Being missionaries, Gil and I get the honor of traveling to many churches. Often, when we visit these churches, our kids are with us and attend the children's programming. We've seen a lot of kid’s ministries.  Let me put it to you straight. When kids worship purely, they aren’t doing it to perform or show off- just as anyone else. It’s not a spectacle when kids worship. It isn’t cute and doesn’t need to be pointed at, smiled at, shown to the person sitting next to you. One quick way to get kids to “fake” worship or show off in our churchy culture settings is to make light of their actions.  Acts 2:39 says that the Holy Spirit is for every believer. Not just the grown up believer. When a child believes in Jesus, he or she is a believer. 100%. Not a miniature adult with a portion of belief, but an actual, 100% believer.  Do we point out when someone puts offering in the basket? Or reads Scripture aloud to the body? Do we think it’s cute when an adult prays for ...

John 17:15-19 “I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They are not part of this world anymore than I am. Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours.” Let’s take a deep look at John 17. Pause for a few moments, grab a Bible and read these very personal and heartfelt 26 verses. In the hours before, Jesus and the disciples share powerful, life changing dialogue about the great teachings Jesus came to leave with his people. The opening of chapter 17 says that when he finished saying all these things, he looked up to his Father and began praying and we are given the unforgettable opportunity to listen in to Jesus speaking to his Father about his most loved treasures- the disciples. Jesus begins by bringing attention to the fact that he received his disciples as a gift from Go...