Sunday Shorts - Church Kids

Mark 10:14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. 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.” (NIV)

I like to see children at worship services on Sunday mornings. Their presence gives hope to the older generations in the congregation. Over the years, I spent a lot of time getting to know the names of the children at church and enjoyed sharing my Bible artwork with them. On Sunday mornings, I used to produce a coloring page for the church kids which they seemed to enjoy. I felt it was an effective way of teaching the faith to them and as a means of encouraging them to create their own art.

Years ago, I decided to set up an art site which other churches could use for their own congregations and children’s classes on Sundays. Hundreds of churches all over the world use my artwork each week which means that thousands of kids are being taught the faith with the drawings that the Spirit inspires me to create. If you want to see some of my drawings, you can visit the website at this link: https://stushieart.com/.

            Children were important to Jesus, too. Today’s Gospel story from Mark 10 recalls a moment when the disciples tried to stop some mothers and their children approaching Jesus. They knew He was tired and needed to rest, so instead of taking the mums and kids to where Jesus was relaxing, they turned them away. When Jesus saw what was happening, He was not pleased and so He rebuked the disciples for being so uncaring. Christ welcomed the children because He loved them, for to Him they epitomized the best qualities of the Kingdom of Heaven. It was a lesson that the disciples never forgot and one which Christian congregations should still practice today by welcoming all children in their churches.

Point to ponder: How are children welcomed in the congregation I attend?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, remind us of the importance of children in our midst, at church, in school, and within our community. Help us to value them and share our faith by welcoming their families and accepting them unconditionally in our lives. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Gifts of Children - Zechariah 8:12

Zechariah 8:12 “The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people.” (NIV)

            Last Sunday, we celebrated our annual Gifts of Children service. It was one of the best worship services I have ever attended in my life. The young people, from kindergartners to teenagers, enthusiastically sang, prayed, and preached all about God’s love and compassion. It was a very moving and beautiful experience. I don’t think there was a dry eye among all of our adults in the pews. We were blessed with a wonderful combination of faith expressions from the young people who participated, and we all felt very proud of what they presented.

            Such a creative service does not happen without a great deal of focus, energy, and devotion, especially from our program leaders and faith mentors. Throughout the years, our Sunday School classes, Youth Groups, Planet Worship, and Creative Expression programs have planted seeds of faith and nurtured the spirits of our children. They have developed their faith through the continued support and care of their parents and the entire congregation. What we saw last Sunday was the culmination of the ministry of faithful servants who have specialized in developing and growing the spirituality of our young people, which starts in nursery and continues into High school. It is a wonderful blessing and we are grateful for such a gift in our wee church.

            Today’s Bible verse encapsulates what we have recently experienced. God promises His people that He will plant, grow, and develop their faith, so that the remnant will have a beautiful inheritance for generations to come. That promise is still relevant and available for all those who choose to embrace it. At our church, it is something that we can further advance, especially if we remain faithful and committed to the work that God has graciously given us through our young people.

Point to ponder

How was my Christian faith nurtured as a child? What can I do to encourage and support our church children?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You never turned away children from Your presence and You blessed them continually throughout Your ministry. Help us to follow Your example, so that we can effectively pass on our faith in You to our children and the upcoming generations. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can view the church website at this link: Erin. If you would like to respond to today’s message, please send John an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings called “Free Spirit.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Spirit.