The Bridge Church
Jesus Encounters - The Children
April 28, 2024
Locations & Times
Englewood SKY Academy
871 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
1. Jesus deeply loves and values children
2. Jesus removes barriers for children to come to Him
“The object of a person’s indignation reveals a great deal about the person. Jesus’ displeasure here reveals his compassion and defense of the helpless, vulnerable, and powerless.” James Edwards
Our God-given calling is to bring children to Jesus.
· Pursue Jesus as your priority (Matthew 6:33)
· Prioritize church as a family (Hebrews 10:23-25)
· Practice spiritual rhythms in the home (prayer, Bible reading)
· Pursue Jesus as your priority (Matthew 6:33)
· Prioritize church as a family (Hebrews 10:23-25)
· Practice spiritual rhythms in the home (prayer, Bible reading)
Core Value: We Build Healthy Families
3. The kingdom of God is received like a child
Characteristics of Child-like faith:
- Genuine Trust
- Humble Dependence
- Bold requests
- Genuine Trust
- Humble Dependence
- Bold requests
“The only person who dares wake up a king at 3:00am for a glass of water is a child. We have that kind of access.” – Tim Keller
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
Dig Deeper:
1. Looking back on all of the encounters with Jesus we have experienced so far in this series, describe the overlapping attributes of Jesus in them.
2. Read Mark 10:13. Why were the people bringing their little children to Jesus? Why was that important to them?
3. Why was the idea of blessing a child in this Roman culture unusual? How is it even more significant that people were bringing the children to Jesus?
4. How is caring for children, especially those who are abandoned, a representation of Christ’s love for us?
5. Why did the disciples rebuke the children? Again, consider the possible cultural differences of that time. Why did they think it was their responsibility to keep the children away from Him?
6. What are the qualities of a child the disciples needed to learn so they would understand what greatness looks like in God’s eyes?
7. Read Mark 10:14. What did Jesus teach the disciples in this moment?
8. Have you ever seen someone be a barrier to Jesus for someone else instead of a bridge? Why is it vital that we are bridges and not barriers? Provide examples of what it looks like to be a bridge to Jesus for other. Specific to children, why is it important for all of us (whether parents or not) to be a bridge to Jesus?
9. Practically, what does this look like? How are we to bring the children around us to Jesus? Parents, what part do you play in this?
10. Our culture is not at all friendly to a parents’ role of bringing up children in the nurture of the Lord. What are some of the greatest ways our culture can negatively impact our children? How can parents influence the culture without withdrawing from the culture?
11. What does it look like to pursue Jesus as your priority? How are others impacted by how we practice spiritual rhythms in our home, especially those that also live in the same home?
12. How is the church a family? How do we represent this wherever we go?
13. What does it mean that children often learn more from what is “caught” than “taught”? Discuss what that looks like.
14. Read Deuteronomy 6:5-7. Discuss what it looks like to love your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. What does it not look like?
15. Why did God create families? Why can they be used to reflect His character and be a vehicle of His grace.
16. Read Mark 10:15. What’s the difference between being childish and being childlike? Think of children you know well and describe their childlike qualities that are examples of how we should receive the kingdom of God.
17. What does it mean to become like a child in order to come to faith in Jesus Christ? What is it about children that allows them to comprehend the gospel?
18. How can wisdom and learning become a distraction that blinds people from the simple gospel message?
19. Discuss how you can continue to have childlike faith through genuine trust, humble dependence, and bold requests as you completely depend on God’s grace. Of those three, which one do you practice the most? Which one do you need to focus on more?
Live It Out:
How are you bringing children to Jesus? Being a bridge to Jesus for children is not just a role assigned to parents. It’s assigned to us all! It doesn’t matter if you have many children in your home or none, in order to bless the next generation and bring them closer to Jesus, we must all:
1. Pursue Jesus as your priority. Point those around you to Jesus by your authentic example of how you deal with everything you experience daily. Show humility and forgiveness to those around you.
2. Prioritize church as a family. We don’t just attend church; we are the church everywhere we go. Our actions reveal our priorities. Show those around you that you prioritize church, and help get your family, and others, connected.
3. Practice spiritual rhythms in the home. Bless your children with love, time, and affection. Talk about Jesus during daily rhythms. Model for them that following Jesus is a relationship with God that impacts every area of your life. Provide a Christ-centered environment in your home that nurtures kids in their faith.
1. Looking back on all of the encounters with Jesus we have experienced so far in this series, describe the overlapping attributes of Jesus in them.
2. Read Mark 10:13. Why were the people bringing their little children to Jesus? Why was that important to them?
3. Why was the idea of blessing a child in this Roman culture unusual? How is it even more significant that people were bringing the children to Jesus?
4. How is caring for children, especially those who are abandoned, a representation of Christ’s love for us?
5. Why did the disciples rebuke the children? Again, consider the possible cultural differences of that time. Why did they think it was their responsibility to keep the children away from Him?
6. What are the qualities of a child the disciples needed to learn so they would understand what greatness looks like in God’s eyes?
7. Read Mark 10:14. What did Jesus teach the disciples in this moment?
8. Have you ever seen someone be a barrier to Jesus for someone else instead of a bridge? Why is it vital that we are bridges and not barriers? Provide examples of what it looks like to be a bridge to Jesus for other. Specific to children, why is it important for all of us (whether parents or not) to be a bridge to Jesus?
9. Practically, what does this look like? How are we to bring the children around us to Jesus? Parents, what part do you play in this?
10. Our culture is not at all friendly to a parents’ role of bringing up children in the nurture of the Lord. What are some of the greatest ways our culture can negatively impact our children? How can parents influence the culture without withdrawing from the culture?
11. What does it look like to pursue Jesus as your priority? How are others impacted by how we practice spiritual rhythms in our home, especially those that also live in the same home?
12. How is the church a family? How do we represent this wherever we go?
13. What does it mean that children often learn more from what is “caught” than “taught”? Discuss what that looks like.
14. Read Deuteronomy 6:5-7. Discuss what it looks like to love your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. What does it not look like?
15. Why did God create families? Why can they be used to reflect His character and be a vehicle of His grace.
16. Read Mark 10:15. What’s the difference between being childish and being childlike? Think of children you know well and describe their childlike qualities that are examples of how we should receive the kingdom of God.
17. What does it mean to become like a child in order to come to faith in Jesus Christ? What is it about children that allows them to comprehend the gospel?
18. How can wisdom and learning become a distraction that blinds people from the simple gospel message?
19. Discuss how you can continue to have childlike faith through genuine trust, humble dependence, and bold requests as you completely depend on God’s grace. Of those three, which one do you practice the most? Which one do you need to focus on more?
Live It Out:
How are you bringing children to Jesus? Being a bridge to Jesus for children is not just a role assigned to parents. It’s assigned to us all! It doesn’t matter if you have many children in your home or none, in order to bless the next generation and bring them closer to Jesus, we must all:
1. Pursue Jesus as your priority. Point those around you to Jesus by your authentic example of how you deal with everything you experience daily. Show humility and forgiveness to those around you.
2. Prioritize church as a family. We don’t just attend church; we are the church everywhere we go. Our actions reveal our priorities. Show those around you that you prioritize church, and help get your family, and others, connected.
3. Practice spiritual rhythms in the home. Bless your children with love, time, and affection. Talk about Jesus during daily rhythms. Model for them that following Jesus is a relationship with God that impacts every area of your life. Provide a Christ-centered environment in your home that nurtures kids in their faith.
Reading Plan:
Monday: Mark 10:13-16,
Tuesday: Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Wednesday: Psalm 127:3-5
Thursday: John 1:12-13
Friday: Ephesians 5:1-2
Saturday: Galatians 3:26-27
Monday: Mark 10:13-16,
Tuesday: Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Wednesday: Psalm 127:3-5
Thursday: John 1:12-13
Friday: Ephesians 5:1-2
Saturday: Galatians 3:26-27