Downgrading to Greatness
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:09:50
0 ratings
· 7 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Matthew 18:1-14.
This morning we are going to talk about how we receive the Kingdom of God!
Anyone remember when your kids were little and heading off to preschool or kindergarten?
Tasia and Lacy - excited to go
until it was time
Tasia - sad
anyone remember picking them up from the first day and how the kids ran to you for the first time excited to tell you about their day?
and then there was Peter
He was so ready to go he left us in the dust
This morning as we look at an talk about what it means to receive the kingdom and how we receive it, I can’t help but think about the joy that comes from seeing your parents the first time after the first long day of school!
There is a story in 3 of the gospels including Matthew, Mark and Luke about the children and Jesus
We will read Marks account
Mark 10:13-16.
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to 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 will 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.
Notice that as they brought the kids to Jesus and the disciples rebuked them, Jesus was indignant
This means to be angry! Or aggressively angry!
You see, it was important to Jesus that the kids could come to Him!
So important that Jesus says unless you receive the kingdom like a child, you can’t receive it!
To receive the kingdom of God, we must become like children!
In the Scripture that we read this morning, we read the verse
3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
So, the concept this morning is to change and become like children
In order to be great in the Kingdom of heaven, we need to downgrade and become like children!
Maybe our position needs to be similar, though not exactly the same, but similar to that of John the baptist
30 He must become greater; I must become less.”
You see, in their culture and somewhat similarly in ours, children didn’t have rights. In our culture they don’t have the right to vote, drink, gamble, they must have education, etc. Until they become an adult, much of their life really isn’t based on their decisions
In their culture though, it was even more strict. Children were basically that of property. And respect was a huge thing for them!
This extreme is a bit of a challenge for us to understand.
A couple of years ago, as I was working with the college student we had a student, Enock is his name, from Africa.
Idk if you guys remember Enock, but he would come to church, him and a couple of others, and he was always sharply dressed!
Well, Enock never really said anything during the lessons, unless you asked him a very directed and pointed question.
I remember at the end of the first semester that he was here we were sharing a meal and I asked him why he doesn’t much. I told him I really wanted to hear what he has to say.
He told me that in his culture respect is a huge thing. That if you were a child or someone “greater” in age or wisdom were teaching that you always be quiet!
This is something that he learned from his culture! You don’t speak if someone is teaching!
Of course I told him that I was honored by that, but that it was okay for him to talk as I want to learn from him as well!
The reason I share that is because similarly, in Jesus’ day the children (as well as the disciples) would have the same mindset.
That children were less than adults! And so, in their minds, why would Jesus waste His time with them! Didn’t He have better things to do?
No, Jesus says, to receive the kingdom, you must be like them! Come to me! To be great in the kingdom, you must decrease!
And greatness is not an upgrade, but a downgrade!
To simplify and become like a child!
What is it about children that is the gateway into receiving the kingdom?
1. Position in the Kingdom
1. Position in the Kingdom
Notice as we read, the disciples were concerned about who would be the greatest in the kingdom
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Obviously, the disciples were worried about the things that didn’t really matter in the kingdom of God!
The position of a child is not one of high status as recognized of this world or “kingdom” but by that of a new kingdom!
Children were to be quite, to listen, to learn, to obey, and to submit!
Jesus says you need to change and become like them! Listen, learn, obey, and submit to Him!
Jesus teaches on this concept in:
Matthew 23:1-12.
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. 8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
The principles of the kingdom of heaven are not the same as the kingdom of earth
Those who are great, must serve!
Jesus says:
2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
So, to receive the kingdom like a child, means to have the position of a child!
The second way to receive the kingdom like a child is through:
2. The Faith that Children Have
2. The Faith that Children Have
You know, what’s interesting about children is that:
They don’t know enough to let it get in the way!
They don’t know enough to let it get in the way!
When children put their faith in something, they don’t have to have all of the evidence and have everything figured out!
They know just enough to believe something!
Viral video going around and I was able to find it this morning to show you
Show video
This kid is trying to trick his mom into either delaying taking a bath or just wanting her to watch him on the trampoline!
Either way, he has his mind set on what he wants and he is correct!
Children don’t need to know every detail before they believe in something! They just need to know enough!
And often times, this comes from who is giving the information!
How many of you believe anything that your parents, or your teachers told you? It is likely because you trusted them!
When you have a relationship with someone and trust them, you believe what they have to say!
The faith of children is not blind faith, it’s relational faith!
The faith of children is not blind faith, it’s relational faith!
As I started this message, I began by talking about dropping our kids off at school for the first time. And when we picked them up from school!
How often times, they run and give us a big hug! It could be that they are tired of school and are trying to escape as quickly as possible, or, they miss us and want to see us!
Worship Team
I’m wondering this morning if there is something, maybe like the disciples in our story, that is keeping us from running into the arms of Jesus?
Do you have faith this morning in Jesus?
Do you need to come back to Him in this new year!
Maybe something has gotten in your way or distracted you and you need to come back to the arms of the one who made you and loves you!
