Come to Jesus Just As You Are
Month 8: The Heart of Jesus · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: Mark 10:13-16
13 Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.
Memory Verse
“But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”— Mark 10:14 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Isaiah 26-28
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. ("You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You" — a perfect verse to rest in as we close the week.)The Heart of It
Tonight we gather to worship. And we end the week right where we began. We started with Jesus taking children into His arms, and that is where we land again. Let's pull the whole picture together. We learned that no one is too small for Jesus (Day 211). We hid His invitation in our hearts (Day 212). We saw that the Gospels are trustworthy eyewitness accounts of the real Jesus (Day 213). We were reminded that the Father's face is always turned toward us (Day 214). We learned that the Holy Spirit makes us into trusting children who cry "Abba, Father" (Day 215). And we were sent out to make room for the ones others push away (Day 216). One heartbeat runs through all of it. Jesus welcomes those who come to Him.
So the invitation tonight is simple. And it's for every person at this table, big and little. Come to Jesus just as you are. You don't have to clean yourself up first. You don't have to get older first. You don't have to understand everything first. You don't even have to stop being afraid first. The children in brought nothing but themselves. And Jesus took them in His arms and blessed them. That's the whole gospel in one small picture. We don't climb up to God by being impressive. We come down low and trusting, with open hands, and He receives us by His grace. Maybe someone here has never simply come to Jesus. You can come tonight. And anyone who has wandered away can come home. He is not reluctant. His arms are already open.
Around the Table
Jesus loves it when you come to Him! You don't have to be big. You don't have to be perfect. Just come, the way the little children did.
Let's do it: Sing a simple worship song together, like "Jesus Loves Me." Then everyone reach your arms up high to Jesus.
This whole week was about the heart of Jesus. We saw how He welcomes anyone who comes to Him. Which day this week stuck with you the most?
Let's talk: What does it mean to "come to Jesus just as you are"? Was there anything you thought you had to fix first before coming to Him?
Coming to Jesus like a little child is the only way in. We don't earn it. We simply receive His grace by faith. That's a real choice each of us makes. And then it's a whole life of staying close to Him.
Let's go deeper: Have you personally come to Jesus and trusted Him? If you have, share a bit of your story. If you're not sure, tonight is a good night to come.
💬 Conversation Starter
If Jesus were sitting in the empty chair at our table right now, with His arms open, what's one thing you'd want to tell Him or ask Him?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Some people imagine God as distant and hard to reach. They think we have to earn our way up to Him. But the Gospels show the opposite. God came all the way down to us in Jesus. And He welcomes everyone who simply comes (; ). Christianity isn't us climbing up to God. It's God reaching down to us.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Family worship doesn't need to be polished to be powerful. Tonight, lead by coming yourself, openly, in front of your kids. Children rarely learn to approach God from a lecture. They learn it by watching a father do it: unhurried, unembarrassed, dependent. Take a moment to let them see you receive God's grace, not just hand it out. And resist the urge to pressure a "decision" out of anyone tonight. Grace is genuinely offered to all, and faith is a real and free response. It is never forced. Your job isn't to manufacture conversions. It's to keep the arms of Jesus visible and the door wide open, week after week, trusting the Holy Spirit to draw each child in His own timing. Some of the most important discipleship you'll ever do is simply refusing to be the disciple who shoos the little ones away.
Draws on: Donald S. Whitney, Family Worship.
Let's Pray Together
"Lord Jesus, thank You for Your welcoming heart. We come to You now just as we are. Take each of us into Your arms. Bless our family. Draw close to anyone here who hasn't yet come to You. And keep us all near to You. In Jesus' name, amen."
I don't have to fix myself first. I can come to Jesus just as I am, and He welcomes me.