OCCASION: Children & Junior Youth Sunday

THEME: Christ, Our Example.

KEY TEXT: 1 Peter 2:21-23
As the sermon goes on, we shall make a couple of references to the passages read
for us but the key text for todays word is from 1 Peter 2:21-23. (Read)
Christ is our example in WORD and in DEED.
As we can walk as Christ walked, we can talk as Christ talked. This is not a condition
of ones feet or lips, it is a condition of the heart.
As a Teacher, Jesus did demonstrate how to live out his teaching to the disciples.
Peter reminds us that Jesus left us an example to follow, 1 Peter 2:21. Lets see what
examples he left for us to follow;
1. Christ is our example in our baptism: - He not only acknowledged the practice
of baptism but in humility, He submitted himself for the sacrament. In baptism
we die with Christ and rise to new life in Him.
2. Christ is our example in our temptations: - Whether young or old, in children
service, Junior Youth or belonging to the adult congregation, you have your level
of temptation. (You can site examples with the respective generational
groups) Even Jesus was tempted, 1 Corinthians 10:12. But just as He never gave
in to temptation, He sets the pace for us to also emulate. How did He do it? He
used the word of God to defend Himself when temptation came his way. Matt.
4:3-11
3. Christ our example in the proclamation of the word: - Just as He proclaimed the
Kingdom of God and its righteousness, we must learn to do likewise. This
admonishment doesnt encompass only adult generational group but also the
children and for that matter the Junior Youth as well, hence the theme for our
week celebration, The Child in Ministry
In Acts 1:8, the Lord Jesus Christ assures the church that when the Holy Spirit
comes He will give her members power to become witnesses for Him in the
world. The question is, are the children and Junior Youth members equally
empowered to be witnesses? Do the children have a role in the ministry of the
Church?
The truth is, every part of the body of Christ has a role in the ministry. As the
church embarks on its mandate as given in the Great Commission in Matthew
28:18-20, they ought to realise that, as they ensure that every member of the
church take part in making disciples for Christ, there are other wings of the
church that need shoulders to stand on to be able to fulfil their part of the

bargain. By this, I remind the church of its key role in ensuring that these little
ones they always dumb on innocent teachers and leaders every Sunday deserve
a little more attention and support than it is receiving if they can indeed be able
to follow Christs example.
Parents role forms key in the Childs ministry. Only be careful, and watch yourselves
closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart
as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them Deut. 4:9
The first thing any Christian parent must do for his/her child is to make sure
the child has come to trust in Christ; that the child has come to love to learn
lessons and songs about Christ; that the child has come to love to be with his/her
Christian peers at Christian gatherings. Beloved, can this be told of our children
of today? How many parents seated here have confidence of their childrens faith
in Jesus, really? Activities such as family devotions, family Bible study, prayer
sessions, parent/child interactions, etc are completely missing, all in the
excuse of Busy schedule and hence no time for such activities.
Participation in Church/Childrens Service/JY meetings etc have been
discouraged by even most parents. Talk of this week long parents How many
parents have shown significant support for their children throughout this event?
You have joined us in worship this morning because it is a Sabbath. How about
the sketch the children put on show the other day, why couldnt you support
your child with your presence? We know our excuses, but guess what, God
knows your heart. If our children can play their part in the ministry, God needs
you the parent to represent Him in the Home and be that example for the child.
Children Service teachers and Junior Youth Leaders must first and foremost
access their relationship with the Lord. You must be students of the scriptures,
committed to the task of teaching the children and leading the Junior Youth,
must be ready to demonstrate tolerance patience and friendliness and must be
well versed in the rudiments of the presenting the salvation message.
Then comes the childs role, who then must appreciate the fact that knowledge
of Christ and trust in Him makes him/her a child of God and therefore has
access to all the good things of God in Christ. The child now learns the
responsibility to share with others especially her peers. Even respect as
emphasized in Eph. 6:2 materialises automatically.
The children and Junior Youth are integrally part of the common wealth of
Gods people. It is therefore part of the mandate of both the churn and parents
to help them take their rightful place in ministry, especially following Christ
example by witnessing their faith in Christ Jesus.

Beloved, before we can walk as Christ walked, and talk as He talked, we must first
think as Christ thought. All action is the result of thought. Your actions are produced
by what you think. Every thought must be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
2Cor. 10:5.
This requires an act of determined consecration, requiring purpose and continual
application for the mind loves to wonder.
It also requires a willing exchange, giving up former ways of thinking and accepting
the mind of Christ as our own. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus
(Phil. 2:5).
When you are birthed of God and filled with the Holy Spirit, you have two minds.
In the new creation, you have the mind of God, in the old you have the carnal mind.
To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace (Rom. 8:6). So
we, by a determined act of our will, must let His mind be our mind. Then we will
have a controlled, sane mind and remember that your actions are a product of your
thoughts.
A sane mind is a controlled mind - filling the mind with right thoughts can drive out
evil thoughts.
Phil. 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of
good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these on these things.
Evil thoughts will come, thoughts of lust, thoughts of violence. These mostly are
spirits. They come uninvited into our mind. You have not sinned when they come.
But if you entertain them and obey them, you sin. You drive them out by filling the
mind with these things that are good, right and honest.
Jesus thought right, and the result was He walked right and talked right. Christ
Suffered For Us, Leaving Us An Example That Ye Should Follow His Steps, Who
Did No Sin... (1Pet. 2:21-22).
Christ did not live in habitual sin and He did not make excuses for sin.
He resisted the devil, the temptation, He knew no sin..., even though He was
tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15).
Spiritually asleep Christians are not led by the word of God, or by the Spirit of God.
David said in Psalms 119:11, Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin
against thee.
The work of the Spirit is to reprove of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement
to come (Jn. 16:8).

We Must Walk In Jesus Steps. Look at our text again. Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps (1Pet. 2:21). Those who teach that we
cannot live above sin will have to tear this out of the Bible. Jesus knew no sin, and
God says to me, follow in His steps.
We Must Not Only Talk As Jesus Talked, We Must Walk In His Steps.
Certain things in the life will prevent Gods power from flowing through the vessel,
whether it is the vessel of the first century or the vessel of the now. It is all the same.
Without holiness you cannot even see God, much less be used of God.
When we get to the gates of that city, they wont ask for your I.D. - they will look
for a resemblance of Christ in your life - that is your pass into heaven.