Leading Your Children To Christ

This morning I'll be talking about children experiencing what Jesus calls the new birth. Before I do, I want to say a word about Vacation Bible School. VBS is one of the most effective tools for reaching people with the gospel. VBS will happen in nine locations this year, and I hope you'll join us for training this evening. We want our children to be saved. And the stats are clear for America's children as Jesus finds a very high number of children/teenagers before they are eighteen. The clear desire of every Christian parent is the spiritual well-being of their children. As much as anything, we want to equip parents to lead their children to trust in Jesus Christ. And I'll scatter some nuggets throughout the message on how to shepherd your kids (no matter their age) toward embracing kids.

Today's Big Idea: The Gospel isn't just something we believe, it's something we love.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." 3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." (John 3:1-21)

The gospel must move from the head to the heart. Yet, there's a lot of confusion about knowing for sure if I'm "o.k." with God. One individual told of "walking the aisle a lot" when they were younger. Where they thought they had been saved at least once in every brand of church! Maybe you've had that experience, and you're confused. Today, I want to clear up your confusion. Some of you have never heard a clear explanation of how to receive Christ. In the next few moments, I want to share this message of salvation with you.

If Jesus is correct … think with me about this … what happens in your heart in the next few moments will be the most important thing 10,000 years from now. If Jesus is correct, then your reception or rejection of Him will make all the difference in 10,000 years. If you were to stand before Jesus Christ and He were to say to you, "Why Should I Allow You into Heaven," how would you answer? In just a few moments, I am going to extend to you an invitation, where you'll have an opportunity to receive Jesus Christ.