READ:

MATTHEW 18:1-9

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

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. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Causing to Stumble

6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Pray to start

Intro question: When is a time you’ve seen a kid be amazing by something you take for granted?

Discussion.

1. What things stand out to you from the passage:

2. What could be prompting the disciples to ask Jesus this question about greatness? (Look back at the transfiguration in Matthew 17 and the glimpse the disciples had at glory and greatness)

3. What are the disciples thinking the kingdom of heaven will be like?

4. What world-changing views does Jesus bring?
About children?
About greatness?
About sin?
About eternity?

5. In which of these areas do you think our thinking might be more shaped by the world than by Jesus?

Read the following quote:

Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.

GK CHESTERTON

6.Are there any parts of your faith that have grown less childlike? (Less Humble, less filled with wonder, less eager to sit at Jesus’ feet, less thankful for grace)

Pray that we would be able to respond to Jesus in a childlike way.