July 31, 2015

“Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.” The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” John 4:46-53

“The biggest place in the world is that which is being filled by the people who are closely in touch with youth. Being a king, an emperor or a president is mighty small potatoes compared to being a mother or the teacher of children, whether in a public school or in a Sunday School, and they fill places so great that there isn’t an angel in heaven that wouldn’t be glad to give a bushel of diamonds to boot to come down here and take their places.” Billy Sunday (1862 – 1935) A Sermon, “Motherhood” “For All The Saints”, volume IV (p. 462)

So often we hear that the “children are the future of the church”. I can’t disagree. We are in the best possible position to teach the faith to someone when they are just a child. Once they have reached adulthood, they begin to believe more in their ability to “intellectualize” things in their lives than to find faith. They are more willing to follow the teachings of politicians, of sport’s figures, or of the ramblings of an “on-line” prophet than to believe and follow the teachings of Jesus and the words of the prophets. But, to me, the most important thing today is to teach our children to carve out time in their busy schedules for the church — either in the activities of a youth group — or attending regular youth activities. If we can get them involved with other children in learning about faith, in having fun at church, and being leaders in the church, they have a better chance to stay connected to the church when they reach adulthood. This will give them a chance as adults and help them to be better able to compare the “on-line” ramblings of a modern-day prophet to the words of grace, mercy and love of Jesus.

Pastor Dave