SOUL-WINNING:
Dealing With Children
Lesson Text: Matthew 18:1-6, 10.
Devotional Reading: Worth of a Child, Hebrews 11:23-29.
Aim: To point up the worth and spiritual potential of the child, and show how to lead him to Christ.
Home Readings
Monday: “Train up a Child,” Proverbs 22:1-6.
Tuesday: “Discipline the Child, Proverbs 23:12-15.
Wednesday: Recognize His Potential, John 6:8-11.
Thursday: Teach His God’s Words, Deuteronomy 6:6-9.
Friday: Make Him “Wise unto Salvation,” 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Saturday: “Fordid Them Not, to Come,” Matthew 19:13-15.
Sunday: A Believing Maid’s Contribution, 2 Kings 5:1-4, 14
1. More Excuses.
I am too young. Some look on the life of a believer as a solemn dreary experience only for adults. Young people have been known to shun receiving Christ, because they are not ready to settle down in life. However, those who have Christ in their hearts look at it differently. They know the only true happiness and joy in life are in Christ. “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (1 Peter 1:8).
He is too young. Oddly enough, some parents take up this cry in behalf of their children. Some have even said they want their children to have some fun and sow their wild oats before they settle down to the serious matters of life. Such an attitude is dynamite for the spiritual future of a child.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7, 8).
He is too young to understand. A young person must understand the same things as other sinners. He is lost. He cannot save himself. Christ is the only Savior. Christ will save if he repents and believes on Christ. One does not have to know the deep theology about salvation in order to receive it. To require children to understand matters adults did not know when they received Christ is absurd. Children need to be taught the Scriptures about Christ and salvation (2 Timothy 3:15).
Any excuse or delay for the youngster is just as surely a tactic of Satan as it is with adults. Moreover, one who is old enough to understand his lost condition should turn to the Lord for salvation (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
2. A Critical Period.
The winning of children must not be delayed. Delay is dangerous, perhaps fatal. Those who pass into adulthood without Christ are likely to go into a Christless eternity. One survey revealed nineteen out of every twenty believers received Christ before they were twenty-five years old. Therefore, the task of leading children to Christ is supremely urgent.
The personal worker must recognize the child’s need of the Saviour. “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14). When the disciples tried to hinder the children from coming to Christ. “he was much displeased” (Mark 10:14). How old must a child be to come to Christ? There is no set age, but a child is old enough when he is old enough to realize he is a sinner and when he is old enough to turn away from sin and to turn in faith to Christ as personal Saviour.
Some follow the philosophy of leaving a child to make his own choice in spiritual matters. That is much like leaving a garden to grow produce without help. The point is a child is lost by nature and is accountable to God when he is old enough to know he is a sinner and Christ is the Saviour. And while believers may leave the child alone, one may rest assured the Devil will not. The child’s nature by birth needs only time and occasion to bring forth its fruit of disobedience and spiritual death. “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” (Job 14:4). “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” (Psalm 51:5) “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” (Psalm 58:3). Read also Isaiah 48:8.
It is of utmost importance for a child to be taught early to see his need of Christ as Saviour. The task is urgent. The age is critical. This is the sacred duty of parents, teachers, and pastors.
3. A Responsibility.
First, the youngster whom the Spirit convicts regarding sin and salvation is accountable to God for his spiritual condition. The Lord spoke of “one of these little ones which believe in me” (Matthew 18:6); consequently one who can become a believer has first been an unbeliever and accountable to God for his sin. Once a child has the capacity to be a believer, he is answerable to God for his soul’s salvation (John 3:18, 38).
Second, the saved youngster has a responsibility to witness to others, particularly those of his own age. At times a youngster will listen to those of his own age, when he rejects the witness of adults. The great difficulty is not in the ability of he youth to win the youth, but in the willingness to try.
Third, parents have a spiritual responsibility for their children. It is gravely dangerous to pass that responsibility on to others. Those who refuse to witness to their children, those who do not go to church with their children, and those who have no spiritual relationship to Christ are passing their responsibility to others. Although the child must repent and believe for himself, it is impossible to overestimate the value of parents who will point their child to Christ.
Fourth, each true church is responsible to evangelize children. A church does not “preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), if it neglects to preach the Gospel to children.
Fifth, the pastor has a responsibility in childhood evangelism. Usually, a pastor is careful to protect children from a force profession of faith. Normally, a pastor is on guard to protect parents from using incorrect methods in dealing with their children. Ordinarily, a pastor will encourage children to come to Christ. Customarily, a pastor will work with a child’s teacher to bring the child to Christ. Invariably, a pastor will notice a youngster’s susceptibility to the Gospel and recognize his need for Christ.
Sixth, teachers are very important. Children must have teachers who have a genuine concern for the spiritual welfare of their pupils. And, the teacher has a splendid opportunity to deal personally with lost children.
4. A Simple Method.
There is a simple method of presenting Christ to those who are very young. It enables the personal worker to know how much the child realizes about his need for Christ. First, the believer heads three columns on a sheet of paper. – innocent, lost, and saved. Second, he explains to the child what each term means by telling how a child qualifies for each stage. He may write terms or Scripture references under each heading as he explains each category. Third, he asks the child to commit himself by selecting which category best describes his spiritual standing with God. Usually, the lost child will select the “lost” column, because he knows he is not an innocent infant and he has never been saved. Then, the believer should lead the child to turn to Christ in faith for salvation.
Youth is an age of idealism, characterized by courage and valor. It is an age of enthusiasm, characterized by a positive, frank, and direct attitude. It is an age of adventure. Christ has everything to appeal to them.
Dealing With Children
Lesson Text: Matthew 18:1-6, 10.
Devotional Reading: Worth of a Child, Hebrews 11:23-29.
Aim: To point up the worth and spiritual potential of the child, and show how to lead him to Christ.
Home Readings
Monday: “Train up a Child,” Proverbs 22:1-6.
Tuesday: “Discipline the Child, Proverbs 23:12-15.
Wednesday: Recognize His Potential, John 6:8-11.
Thursday: Teach His God’s Words, Deuteronomy 6:6-9.
Friday: Make Him “Wise unto Salvation,” 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Saturday: “Fordid Them Not, to Come,” Matthew 19:13-15.
Sunday: A Believing Maid’s Contribution, 2 Kings 5:1-4, 14
1. More Excuses.
I am too young. Some look on the life of a believer as a solemn dreary experience only for adults. Young people have been known to shun receiving Christ, because they are not ready to settle down in life. However, those who have Christ in their hearts look at it differently. They know the only true happiness and joy in life are in Christ. “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (1 Peter 1:8).
He is too young. Oddly enough, some parents take up this cry in behalf of their children. Some have even said they want their children to have some fun and sow their wild oats before they settle down to the serious matters of life. Such an attitude is dynamite for the spiritual future of a child.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7, 8).
He is too young to understand. A young person must understand the same things as other sinners. He is lost. He cannot save himself. Christ is the only Savior. Christ will save if he repents and believes on Christ. One does not have to know the deep theology about salvation in order to receive it. To require children to understand matters adults did not know when they received Christ is absurd. Children need to be taught the Scriptures about Christ and salvation (2 Timothy 3:15).
Any excuse or delay for the youngster is just as surely a tactic of Satan as it is with adults. Moreover, one who is old enough to understand his lost condition should turn to the Lord for salvation (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
2. A Critical Period.
The winning of children must not be delayed. Delay is dangerous, perhaps fatal. Those who pass into adulthood without Christ are likely to go into a Christless eternity. One survey revealed nineteen out of every twenty believers received Christ before they were twenty-five years old. Therefore, the task of leading children to Christ is supremely urgent.
The personal worker must recognize the child’s need of the Saviour. “But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14). When the disciples tried to hinder the children from coming to Christ. “he was much displeased” (Mark 10:14). How old must a child be to come to Christ? There is no set age, but a child is old enough when he is old enough to realize he is a sinner and when he is old enough to turn away from sin and to turn in faith to Christ as personal Saviour.
Some follow the philosophy of leaving a child to make his own choice in spiritual matters. That is much like leaving a garden to grow produce without help. The point is a child is lost by nature and is accountable to God when he is old enough to know he is a sinner and Christ is the Saviour. And while believers may leave the child alone, one may rest assured the Devil will not. The child’s nature by birth needs only time and occasion to bring forth its fruit of disobedience and spiritual death. “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” (Job 14:4). “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.” (Psalm 51:5) “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” (Psalm 58:3). Read also Isaiah 48:8.
It is of utmost importance for a child to be taught early to see his need of Christ as Saviour. The task is urgent. The age is critical. This is the sacred duty of parents, teachers, and pastors.
3. A Responsibility.
First, the youngster whom the Spirit convicts regarding sin and salvation is accountable to God for his spiritual condition. The Lord spoke of “one of these little ones which believe in me” (Matthew 18:6); consequently one who can become a believer has first been an unbeliever and accountable to God for his sin. Once a child has the capacity to be a believer, he is answerable to God for his soul’s salvation (John 3:18, 38).
Second, the saved youngster has a responsibility to witness to others, particularly those of his own age. At times a youngster will listen to those of his own age, when he rejects the witness of adults. The great difficulty is not in the ability of he youth to win the youth, but in the willingness to try.
Third, parents have a spiritual responsibility for their children. It is gravely dangerous to pass that responsibility on to others. Those who refuse to witness to their children, those who do not go to church with their children, and those who have no spiritual relationship to Christ are passing their responsibility to others. Although the child must repent and believe for himself, it is impossible to overestimate the value of parents who will point their child to Christ.
Fourth, each true church is responsible to evangelize children. A church does not “preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), if it neglects to preach the Gospel to children.
Fifth, the pastor has a responsibility in childhood evangelism. Usually, a pastor is careful to protect children from a force profession of faith. Normally, a pastor is on guard to protect parents from using incorrect methods in dealing with their children. Ordinarily, a pastor will encourage children to come to Christ. Customarily, a pastor will work with a child’s teacher to bring the child to Christ. Invariably, a pastor will notice a youngster’s susceptibility to the Gospel and recognize his need for Christ.
Sixth, teachers are very important. Children must have teachers who have a genuine concern for the spiritual welfare of their pupils. And, the teacher has a splendid opportunity to deal personally with lost children.
4. A Simple Method.
There is a simple method of presenting Christ to those who are very young. It enables the personal worker to know how much the child realizes about his need for Christ. First, the believer heads three columns on a sheet of paper. – innocent, lost, and saved. Second, he explains to the child what each term means by telling how a child qualifies for each stage. He may write terms or Scripture references under each heading as he explains each category. Third, he asks the child to commit himself by selecting which category best describes his spiritual standing with God. Usually, the lost child will select the “lost” column, because he knows he is not an innocent infant and he has never been saved. Then, the believer should lead the child to turn to Christ in faith for salvation.
Youth is an age of idealism, characterized by courage and valor. It is an age of enthusiasm, characterized by a positive, frank, and direct attitude. It is an age of adventure. Christ has everything to appeal to them.
