The First Step to True Spiritual Leadership

Recently, I began reading the book Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders. So far, this has been a fantastic book and has pointed out numerous misconceptions that leaders and, frankly, myself have. A lot of times we think that passion and ambition are some of the best qualities of a leader. These qualities can be great, but many times they become used for the wrong purpose.

In the first chapter of his book, Sanders says, “All Christians are called to develop God-given talents, to make the most of their lives, and to develop to the fullest their God-given gifts and capabilities. But Jesus taught that ambition that centers on the self is wrong.” This statement took me off guard. How could someone being ambitious about something they love ever be wrong? It all goes back to the motivation of the heart. If our ambitions are centered on selfish desires, rather than godly desires, they become prideful and full of arrogance.

Sanders goes on to remark, “Ambition which centers on the glory of God and welfare of the church is a mighty force for good.” Whether you are a children’s pastor, youth pastor, or a senior pastor, if your ambitions to do what you do are self-centered rather than centering on the glory of God, they are wrong. Our ambitions should put God first, others second, and ourselves last.

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do (children’s ministry, youth ministry…WHATEVER), do it all for the glory of God. -1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

Media Resource for Families

As a children’s minister, I hear first hand what children are interested in. The latest video games, singers, movies, and celebrities are among the buzz and chatter each and every Sunday in a church gathering. For parents and guardians, who are committed to raising their children in the ways of God, it sometimes seems like an impossibility to find any help when it comes to knowing what is coming out of those ear buds plugged into your child’s iPod. There are many mixed messages when it comes to what you should let your children take in, but only you can decide. A great resources I have found for parents is a website called Plugged In Online.

Found at www.pluggedin.com, the website features reviews for many new and old media releases including movies, music, videos, games, and TV shows. With so many voices coming at children today from the media, parents must filter and know what their children are absorbing from the culture. Children are highly influenced by the media and pop culture that we must make sure they are taking in positive information.

Plugged In Online is a resource from Focus on the Family, an organization committed to helping parents raise biblical and godly children. The website greatly helps parents do this by providing not only secular type reviews, but they also include spiritual emphasis. The website includes using God’s name in vain as a curse word and it also lists the spiritual emphasis and implications that suggestive scenes in a movie/TV show could cause.

It is a parent’s responsibility to be the primary influencer of their children, especially when it comes to raising them biblically. Parents must make certain that what they allow their children to listen to and watch is not sending mixed signals and messages which conflict to the teachings of Jesus. It may seem like an impossibility to cut out all “negative influences,” but when it comes to at least knowing what your child is absorbing, Plugged In Online comes in handy.

Why it is Easier for Children to Find Christ

Statistics show that it is more likely for a child to accept Christ than a teenager or an adult. Why is this so? One could argue that children will believe anything they are told, such as in the existence of the tooth fairy, Santa Clause, and the Easter Bunny. However, there is much more to it than that. Here is biblical evidence for the answer to why it is easier for children to find Christ.

Humility

It is possible to argue that it is easier for children to find Christ. Why? They skip the step that most adults need to undergo. Jesus told his disciples “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:3-4) Unlike most adults, kids are used to the idea that there is someone else in charge, someone they must rely on, and that someone is much bigger than themselves.

Many people worry about how children may not understand difficult terms like ‘salvation’ and ‘mercy’, that these ideas may be too complicated for them. Sure, this may be true, but children never ask you what love is. (And surely, love is far more difficult to define.) A humble understanding, is, maybe the only true form of understanding.

Sincerity

Children can’t even see beyond the day, how can they really commit their lives to Christ? We laugh at a boy of six who says he wants to become a fireman – it’s just an immature whim. Perhaps God laughs at us for laughing at the little boy? In God’s grand scheme of things, who isn’t immature? No one!

But sincerity is another matter. There is no doubting the sincerity of the boy wanting to be a fireman. And sincerity is what God seeks. “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

Faith

The Bible tells us “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.” (Matthew 6:34) Jesus reminds those of ‘little faith’, not to be distracted by ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ ‘What will we wear?’. (Matthew 6:31) Unlike adults who are often bogged down by these mundane worries, Children are perhaps freer, to seek other priorities, like ‘The Kingdom of God’. (Matthew 6:33)

Children live in the here and now, but that in no way diminishes a child’s understanding of eternity. They have greater faith in the permanence of things and are quite willing to commit to ideas of ‘forever’.

Hence, Build a Relationship , Keep the Faith

Children may live only in the here and now, but every moment in their precious childhood becomes a lasting memory through adulthood. And this includes the time you have with them.

Which is the reason that relationship-building takes on extra importance when it comes to children. It is not just the message we are giving; it is more importantly, an intimate exchange of trust, a sample of Christ’s love, and a role-model for present and future reference.

More than just bringing them to faith in Jesus our saviour, this sample of Christ’s love, stamped forever in the child’s heart, helps him keep the faith. Christ’s love will see him through life’s injustices and cruelties. Instead of false pride, cynicism and insecurity, Christ’s love sustains a child’s humility, sincerity and faith.

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Original Article found here: http://www.letthelittlechildrencome.com/child-evangelism-resources/reasons-why-it-is-easier-for-children-to-find-christ/
Letthelittlechildrencome.com has great resources for sharing Christ with children. Visit their website.