The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 is about faithful stewardship. Read or listen to this material from Your Finances God’s Way to learn what the parable of the talents teaches us about managing money.

Table of ContentsEncouraged By the Parable of the TalentsGod Judges Christians’ Stewardships Versus Their SinsFirst, God Gives What We Can HandleSecond, God Judges Our Proportion Versus Our PortionThird, God Does Not Compare Us with OthersThe First Danger of Comparing: DiscouragementThe Second Danger of Comparing: PrideThe Same Reward for Going to Battle and Guarding the SuppliesAre You the 400, 200, First Servant, or Second Servant?Footnotes

Everything belongs to God. Deuteronomy 10:14 says, “Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.” God said, “Every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine” (Psalm 50:10-11). Psalm 89:11 says, “The heavens are Yours; the earth also is Yours; the world and all its fullness, You have founded them.” First Corinthians 10:26 quotes Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”

Of course, God’s possessions include all the wealth throughout history. This means your money isn’t your money! It’s God’s money. In Haggai 2:8, God said, “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine.” David wanted to build a house (or temple) for God. When he was told he couldn’t, he did everything he could to help his son Solomon make this happen, only stopping short of doing the building himself. David collected the materials, including the silver and gold. After the people gave even more than was needed, David prayed in 1 Chronicles 29:14, 16:

Who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your hand we have given You…O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own.

David understood they were giving back to God what He had given them. John 3:27 says, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” Our entire perspective of money changes when we understand that all wealth belongs to God. We come to view our finances correctly as one big stewardship.

If we understand money is a stewardship, we will be wiser with the money God has given us. We will be less likely to waste it because we understand it is God’s money versus our own. We will even find it easier to be generous and give it away because we know it is God’s money versus our own.

Encouraged By the Parable of the Talents

The apostle Paul said, “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). If you’ve ever put someone in charge of something that belongs to you, you know the one thing you value more than anything else is faithfulness. The parable of the talents gives us the encouragement we need to be faithful.

A talent was the largest denomination of money in the Greco-Roman world, estimated to be worth as much as 6,000 denarii. Because a denarius was one day’s wage, this was approximately 20 years’ work. Although the talents in the parable can represent any stewardships in our lives— time, marriage, children, abilities, possessions, positions in life—because Jesus chose a unit of money, the parable of the talents particularly applies to the stewardship of finances.

John MacArthur said parable of the talents “illustrates the tragedy of wasted opportunity.”250 Second only to time, there aren’t many things we waste more than money. This parable should inspire us to act otherwise and be faithful stewards:

The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, “Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.” His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” He also who had received two talents came and said, “Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.” His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:14-23).

The “man” or “lord” in the parable of the talents is Jesus, and the trip “to a far country” is His return to heaven. So far, “a long time” has been 2,000 years. The master expects the servants to carry on the work he started; therefore, he gives them talents. The servants are professing believers. I must say “professing” because the third servant is unsaved. The words “delivered his goods to them” reveal this pictures a stewardship—God entrusts us with His goods that He expects us to use for His service.

When the master returned from his journey, he wanted to know what the servants did with the talents he had given them. The first man said, “Lord, you delivered to me,” showing that he understood the talents were entrusted to him rather than earned by him.

God Judges Christians’ Stewardships Versus Their Sins

The master returns and judges the servants, introducing one of the more common questions I receive as a pastor: Will Christians be judged? Yes and no. No, our sins are not judged because they were paid for at the cross. If you’re in Christ, you will never stand before the Great White Throne, which is the terrifying judgment at which unbelievers will learn they will pay for their sins by spending eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). But even though we won’t find ourselves before the Great White Throne, we will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account of our stewardship:

“Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God ” (Romans 14:10).

“We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Paul uses the word “we” to show he’s talking about himself and other believers. The “evil” we have done is mentioned because even though we won’t be punished for our sins, they can result in loss of rewards: “If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved” (1 Corinthians 3:15). To put it simply, at the end of our lives, our sins will not be judged, but our stewardships will. If we’ve been faithful, we will be rewarded. Keeping this in mind encourages us to be faithful stewards of our finances.

Returning to the parable of the talents, we might expect God to give each person the same amount because He distributes the talents. Instead, one received five, another two, and the third only one. Likewise, each of us receives a different amount of money. This might seem unfair, but there are three ways God creates equity.

First, God Gives What We Can Handle

The first way God creates equity is evident in the words “according to his ability.” The Lord “[knows] all people and [needs] no one to bear witness about man [to Him]” (John 2:24-25). He knows how much to give each person. God does not overestimate or underestimate our abilities:

The man with much ability was given five talents.

The man with average ability was given two talents.

The man with minimal ability was given one talent.

If the man with minimal ability had been given five talents, he would’ve been overwhelmed by the responsibility. Conversely, if the man with much ability had been given only one talent, his potential would’ve been wasted. Instead, God gives everyone exactly what he or she should have because He knows what we can (and can’t) handle.

This is both encouraging and challenging. It’s encouraging that God does not give us more wealth than we can faithfully steward. It is challenging because if we are unfaithful, we can’t make the excuse that we would have done better if we had received a different amount.

If nobody receives more than they can handle, this begs some questions: Why do people use the wealth God has given them in ungodly ways? Why do people act like the third servant and squander what God has given them? When people are poor stewards, does that mean God was unwise in the amounts He gave them? Not at all. We are free moral agents who choose to be faithful or unfaithful. This is the main point of the parable of the talents. When we are bad stewards, it does not reflect God’s wisdom in distribution. Instead, it is a reflection of our unfaithfulness. When we squander what the Lord has entrusted, the blame rests squarely on us. The third servant demonstrated this when he tried to blame God for his results and was rebuked.

Second, God Judges Our Proportion Versus Our Portion

The second way God is equitable is shown in the second servant’s reward. He heard the exact words as the first servant: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:23; cf. 25:21).

James 1:4 says, "Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." Read or listen to this chapter from Enduring Trials God's Way to learn how to let trials make you better versus bitter.

Table of contentsWe Must Choose to "Let" Patience Have Its Perfect WorkLet Patience Have Its Perfect Work to Avoid Becoming BitterBitterness Is the Temptation During TrialsDavid Was Made Better by TrialsDavid Trusted God's SovereigntyAsa Became Bitter by TrialsDiscussion Questions

I would love to be able to say, “Trials always produce patience, and patience makes you perfect and complete, lacking nothing,” but sometimes it would be more accurate to say, “Trials produce bitterness.” God wants to use trials for our good, but it's tempting to become bitter. When people are suffering, there is greater potential for them to question, criticize—or worst of all—turn from God.

Perhaps you can think of people experiencing a trial and they said something like, “How could God let this happen to me? I do not deserve it! I wish I could give Him a piece of my mind!” If we're honest, we can probably think of times trials did not produce patience or maturity in us. Instead of making us better, they made us bitter.

We Must Choose to "Let" Patience Have Its Perfect Work

The wording of James 1:3-4 is odd. If we never read the verses before we would probably expect them to say, “…the testing of your faith produces patience, which makes you perfect…” Instead, there are instructive words: “let patience have its perfect work.” The Greek word for let is echō, and it's a verb because James is commanding us to do something. We must “let” trials “work.” Echō means, “To have, hold, own, possess, lay hold of.” Here are two places it's used:

Matthew 3:13–14—“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need (echō) to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’”

Acts 2:44–45—“Now all who believed were together, and had (echō) all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had (echō) need.”

Of the 712 times echō occurs in the New Testament, 613 times it is translated as “have,” because it is not simply about accepting trials in our lives. We must take ownership of them. Instead of resisting trials, we must embrace them. This is how we “let” God use them for our benefit. The alternative is to fight against trials, which hinders the “perfect work” they can accomplish.

Before doctors administer a shot, they say, “Relax. Try to remain as calm as possible. This will hurt, but it will be worse if you resist.” The doctor is telling you to accept what is about to happen because failing to do so will only make an already painful situation even worse. It is the same with trials. We cannot avoid them. They hurt, and we make them worse when we resist. Instead, we must accept them, trusting God wants to use them for our good and His glory. This is how we "count it all joy" and “let” trials make us better.

Let Patience Have Its Perfect Work to Avoid Becoming Bitter

Trials and temptations are not the same. Trials are tests from God, and He uses them for our benefit. Temptations, on the other hand, come from our flesh:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

James 1:13-14

As much as God uses trials to bring out the best in us, Satan uses temptations to bring out the worst in us:

Every person in the world will encounter various trials throughout life. Satan seeks to defeat you by tempting you to trust your own wisdom, to live according to your self-centered feelings, and to gratify the desires of your flesh. In contrast, God’s will is for you to be an overwhelming conqueror in all of these tests for His honor and glory.

Broger, James. Self-Confrontation Manual, Lesson 8, p. 3, Used by Permission of the Biblical Counseling Foundation.

Although trials and temptations are different for each person, bitterness is one common temptation everyone faces. There are many sins in Scripture, but there is no root of lying, stealing, or adultery. Why does Hebrews 12:15 discuss a “root of bitterness?” Roots grow and become difficult to remove, which is also the case with bitterness. Roots can be destructive, ruining sidewalks and the foundations of buildings. Similarly, bitterness can be destructive, ruining relationships in families, workplaces, and churches. When people experience trials, especially particularly difficult ones such as a disease or the loss of a child, they might feel betrayed by God. Bitterness can come on quickly, “springing up” as the author of Hebrews warned.

Bitterness Is the Temptation During Trials

Revelation 3:10 calls the Tribulation “the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Everyone falls into one of two categories when the trials test them. One group gets better: “Seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Revelation 11:13b). Another group gets bitter:

The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun...men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God...they did not repent and give Him glory. Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl [and there was] darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent. Great hail from heaven fell upon men…Men blasphemed God because of the...hail.

Revelation 16:8–11, 21

Both groups experience the same trials, but they produce two different responses. One group is drawn to God. They “let” trials have their perfect work, and it makes them better. The other group blasphemes God. They reject the trials, and it makes them bitter.

A Christian friend’s home burned down. His wife and children were okay, but most of their possessions and memories were lost. He and his family have served the Lord faithfully for years. Some people in his situation would criticize God, wondering why He let something like this happen to them: “We do not deserve this! What about everything we have done for You!” The first time I spoke to my friend after the fire I told him how sorry I was, and his response was, “Scott, it is just stuff.” Not a hint of bitterness. This is the response we need.

David Was Made Better by Trials

One of the lowest points in David’s life occurred when his son, Absalom, stole the throne from him:

Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.”

2 Samuel 15:13–14

This had to be excruciating news for David to receive. It was one thing for Absalom to steal the throne, but it was another thing entirely to learn that the Israelites rejected him to embrace his evil son. As a result, David was forced to flee the capital. When things seemed like they could not get worse, Shimei showed up:

Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”

2 Samuel 16:5–8

Since Shimei was related to Saul, he hated David for being king instead of one of Saul’s sons. Either he did not know God rejected Saul or he ignored that fact. He also blamed David for Saul’s death and the deaths of those in Saul’s family, even though David spared Saul’s life on multiple occasions and prevented his men from harming him. David’s kindness was shown again when his nephew, Abishai, sought to murder Shimei:

[Abishai said,] “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”[David replied], “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.”

2 Samuel 16:9–12

David Trusted God's Sovereignty

Twice David attributed Shimei’s actions to God. There is no indication that God told Shimei to curse David, but it still serves as a powerful example of David’s confidence in God’s sovereignty. David determined to accept this trial as though it was from God, and there is not a hint of bitterness.

David showed further restraint toward Shimei despite his continued mistreatment: “And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust. Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there” (2 Samuel 16:13–14). How much patience did it take to walk along while Shimei behaved this way?

Your Marriage God's Way Workbook is the couple's Bible study husbands and wives can do together for Christ-centered relationships. Read or listen to the introduction to see why this workbook stands out among husband-and-wife Bible studies.

Table of ContentsBeing not Only Hearers, but DoersUsing this Couple's Bible StudyTake Your Time and Pray!Expect Tension with This Couple's Bible StudyFocus on the Way Your Spouse FeelsCrucify Your Flesh When Doing this Couple's Bible StudyApologize the Right WayThe Negative Consequences of Failing to Apologize WellForgive the Right WayFootnotes

Let me commend you for prioritizing your marriage! You went beyond simply reading Your Marriage God’s Way to also purchasing this accompanying workbook. Second to our relationship with Christ, our relationship with our spouse is the most important relationship in our life. We should invest in it so that we can have Christ-centered relationships. That’s what this workbook is—an investment of time and energy (spiritual, mental, and emotional), for your joy and God’s glory.

Being not Only Hearers, but Doers

In Your Marriage God’s Way, I wrote:

The importance of going beyond hearing (or reading) to obeying is a regular theme in Scripture. Jesus said, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it…If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (Luke 8:21; John 13:17). We do not learn God’s Word simply for the sake of knowing it. We learn it so that we can apply it.

James 1:22 urges us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” This verse reveals a common mistake people make. They learn God’s Word and believe they have done enough and fall short of applying it to their lives. Husbands and wives do this when they believe they have a marriage built on Christ simply because they know what the Bible teaches, read Christian marriage books, and attend Christian marriage conferences. But none of their learning will have any effect if they are not obeying Scripture’s instructions. As believers, our responsibility goes much further than simply obtaining information. We must obey what we have learned (pages 241-242).

You are doing your part to be not just a hearer (or reader), but a doer (or obey-er) of the Word. What better way to apply what you have read than to go through a workbook with your spouse? I am confident your investment will pay great dividends for you and your spouse. Why am I so certain? Two reasons: First, the instruction in Your Marriage God’s Way is drawn from the Bible. As the Author of marriage, God knows exactly what husbands and wives need to have healthy, joyful Christ-centered relationships as He intended.

The second reason is less spiritual and more practical. Before becoming a pastor, I was an elementary school teacher. That’s when I learned how people learn. When I started preaching—telling people to open their Bibles versus telling students to open their math books—it was another form (albeit infinitely more important) of teaching. Whether I’m delivering a sermon, speaking at a conference, or guest preaching, I do my best to provide those in attendance with message handouts that have lessons and blanks to fill in.

Why do I do this? Because as you’ve probably already heard, people retain more information when they take notes versus only listen.283 But did you know their retention is even better when the notes are handwritten versus typed?284

Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve written much by hand. We’ve moved away from letters to emails and many of us rely on our computers all day. But you can be encouraged in knowing the answers you write in this workbook will have a much better chance of staying with you because you wrote them down. Plus, this will help you remember the content from the book as you cement the material in your heart and mind, especially as you put things into practice.

In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus cleansed ten lepers of their physical leprosy. Only one of them returned and ended up being cleansed of his spiritual leprosy.

https://youtu.be/13bpSzKhUjk

In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus cleansed ten lepers of physical leprosy. One of them returned and ended up being cleansed of his spiritual leprosy.

Table of contentsUnderstanding LeprosyLeprosy's Physical EffectsLeprosy's Spiritual EffectsLeprosy's Mental EffectsLeprosy's Emotional EffectsWhy Lepers (Sadly) Weren't PitiedWho Might Lepers Approach?Cleansed Leprosy in the Old TestamentMiriam's CleansingNaaman's CleansingThe Ritual for Cleansed Lepers in Leviticus 14Cleansing Physical Leprosy Identified the Messiah’s ComingGreater than Moses and ElishaJesus Noticed the Ten Lepers Thanklessness and ThankfulnessLook Past the Ten Lepers' Physical Leprosy to Their Spiritual LeprosyLeprosy Is a Picture of SinA Beautiful Picture of Cleansing Spiritual LeprosyJesus Wants to Cleanse Our Spiritual LeprosyThe Greatest Cleansing Any of the Ten Lepers Received

Leprosy and its variants are mentioned 68 times in the Bible. The number of references alone makes it worth understanding. Regarding the account of the ten lepers in Luke 11:17-19, understanding leprosy helps us better understand:

The lepers’ desperation when they came to Jesus

How dramatic and wonderful it was for Jesus to heal them

How thankful they should have been when Jesus healed them

Understanding Leprosy

Leprosy's Physical Effects

Leprosy began as small, red spots on the skin. Before long the spots grew and turned white, with a shiny or scaly appearance. Then the spots would become dirty sores and ulcers because of the poor blood supply. The sores and ulcers would spread until they covered the body.

Lepers would lose feeling in affected areas, and without pain as a warning system they’d experience other injuries:

They might twist an ankle but continue walking, worsening the tearing of the ligaments.

If they were cooking with a fire, they wouldn’t know if they got too close and burn themselves.

Because they were forced to live away from civilization in unsanitary environments, they might not notice – and I’m not kidding – if rodents were chewing on them while they slept.

The body would start to fall apart:

Hair would fall out.

Fingernails and toenails would become loose and fall off.

The joints of fingers and toes would rot until the fingers and toes themselves fell off.

Gums would shrink until teeth fell out.

The disease would affect the larynx, producing a grating quality in the leper’s voice.

The skin around the eyes and ears would begin to bunch, with deep furrows between the swellings, so the face started to look like that of a lion.

Leprosy would eat away at the victim’s face until their nose, palate, and even their eyes would rot away.

Since lepers had parts of their bodies rotting, they put off a terrible odor, and these are only the physical consequences. There were spiritual, mental, and emotional consequences as well.

Leprosy's Spiritual Effects

Spiritually, because lepers were unclean, they were removed from the religious life of the nation. Say goodbye to ever being able to corporately worship the Lord again.

Leprosy's Mental Effects

Mentally, leprosy was terrible because there was no cure. Lepers had to live with the reality that their condition would only get worse. As terrible as this week was, the next week would be even worse and the week after that even worse.

Leprosy's Emotional Effects

Emotionally, leprosy was terrible because it meant the end of human relationships. Unless you want to risk your spouse, parents, children, siblings, or friends contracting leprosy you stay away from them. All suffering is helped by the love and support of family and friends, but lepers couldn’t even experience that.

Imagine for a moment, you can never kiss your spouse again, hug your children or parents again.

Because lepers were like living dead people who could have no more relationships with others, there would be funerals for them while they were alive.256

Lepers became complete outcasts, shunned by the rest of society. The only relationships they had were with other lepers, but even this was painful, because the relationships served as constant reminders of the fate that awaited them: they had to watch other lepers rot away knowing the same would happen to them.

Why Lepers (Sadly) Weren't Pitied

You could read this and think, “Everyone must have felt terrible for lepers." No, and let me explain why:

Luke 13:1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Jesus was told Pilate murdered some Jews. If you were told this, how would you respond? Wouldn’t you say something like, "This is terrible. I’m so sorry to hear this. What a horrible tragedy."

Jesus knew the people were thinking the Galileans who were murdered were worse sinners than everyone else. So, He says, "Instead of worrying about the Galileans’ sins, they should be worried about their own sins and repent."

Apparently, there was a tower that fell and tragically killed eighteen people. Again, Jesus knew the thinking of the day would be that the people who were crushed by the tower must’ve been worse sinners than everyone else, so again He called everyone to repent.

Think about the man born blind:

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him (John 9:1-3).

For this man to be born blind, someone must have sinned, whether him or his parents. Jesus said his blindness was not the result of anyone’s sin.

The point is, if the thinking of the day is people’s suffering is caused by their sin, people would think lepers must have been terrible sinners. So, no, people did not have pity on lepers.

Who Might Lepers Approach?

If lepers ever approached anyone, it was viewed as a selfish act, because they were risking infecting others. But interestingly, lepers did seem comfortable approaching one Person:

Luke 17:11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

They wanted to be healed, but Jesus had entered a village. They knew they couldn’t follow, so they stood at a distance. If nobody else had mercy on them, they thought Jesus would. And He did.

Notice Jesus didn’t cleanse the lepers immediately, which I'm sure they wanted. They obeyed Jesus, headed to the priests, and were cleansed as they went. When the lepers showed themselves to the priests, they would be pronounced clean and then they could be restored to the religious and social life of the nation.

Cleansed Leprosy in the Old Testament

There were only two instances in the Old Testament of leprosy being cleansed.

Miriam's Cleansing

The first instance is when Moses’s brother, Aaron, and sister, Miriam, attacked Moses's leadership. God gave Miriam leprosy, but Moses interceded for her. Numbers 12:15 says, "So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again." It never says Miriam was cleansed, but the fact that she was brought back into the camp means she must’ve been cleansed. But there’s no record of the ritual being performed.

Naaman's Cleansing

The other instance is with Naaman in 2 Kings 5. It looks like he headed back to Syria after he was cleansed. It’s highly unlikely that the commander of the Syrian Army, Israel’s enemies, would’ve walked into the temple in Jerusalem and expected the Jewish priests to perform the ritual for him. Plus, he wouldn’t have even known about the ritual unless Elisha told him to have it done, and there’s no record of that.

The Ritual for Cleansed Lepers in Leviticus 14

Leviticus 14 describes a ritual the priests were supposed to perform after lepers had been cleansed. But this wasn’t a ritual TO cleanse lepers. This was a ritual performed AFTER lepers were cleansed. But because leprosy was incurable, Miriam and Naaman are the only recorded instances of leprosy being cleansed, and there’s no record of the ritual ever being performed, Leviticus 14 must have been one of the most untouched chapters in the Old Testament.

But eight times in Leviticus 14:4-19 it says, "him who is to be cleansed." God clearly expected people to be cleansed of leprosy, otherwise why have a ritual to be performed when lepers were cleansed? But because leprosy was incurable why have a ritual for something that can’t happen?

Cleansing Physical Leprosy Identified the Messiah’s Coming

When John the Baptist was in prison, it would have been discouraging, but he could be greatly encouraged by the prophecies about the Messiah setting captives free:

Isaiah 42:7 says, "[The Messiah will] bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."

Psalm 146:7 says, "The Lord sets the prisoners free."

Not long ago,

Hebrews 13:5 says, "Avoid covetousness and be content with what you have, for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" This verse instructs us to put off covetousness and put on contentment. We do so, not physically, but spiritually by focusing on Christ's promise to always be with us. Read this material from Being Content God’s Way, or watch the accompanying sermon, to learn how to avoid covetousness and be content with what you have.

Table of contentsRepentance Involves Stopping and StartingPut On the Opposite of What You Put OffBe Content with What You Have by Putting Off CovetousnessBe Content with What You Have Versus Pursuing WealthDiscontentment and Covetousness Caused by Social MediaDiscontentment and Covetousness Caused by Endless AdsContentment Is a Spiritual IssueYour Relationship with Christ Allows You to Be Content with What You HaveApplying Hebrews 13:5

https://youtu.be/oLxvCPELgD4

Hebrews 13:5 says, "Avoid covetousness and be content with what you have." We're told to put off covetousness and put on contentment.

The single greatest reason we fail in our repentance is that we “put off” without “putting on.” If we want to stop a certain behavior, there’s a corresponding behavior we must also start.

John the Baptist is a man whose message can be summarized in the word “repent.” He said, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8 and Luke 3:8). These words tell us something about repentance that we don’t often consider. When we repent of something, we must also produce corresponding fruit. This can be a dramatic revelation for many, because when they think of repentance, they think only of stopping. If that’s been the case with you, then from now on, remember that’s only the first step. The second step is starting the accompanying behavior.

The Apostle Paul also knew how to preach repentance, and he said, “Repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:20b). Like John, he said repentance would bear fruit, or be accompanied by “works.”

Repentance Involves Stopping and Starting

Paul explained this most clearly in Ephesians 4. Verse 25 says, “Put away lying.” This is what we put off, followed by: “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.” This is what we put on. It is not enough to simply stop lying. We must also make a conscious effort to start telling the truth and ensure what we say is accurate.

Verse 28 says, “Let him who stole steal no longer.” This is what we put off, followed by: “Rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” We can’t simply stop stealing. We must replace theft with hard work and generosity.

I want to give this example more attention, because it relates so closely to covetousness, contentment, and giving. Why do most people labor, especially those struggling with covetousness? To have more for themselves. They do the opposite of what Paul commands. They don’t labor to “have something to share with [others] in need.” They labor according to their greed. This is characteristic of our consumer-driven society. We constantly seek to raise our standard of living. But if we want victory over covetousness we should raise our capacity to give.

One way we can tell whether we struggle with covetousness is by asking, “Who am I working for? Who is the recipient of all my stuff? Luke James 4:3 says, do you want more money “to spend it on your own passions?”

Verse 29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.” This is what we put off, followed by: “But what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” We can’t simply stop saying unwholesome things. We must intentionally speak words that edify and encourage.

Verse 31 sums it up: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” Put off all this, and then put on verse 32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Paul makes the same point in Colossians 3:

Verse 8 says, “Now you are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.”

Verse 12 says, “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.”

If we repent of the sins in verse 8, we will produce the fruit in verse 12.

Put On the Opposite of What You Put Off

You probably noticed the verses contain opposing pairs. This is important to keep in mind because the list of sins in Ephesians 4 is not exhaustive. If there’s a sin in your life that’s not mentioned, think of the opposite. More than likely that’s the fruit you must produce.

If you put off without putting on then a vacuum is created. In the Parable of the Unclean Spirit, Jesus described the danger when it’s not filled. Matthew 12:43–45 records:

When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then [the unclean spirit] says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

At first things seem good, because the unclean spirit (sin) is removed from the man’s life. Unfortunately, a void remains, and the house (life) remained “empty.” The man ended up worse off than when the unclean spirit left. This pictures the unfortunate human tendency for us to reform only temporarily. Psychologists, prisons, and juvenile centers testify to this. People will be sorry, change for a little while, but soon find themselves doing the same thing again. Why? They put off without putting on. They fail to produce the necessary fruit.

As a pastor, I’ve heard many people say, “I stopped this. Why do I keep struggling?” My reply is, “You stopped, but what did you start? You put off, but what did you put on?” To be practical:

You stopped going to bars, but what did you start doing?

You stopped yelling at your kids, but what did you start saying to them?

You stopped watching things you shouldn’t, but did you start reading your Bible more?

You stopped coveting, but did you start giving?

When there’s sin in your life, make sure your prayers are two-fold. Ask the Lord:

“What do you want me to repent of and put off?”

“What accompanying fruit do you want me to produce and put on?”

Be Content with What You Have by Putting Off Covetousness

The practice of putting off and putting on should be applied to multiple areas of the Christian life, including contentment. The following chapters apply this approach. We will discuss covetousness, what it is and how to put it off. Then we will discuss contentment, what it is and how to put it on. This will dramatically increase the likelihood that we will be “content God’s way.”

We tend to think the verses about covetousness only apply to the rich, not knowing we are the rich! Measured by the living standards of the rest of the world, and especially those throughout history, Americans are the wealthiest people who have ever lived. We enjoy staggering material prosperity.

How much richer are we? Consider the following statistics. Disposable income is the amount of money households have for spending and saving after income taxes have been accounted for. Visualizing Countries with the Highest Household Wealth reveals:

Russia’s disposable income is less than $17,000.

France's disposable income is $60,000.

The United Kingdom’s disposable income is $83,000.

Canada’s disposable income is $86,000.

The nation in second place is Switzerland with $128,000.

The United States is first place with a disposable income of $176,00, which is almost 40% more than the nation in second place.

There are 7.5 billion people in the world. China is the world’s most populous nation with 1.4 billion people, which is 18.6%. It has 10.5% of the world’s wealth. The United States has 327 million people, which is a little more than 4% of the world’s population, but we have 41.6% of the world’s wealth.

In the US, the poverty threshold for a family of five is $30,500, which means if a family of five makes less than this, they’re considered living in poverty. The official poverty rate in the United States is 12.3%, 39.7 million people. The average global income for a family of five is about $10,500, which means people in poverty in the US still make about three times more than the average for the rest of the world. Even our “poor” people are still three times wealthier than the average person in the rest of the world.

Things are more expensive for us in the United States, but even after adjusting for cost-of-living differences, a typical American still earns an income that is ten times higher than the income received by the average person in the rest of the world. In the United States an annual income of $32,400 doesn’t seem very high, but it’s a salary that puts people among the top 1% of earners in the world.

In 2011 the Occupy Movement took place with many people protesting income distribution. Their slogan was, “We are the 99%,” referring to the concentration of wealth among the top 1% compared to the other 99 percent of the population. Ironically if the protestors made at least $32,400 then they weren’t in the 99%. They were in the 1%.

Be Content with What You Have Versus Pursuing Wealth

Since Americans are so rich, you’d expect us to be the happiest—or most content—nation, not just in the world but in all of history. No people who have ever lived should have an easier time being content than Americans because of our wealth. Although, this is far from the case.

A 2019 study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology concluded that since the late 2000s,

On Sunday mornings, we are working our way verse by verse through the Gospel of Luke, and we now arrive at Luke 17:7, where Jesus teaches what is commonly called The Parable of the Unprofitable Servant. These verses confront one of the most subtle dangers in the Christian life: spiritual pride that grows out of faithful service.

Illustration: Why Movement Matters

Over the years, I’ve learned an important lesson through repeated injuries: healing requires movement.

In high school, I pole vaulted competitively. One year, eager to begin practice, I skipped warming up and immediately tore my hamstring. My instinct was to rest it completely. Each time it felt better, I tried running again—only to feel the pain return. That season, I jumped two feet lower than the year before. Later, someone explained that light movement increases blood flow, and blood brings healing.

Years later, during college, I severely separated my shoulder playing tackle football—with no pads. The orthopedic surgeon explained that my injury was worse because the tendons tore off the bone, where there is little blood. Again, the absence of blood meant slower healing.

Then, in 2020, I experienced debilitating sciatic pain. I stayed in bed, thinking rest would heal me. Instead, I worsened. Every doctor I listened to said the same thing: complete inactivity makes things worse. Slowly getting up and walking—painful at first—was the beginning of recovery.

Whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually, God has designed us to be active. Stagnation weakens us. Movement strengthens us.

https://youtu.be/qsYtrLd5NWE

In Luke 17:7-10 Jesus preached The Parable of the Unprofitable Servant. Our response should always be, “We are unworthy servants.”

Table of contentsServing God… and the Danger That Comes With ItThe Parable Explained (Luke 17:7–9)Lesson One (Part One): We Always Have More Work to DoLesson One (Part Two): We Prefer the Master to OurselvesLesson One (Part Three): We Have Never Gone Above and BeyondThe Stunning Reversal: The Master Who ServesConclusion: Grateful, Indebted Servants

Serving God… and the Danger That Comes With It

At this point, you might expect Jesus to emphasize the importance of serving. And serving is important. But in Luke 17:7–10, Jesus addresses something else: the danger that faithful service brings with it.

That danger is pride.

Even when serving the Lord, our flesh tempts us to think:

“God must be impressed with me.”

“Surely I’ve gone above and beyond.”

“After all I’ve done, doesn’t He owe me something?”

There is little uglier than spiritual pride, because it quietly denies God’s ongoing grace—not saving grace, but sanctifying grace. We forget that everything we do for Christ is empowered by Him.

The Parable Explained (Luke 17:7–9)

Jesus asks whether a master would invite his servant—after a long day of plowing or shepherding—to recline at the table. The expected answer is no. Instead, the servant prepares the master’s meal, serves him, and only afterward eats himself.

This imagery was not shocking to Jesus’ audience. The servant was not a volunteer. He was doing what was commanded.

Jesus’ point is not about earthly employment, but our relationship with Him.

Lesson One (Part One): We Always Have More Work to Do

Faithful servants do not decide for themselves when the work is finished. Until Christ returns, there is always more obedience, more faithfulness, more service to render.

Lesson One (Part Two): We Prefer the Master to Ourselves

Notice the order in Luke 17:8:

“Prepare supper for me”

“Serve me”

“Afterward you will eat and drink”

The Christian life is not centered on what we want, but on what Christ wants.

Lesson One (Part Three): We Have Never Gone Above and Beyond

Jesus concludes:

“So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:10)

Like children calling out, “Watch this!”, we can be tempted to think our obedience is impressive. But even our best service never exceeds our duty—especially when we remember what Christ has done for us.

Charles Spurgeon captured it well:

“Our service put beside Christ’s is like one single grain of dust in comparison with the mighty orb of the sun.”

The Stunning Reversal: The Master Who Serves

Here is the shock of the gospel. Though Luke 17 emphasizes duty in this life, Luke 12 reveals what Christ will do in the next life.

Jesus promises that when He returns, He will seat His faithful servants at the table and serve them (Luke 12:37). This is not contradiction—it is completion.

It echoes John 13, when Jesus girded Himself and washed the disciples’ feet. The Master served His servants then, and He will do so again.

Conclusion: Grateful, Indebted Servants

Jesus does not call us to false humility that says, “I am useless.” He calls us to true humility that remembers how infinitely more Christ has done for us than we could ever do for Him.

When we see that clearly, we gladly say, “We are unprofitable servants,” and we serve Him with joyful, grateful hearts—until the day He tells us to sit down, rest, and be served by Him.

Physical rest in the Bible is an important topic. Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way to learn the Bible verses about rest.

Table of contentsThe Need for Physical Rest in the BibleTransition from the Seventh Day to First DayThe Need for Sleep in the BibleThe Consequences of Inadequate SleepMortalityDiabetesObesityCardiovascularMentalImmune SystemSocialWhen Science Catches Up with the BibleThe Spiritual Helps Us Rest PhysicallyRest Produced from Obeying the LordRest Produced from the Lord’s LeadingRest Produced from the Lord’s SovereigntyRest in the Bible Requires BalanceFootnotes

The Need for Physical Rest in the Bible

On the surface, work and rest seem like opposites, as though one undoes the other. They appear to be mutually exclusive. To do one must mean that we reject doing the other. There’s a conflict: do we work or rest? The answer is, yes! We’re commanded to do both.

Rest is as much a theme from Genesis to Revelation as work. God introduced the concept of rest at creation. Genesis 2:2–3 says, “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” God is omnipotent. He wasn’t tired. He didn’t need to rest. Instead, He was establishing a pattern for His people to follow.

The Ten Commandments made resting on the Sabbath a requirement of the Law. The fourth commandment in Exodus 20:8–11 reads:

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

God said, “Remember the Sabbath,” because it wasn’t something new; it had been around since creation. The command to rest was not an excuse to be lazy, considering they had to work six full days before the seventh. Since the Sabbath preceded the Mosaic Law, we can “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy” as a creation mandate.

Transition from the Seventh Day to First Day

Jesus and the disciples kept the fourth commandment, just as they kept the other nine commandments. But there was a transition.

Jesus instituted the New Covenant at the Last Supper with these familiar words: “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you” (Luke 22:20). With the institution of the New Covenant there was a shift from the seventh day of the week (the Sabbath/Saturday) to the first day of the week (Sunday) in honor of Christ’s resurrection.259 Thus, we see the first day of the week emphasized in the New Testament. The phrase “first day of the week” occurs eight times:

Six times in the Gospels identifying the day of Jesus’ resurrection: Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, 9, Luke 24:1, John 20:1, and John 20:19

Once in Acts 20:7 identifying the day the early church met: “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread”260

Once when Paul encouraged believers to set aside something to give financially: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). More than likely Paul told them to set their collections aside on the first day of the week, because that’s when they gathered for worship.

If we only had Acts 20:7 stating the early church met on the first day of the week, this would be enough to encourage corporate worship on Sundays. Pastor John MacArthur writes, “The writings of the early church Fathers confirm the church continued to meet on Sunday after the close of the New Testament period.”261 Matthew Henry writes, “The first day of the week is to be observed by all the disciples of Christ; and it is a sign between Christ and them.”262

While the first day of the week is emphasized in the New Testament, the seventh day (or Sabbath) is de-emphasized. The phrase “first day of the week” occurs eight times, but the phrase “seventh day of the week” never occurs. Understandably we’d expect the seventh day to be called, “Sabbath.” The Sabbath is mentioned in the Gospels, but only because the transition to the first day of the week had not yet taken place. When the Sabbath is mentioned in Acts, it’s associated with the practice of Jews who had not yet embraced Christ, but it’s never associated with the practice or worship of the early church.

After Acts, the Sabbath only occurs in one verse: “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2:16–17). After Acts, this is the only time the Sabbath is mentioned.

Since the epistles are the instruction letters for the church, it’s inconceivable that there wouldn’t be at least one verse commanding observing the Sabbath if that’s what God wanted. Instead, Colossians 2:16–17, the one place mentioning the Sabbath, identifies it as a shadow pointing to Christ, and the command is for believers to avoid judging each other over their view of it and other nonessentials. We don’t see any verses saying something similar for moral issues. In other words, there’s no verse saying something like, “Let no one judge you regarding forgiveness, or love, or lying, or prayer, or service, or adultery.” Unlike the Sabbath, these are moral issues involving judgment.

Similarly, Paul downplayed observing the Sabbath in Romans: “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it” (Romans 14:5-6). Paul wouldn’t write this if he wanted believers keeping the seventh day.

Although we aren’t expected to keep the Sabbath under the New Covenant, we are expected to rest. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Why would Jesus say this? Because we need to rest! Just as we are not at liberty to murder or commit adultery, we also are not at liberty to ignore the importance of rest.

The Need for Sleep in the Bible

Sleep reveals that we are creatures, and not the Creator: “Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4). Sleep reminds us of our limitations and the need to depend upon God for our very existence. This keeps us grateful and humble.

When God became a Man in the Person of Jesus Christ, He experienced our human limitations, including the need for rest. When Jesus left Judea for Galilee, He passed through Samaria and “being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well” (John 4:6). At one point, He was so fatigued He slept in the bottom of a boat during a storm: “And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep” (Matthew 8:24).

Mark 6:31 records Jesus’ own words, “‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.” Jesus and the disciples were so busy they didn’t have time to eat, say nothing about sleep. Jesus was God in the flesh, and not a created being, yet He still sought time for Himself and the disciples to relax and refresh; therefore, we must see the same need in our lives.

We are weak. Our bodies require sleep to function and be recharged and refreshed. Sleep allows our minds to rest so we can think clearly when we wake. Lamentations 3:23 says, “[The Lord’s mercies] are new every morning,” implying that after a good night’s sleep, we can pray for help and strength for the day. Sleep is a gift from God that we’re wise to accept:

“I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid” (Leviticus 26:6).

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24).

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

Conversely, the inability to sleep is presented negatively, often associated with fear and a guilty conscience:

“I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears” (Psalm 6:6).

“You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak” (Psalm 77:4).

“For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall” (Proverbs 4:16).

The Consequences of Inadequate Sleep

Sleep is often neglected in our busy schedules. Some are inclined to view it as a luxury and think the benefit of a few more hours awake outweigh the negative consequences. Although scientists have only begun to identify the problems associated with insufficient sleep, enough studies have been performed that they agree the healthiest amount of sleep for adults is about seven to eight hours per night, and it’s as important to health and well-being as nutrition and exercise.

While getting enough sleep does not guarantee good health, it does help vital functions. Many restorative functions take place during sleep, such as tissue repair, muscle growth, and protein synthesis. When we get enough sleep, we not only feel better but also increase the likelihood of living healthier, more productive lives. When we don’t get enough sleep, there are considerable negative consequences.

Mortality

What is the family integrated church movement? Why do people attend family integrated churches? Here are seven reasons!

Table of contentsFirst, a Family Integrated Church Fits the New Testament PatternJesus Had Children Present When He TaughtPaul Had Children Present When He TaughtPaul Expected Children to Be Present When His Letters Were ReadSecond, a Family Integrated Church Allows Parents to Spend More Time with Their ChildrenThird, a Family Integrated Church Encourages Fathers to Be Spiritual LeadersEncouragement for WivesFourth, a Family Integrated Church Allows the Church and Home to Look Alike"What If My Children Don't Sit Perfectly in Church?"Fifth, a Family Integrated Church Surrounds Children with Adults and InfantsSixth, a Family Integrated Church Surrounds Children with Wisdom Versus FoolishnessSeventh, a Family Integrated Church Gives a Family to Those Without FamiliesWhy Aren't More Churches Family Integrated?My Personal Burden Because I must "Give an Account"

https://youtu.be/j6V15FxM4FU

What is the family integrated church movement? Why do people attend family integrated churches? Here are seven reasons!

My previous post on having children in worship examined Old Testament verses. This is part two and it examines New Testament verses.

First, a Family Integrated Church Fits the New Testament Pattern

Matthew 21:12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”

The religious leaders were upset about two things:

First, what Jesus was doing—healing the blind and the lame.

Second, the children in the temple—they didn't want them making noise and crying out praises to the Lord.

But Jesus wanted the children there, and He defended their presence and praise.

Jesus Had Children Present When He Taught

Mark 9:35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Notice not what Jesus said, but what He did. Jesus was in the middle of teaching, and He reached down and grabbed a child. He didn’t have to tell one of the disciples to go get a child from somewhere to serve as an object lesson. He had children around when He was teaching.

Mark 10:13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

First, we see another instance of Jesus rebuking people who tried to keep children away. Second, He argued that children are central to the kingdom of God. That’s a strong statement that I think argues for children to be present during worship. If the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like children, then we should probably have children worshiping with us.

Paul Had Children Present When He Taught

Acts 20:9 And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, “Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.” 11 And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. 12 And they took the youth away alive, and were not a little comforted.

Paul was teaching late into the night when Eutychus fell out the window and died. The Greek word for youth in verse 12 is pais and it means child or infant. It is the same word used in in Matthew 2:16 to describe the infants Herod murdered and Matthew 21 to describe the children in the temple who were calling out. The young child was there while Paul was preaching.

Acts 21:5 When our days there were ended, we departed and went on our journey, and they all, with wives and children, accompanied us until we were outside the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed 6 and said farewell to one another.

Paul was at Tyre and he was about to head to Jerusalem. Everyone, including the children, escorted him outside the city to say goodbye to him. These people were saying goodbye to Paul, which is not a strong argument for family integration. But this account and the previous account with Eutychus are the only two in Acts that mention children.

Everywhere else in Acts it discusses households worshiping together and the children were part of those households. Let me read a few of the verses:

Acts 10:2 [the Roman centurion was] a devout man who feared God with all his household…and prayed continually to God.

Acts 16:15 [Lydia] was baptized, and her household as well.

Acts 16:34 [the Philippian jailer]…rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

Acts 18:8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household.

Families were praying and worshipping together. There were no examples of children being separated from their parents for worship in the Old Testament and it’s the same in in the New Testament.

Paul Expected Children to Be Present When His Letters Were Read

Titus 2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled...9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

The “you” in verse 1 is Titus, the pastor to whom Paul wrote the letter. Paul didn’t address older men in verse 2, older women in verse 3, younger men in verse 6, or bondservants in verse 9 like he addressed Titus, because the letter wasn’t written to them. Instead, Paul was telling Titus what these people should be so he could shepherd them well.

Unlike the books of Timothy and Titus, which were pastoral epistles written to individuals, Ephesians, like Paul’s other epistles, were written to churches. The pastors and elders would receive Paul’s letters and read them aloud to the church.

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord....25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

There is a significant difference. Instead of talking about people like in Titus, Paul addressed wives, husbands, children, and fathers directly in these verses. He knew this letter would be read to the church and these people would be present, so he addressed them directly.

Paul didn’t have to address children directly. He could have said, “Fathers and mothers, tell your children to obey you, for this is right, and you want your children to live a long time.” But he addressed children as directly as he addressed husbands, wives, and fathers, because he envisioned them being part of the church services when these letters were read.

Something else worth noticing is Paul had high expectations for children: he thought they could pay attention, notice when they’re addressed, learn, be convicted, and obey.

If someone asked why there are no verses in the epistles commanding churches to have children present, it is because it was assumed they were there.

Second, a Family Integrated Church Allows Parents to Spend More Time with Their Children

I like to be with them. I like to see them. And if there’s one place, second only to my home, that I want my children with me, it is at church and church activities.

I have had more people than I can count tell me how fast the time goes with your children and I agree. The saying is: the days are slow, but the years are fast, and it is true. I value the time I have with my children.

Third, a Family Integrated Church Encourages Fathers to Be Spiritual Leaders

I was raised Catholic. God saved me in my early twenties in a Calvary Chapel. I’m thankful for what I learned there, but like I shared in the previous post, whatever we first experience we tend to think is best. Because Calvary Chapel was my introduction to Christianity,

Your Marriage God’s Way is the Christian marriage book for a couple reading together. Read or listen to the Introduction if you're looking for books to read with your significant other.

Table of ContentsFour Reasons Your Marriage God's Way is the Christian Marriage Book for a Couple Reading TogetherFirst, and of Greatest Importance, I Am Not Asking You to Trust MeSecond, I Wrote This Christian Marriage Book Because I Am Passionate About This Area of Scripture and LifeThird, Marriage Is One of the Greatest Evangelistic Tools Christians HaveFourth, I Wrote This Christian Marriage Book Because of What I Have Learned as a Husband and PastorBuilding on God's Word as a Couple Reading Together

Recently something discouraging and painful happened while I was at work. We live only a few hundred feet from my office. When this incident took place, I stood up from behind my desk and decided to walk home. I was hurt, discouraged, and the situation weighed heavily on me. I knew it would take some time before I would be able to resume working as I tried to process what occurred.

I reached our home and Katie welcomed me with a smile, a hug, and a kiss. Immediately I felt better. Some of the burden was lifted. Katie had no idea what had happened, so it wasn’t any counsel she gave that improved the situation. Instead, simply being with the bride God gave me made me feel better. In chapter 5 of this book you’ll read about wives changing “not good” to “very good” (Genesis 1:31 cf. 2:18), and this was an example in my life.

Unfortunately, Katie and I were not able to be together that night, but knowing what happened earlier in the day, she sent me a text saying, “Praying for you to rest well tonight, and trust that none of this is a surprise to our Lord. I believe He is able to do great things through all of this. You will always have me by your side cheering you on. Love you. Rest well in trusting Him.”

This is the wonderful wife God has given me! I was blessed by Katie throughout that painful situation, and this is the kind of blessing God, in His perfect wisdom and love, intends for believers to experience through marriage. Aside from salvation and the Scriptures, the greatest gift God has given us as a husband or wife is our spouse. What is required on our part? For marriage to be all that God intends, we must follow the instructions He’s given us, and they are found in His Word.

Katie is not a perfect wife, and I am far from a perfect husband. We could fill the following chapters with mistakes we have made and things we would do differently. I will share some examples! But in this situation Katie followed God’s design for marriage, which led her to encourage me as she did. Throughout the book I will repeatedly reference God’s design for marriage because following it pleases Him and leads to the greatest blessing for us.

Four Reasons Your Marriage God's Way is the Christian Marriage Book for a Couple Reading Together

There are thousands of books on enriching your marriage, so why another one? What makes this one different? Is there any reason you should trust me to write it?

First, and of Greatest Importance, I Am Not Asking You to Trust Me

Rather, I am inviting you to trust what God says in the Bible. This book is not a collection of my thoughts about marriage. At the church I serve, I set aside a significant amount of time to preach extensively on marriage. Hundreds of hours of studying the Bible were invested in the sermons. I used that material to write this book because God is the author of marriage. He designed the roles and responsibilities for husbands and wives. He knows what couples need so they can experience healthy, joyful, Christ-centered relationships, and He provided the principles in His Word. My desire is to present that guide clearly and biblically in Your Marriage God’s Way.

Second, I Wrote This Christian Marriage Book Because I Am Passionate About This Area of Scripture and Life

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Should we have children in worship? Should we have a separate worship service for children? Learn why worshiping with children is so valuable.

https://youtu.be/woc8VB_Tz8c

Should we have children in worship? Should we have a separate worship service for children? Learn why worshiping with children is so valuable.

Table of contentsWhy the Need to Explain Having Children in Worship?Having Children in Worship Is the Biblical PatternChildren Were Present When RejoicingChildren Were Present When God's Word Was ReadChildren Were Present When Seeking the LordChildren Were Present When Confessing SinChildren Were Present When Praising the LordChildren Were Present When RepentingWe Should Have Children in Worship to Foster a Positive View of ChildrenWhen My Son Learned We're Expecting Our Tenth ChildDon't Argue from Silence Against Children in WorshipHaving Children in Worship Is not an Essential

Growing up, I played soccer, basketball, and baseball. I switched to football, wrestling, and track in junior high and high school. As an elementary school teacher, I coached high school and junior high wrestling, elementary school flag football, and girls' basketball. In all my experience playing and coaching, I found that football coaches receive by far the most criticism. The reason is play calling. Whatever plays the coach calls, there will always be fans convinced the coach should have called another play instead.

Katie and I attended a small school. There were fewer than twenty guys on the football team, which meant that if you had a pulse, you probably played offense, defense, or special teams. On offense, I played running back, and I had my own thoughts about the play calling. There were times I thought it would have been better if the coach had called a different play.

But then something happened that changed everything for me. I overheard the coach explaining the play calling. He said, “We run this play to set up this play. Then we run this play to set up this play. And if they respond this way, then we run this play, but if they respond this way, then we run this play.” And just like that I understood what our coach was doing. Hopefully this post serves the same purpose and helps you understand why we would have children in the worship service.

Why the Need to Explain Having Children in Worship?

We tend to be convinced of whatever we first experience. This is why people raised Buddhist typically stay Buddhists, people raised Mormon typically stay Mormons, people raised Pentecostal typically stay Pentecostal, and so on.

If you go into many churches nationwide, the norm is for parents and children to be separated for events and activities. There is a worship service, and the kids are removed for children’s church. There is a midweek service, and the children go to youth group. Because this is so common, it is what many people first experience. They become convinced it is right because it is all they know.

A paradigm shift can be required for people who never thought about church any other way. They are not opposed to having children in worship. Instead, they’ve never seen it differently, so it’s not on their radar. Many people might be surprised to know it was the norm throughout most of church history and it is still the norm throughout most of the rest of the world today for families to worship together.

We are part of a Christian hospitality network we highly recommend called, “A Candle in the Window.” A Chinese family stayed with us. They came to the United States so the father, Peter, could receive pastoral training and return to China to plant churches. He said they had always seen children in worship until coming to the United States.

A pastor friend, Cary Green, and his wife, Lois, were missionaries in Germany. They came to the United States after being told they could no longer homeschool. They shared about church life in Germany, and that children are in worship.

But even if the norm throughout human history and throughout the world today is having children in worship, that’s not what we should base our decision on. We want to answer this the same way we answer everything: What does God’s Word say?

Having Children in Worship Is the Biblical Pattern

Children Were Present When Rejoicing

Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you. And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter… “You shall keep the Feast of Booths seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress. You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter.

Deuteronomy 16:10-11, 13-14

They were to celebrate the Feast of Weeks and Booths as families with their sons and daughters present.

They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

Nehemiah 12:43

They finished building the wall around Jerusalem, and the children were also present rejoicing.

Children Were Present When God's Word Was Read

Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.”

Deuteronomy 31:12-13

Moses wanted everyone present while the law was read, including the children, There is a Hebrew word for children: bēn. But the Hebrew word for "little ones" is ṭap̄, and it means, “little children.” We are not talking about teenagers or even older children. God wanted toddlers present.

Twice it says the children "may hear [God’s Word] and learn to fear [Him]. There is an unfortunate and unbiblical belief that children can’t hear and understand God’s word. The idea is they’re too young to understand or pay attention. But this is a strong declaration about God’s Word working and transforming them.

Moses was confident God’s Word would go out, wash over these children, and cause them to fear God. We should have the same confidence. We are not confident because we think our children are so smart and can understand everything. Our confidence is not in them. We are confident because of God’s Word. We know it is powerful and can change their hearts.

Many people in my congregation would testify to this. Over the years they have shared with me wonderful truths their children have learned from the sermons.

There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones (ṭap̄), and the sojourners who lived among them.

Joshua 8:35

Joshua read the law and even the youngest were present. I can't imagine what people would say today if the whole law was read with their children present: "I’m sorry, but this isn’t going to work. My kids are going to be bored. They’ll never understand. They can’t sit still. This will go over their heads. Where are all the games?”

Children Were Present When Seeking the Lord

After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

2 Chronicles 20:1-3

Jehoshaphat was attacked by many enemies. This was a terrifying moment that looked like the Jews would be conquered. Even Jehoshaphat was afraid. He decided to seek the Lord.

Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones (ṭap̄), their wives, and their children.

2 Chronicles 20:13

This might seem like a time to keep the children away, but Jehoshaphat wanted all the children present while seeking the Lord.

Children Were Present When Confessing Sin

While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 

Ezra 10:1-2

Ezra brought the people together to confess the sin of marrying Gentiles. If you had to choose one time you would expect the children not to be present, this would be it, because the children didn’t contribute to the sin. But Nehemiah still wanted them at this time of corporate confession.

Children Were Present When Praising the Lord

Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.

Psalm 148:12-13

This Psalm is about praising the Lord as you can tell by the beginning of many of the verses (Psalm 148:1-5, 7, 13-14). The psalmist called the people together to praise the Lord, including the children.

Children Were Present When Repenting

The Lord declares, “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments...Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants.

Joel 2:12-13, 15-16

Joel 2 is famous because Peter quoted it on the day of Pentecost. It describes the great and terrible Day of the Lord. Right after that,