Children of the Bible
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Jeremiah 1:4-10
4. The Lord said to me, "I chose you before I gave you life, yes, before your birth,
5. I had a special holy job for you - MY prophet to the world."
6. JEREMIAH answered, "O Lord God, I can't do that. I don't-know how to speak and I am only a young man."
7. But the Lord said to me, "Don't worry about your youth. You will go every place that I send you and you will speak the words I tell you.
8. Don't be-afraid of the people, because I, the Lord, will be with you and help you."
EPISTLE LESSON: Galatians 1:11-16
Paul wrote...
11. I tell you, my Christian friends, the good announcement I speak is not a man's idea.
12. Because no man gave it or taught it to me, but Jesus Christ showed it to me.
13. You heard the things I did in the past while I still lived following the Jewish religion, and that I persecuted God's church and tried to destroy that.
14. And that in this Jewish religion I was better than many young men same-as my age, because I was very zealous to follow the traditions of my fathers.
15. But God chose me before I was-born, and in HIS love HE called me.
16. And happened God kindly decided to show me HIS Son, so-that I would tell the good announcement of Jesus among the non-Jewish people.
GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 1:39-45
39. Then MARY leaved from home and traveled quickly to a town in the hills of JUDAH.
40. MARY went to the home of ZACHARIAH and met her cousin ELIZABETH.
41. When ELIZABETH heard MARY'S voice, then the baby in ELIZABETH'S womb jumped. The Holy Spirit filled ELIZABETH.
42. And ELIZABETH said, "You Mary are the most blessed of all women, and the baby inside you is blessed.
43. Why is this wonderful thing happening to me? I feel honored that the mother of my Lord visits me.
44. When I heard your voice, the baby inside me jumped with joy.
45. And you are blessed because you believe that the Lord's promise will really happen."
This message opens with a picture from a children's book by Dr. Seuss -- Horton Hears a Who.
Search Google images for a picture of your choice.
Describe the plot of the book (or the movie). Then transition into this message...
Search Google images for a picture of your choice.
Describe the plot of the book (or the movie). Then transition into this message...
Again and again, Horton the elephant tells us the message of this book:
"A person is a person, no-matter how small."
Later, when Christians used that sentence
for defending the life of really little people,
people not-yet born,
people still in their mother's womb,
Dr. Seuss complained:
"No, no! I didn't mean that!"
Sorry, Dr. Seuss.
What your wise elephant said is true:
A person is a person, no-matter how small.
We see that clearly in today's story about John.
People say,
"That FETUS in the womb, that is not really a baby.
That is not-yet a person.
Life begins when a person becomes born, not before."
Sorry. That's a lie.
Any of you women who experienced pregnancy,
you know that thing inside of you is alive,
and human.
In our story today, Elizabeth felt that.
That little baby in her womb was alive.
And that baby not-yet born understood that he was in the same room
` -- but in a different womb --
with his Savior.
And he jumped with joy.
"A person is a person, no-matter how small."
Later, when Christians used that sentence
for defending the life of really little people,
people not-yet born,
people still in their mother's womb,
Dr. Seuss complained:
"No, no! I didn't mean that!"
Sorry, Dr. Seuss.
What your wise elephant said is true:
A person is a person, no-matter how small.
We see that clearly in today's story about John.
People say,
"That FETUS in the womb, that is not really a baby.
That is not-yet a person.
Life begins when a person becomes born, not before."
Sorry. That's a lie.
Any of you women who experienced pregnancy,
you know that thing inside of you is alive,
and human.
In our story today, Elizabeth felt that.
That little baby in her womb was alive.
And that baby not-yet born understood that he was in the same room
` -- but in a different womb --
with his Savior.
And he jumped with joy.
Baby John in his mother's womb defeats another false idea:
Some Christians say that young children can't have faith --
they can't become Christians --
because young children can't understand enough.
When they grow up to about the age of 12,
then they can understand more.
then they can believe.
then they can become saved.
So, before the age of 12, children can't really sin,
because they are not yet responsible
for deciding right and wrong.
...those people say.
True story: One 9-year old boy told his pastor
that he wanted to become a Christian,
so he could go to heaven.
His pastor told the boy, "No, you are too young."
Wrong.
When children came to Jesus, He didn't tell them:
"Wait. You must become like adults
and learn and understand,
then you can become saved."
NO!
Jesus told adults: "If you want to become saved,
you must become like little children."
False teachers say that FAITH means
learning information
understanding
and saying, "Yes!"
They say FAITH means WHAT YOU KNOW.
The Bible teaches that FAITH means WHO YOU KNOW.
They say FAITH means our head connecting-with God.
The Bible teaches that FAITH means
our heart connecting with God.
When did John become a Christian?
When did he know and love Jesus as his Savior?
When did God give John His Holy Spirit?
BEFORE JOHN WAS BORN!
Maybe you remember that story about the angel named GABRIEL
appearing to old priest Zachariah.
The angel told the priest, "Your wife will have a baby.
You will name him John.
He will become filled with the Holy Spirit
in his mother's womb."
Psalm 51 says that we are sinners
the minute our lives begin in our mother's womb.
We inherit our love for sin from our parents.
Babies need salvation, too.
And Jesus wants to give them faith -- heart connection.
That is the reason we bring our babies to Jesus for baptism.
There Jesus announces, "That one is Mine!"
And Jesus gives that baby
His Holy Spirit.
And that Holy Spirit gives that baby faith --
heart connection with Jesus,
the same as He did for John
in his mother's womb.
Some Christians say that young children can't have faith --
they can't become Christians --
because young children can't understand enough.
When they grow up to about the age of 12,
then they can understand more.
then they can believe.
then they can become saved.
So, before the age of 12, children can't really sin,
because they are not yet responsible
for deciding right and wrong.
...those people say.
True story: One 9-year old boy told his pastor
that he wanted to become a Christian,
so he could go to heaven.
His pastor told the boy, "No, you are too young."
Wrong.
When children came to Jesus, He didn't tell them:
"Wait. You must become like adults
and learn and understand,
then you can become saved."
NO!
Jesus told adults: "If you want to become saved,
you must become like little children."
False teachers say that FAITH means
learning information
understanding
and saying, "Yes!"
They say FAITH means WHAT YOU KNOW.
The Bible teaches that FAITH means WHO YOU KNOW.
They say FAITH means our head connecting-with God.
The Bible teaches that FAITH means
our heart connecting with God.
When did John become a Christian?
When did he know and love Jesus as his Savior?
When did God give John His Holy Spirit?
BEFORE JOHN WAS BORN!
Maybe you remember that story about the angel named GABRIEL
appearing to old priest Zachariah.
The angel told the priest, "Your wife will have a baby.
You will name him John.
He will become filled with the Holy Spirit
in his mother's womb."
Psalm 51 says that we are sinners
the minute our lives begin in our mother's womb.
We inherit our love for sin from our parents.
Babies need salvation, too.
And Jesus wants to give them faith -- heart connection.
That is the reason we bring our babies to Jesus for baptism.
There Jesus announces, "That one is Mine!"
And Jesus gives that baby
His Holy Spirit.
And that Holy Spirit gives that baby faith --
heart connection with Jesus,
the same as He did for John
in his mother's womb.
One more lesson we learn from baby John:
God called [summoned] John for serving Him
before John's birth.
God had a specific plan for John's life
for serving God.
God also called [summoned] each one of us -- you and me --
before our birth.
God also has a specific plan for our lives
for serving Him.
Amen.
God called [summoned] John for serving Him
before John's birth.
God had a specific plan for John's life
for serving God.
God also called [summoned] each one of us -- you and me --
before our birth.
God also has a specific plan for our lives
for serving Him.
Amen.