Sermons

FILTER BY:

← back to list

Mar 15, 2020

Growing Up Into Wonder

Growing Up Into Wonder

Passage: Mark 10:13-16

Speaker: Patrick Lafferty

Series: House Calls

The New Testament spurs us on to see faith to grow up into maturity. Here Jesus says we can never receive His kingdom unless we’re like a child. Which is it? How is that childlike trust a mark of maturing faith? Moreover, how does it happen?

3.15.20 GMR Service from Graceworks Media on Vimeo.

Order of Worship

PRE SERVICE: Mark 10:14b
PRELUDE: I Stand in Awe
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Psalm 27:1-5, 13-14
NEW TESTAMENT READING: Romans 8:31-39
PASTORAL PRAYER (concluding with Lord’s Prayer)
CENTRAL TEXT: Mark 10:13-16
MESSAGE: Growing Up Into Wonder
BENEDICTION: Numbers 6:24-26

Readings & Scripture

PRE SERVICE: Mark 10:14b
...“Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11
LEADER: God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
PEOPLE: Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

LEADER: “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
ALL: The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Old Testament Reading: Psalm 27:1-5, 13-14
Psa. 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

Psa. 27:2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.

Psa. 27:3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.

Psa. 27:4 One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.

Psa. 27:5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.

Psa. 27:13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!

New Testament Reading: Romans 8:31-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

Rom. 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

CENTRAL TEXT: Mark 10:13-16
13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

BENEDICTION: Numbers 6:24-26

LEADER: The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

 

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES:

  • Deuteronomy 28:4
  • Psalm 127:3-5
  • Matthew 5:3
  • Mark 9:33-37
  • John 1:12
  • John 3:3-5

MEDIA:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. If you could describe your childhood in one word what would it be? Why that word? If you could describe yourself as a child in one word, same questions.
  2. Children can feel emotions better than they can make out the meaning of words. Where do you see the presence of emotion in this text? Why might Mark have meant to include that dimension of the moment he preserved?
  3. How do children remind adults of what adulthood tends to make us forget?
  4. The passage ends with Jesus taking the children into His embrace. Can you imagine yourself ever being embraced by Him in that way? Why or why not? What’s your first feeling when you imagine that?
  5. How does one “receive the kingdom like a child” (v. 15) yet “put away childish things” (1 Cor 13:11)?
  6. We sometimes look with envy at children for the simplicity with which they see and on the basis of which they act. How might belief in the gospel recover some of that simplicity in seeing and acting that our so-called complex adult lives obscure? What’s one way you might feel less encumbered by life if you were to trust in what Christ has done as a child might trust a loving parent?
  7. What word of encouragement do you have for our newest assistant pastor? Tell him!

 QUOTES:

  • Funny how sometimes you worry a lot about something and it turns out to be nothing. - Auggie from RJ Palacio’s Wonder
  • A child gives himself fully to the littlest tasks without being ashamed of the task’s littleness.- F.D. Bruner
  • . . .what does it mean when we find ourselves begging to see God and He does not show up? When He effectively and providentially says “no.” It means, “My grace is sufficient for you. I’ve already shown up. I’ve already raised from the dead. I’ve already forgiven your sins. And just as I’ve done all this for your good, so for your good I want you to grow up. I want you to be strong. Trust me. I’ll carry you. I will allow you to suffer. But I will carry you through. I will allow you to hit the bottom, but there you will find the eternal living and true God—and you will say with joy, ‘This is enough.’” - Joseph Minich, Enduring Divine Absence
  • Little Lamb who made thee
    Dost thou know who made thee
    Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
    By the stream & o'er the mead;
    Gave thee clothing of delight,
    Softest clothing wooly bright;
    Gave thee such a tender voice,
    Making all the vales rejoice!
    Little Lamb who made thee
    Dost thou know who made thee

    Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
    Little Lamb I'll tell thee!
    He is called by thy name,
    For he calls himself a Lamb:
    He is meek & he is mild,
    He became a little child:
    I a child & thou a lamb,
    We are called by his name.
    Little Lamb God bless thee.
    Little Lamb God bless thee.
    - William Blake "The Lamb"

Articles

  • “Love in a time of coronavirus,” an essay by Andy Crouch
  • “Living and Dying as a Christian,” a letter written by Martin Luther in a time of plague. Luther tends to draw a thicker line between calamities and the direct intentions of God--thicker in a way that will be unfamiliar and perhaps even disconcerting. But the wisdom in thinking about faith in a time of crisis is too rich and relevant to let the parts curious to us dismiss his words.

SERMONS / TALKS: