Thanksgiving Service (for a child)

Talk for Thanksgiving Service

(Mk. 10.13-16)

Nearly 2000 years ago people brought their children to Jesus, ...and his disciples got most upset! I guess they thought that Jesus was far too busy to be bothered with children, ...they probably thought that he had far more important things to do.

But Jesus thought otherwise.

First he put his disciples in their place. "Let the children come to me", he said, "Don't try to stop them!". ...And then Jesus said something quite amazing!

Memorise the words in this box

Ask parents: "Do you think I could just hold ________ for a minute?

...and could some other children come out to the front to help me?"

"...the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these", Jesus said. ..."I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

We know that it's the duty of adults to teach our children, ...but Jesus also reminds us that we adults have a lot to learn from children.

(return baby to parents, ...older children can stay and help.)

So in what ways did Jesus mean that we should be like a child?

Well I'm sure that Jesus didn't mean that we should wake up crying in the middle of the night! ...or that we should have temper tantrums!

But I briefly want to mention just two ways in which we can learn from __________, and from these older children.

(Give first visual aid to one of the children)

First of all, __________ is very dependent on his/her parents.

Ask the parents: Can __________ dress him/herself? ...feed him/herself? ...change his/her own nappy?

I've got three children who are a bit older than _________, and who can do these things, (although they don't wear nappies). ...But they are still very dependent upon me, and my wife, in lots of other ways. They depend on us to take them to school, ...to buy their food, ...to buy their clothes, ...and in many other ways.

And similarly, we all need to recognise that we're are totally dependent upon God.

We're dependent upon God for everything in this life, ...and similarly, we're dependent upon God for the life to come.

But we often think that we can earn things from God.

For example, ...many people hope that they will get to heaven by living a good life.

[ They think at the final judgement God will open the books, ...and he will weigh the good things we have done against the bad things. ...And if the scales tip the right way, God will allow them in. ]

That's what many people think, ...but it's not what the Bible says.

The Bible tells us that none of us are good enough to get to heaven on our own. We can't earn our way to heaven, any more than ___________ can earn the food she eats. ...Instead, we are totally dependent upon God's gift of forgiveness.

And that brings us to the second way in which we can learn from children. Because of their helplessness, children are very open to receiving things.

[ Ask the children: "Now who likes Christmas?"

"...And what is it that you especially like about Christmas?" ]

(Give second visual aid to one of the children)

You see, children are always happy to receive presents from anyone who wants to give them one. They aren't self-conscious like us adults ...you don't find children saying, "Oh, you shouldn't have bothered!". And they don't worry if they haven't got a present to give in return.

Because of their openness, children will readily accept a gift. And similarly, we all need to accept the good things that God wants to give us ...as a free gift.

That's why Jesus came.

Jesus said that he came in order that we might have life ...life in all it's fullness (Jn. 10.10).

- He came to bring us freedom from guilt.

- He came to bring us God's forgiveness.

- He came to bring us freedom from fear.

- He came to bring us eternal life.

The good news, ...is that we can have all this as a free gift. It's a gift which Jesus bought us. ...He paid for it with his own blood on the cross. (pause)

The bad news, ...is that many people refuse to accept it.

(Take the second visual aid from the child, and hold it up)

It's a gift which is offered to each one of us.

- Some will turn our backs on it.

- Others will be quite interested, but still neglect to accept it.

- And some will gladly receive it. (Hand visual aid to the child)

If you are unsure as to whether you have received this gift, ...can I encourage you to make sure.

I'm always available to talk to people about this, ...it's the part of the job that I enjoy the best!

Alternatively, you may like to pick up a copy of this booklet from the back of church. It's a free gift from our church!

It's called "Why Jesus?", and it simply explains why Jesus came, ...why he died, ...and why we need him today.

"I assure you", Jesus said, "that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

(Children go back to their seats)