one, they radically trust. Number two, they have a total dependence. And number three, thought about this one this week. So simple, but profound. Number three, they're teachable and eager. Kids, they're so teachable. They're so eager. Is there another people group on the planet that lives with as much eagerness as kids? No. They're like sponges for goodness sake. They're always asking questions. They're eager to do anything. They're not embarrassed to admit when they don't know something. They approach learning with wonder and not cynicism. Am I stepping on anything this morning? They'll crawl right up into the arms of Jesus realizing that I need you. In fact, look at verse 16.
Watch what it says. Happens when we crawl into the arms of Jesus. Literally, verse 16, it says, "And he took the children in his arms and he placed his hands on them and blessed them." Do you see this? Jesus didn't just tolerate kids like some of us do, right? He embraced them. He engaged their eagerness. This is the saying that Psalm 25: nine says, when it leans in and says that he, that's God, he guides the humble in what is right and he teaches them his way. Listen, it's pride and self-sufficiency that blocks the name of Jesus in our life, that blocks the power in our life. But what does Jesus do when the humble, when the open-hearted, when those that come to him and ask for instruction and life and protection and hope, not with a sense of I've got it all figured out, but what does Jesus do?
When we come to him with a literal sense of profound I need you, he latches onto us and he gives us life. Adult, have you lost the sense of wonder? Student, have you lost the sense of wonder? Are you more interested in being right than being taught? Are you asking God every day, God, show me yourself, show me yourself. Just wrap your arms around me and give me life.
That's what kids do. That's the approach that Jesus is saying here. Can I tell you one of our biggest problems is that instead of having a child-like faith, many of us have fallen into this false sense of adulting faith, this false sense that literally swaps out the honor and grace and all that God wants to give us and tries our best to do it on our own. What does Jesus say? Just come to me, all the, who are weary and burden in the high will give you rest. We've made what is so simple, so complicated by our pride and self-sufficiency, taken out the wonder of God with our overthinking and overcomplicated, taking out the fact that we can love God and love people with our skepticism and cynicism, taking out this idea that I can just simply come before God as a broken man in need of a savior.
And my busyness and distraction have stole the all and wonder of just jumping into the arms of Jesus. What if today the whole reason of this morning is not only to celebrate those 110 lives that have come from darkness to life and to celebrate these sweet babies that have fallen in love more with Jesus this week, but what if today is all about every single one of us returning, not to the childish faith, but to the childlike faith. Let me close with this verse in 15, because sometimes when we read verse 15, we look at it as a suggestion, but it's a command. Mark 10:15, watch what Jesus says to us. It's a command from his. It's in every one of the gospels, except for John. He says this, "Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
" That's a scary thought, isn't it?
But I love how Matthew says it, probably even better. Matthew 18: three, when Matthew's giving this account, he says it like this. And he said, "Truly, I tell you, here's the key words for me, these next three. Unless you change and become like a little children, you will never enter the kingdom of God." Trish, let me ask you something. What needs to change? What is it today that I need to take the trust off myself and put the trust on him? What is it today that I need to realize that I've tried to be dependent upon myself, but the dependence really lies on him? What is it today that I have fallen short of being teachable? I've fallen short of having the eagerness of jumping into the arms of Jesus, that I simply need to say, "Here I am, Lord. I love the simplicity of kids because once we get old, I just feel like everything crashes in.
All the spiderweb of life jumps around. But what if every single day our hope and our goal was simply to jump into the arms of Jesus?
Let me ask you something what needs to change. For some of you today, I can tell you what needs to change. You need to surrender your life to Jesus. Not be religious, not be a burn hickory, whatever. I'm just saying you need to say, Lord Jesus, I'm a sinner in need of a savior and I need you to give me life. I need you to save me. For some of you today, that's you. That's what needs to change because until you come to Jesus with that, you will not enter the kingdom of God. Some of you though, you know Jesus, but because of the adulting armor you have put on, you have lost the childlike faith. To simply come before him in full dependence and full trust, with full eagerness that he is God and he is good and Jesus loves me. This I know for the Bible tells me so.
Listen, we're gonna have a time of invitation this morning and I'm gonna stand over here by the next steps with a bunch of friends. And for some of you today, you need to meet Jesus. You need to walk up to one of us over here, look us in the eyeballs today and say, "Hey, I need Jesus to save me. " And we wanna pray with you, walk with you, celebrate with you like we have all of these sweet kids this week. For some of you, you know Jesus, but this needs to be a moment where you just say, "Hey Lord, here I am. Move in me.