Focus 3 | Childhood is Forbearance
God has intentionally made children great—the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Consider this ice breaker question to get started.
What is a weird fact that you know?
What is a weird fact that you know?
See what this Spotlight—and series— is focused on.
Tap on the words "Focus 3" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Tap on the words "Focus 3" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Let’s talk about being a kid.
Listen to this audio clip when you’re ready to begin today’s Spotlight.
(And welcome, by the way! It’s great that you’re here!)
Listen to this audio clip when you’re ready to begin today’s Spotlight.
(And welcome, by the way! It’s great that you’re here!)
Think back to childhood.
Think of two things that were allowed—perhaps even expected—in childhood that you miss now that you’re no longer a child.
Specifically, try to think of one simple/fun/trivial thing and one that’s a bit more significant. (If you’re doing the Spotlight with a group, share what you come up with.)
Welcome Perspective
We should come to God, but in forbearance, he comes to us. In childhood, he does this by making all that we are able to do the greatest thing that can ever be done.
We should come to God, but in forbearance, he comes to us. In childhood, he does this by making all that we are able to do the greatest thing that can ever be done.
Draw near to God with “the child’s psalm.”
O Lord, my heart is not conceited.
My eyes do not look down on others.
I am not involved in things too big or too difficult for me.
Instead, I have kept my soul calm and quiet.
My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother’s arms.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord now and forever.
Psalm 131
Psalm 131 was written by King David as a psalm “for going up to worship.” In it, the psalmist gets ready to connect with God by putting on two characteristics that are truly childlike: unassuming humility and unquestioning trust.
Listen to the song, “Untold,” which an adaption of Pslam 131.
Songwriter Rachel Wagner adapted this psalm for her daughter, Charlotte. As you listen, remember that you worship alongside Charlotte and young children everywhere who have hearts that pray the words of this song.
O Lord, my heart is not conceited.
My eyes do not look down on others.
I am not involved in things too big or too difficult for me.
Instead, I have kept my soul calm and quiet.
My soul is content as a weaned child is content in its mother’s arms.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord now and forever.
Psalm 131
Psalm 131 was written by King David as a psalm “for going up to worship.” In it, the psalmist gets ready to connect with God by putting on two characteristics that are truly childlike: unassuming humility and unquestioning trust.
Listen to the song, “Untold,” which an adaption of Pslam 131.
Songwriter Rachel Wagner adapted this psalm for her daughter, Charlotte. As you listen, remember that you worship alongside Charlotte and young children everywhere who have hearts that pray the words of this song.
Lyrics from Untold (Psalm 131) by Rachel Wagner
Spread your blanket over me,
rock me ‘til I fall asleep
and I won’t pretend to know
the secrets you don’t want to show
and I’ll believe
your love for me.
I’ll rest somehow,
just hold me now.
There’s so much you’re not telling me;
lots of things that I can’t see.
Things I can’t begin to know
so hold my hand as I let go
and I’ll believe
your love for me.
I’ll rest somehow,
just hold me now.
Spread your blanket over me,
rock me ‘til I fall asleep
and I won’t pretend to know
the secrets you don’t want to show
and I’ll believe
your love for me.
I’ll rest somehow,
just hold me now.
There’s so much you’re not telling me;
lots of things that I can’t see.
Things I can’t begin to know
so hold my hand as I let go
and I’ll believe
your love for me.
I’ll rest somehow,
just hold me now.
Compare yourself with the heart of a child.
It can be hard to have the disposition described in Psalm 131.
Use the presentation below to spend a few minutes aligning yourself with the heart of a child that is drawing near to God as a loving parent.
It can be hard to have the disposition described in Psalm 131.
Use the presentation below to spend a few minutes aligning yourself with the heart of a child that is drawing near to God as a loving parent.
Hear the words of Jesus as he admires the heart of a child.
Jesus showed how important the unassuming humility and unquestioning trust of a child are when his disciples asked him who was greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 Then he said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.”
Matthew 18:1–6
Jesus’ words are the core of this story but don’t gloss over the “little child” that was called to stand among the disciples. That child did not ask to be there and yet while standing among these thirteen grown men and all the other adults who were present, that child heard incredible hope.
“Whoever becomes like this little child…” says Jesus.
Name three true things about the little child that was standing among the disciples in this story. (Discuss these with your group, if you’re doing this Spotlight with others.)
Jesus showed how important the unassuming humility and unquestioning trust of a child are when his disciples asked him who was greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 Then he said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.”
Matthew 18:1–6
Jesus’ words are the core of this story but don’t gloss over the “little child” that was called to stand among the disciples. That child did not ask to be there and yet while standing among these thirteen grown men and all the other adults who were present, that child heard incredible hope.
“Whoever becomes like this little child…” says Jesus.
Name three true things about the little child that was standing among the disciples in this story. (Discuss these with your group, if you’re doing this Spotlight with others.)
Let the greatest child come for you.
Imperfect people (both adults and children) will struggle to have unassuming humility and unquestioning trust the way God intends. The devil, the world around you, and the pride and fear within you get in the way.
Thankfully, Jesus—who had every right to be a proud king who demanded whatever he wanted—gave up that right for something better. Jesus’ unassuming humility and unquestioning trust made him God’s perfect child, and he, in turn, made you part of God’s family.
Listen to this song by JJ Heller about just that.
Imperfect people (both adults and children) will struggle to have unassuming humility and unquestioning trust the way God intends. The devil, the world around you, and the pride and fear within you get in the way.
Thankfully, Jesus—who had every right to be a proud king who demanded whatever he wanted—gave up that right for something better. Jesus’ unassuming humility and unquestioning trust made him God’s perfect child, and he, in turn, made you part of God’s family.
Listen to this song by JJ Heller about just that.
Worship Perspective
Those qualities which make children “not grown up” are the ones God glorifies.
Those qualities which make children “not grown up” are the ones God glorifies.
Compare two interactions Jesus had with children.
You’ve already seen Matthew 18, but here it is again with an additional verse:
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 Then he said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be drowned in the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.”
Matthew 18:1–6
On another occasion, Jesus had this interaction with children:
15 Some people brought infants to Jesus to have him hold them. When the disciples saw this, they told the people not to do that.
16 But Jesus called the infants to him and said, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me! Children like these are part of the kingdom of God. 17 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child receives it will never enter it.”
Luke 18:15–17
Compare these two interactions using a Venn diagram.
Once you’ve divvied things up into a diagram like the one below, discuss: What truths do these two stories share, and why is that truth so important?
You’ve already seen Matthew 18, but here it is again with an additional verse:
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 Then he said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever becomes like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me. 6 These little ones believe in me. It would be best for the person who causes one of them to lose faith to be drowned in the sea with a large stone hung around his neck.”
Matthew 18:1–6
On another occasion, Jesus had this interaction with children:
15 Some people brought infants to Jesus to have him hold them. When the disciples saw this, they told the people not to do that.
16 But Jesus called the infants to him and said, “Don’t stop the children from coming to me! Children like these are part of the kingdom of God. 17 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever doesn’t receive the kingdom of God as a little child receives it will never enter it.”
Luke 18:15–17
Compare these two interactions using a Venn diagram.
Once you’ve divvied things up into a diagram like the one below, discuss: What truths do these two stories share, and why is that truth so important?
Receive the kingdom like a child.
There are countless things trying to distract you from receiving the kingdom of God like a little child.
In the comments below below, create 5–10 “if/then” statements that explore the challenge of keeping a childlike faith. Use an “If I am receiving the kingdom of God like a child, then I will not be ________ like an adult” formula.
For example: If I am receiving God’s kingdom like a little child, then I will not be trying to intellectualize my way into it like an adult.
There are countless things trying to distract you from receiving the kingdom of God like a little child.
In the comments below below, create 5–10 “if/then” statements that explore the challenge of keeping a childlike faith. Use an “If I am receiving the kingdom of God like a child, then I will not be ________ like an adult” formula.
For example: If I am receiving God’s kingdom like a little child, then I will not be trying to intellectualize my way into it like an adult.
Reflect on this quote from theologian R. C. H. Lenski.
God is smart: he gives his love to children in a way that they are uniquely fit to receive it. Based on this quote and all you’ve discussed so far, how does he do this?
We would think, as, alas, so many did and do think, that a babe must receive the kingdom like an adult, but absolutely the reverse is true. The child is the model, not the adult. It is the unassuming humility and unquestioning trustfulness of the child that make it a pattern for all adults. This humility and trustfulness, when directed to Christ, becomes the very essence of saving faith.
R. C. H. Lenski, Interpretation of St. Mark’s and St. Luke’s Gospels
God is smart: he gives his love to children in a way that they are uniquely fit to receive it. Based on this quote and all you’ve discussed so far, how does he do this?
We would think, as, alas, so many did and do think, that a babe must receive the kingdom like an adult, but absolutely the reverse is true. The child is the model, not the adult. It is the unassuming humility and unquestioning trustfulness of the child that make it a pattern for all adults. This humility and trustfulness, when directed to Christ, becomes the very essence of saving faith.
R. C. H. Lenski, Interpretation of St. Mark’s and St. Luke’s Gospels
Learn Perspective
Trust is everything, and so the game is rigged for those who are best at trust. This is God’s grace toward children.
Trust is everything, and so the game is rigged for those who are best at trust. This is God’s grace toward children.
Help remove hindrances so kids can come to Jesus.
Illume, in cooperation with the Great City Network, is leading a project to create a kids curriculum that uses videos and at-home activities to help kids learn important stories from the Bible.
In the comments section below, help by telling the project team about a Bible story you think every child should be taught. (If it helps, the plan already covers the ones you’d expect, like creation, the fall into sin, and Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection.)
Illume, in cooperation with the Great City Network, is leading a project to create a kids curriculum that uses videos and at-home activities to help kids learn important stories from the Bible.
In the comments section below, help by telling the project team about a Bible story you think every child should be taught. (If it helps, the plan already covers the ones you’d expect, like creation, the fall into sin, and Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection.)
Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
Serve Perspective
“Do not hinder them!” What can you do to remove one child’s obstacles?
“Do not hinder them!” What can you do to remove one child’s obstacles?
Pray you’ll continue to appreciate and desire childlike faith.
Use this video to guide you as you ask God to renew in you the receptivity of faith like a child.
Use this video to guide you as you ask God to renew in you the receptivity of faith like a child.
Sing along with (or listen to) this song to close out this Spotlight.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Farewell Perspective
Receive the kingdom not like adults, but children. Trust what you once knew.
Receive the kingdom not like adults, but children. Trust what you once knew.
Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Posted in Childhood in a Certain Light
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