I Am a Child of _______
Matthew 18:1-9
1. Being Childlike in Faith is More Important Than Outranking Others. (Matthew 18:1-3, Matthew 11:25, Deuteronomy 9:1, 1 Peter 5:6)
Matthew 11:25, At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants.
Deuteronomy 9:1, He [God] fed you [Israel] in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers had not known, in order to humble and test you, so that in the end he might cause you to prosper.
1 Peter 5:6, Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time…
2. Being Welcoming to God’s Children is More Important Than Sinning Against Others. (Matthew 18:4-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Luke 11:52)
1 Thessalonians 5:11, [Because Jesus died for us and gives us the ability to live in unity] encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
Luke 11:52, Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were trying to go in.
3. Being Without “Part” is Better Than Being Complete in Hell. (Matthew 18:8-9, Luke 12:4-5, Matthew 25:40-46)
Luke 12:4-5, I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!
Matthew 25:40-46, “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’ “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you?’ “Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”