who is the greatest in the kingdom of god?

Luke 9:46-48 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all — he is the greatest”.

Matthew 20:21 “What is it you want. ” he asked Matthew 20:21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”

Matthew 18:1-4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:5-6 And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. - v3

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. - v3 A. Change (στρέφω) = to turn around, change your life, commit your life to a different Lord.

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. 1. The Lord of the world is Satan!

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. 1. The Lord of the world is Satan! Mark 8:33 - But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. 1. The Lord of the world is Satan! Luke 4:5-7 - The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. 2. The way of the world is to seek greatness.

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. 2. The way of the world is to seek greatness. a. By dominating others. II Samuel 15:1 - In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him.

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. 2. The way of the world is to seek greatness. b. By seeking power & admiration. Genesis 11:4 - Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. B. What is God’s Plan for Conversion to Him?

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. B. What is God’s Plan for Conversion to Him? 1. Recognize that you are lost.

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. B. What is God’s Plan for Conversion to Him? 1. Recognize that you are lost. 2. Realize you can be found.

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. B. What is God’s Plan for Conversion to Him? 1. Recognize that you are lost. 2. Realize you can be found. 3. Have faith.

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. B. What is God’s Plan for Conversion to Him? 1. Recognize that you are lost. 2. Realize you can be found. 3. Have faith. 4. Desire to commit your life to Him.

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. B. What is God’s Plan for Conversion to Him? 5. Make this commitment public.

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted. B. What is God’s Plan for Conversion to Him? 5. Make this commitment public. 6. Grow spiritually.

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. - v4

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. A. Lord Jesus said a child would be your example.

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. 1. What is childish?

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. 1. What is childish? a. Gullible & easily deceived.

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. 1. What is childish? a. Gullible & easily deceived. b. Short sighted.

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. 1. What is childish? a. Gullible & easily deceived. b. Short sighted. c. Selfish - needing discipline.

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. 1. What is childish? a. Gullible & easily deceived. b. Short sighted. c. Selfish - needing discipline. d. Immature - lacking respon- sibility.

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. 1. What is childish? 2. What is child like?

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. 1. What is childish? 2. What is child like? a. Willing servants.

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. 1. What is childish? 2. What is child like? a. Willing servants. b. Recognize their position.

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. 1. What is childish? 2. What is child like? a. Willing servants. b. Recognize their position. c. Humble.

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. B. How can you be humble?

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. B. How can you be humble? Romans 12:3 - Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. B. How can you be humble? Romans 12:3 - Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Galatians 6:3 - If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child. B. How can you be humble? Romans 12:3 - Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Galatians 6:3 - If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Matthew 23:12 - For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted II I. The One Who is Willing to Be Converted II. The One Who is Willing to Be Humble as a Child III. The One Who is Willing to Give Himself to Others - v5-6

III. The One Who is Willing to Give Himself to Others. A. Whoever welcomes someone in the Lord’s name, welcomes the Lord. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. - v5

III. The One Who is Willing to Give Himself to Others. A. Whoever welcomes someone in the Lord’s name, welcomes the Lord. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. - v5 Matthew 25:31-46

III. The One Who is Willing to Give Himself to Others. A. Whoever welcomes someone in the Lord’s name, welcomes the Lord. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. - v5 1. Welcome (δέχομαι) = receive, show hospitality.

III. The One Who is Willing to Give Himself to Others. A. Whoever welcomes someone in the Lord’s name, welcomes the Lord. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. - v5 2. What does “welcome” imply? Responsibility!

III. The One Who is Willing to Give Himself to Others. B. What happens when you deliberately put a stumbling block in someone’s spiritual life? But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. - v6

III. The One Who is Willing to Give Himself to Others. B. What happens when you deliberately put a stumbling block in someone’s spiritual life? Big trouble with God! This was capitol punishment in Syria & Greece!

III. The One Who is Willing to Give Himself to Others. B. What happens when you deliberately put a stumbling block in someone’s spiritual life? The spiritual implication: God’s wrath - spiritual death - eternal punishment!

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ - Matthew 25:40!