25-1109a - Detailed Summary

Tom greets the congregation and introduces his sermon titled "Be Like a Child." He asks how many wish to be younger, imagining escaping the hectic adult life with bills, deadlines, and aging’s physical tolls like sore joints and fatigue. He contrasts children’s eagerness to grow up—dreaming of driving, independence, and adult privileges—with adults' longing for carefree youth. Tom highlights the irony: youth chases maturity, while maturity yearns for youth’s joy, energy, and imagination, free from mortgages, reviews, and regrets.

Tom reminisces about childhood as a playground of wonder, with games, forts from cushions, and imaginary adventures like fighting demons with stick swords. He contrasts this with modern adulthood, termed "adulting" by millennials and all generations, involving juggling jobs, relationships, and overwhelming responsibilities. He shares a TikTok example of a young woman crying after her first workday, warning of the toll after decades of long hours. Tom recalls parents' advice to enjoy childhood, as work isn’t fun.

Tom mentions a colleague who worked 61 years at the mill and died without retiring, and after 14 years himself, he’s already eager for freedom. He notes others like Steve King preaching at 80 and Wally working nearly 60 years, describing life as working to pay debts. He jokes about possibly working until 100 due to government spending. Additional stresses include raising kids through tantrums and tuition, bills, taxes, health scares, economic issues, and political divides that fracture families.

Tom explains that life’s stresses multiply, turning joy into survival mode, with everyone hurting nowadays. He echoes Jacob’s lament in Genesis 47:9 about his 130 years being few and evil, not matching his fathers'. Despite Jacob’s greatness and God’s presence, his days felt evil, reflecting how time flies and days seem evil for us too. However, the gospel offers hope: as Christ followers, God commands reclaiming a childlike spirit, making it essential for entering his kingdom, citing Mark 10:13-15 where Jesus indignantly allows children to come, stating the kingdom belongs to such.

Jesus declares that anyone not receiving the kingdom like a child won’t enter it, rebuking disciples for hindering children. In a world valuing wisdom, strength, and self-reliance, Jesus invites becoming like little ones. Tom plans to explore losing childlike wonder with age and reclaiming it, covering losses, choices, restorations, and inheritance as God’s children. He describes starting life innocent like Adam and Eve in Eden, in harmony with God, unashamed and naked without shame in Genesis 2:25, with paradise as their playground.

One forbidden fruit bite shatters innocence, as Genesis 3:7 shows them realizing nakedness and sewing fig leaves. Sin brings shame, separation, death, and a curse echoing today, with effects multiplying—from fruit to murder by their children, to today’s murders, robberies, and rapes. The devil’s tactics remain, prowling to devour and strip innocence. For many, abuse starts early: one in nine girls and one in 53 boys under 18 face sexual abuse, a satanic assault robbing joy. Even without abuse, all sin per Romans 3:23; a preacher notes if Adam and Eve didn’t, we would have.

Temptations come via screens, school, work, and friends; peer pressure persists into adulthood. The devil wants us worldly, not spirit-led. 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns bad company corrupts good character, rarely reversing. Parents advised choosing friends wisely, as birds of a feather flock together; Tom recalls fun friends leading to trouble. Satan tempts, accuses, and conforms us to the world. But all have fallen, needing Savior Jesus to restore what sin stole. Sin leads to a fork: narrow road to life or broad to destruction in Matthew 7:13-14.

The narrow path of self-denial and sacrifice seems dull and restrictive—everything feels like sin, even thoughts. The broad way offers pleasures, applause, and ease, glamorized on TV without showing consequences, especially eternal ones. Some deny God’s existence, but Romans 1:20 says creation reveals his qualities, leaving no excuse. Ignorance won’t work at judgment, like in court. Acts 17:30 notes God once overlooked ignorance but now commands repentance for all. Choose stairway to heaven or highway to hell; Jesus urges counting the cost in Luke 14:26-33, hating family and life compared to him, carrying the cross. Build wisely, fight strategically, surrender fully; the road is rugged with Satan’s attacks, but eternity is worth it. Don’t start what you can’t finish. Tom recalls camp hikes: easy vs. hard through thorns and streams; he chose hard.

The preacher recounts his exhausting but rewarding hard hike at summer camp, with unmatched views, laughter, and bonds, likening it to life with Christ. The world sees the cross as foolishness per 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, but to the saved, it’s God’s power. Following Jesus offers deeper joy and purpose; even in sin’s temporary enjoyment, nothing compares to Christ. To reclaim wonder, receive the kingdom like a child through five scriptural keys. First, trust like a child who leaps without fear, knowing parents will catch them, not fretting over provision. Psalm 131:1-2 describes a calm soul like a weaned child, content in presence, not demanding. Proverbs 3:5-6 urges trusting the Lord fully, submitting ways to him for straight paths, surrendering worries to the unfailing Father.

Second key: humble yourself. Children have no self-sufficiency and know they need help. In Jesus' time, kids had low status, yet he elevates them as models of greatness in Matthew 18:4. Disciples argued over rank, like modern pursuits of likes, promotions, or spiritual points, but Jesus calls to depend on him, running to the Father like a toddler. James 4:10 promises that humbling before the Lord leads to being lifted up.

Third: stay teachable, like young moldable hearts. Proverbs 22:6 advises starting children right so they won’t depart later; school teachings stick, which is why dictators target youth, like Hitler Youth or communists, and modern schools indoctrinate instead of teaching basics. Age hardens with habits and biases; unlearn lies like evolution and relearn truth. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states all scripture is God-breathed for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training, equipping for every good work.

Dive daily into the word to reshape, as Psalm 119:11 hides it in the heart to avoid sin; forget old, embrace new. Fourth: obey with joy. Kids obey trusting parents' wisdom; adults resist stubbornly. Obedience unlocks blessings; John 14:15 ties it to love—if you love me, keep commandments. Claiming love for God without following the Bible questions true love.

Isaiah 1:19-20 promises good from the land for willing obedience, but devouring by the sword for rebellion. History shows obedient nations thrive, like Israel under David, while rebels fall like Babylon; America’s deterioration stems from drifting from God. 1 Peter 1:14-16 calls obedient children not to conform to past ignorance but be holy as God is. Obedience is freedom, not slavery; God’s rules lead to better, blessed, happy lives and good relationship with him.

Fifth: embrace wonder and forgiveness. Children marvel, turning mashed potatoes or mud into masterpieces, like in "A Christmas Story." Play with food or imagination allows anything. Jesus invites awe; gaze at stars in worship, per Psalm 8:3-4, pondering heavens, moon, stars, and why God minds mankind. The universe’s vastness evokes awe at God’s creativity in animals, people, bugs—evidence of an awesome creator.

Rediscover wonder in sunrise, flower’s geometry, baby’s laugh. In forgiveness, kids quarrel and reconcile quickly, modeling grace; adults hold grudges forever. Matthew 18:21-22 teaches forgiving seventy times seven; Ephesians 4:32 urges kindness, compassion, forgiving as Christ forgave. Ditch grudges for grace’s playground. Christian life is childlike surrender, opposite world’s empire-building. Inspirational speakers flaunt money, cars, fame—meaningless to God, contrary to his desires.

Not pride or perfection, but reliance on the Father. 1 John 3:1-2 marvels at love making us God’s children; future unrevealed, but we’ll be like him, seeing him as is. We are family; Hebrews 2:11-12 says Jesus isn’t ashamed to call us siblings, as sanctifier and sanctified are one. As heirs, we inherit glory, eternal life; Romans 8:16-17 has the Spirit testify we’re children, heirs with Christ, sharing sufferings and glory.

Titus 3:7 says justified by grace, we become heirs with eternal hope. God gifts what we don’t deserve; Romans 6:23 contrasts sin’s wages of death with God’s free eternal life in Christ. We deserve hell, but God offers the best—why suffer eternally? If not yet God’s child, become like children: trusting, humble, teachable, obedient, wondrous. Be born again: repent, believe, confess, baptize calling on his name (Acts 22:16), receive Holy Spirit as sonship seal.

If today is the day or need prayer to reclaim childlike joy, come forward; water’s warm, prayers ready, Father waits with open arms.