When I was a child, my parents always took us to church. Mom would read missionary stories to us at nap time. She would lead Bible clubs in our home. Both parents were involved in teaching children at church. It is little surprise that their children went on to care for children in various ways. My sister was a nanny who led several children to the Lord. My wife and I worked with children in various churches as well.

But children often cause problems. Some talk out during church services. They squirm and cause disruptions. They run about in the church and don’t think of the elderly who they might knock down. We all know children like that and sometimes wonder why they shouldn’t be left at home while the adults learn in a peaceful environment. But is that the way we should think about children? Should they be shuffled away where they won’t bother us? In today’s passage, we will see how Jesus responded to little children and will learn how we should respond to them ourselves.