In this passage Jesus teaches us that the kingdom of God must be received like a little child. That implies that we are not automatically in the kingdom. It also means that the kingdom of God is a gift. It is received, not earned. In saying that it must be received like a little child, Jesus is teaching the necessity of receiving the kingdom with a sense of dependence and a simple trust.
Read Mark 10:13-16
This passage is a prophetic description of the new creation in terms of an ideal earthly Israelite kingdom. From it we learn that the new heavens and new earth will be a place of joy, security, harmony and fulfillment all rooted in a loving relationship with God.
Read Isaiah 65:17-25
This is the first part of the story of the raising of Lazarus by Jesus. It is remarkable that the text teaches that Jesus waited two days before beginning to travel to Bethany because he loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus. This passage gives us insight into why God allows his children to suffer.
Read John 11:1-16
Scripture teaches that the primary responsibility for the discipling of the children of believers rests on their parents. It also teaches that the church has a responsibility as well. This sermon considers various ways that that responsibility is to be fulfilled.
Read Ephesians 4:1-16
In this passage Paul is dealing with false teachers who were forbidding people to marry and commanding them to abstain from certain foods. Over against that effort he insists that God’s gifts are to be received with thanksgiving.
Read 1 Timothy 4:1-5
Since the central command of the Great Commission is to make disciples, an important part of implementing it is the discipling of children. The primary responsibility for the discipling of children rests with the parents, but the church is also called to be involved. This sermon looks at the call to parents to nurture their children in the gospel. The next will consider the role of the church.
This passage is the conclusion of this great chapter about Jesus as the good Shepherd. It describes the response of unbelief on the part of the Jewish leaders and the response of faith on the part of many of the people across the Jordon where Jesus visited after leaving Jerusalem.
Read John 10:31-42
It is clear from the Bible that prayer plays an important role in the fulfillment of God’s saving purpose as well as in the Great Commission which is part of that purpose. Examples from both Testaments are considered as well as biblical instruction about the content of our prayers.
The promises made in this passage are comforting to the degree that we are aware of the danger that we are in apart from Christ. This sermon considers the danger of perishing, the fact that Satan is trying to snatch us out of Christ’s hand and the fact that we are weak and vulnerable before expounding the comfort of the promises that Christ makes here.
Read John 10:28-30
When people think of the Great Commission they tend to think of bringing the gospel to unbelievers. And that certainly is part of what Jesus is commanding his people to do. However, main command of the Great Commission is to make disciples and that involves the nurture of believers as well as the conversion of the lost. The primary instruments that Jesus has given to the church for the fulfillment of the Great Commission are the Word of God, the Sacraments and Prayer. This sermon considers the centrality of the Word of God (especially preaching) and the Sacraments in the process of making disciples.
