Blessing the Children
Matthew 19:13-15
-Raise your hand: Do you have any children? Grandchildren? Great grandchildren? Nieces or nephews? Friends with
children?
-What is something fun and interesting that you have watched a small child do?
-Do you remember what you thought about God as a child? Where do you think you got your thoughts about God?
Psalm 127:3-4 Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior’s
fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children!
Psalm 139:13-16: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from
you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed
substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of
them.”
Proverbs 22:6 Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost.
Proverbs 23:13-15 Dear child, if you become wise, I’ll be one happy parent. My heart will dance and sing to the tuneful
truth you’ll speak.
Isaiah 54:13 All your children will have God for their teacher—what a mentor for your children!
Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, do what your parents tell you. This is only right. “Honor your father and mother” is the first
commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, “so you will live well and have a long life.” Fathers, don’t
frustrate your children with no-win scenarios. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.
13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the
disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the
Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” 15 And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed
them before he left.
1) V13 What is up with the disciples and children?
2) V14 What are children like? (Provide as many descriptors as you can think of)
3) V14 What about being childlike ushers adults into the Kingdom of Heaven?
Deut. 6:4-9 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your
heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I
am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when
you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on
your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
4) Deut. 6:4-9 What specific instructions are given for raising children in these verses?
5) Deut 6:4-9 What in today’s world makes it hard to follow these instructions for raising children?
Who Were Some Important Kids in the Bible?
While it seems that God mostly worked through adults, there were times recorded in the Bible where the Lord saw fit to
use kids for His purposes.
Many theologians speculate that David was an adolescent when he stood up to Goliath.
Josiah became one of the great kings of Israel who tore down idols and re-established worship of the one, true God when
he was only eight years old! His story is chronicled in 1 Kings.
Samuel was dedicated to service to the Lord as a baby, and became one of God’s great prophets.
Children also served as examples of faith, used by Jesus to illustrate what it looks like to trust in God, unaffected by the
world. The Lord can use anyone for His purposes, just like He used David, Josiah, and Samuel.
Prayer: Thank you for filling the world with children to bring joy and excitement to the world, as well as to remind us of
what it was like to have faith without over-thinking everything.