Let the Children Come - (Part 3) What This Looks Like for VVCC

Verde Valley Christian Church
Feb 25, 2024

Sermon Title: Let the Children Come - Part 3: What This Looks Like for VVCC
Speaker: Jim Hammond

I. What this DID look like for VVCC

There are two things that everybody hates.

Change and the way things are.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Luke 18:16
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

2 Corinthians 5:15 (NIV)

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Don’t be a sponge that sours in the sink!

Paul did not change his MORALS or his

MESSAGE, but he radically changed his

METHODS to reach people who were far from God.

Do we have a readiness like Paul's to change methods without compromising the unchanging gospel message?

II. What this DOES look like NOW

We have to continue to work diligently to help people understand and perceive the same unchanging gospel message as relevant and desirable today, and everyday.

III. What we pray it WILL look like SOON

How can we more effectively reach children and their families? What are the types of changes required for a church to be more effective in reaching the "next generation"?

2 Timothy 1:5
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Let the Children Come - (Part 2) What This Looks Like for Parents

Verde Valley Christian Church
Feb 18, 2024

Sermon Title: Let the Children Come - Part 2: What This Looks Like for Parents
Speaker: Jim Hammond

Psalms 78:1-7
My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

I. WE WILL pass the baton of faith

Psalms 78:4
We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.

Psalms 78:6-7
so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.

II. TELL them God's STORIES

Psalms 78:4
We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.

John 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

We all need a knowledge base that answers the most important questions, questions like: What is real? What is the good life? Who is a good person? How do I become one?

III. TEACH them God's TRUTH

Let the Chilren Come - (Part 1) Turn Your Heart to Children

Verde Valley Christian Church
Feb 11 – 17, 2024

Sermon Title: Let the Children Come - Part 1: Turn Your Heart to Children
Speaker: Andrew Webb

Malachi 4:4-6
"Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction."

Luke 1:17
And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

Mark 10:13
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.

Mark 10:14
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Mark 10:15
Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Mark 10:16
And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

1. POINT the Kids in Your Life to Jesus

2. RECEIVE the Kingdom of God Like a Child

Choose What is Better

Verde Valley Christian Church
Feb 4 – 10, 2024

Sermon Title: You In 5 Years - Part 5: Choose WHAT is Better
Speaker: Jim Hammond

Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

1. What is a good 5-year objective?

Choose a better WHAT!

2. What if we don't achieve our objective as planned?

Choose a better OBJECTIVE!

3. What if our plans fail because life happens differently than expected?

Choose DIFFERENTLY!

Through the Eyes of a Lion - Levi Lusko

4. What value determines what objective is better than another?

Choose JESUS!

5. What kind of effort is never a wasted effort?

Choose the best effort. 

Matthew 26:12-13
She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed."

Choose the best thing, the significant thing, the eternally significant thing; focus on what can't be taken away so that no matter what else is taken away, your relationship with Jesus remains strong.