The Kingdom is given to little Children: Matthew 19:13-15 children should be seen and not heard this saying went beyond wanting children to be well-behaved: it completely denied them a voice the importance of children the child-like characteristics that are to be the hall mark of every follower of Christ

the backdrop The Pharisees on Divorce The Rich young man on good deeds both these stories are about people who thought that it was somehow their efforts that made them fit to enter the Kingdom of God

Children as Individual members of the Church disciples harsh and stern on the children thought the children were unimportant & more of a nuisance to Jesus . Jesus shows that children were at the centre of His ministry. In 1 Samuel 3 ;God calling Samuel who was then about 10 or 11 years old Ministry of children and young people not an additional extra it is central

the beginning of the Holiday Club Jesus values Children and so should we. P God holds parents and all who influence children and young people accountable for how they affect little ones ‘ ability to trust

CHILDLIKE QUALITIES The story of the pharisees on one hand and the story of the rich young man These are about people who thought that their efforts that made them fit to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus turns the whole argument upside down and points to children

Child-like qualities Children have the kind of qualities that are needed to approach God. qualities of innocence , humility, sincerity , trust and dependence . Their receptiveness was a great contrast to the stubbornness & harsh rigidity of the religious leaders Also a total contrast to the love of possession that stood in the way of the rich young man.

Jesus is saying that God relates to us through grace , not through the law or good works Jesus is inviting us to a radical way of life .To relinquish our pride, our self-sufficiency, our independence, and to submit to his reign in our lives

Humble obedience Phi 2 . 5 Let the same mind be in you that was[a] in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God,     did not regard equality with God     as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself,     taking the form of a slave,     being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8     he humbled himself     and became obedient to the point of death—     even death on a cross.