CHILDREN ARE THE MOST FERTILE SOIL

“Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come unto me: for
of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat. 19:14). The savior had time 
for the little children. The crowds were thronging him, the religious
heirarchy was upset by his teachings, and he was answering many
questions - yet our Savior took the time to put his hands on the 
little children and to bless them. The Century church of Christ has 
opportunity to help the little children, the older children and all 
the people in our Vacation Bible School. Here are some reasons the 
little children are such fertile soil in which to sow the gospel. 

1. The Gospel is a teaching religion and little children are teachable.
Jesus said the sower sowed the seed and then explained that the seed
is the word of God. Then Jesus shows that the different kinds of soil
are different kinds of hearers (Lk. 8:4-18). He informs us that we 
need to take heed how we hear because if we retain the word we will 
be given to but if we do not retain it the truth will be taken away 
from us. Now many adults are so hard headed, prejudiced and drunken
on human doctrines that they will not hear the simple truths of the 
word of God. They are always hedging and contradicting and blaspheming
the preaching of the gospel (Acts 13:45). When Paul and Barnabas
taught such a crowd of people and those people started blaspheming 
and contradicting,  they just turned from them to others who would 
accept the gospel. In this community we have others we can teach 
- and that is the little children. Their minds are open for gospel 
truths. Jesus even said, “Except ye be converted and become as little
children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat. 18:3).
 He was speaking of the humility, the teachability, and the open hearts
that little children have when he made that statement. So children 
can be taught the truth and as they develop over the years they will
obey the gospel and live the Christian life.

2. Little children are an open door with the gospel into the lives of
adults. How many families have been won to Christ because we carried 
the little children to Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and 
other events of the church. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the
young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead 
them.” (Isa. 11:6). Here in a graphic way Isaiah was speaking of people
with these characteristics being changed into beautiful Christians and 
a little child  will lead them to the Lord. This is a prophecy of the
gospel age and shows the great work that children have in it - 
leading others by the characteristics of their precious little lives.

3. The Great Commission commands us to teach the little children.
Jesus said, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature.” Wouldn’t you say that little children are part of these
creatures?  They most certainly are a part of it and we must take the
time to teach them or we will be disobeying the Lord. Old men, old 
women, young men, young women, as well as boys and girls all have a 
part in this teaching program. If we are failing in this effort then
every member of the church is at fault. We are saved to save others
and the little children are a part of the human race that needs this
saving message. Like the apostle Paul we should be ready to teach the 
gospel to them (Rom. 1:14,15). 

4. The future of the church depends on teaching the little children.
The church is the pillar and ground of the truth. Paul wrote two 
inspired letters to the young preacher Timothy so he would know how 
to behave himself in the church of the living God so it would continue 
to be the pillar and ground of the truth. (I Tim. 3:14, 15). Such
things as “Let no man despise thy youth but be thou and example of 
the believers” (I Tim. 4:12) is taught to this young preacher. Also
he is told to “preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; 
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
(2 Tim. 4:2). The church is always just one generation from apostasy
and unless we ground the young  in the true gospel of Jesus Christ
then in a generation the true church will not be around. 

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