Nathan Stam
Children's/Communications Pastor
It's that time of year again! Flowers are blooming. The temperature is warming. Pollen is gathering. Windows are opening. Little boys are outside adventuring. The crack of baseballs on bats is resounding. And the hunt for teachers in our Children's Ministry is beginning!
A few years back I said something in one of our worship services that I really believe. It went something like this: If you want to become more like Christ and grow deeper in your relationship with God don't go to seminary. Teach in one of our children's classes at church. Teach children the Bible. There were some shocked looks on some faces in the congregation.
I really believe that's true. If you want to experience a little sanctification in your life I've got just the place for you: A classroom filled with grinning 3 year olds; a crowd of 2nd graders eagerly hanging on your every word as you tell them the story of Jonah swallowed by a big fish; A herd of 5th/6th grade girls looking to you for a little love, patience and investment in their lives.
A lot of times we think of teaching children in a church as a burden. If we've got a little gray in our beards we say, "I've already done my time and paid my dues." If we're younger we think, "I have no clue how to go about teaching a classroom of children." If we're in those child-bearing years we despairingly cry out when the call comes around, "Please, I need a break from kids when I come to church!" And if we're busy we simply say, "I have neither the time nor the energy nor the desire."
Listen to how Jesus viewed children:
In Mark 10 people were bringing children to Jesus and the disciples started rebuking them. How dare they bother Jesus with kids? But Jesus got a little down right indignant with the disciples. He told them, listen, don't stop them from coming because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Jesus went on to make an even stronger statement concerning children: "Whoever does not welcome the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Wow. Never enter it?
Earlier, in Mark 9, the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them. You would think they would have had better topics to discuss. But Jesus (probably a little indignant again) told them, look, if you want to be first, you've got to be a servant, you've got to put others interests before your own. And then he takes a little child in his arms (I love that picture!). He says, "Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but Him who sent me."
I don't know about you, but I want to know what Jesus meant when he said the Kingdom of God belongs to little children. I want to know what it is about children that caused Jesus to say, if you don't welcome the Kingdom of God like a little child you'll never enter it. I'd like to be part of the Kingdom of God, thank you very much!
I can't think of a better place to answer those questions, to welcome Jesus, than to serve in one of our children's classrooms. We have lots of opportunities for you this year. You can click here to see just a few.
It's that time of year again. It comes around every cycle of the seasons. A time to step out and take some risks. Maybe step out of your comfort zone a little bit. Do something you've never done before. Freely give of yourself just like you've been freely given to by Christ.
So, here's my invitation: Come wipe the snot from a toddler's nose. Build a towering lego fortress with an incredibly active 3 year old boy and then laugh with him as he knocks it down. Dance and sing silly songs about Father Abraham with a preschooler. Show an incredulous 1st Grader that yes, Balaam really did talk to a donkey. March your 4th graders around the church as you teach them about the Israelites circling around Jericho and let them give a shout that shakes the church's foundations after the 7th time around. All those adult Life Groups will thank you for a little energy infusion and excitement.
An adventure awaits...are you up for it?
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