FOLLOW ME

Lesson: Jesus Loves the Little Children

Bible Passage: Mark 2:13-17, Mark 10:12-14, Luke 18:16-18, Matthew 18:4-6, Matthew 19:12-24

Begin the Children’s Moment with no fanfare.  Do NOT broadcast an invitation to the children to meet you at the front of the church.  Instead, go to each child or group of children in the congregation individually and say, “Follow me.”  If you are blessed with a larger congregation, get help.  When you have gathered all the children, go to the front of the church and sit. If you wish, have some picnic-style food for the children to eat together.

In the times of Jesus, certain people were not welcome in most companies.  Among them were women, tax collectors and children.  But Jesus’ teachings changed that.  He respected women and made them an important part of his ministry.  He ate with tax collectors, even though nobody else wanted to be with them.  And most of all, Jesus loved children.  He said, “Let the little children come to me.”  Jesus took a child in his arms and said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.”  He said, “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Jesus loves you.  In fact, if you had to limit God’s love, I could say that Jesus loves you more than he loves grown-ups.  Fortunately, there is no limit to God’s love.  So take it in and hold it in your heart and remember (if possible, address each child individually) Jesus loves you.  And so do I.