February 23 – 29, 2008

REACHING CHILDREN

In this lesson you will learn that the most reachable people group is children. Everyone can have a part to play in reaching children, through your praying, giving, serving, or bringing children to church. The greatest evangelistic effort should be to our children. The Billy Graham Association said over 80% of all people surveyed through the years received Christ before the age of thirteen.

I. What Jesus said about children.

A. Matthew 18:1-4 – The disciples asked Jesus who was greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus called a little child to Him and said, “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

1. To become like “little children” means to be childlike in your simplicity of believing, openness of your heart, receptivity to what God has to say and humility to obey Him as He speaks.

2. Pride, skepticism, doubt, and unbelief are learned. When you tell a child about the Bible they will not argue, because they believe and take God at His Word.

B. Matthew 19:13-15 – Jesus brought the children to Himself and prayed for them and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

II. What you can do to reach children.

A. You must see the harvest of children – John 4:35 – “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.”

B. Pray for the harvest of children and laborers to reach them.

C. Bring children to church from your neighborhood.

D. Serve in the nursery, children’s church, as a coach, children’s cell group leader, with the after school mobile kidz club, or Saturday bus ministry.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• What age were you when you came to Christ?
• What area of ministry to children can you do – pray, give, or serve?
• Have you considered bringing children from your neighborhood to church with you?

BE A DOER OF THE WORD

This week do something with who you are in Christ. Get the revelation of what you do with who you are. Jesus saved you to reach others. There is a window of opportunity to reach children. There is a cause and that cause is the children of our land, the next generation.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 19:14 – “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”