Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Pastor Jonah Sage's sermon from Mark 10:13-15.
Bobby: Welcome to the Midweek Checkup. My name is Bobby Gilles and this fountain of information is Lindsey Blair. This past Sunday, Pastor Jonah Sage preached verses thirteen through fifteen from Mark Ten.
Lindsey: Jonah He said that Jesus is inviting us to receive his Kingdom like children. But if you missed the sermon or need help remembering, you’re in the right place because it’s time for the Midweek Checkup.
Bobby: We began by noting that this passage answers the question, “"How can I be saved? Jesus says "receive the kingdom like little children."
But what does that actually mean? In our families, we were meant to feel three fundamental things: trust, safety, and love. When one of those is missing, we become a distorted version of ourselves. This in turn affects the way WE parent.
Lindsey: But imagine yourself as one of these parents taking their kids to Jesus. The disciples couldn’t imagine this as a holy moment but Jesus did. When Jesus thought of children, first he thought of simplicity: Jesus says, “Here, you can have this.” Simplicity says, “Thank you.” We can simply say “Thank you” and follow Jesus.
Bobby: When Jesus thought of children he also thought of learning. Jesus holds children up as a model of teachability. They want clarity by nature, so they learn easily. And finally, when Jesus taught about children he had in mind dependence. The more we learn to depend on Jesus, the more we experience a place of trust, love, and safety. This changes the way we live.
This changed life shows the world how good our family is.
Lindsey: In the years to come, it will not be articulate, persuasive Christians that draw people to Jesus. It will be beautiful Christians, coming fully alive, displaying the power of a life transformed. It will be Christians who know they are loved and safe, confident they can trust God, that live and love in a way that makes the world see Jesus.
Bobby: Jesus is inviting us to receive his kingdom like children. This is not a command, this is an invitation. Nothing in your life has shaped you the way your family of origin did. The way you love is a reflection of the way you have been loved. And so, to reshape you, to heal you and set you free, God brings you into a new family. No one is trustworthy, safe, or loving like God is. One of the most consistent ways God's character is summarized in the Bible is by the phrase "unfailing love."
Lindsey: Scripture tells us about God’s unfailing love over and over again, and this past Sunday we heard many of these passages. Can you imagine who you might become if you trusted God, knew you were loved, and knew you were safe? What might happen if you knew, in Christ, you are enough?
You are delighted in, you are loved, you are safe.
Bobby: Amen. This Sunday we will learn from the interaction of Jesus with a rich young ruler in our series from the Gospel of Mark, called Kingdom Living. And in Bible Fellowship we’ll continue our Lenten season discussion of psalms. Join us, and bring a friend.