On Mission With Jesus: Caring for Children

Life Group Notes – Safeguarding: A Safe Church is Everyone’s Job

Passages: Luke 17:1–3, Luke 18:15–17

Opening Prayer

(Or something like this…..)
‘Lord Jesus, we thank you that you welcome us just as we are, and that you care deeply for the vulnerable. Help us tonight to listen to you, to each other, and to the challenge of creating a church where everyone feels safe, seen, and loved. Amen.’

Icebreaker

What’s something you were told to “look out for” as a child - and did you?
– (e.g. “Stranger danger”, “Don’t run with scissors”, “look both ways before you cross the road….)

Read Together

•              Luke 17:1–3 – Jesus warns about causing harm, especially to “little ones”

•              Luke 18:15–17 – Jesus welcomes children and values their presence

These passages might seem very different at first glance, but together they say something powerful: Jesus cares deeply about the vulnerable — and he puts the responsibility on us to protect them and make space for them.

Discussion Questions

1.           What stands out to you in these passages?
– Anything surprising? Challenging? Comforting?

2.           Why do you think Jesus uses such strong language in Luke 17 about causing harm?
– What does this tell us about his priorities?

3.           What might it mean for us, today, to be a community that protects the ‘little ones’?
– Think beyond just children — who else might be vulnerable?

4.           Luke 18 shows people trying to stop children coming to Jesus. Why do you think they did that?
– What kinds of things might unintentionally stop people feeling safe or welcome in church today?

5.           Safeguarding often feels like someone else’s job — what helps us remember it’s a shared responsibility?
– Have you ever spotted something and not known what to do with it?

Reflection

Safeguarding isn’t just a policy. It’s a posture.
Jesus calls us to be a people who notice, who protect, who listen — and who take action, even when it’s uncomfortable.

This isn’t about suspicion, or assuming the worst.
It’s about love that watches well.

Let’s be the kind of church where everyone, from the oldest to the youngest, knows
‘This is a safe place. You matter here.’

Prayer Ideas

•              Pray for our churches to be a place of safety and welcome

•              Pray for Alison and Kim (our safeguarding officers), and those in leadership

•              Pray for courage to speak up when something seems off

•              Invite God to help us see as he sees

Going Deeper (Optional)

Read Proverbs 31:8–9 – “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…”
How does this fit into the picture of safeguarding?