Warm-up Question
- When is the last time you asked a child their opinion about something related to faith?
- Is that more or less often than talking to teens or adults about religious perspectives?
- Why is that?
Kids Talk. Do We Listen?
If you haven’t yet discovered research from the Springtide Institute, it’s well worth your time. They spend much time researching Gen Alpha (born after 2010 or so), as well as Gen Z (who are now all in high school or older). The research often focuses on issues of mental health and religious belief, among other things. Newsweek summarized a recent study of Gen Alpha 13-year-olds and the findings therein might surprise you.
For instance, many in Gen Alpha saw positive outcomes from our global experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kids are often aware of their own smartphone addictions. Many less united on their response to global climate change and most are still figuring out their political affiliations.
This also indicates that kids are willing to share who they are, what they think, and how they believe. But that begs a question: are adults willing to listen to them? Springtide’s earlier research makes clear that kids with trusted mentors are more likely to have positive mental health and deeper spiritual engagement. No matter their age, it makes a difference whether we take children seriously and welcome their perspectives.
Discussion Questions
- In what ways does your church empower children to share their perspectives and questions?
- What kind of changes would you recommend?
- During your childhood, who was a supportive mentor for you?
- What made that experience positive?
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year A at Lectionary Readings.)
For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.
Gospel Reflection
In Mark 10, when children try to get close to Jesus, the disciples “spoke sternly” to the kids. They were rebuked for wanting to connect with Jesus. How absurd! We would never do that, right?
Unfortunately, that’s all too common in communities of faith. How often do newcomers, people with questions about Christianity, experience rejection by insiders? Too often. How often do people young in their faith, with curiosity about Christ, receive harsh correction for their boldness? Too often.
It’s also true that kids still receive this sort of treatment. Under the guise of protection, we sometimes block children’s access to the serious things of faith, like the question of divorce in today’s Gospel. At other times, kids’ questions are ignored because they seem naive or irrelevant to adult conversations. In Jesus’ day, many considered children less valuable than adults, which is still a perspective some carry today.
Both in metaphor and in reality, the church too often puts gates between the young and the Savior.
Jesus’ response is one that applies in all situations: let the children come to me. In other words, whether they’re real children or young in their faith, stop putting unnecessary obstacles between people and God. Jesus wants to connect with kids, not keep his distance. Jesus welcomes what adults consider naive when brought with the sincere faith of a child. Jesus honors what polite society considers irrelevant when arising from the true curiosity of fresh perspective. In short, Jesus doesn’t need protection. Jesus seeks connection. Connection with kids, connection with disciples, connection with all.
Discussion Questions
- What, do you think, made the disciples try to prevent children from coming to Jesus?
- If you could ask Jesus anything, what would you ask him?
Activity Suggestions
- Utilize a prayer method, like Praying in Color, to embody a childlike faith in your prayer practices this week. Express yourself to God in ways that lean on the simplicity and boldness so many children display.
- Intentionally seek out a child younger than you and ask them questions about faith. Then, take time to reflect on how their perspective might shape your own connection to God.
- Talk with your pastor about how you might amplify the voices of children in worship so that the congregation can learn from the connection that kids have with Christ.
Closing Prayer
Welcoming God, we thank you for welcoming all those who seek you out. Remind us to seek connection with you and to empower others to connect with you, especially the youngest among us. Help us to learn from the perspectives of children and listen to the opinions of those who are new to the faith. Encourage us to remove all barriers that prevent others from connecting with you. We pray this all in the name of Jesus Christ: Amen.
