2.27.09, Mark 11:27-33

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

²⁷ They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ²⁸ “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!”

³¹ They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘From men’….” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

³³ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” 
      Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Battle Between True and Correct

I know that for many of us, being from a movie-based narrative culture, we always need villians.  In the Bible, the Pharisees fill the role of the villians of the gospels, characters that we hold at arm’s length and find no familiarity with.  But in general, I find that I learn so much about myself by looking at the attitudes and actions of the Pharisees.

Jesus asks them a very basic question, whether John came from heaven or men – they talk amongst themselves, and finally say: “We don’t know”…What kind of a response is that?  Their little internal dialogue reveals why they say this: because there is a difference between a true answer, and a correct one.

The correct (factually correct) answer to Jesus’ question would be “Yes, John obviously came from heaven, and so did you.”  But though correct, they didn’t really believe it, so it wouldn’t be true.   The true (their belief and conviction) answer would have been, “No, we didn’t believe John, and we don’t believe you either”, because this is how they really felt.  But this wasn’t the correct answer, and this response would have embarrassed them in front of people who had seen both John’s and Jesus’ ministry.  They don’t want to acknowledge Jesus, and they don’t want to embarrass themselves, so they say nothing.

What can we learn from this?

We have to realize that in our own context and lives, we also have a similar internal debate.  Some of us know the correct answers, but we really don’t believe these answers we give all the time.  Maybe you grew up going to church and knowing all the answers, but never took the time to really ask if you believed these answers at the same time.  Some of us have strong faith and conviction, but we don’t really know why we believe what we believe.  People ask us about our faith, and we have no answers, no way to help them understand why we believe.  Some of us have neither conviction nor answers…and need to take a long and serious look at the state of our faith.

When it comes to this debate between correct and true answsers, strive for balance.  Take time to understand what you believe.  Take time to believe what you understand.  The closer you can come to this balance, the more rich and full your faith will become!

Questions

1. Is there a particular area of your life where you understand a biblical concept, but have a hard time really believing it in your heart?

2. Is there a part of your life where you are deeply convicted that something is true…but don’t really know why, and have a really hard time explaining it to others?

3. What are some practical ways in which we can strengthen our knowledge?

4. What are some practical ways in which we can strengthen our sense of belief and conviction?

2.25.09, Mark 11:15-19

¹⁵ On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, ¹⁶ and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. ¹⁷ And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: 

” ‘My house will be called 
      a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

¹⁸ The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

¹⁹ When evening came, they went out of the city.

Passionate Compassion

This is one of those passages that we have read many times, but sometimes don’t truly understand.  What makes it even more confusing for many of us is that it seems so out of character for Jesus, the one we usually see as a shepherd, a friend, and a savior.  What is Jesus getting so upset about here?

Just as a general principle, when we come into contact with passages like this, that leave us scratching our heads, mystified as to what God wants us to learn, it is usually helpful to take a look at the context in detail.  Part of our confusion may be a consequence of us not so much our lack of insight, but not really understanding the cultural or chronological context in which the passage was written.

Most of us know very little about the temple and the rules for worship that were enforced there, but in that time period, worship within the temple was reserved for the Jews alone.  Gentiles were not allowed to worship there.  People with disabilites were not allowed to worship there.  This may seem harsh, but as we discussed previously, Jesus had not yet torn that curtain, and given the full picture of salvation for all humanity – but very soon he would.  So at that moment, these marginalized people were forced to worship outside the temple…the same area where the moneychangers had set up their shop.  Imagine that as you try to draw close to God, people are shouting out prices for doves and animals, exchanging money and leading goats by leashes.  It would be very difficult, if not possible.

And this provides us with the context that we need to understand Jesus’ response properly.  He was so upset because he loves the marginalized and forgotten, and his heart is always passionately for their defense – so should ours.  His salvation is for all people, even for those who we typically set outside the gates of our houses and hearts, and loves them deeply – so should we.  He is passionate about worship, knowing that the experience of drawing close to God is unmatched by any others, and defends the importance and holiness of worship – so should we.  

This relates back to the last few devotionals on boldness, where we saw that Godly boldness is humble boldness – here we see that the best kind of passion we can possess is a compassionate passion for others and their needs.

Questions

1. What can you say you are truly passionate about?  Are these things usually focused on others, or yourself?

2. Is there something that you are passionate about that may be displeasing to God?

3. If you are passionate for others, what is it about that topic or those people that make you passionate for them?

2.23.09, Mark 11:1-11

The Triumphal Entry

 ¹As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, ²saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’ “

 ⁴They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, ⁵some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” ⁶They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. ⁷When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. ⁸Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. ⁹Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, 
   ”Hosanna!” 
   ”Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
 ¹⁰“Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” 
   ”Hosanna in the highest!”

 ¹¹Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Such A Good Start

Now we entering the Passion Week in the gospel of Mark, and it begins so well!  A spot-on prophecy by Jesus, and a welcoming parade fit for a conquering hero, with crowds of people shouting, “Hosanna!  Save us!”  What a great start for Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem…and yet, only a few days later, the same people will be shouting for Jesus to be crucified, for a murderer to be set free in his stead.  They would rather have a murderer amongst them, than Jesus…

What happened here?  The people turned on him so quickly because he didn’t fulfill their expectations, namely, to free them from occupation.  When it became clear that Jesus was not their political liberator, they found it very easy to turn on him, and ask for his crucifixion.  They didn’t understand who Jesus truly was, and what he truly came to do, and became disillusioned when he broke promises he never made to them!

I believe that we often find ourselves in a very similar situation.  We have expectations from our Christian life, a lot of false ones: that our life will be comfortable, will be safe, will be free from suffering.  And when these expectations become unfulfilled, when we sin again, when we are oppressed, we get disappointed with God – “Why is this happening to me?  Why would God let this happen?  Does this mean he doesn’t love me…or doesn’t exist??”

But Jesus never promised these things to us, never promised that a life with Him would be easy or comfortable.  It is not fair for us to get disappointed that God doesn’t fulfill promises he never made!  But instead, we can always count on him to fulfill the promises he DID make to us – not for an easy and comfortable life, but for a redeemed and restored one.  And that he will work all things for the good of those who love him.  These are the promises that God really does give, and that we really can count on.

Questions

1. Who was the last person that disappointed you in some way?  How did you feel about them after this disappointment?

2. Do you think you have expectations of God that are not fair to what he has promised to do?  How do we figure this out?

3. If we do have these false expectations of God, what are the differences between those expectations and what God truly promises in our lives?

2.20.09, Mark 10:46-52

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight

⁴⁶ Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁸ Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” ⁵⁰ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. 
      The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

⁵² “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Boldness, Further Refined

This passage on Bartimaeus fits so well alongside of the previous passage because they are so similar, and yet, so different from one another.  Again, we encounter the idea of boldness – this time, Bartimaeus cries out to Jesus again and again, despite the flak and rebukes that he gets from others.  From this, we see that an important element of boldness is standing up in the midst of criticism or ridicule, something that is difficult for all of us.

And we find Jesus playing that same role again, trying to draw more faith and boldness out of Bartimaeus by asking him the most obvious question of all time: “What do you want me to do for you?”  Of COURSE Jesus knows what Bartimaeus wants, because people were probably guiding him by the hands to Jesus – he was blind, duh!  But Jesus asks this painfully obvious question to force Bartimaeus to speak, to say exactly what he wants to happen, because that act of verbally asking for something requires faith, boldness, and humility!  

In our context, this should reinforce our need to pray: of course God knows our need and our thoughts and could just pull them out of our head and answer (or not answer) them – why do we have to pray?  Because prayer plays the same role that Jesus plays in these accounts: it draws us out.  When we pray, we then humble ourselves, summon up all the faith we have, and specifically ask for things that seem impossible.  And that is the attitude that Christ waits for.

Lastly, from our last devotional we see how James and John asked for something for themselves, and were turned down.  But here, Bartimaeus also asks for something for himself, and Jesus answers him – what is the difference?  The difference is in WHAT they ask for.  James and John ask for glory for themselves, and are rejected.  But Bartimaeus asks for healing, something that is always the heart of God – God’s heart is to heal us, spiritually, emotionally, even physically!  That is the common thread in all of the passages we read that involve a sense of boldness: the Syro-Phonecian woman, and the father of the demon-possessed boy.  So no, we shouldn’t boldly ask God to make us famous people or better than others, but we can always boldly ask for healing, because that has always been, and will always be, God’s desire for us!

(For a brief discussion on when God does not heal, read the comments to this post)

Questions

1. When was the last time you really wanted to be bold in your faith, but weren’t because fear of other people’s perception of you?

2. Is there something in your life that you think God wants you to pray for specifically, but up to this point, you have only prayed for very vaguely, or not at all?

3. Is there an area of your life that requires healing?

4. What does boldy praying for healing look like, opposed to just praying for it ordinarily?

2.16.09, Mark 10:35-45

The Request of James and John

³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

³⁶ “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

³⁷ They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

³⁸ “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

³⁹ “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”

⁴¹ When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Humble Boldness (or Bold Humility)

James and John were nicknamed “The Sons of Thunder” – want to know why?  At one point, they asked Jesus if they should summon thunder and lightning to fall on a village that had rejected Christ.  They were passionate and a bit overzealous at times.  And this is where we find them again, boldly asking Jesus for the ultimate gift, to be counted as the most important people in the kingdom of God!!!

Now, if you remember a few weeks ago, we talked about the Syro-Phonecian woman and the idea of spiritual boldness, how sometimes Jesus waits for us to ask and show more faith in our lives…is this one of those moments, where Jesus blesses John and James for their boldness?  No – Jesus rejects this request.  But if boldness is a spiritual virtue, why does Jesus accept the Syro-Phonecian woman’s request, but reject John and James? 

The trick here is to ask the question, “boldness on behalf of who?”  If your boldness is on behalf of yourself, for your own glory and advancement, this often devolves into selfishness.  So this type of boldness is not always a virtue, but may reveal that you view God as a divine type of vending machine…God then becomes your servant, your genie in a bottle, and that is unacceptable.  

But boldness on behalf of others is a totally different story.  The Syro-Phonecian woman was bold with Christ on behalf of her sick daughter.  This type of boldness, when we cry out and pray for the good of others, is a consistent spiritual value that I believe God honors and answers.  And that is the heart of this passage, that boldness must also be humble at the same time, that we boldly strive to become the servant of others and intercede on their behalf, a characteristic exemplified by the life of Christ.

Questions

1. What do you think boldness on behalf of others looks like?

2. Are there people in your life who really need you to boldly intercede and help them?

3. Why are boldness and humility so difficult to combine for us?

Monday Off!

hi everyone,

because i’ll be out with the college group tonight and tomorrow, monday’s devotional will be postponed!  a good chance to try it on your own for the day…thanks!

peter

2.13.09, Mark 10:32-34

Jesus Again Predicts His Death

³² They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.³³ “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, ³⁴ who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

Deja Vu

This is a short passage, but very significant when you look at it in light of the entire gospel narrative.  Here we have Jesus telling the disciples in NO uncertain terms what is going to happen soon regarding his death and resurrection.  You can’t really get a more succinct description of the crucifixion and resurrection than that, can you?

Why is this so important?  It’s important because when you fast forward to the events after the resurrection, especially from the gospel of Luke, it seems like the disciples have not a single inkling that Jesus had risen!  The women give their firsthand eyewitness testimony of having met the angel and having been told that Jesus had risen…and they simple disregarded this.  Jesus starts walking with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and the disciples fail to recognize him!  They are utterly taken surprise by something they were told in detail would happen!

We do the exact same thing.  We are told in detail about many things that may happen in our Christian life: that we may experience hardship and persecution for our faith; that God will sometimes use suffering to discipline us and make us stronger; that we may have to give up precious things when we follow Christ.  We read and have heard it over and over, but when these circumstances actually come about in our lives, we are taken completely by surprise!  ”God, why are you making me suffer like this?  I didn’t know I had to give this part of my life up to be your disciple!!  What is going on???”

You see, reading Scripture is not enough. We have to actively digest it.  We have to really listen to it.  We even have to obey it!  And I’m hoping that as you go through these devotionals, you realize that the way in which we read the Bible, as an active listener and doer, is as important as the act of reading itself.

Questions

1. Is there something in your life that you are consistently surprised by, but has been detailed in the Bible for you?

2. Why is it difficult for you to be an active/responsive reader of Scripture?

3. What do you think would help you be a more active/responsive reader of Scripture?

2.11.09, Mark 10:17-31

The Rich Young Man

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”

29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

“Could Have Been a Contender”

One of the more difficult elements of this passage is the end, where Jesus states that those who leave their homes and families and fields for the gospel will receive a hundred times as much in this present age, including eternal life.  Is this biblical support for the health-and-wealth gospel that we hear so much about, that following after God is a guarantee for earthly riches?

No.  

Jesus is very specific in his language here, that what will be provided for will be exactly what was sacrificed: homes and fields.  And both of these items are more symbols of everyday needs than for excessive material riches and wealth, as in “God will provide for the things that we have sacrificed but still need day to day”.  And he intentionally includes that what also is to be expected is persecutions, which definitely is not a sign of material wealth.  From our journeys through this gospel so far, I hope it’s clear that the Jesus we see in the Word is not a health-wealth kind of guy…he is a “God on earth” kind of guy.

And on the same note, I want to look at the young man’s decision in more detail.  He turns down Jesus’ offer because he must have thought his great wealth was greater than the blessing he would have received as Jesus’ disciple, and the sacrifices his must make.  He made a simple mathematical calculation, and thought discipleship was not worth it – so let’s try looking at his decision as more of a mental calculation:

He kept his great wealth, homes, fields, earthly comfort and safety.

He lost a chance to travel with Jesus Christ and become an actual disciple, witnessing Christ’s greatest moments!  After all, it said that Jesus “loved him”, an expression that is pretty rare and was reserved for the Apostle John, the beloved disciple.  And so he might have become a leader of the early church, and seen the Holy Spirit transform the world through a ragtag group of zealots.  There is a chance that his name would have been recorded in the Bible, recognized by Believers throughout history…but no, he will remain forever anonymous.  He probably would have lost his life as well, as 11 out of 12 disciples were martryed.  And he might have even lost his chance at eternal life, for we do not know if this man ever realized his mistake.

When you look at it this way, in the larger context of the amazing things that God does, it really doesn’t seem like much of a choice, does it?

Questions

1. Do you feel like there is something that you have been unwilling to give up in your life, like the rich young man?

2. Make the same mental calculation – what might you keep?  But what might you lose?

3. Have you ever chosen to give up something that you felt God to?  What were the results?

2.9.09, Mark 10:17-31

The Rich Young Man

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

28 Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”

29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

No Matter What You Do

This is such a rich passage, I want to take time to really go through it in smaller, more digestable segments.  One of the most poignant moments of the passage is when Jesus looks at the young man, and tells him to sell all of his possessions and follow him, but the young man walks away, unable to do what Jesus commands.  This is a very emotional moment in itself, but what makes it even more poignant is the fact that as Jesus looks at the man, verse 21 tells us that he “loved him”.  

I would venture that because Jesus is God himself, and has shown throughout the gospels that he knows what people are thinking and talking about in secret, that he probably knew the man was going to walk away, even before it happened.  And yet, despite this fact that Jesus foreknew the man’s actions, the Scripture doesn’t tell us that Jesus was disappointed with him, or skeptical of the young man (as I would have been) – only that Jesus loved him.

I often forget that Jesus loves me when I make mistakes.  Now, this is very different from saying that Jesus loves me BECAUSE I make mistakes – I don’t think that’s true.  But despite all my missteps and times I have walked away from Jesus, I believe that he still looks with love upon me.  Sometimes we think that our mistakes have disqualified us from God’s love, that what we have done is so terrible that God could never love us.  But when we think this way, we severely underestimate the love of God we have in Jesus – it’s far bigger, stronger, and resilient than we think.  It is not so much that we need to think better of ourselves, but that we have to begin to think better of God.

Questions

1. Have you ever thought this way about God, that he stopped loving you after you had done something wrong?

2. What makes this idea, that God loves us despite our most terrible mistakes, so difficult to really believe?

3. Knowing that we are to be imitators of God, is there someone in your life that God is calling you to love despite their missteps?

2.6.09, Mark 10:13-16

The Little Children and Jesus

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

The Family Man

That word “indignant” that we find in verse 14 is used several times in the New Testament, but mostly in reference to the disciples.  For instance, when the woman pours expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus, the disciples were indignant because of the wastefulness.  They are indignant quite a few times in the gospel accounts, usually because they feel morally outraged.

But Jesus is “indignant” only once – here in this passage.  When the disciples prevent children from drawing near to him and rebuke them instead, he becomes indignant – outraged with their behavior.  And even after this indignation, we see a tenderness and joy displayed with the children, as he lays his hands upon them and kisses them, just like a father would do…obviously Jesus treasures children.

A few things we can take away from this – first, a warning of types that I feel more and more compelled to make.  Often, we feel that it is required for us to get married and have children.  After all, we read about Adam and Eve in Genesis, and this passage about children – surely it is God’s will for all of us to go down this path!  Not necessarily.  Earthly marriage is a shadow, a metaphor, for the intimacy of our relationship with Christ.  And the passage above indicates that we should treasure children…not necessarily have them ourselves.  Please be careful that you don’t mix up cultural values and Christian values, and impose them upon yourself, or upon others.

Secondly…invest in the life of younger people, someway, somehow.  There are tutoring programs like ULC or Little Lights.  There are youth groups across this state.  There may be a young cousin or nephew that you have .  But Jesus treasures the young, and so should we.  And in children, we catch a glimpse of the kind of heart we should have as well, a heart that openly and joyfully runs to our Heavenly Father – I guarantee that if you invest in a younger person, you will get more out of it than you receive…

Questions

1. Have you ever believed that it is God’s will for every person to get married and have kids?  Where do you think this belief came from?

2. Have you ever considered that God’s will for your life may NOT be marriage and children?  Why is that such a difficult concept to even consider?

3. Have you ever served young people/children in the past?  What was that experience like?

4. What are some ways you can invest in youth this season?