Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1920-12-30
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LESSON
LESSON FOR JANUARY z
THE CHILD AND THE KINGDOM
(By REV. P. B. FTTzWATER. ID. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago)
(@. 1890. Western Newspaper Union.l

~ LESSON TEXT-Matt 1S1-M
GOLDEN Whosoever therefore
shall humble himself as this little child.
the same shall be greatest in the king
dom Of heaven.-Matt- 1874
REFERENCE MATERIAL,-Mark S:sS: II
Luke 9:36-48; l7.l-2
PRIMARY TOPIC-God's Care for Little
Children.
JUNIOR ToPIC-God's Care for Us.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Responsibility for the Younger and
Weaker
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC Il
Our Responsibility for Childhood.
!. The Greatest in the Kingdom Of
Heaven wv. LAY.
|. The disciples question ". ~.
The promise given to Peter in connec-
ton with the announcement of his pur-
pose to build the church, and the pay
ing Of tribute with the money in the,
tish's mouth, provoked jealousy on the
part Of the other disciples. The trans
tiguration scene revealed the divine |
person and the program of the king |
dom. Seeing that the kingdom was to !
come to realization, despite the trag-
edy OF the cross, the disciples thought |
it, best to have settled the place of !
rank In the kingdom. Their behavior
betrayed their sad state of heart. In
stead of entering into sympathy with
Jesus in the dark hour of his passion,
they were supremely concerned with
the dignltieS to be conferred upon
themselves.
?. Jesus answer wv. 2-4). He taught
them concreteiy by placing a little
child in their midst. % Condition Of
entrance into Kingdom ". -. He
showed them that the great question
which concerned them is as to wheth
er they are really in the kingdom.
Their behavior revealed the fact
/ that they needed conversion before
they cou0l enter into the kingdom.
I Before they could even see, much less
/ enter into the kingdom, they must be
born from above John s:3, 81. En-
trance into the kingdom is infinitely
more important than rank therein.
| ~ Whosoever possesses childlike hui
mility Is the greatest ". ~. The
child is dependent, lowly, and modest.
Those who have been born again-con-
verified, have these characteristics. The
principle which determines rank in the
kingdom is lowliness of heart. In the
kingdom we rise by sinking. The way
is down. The more one realizes his
| kho fhxy
he Is Of the divine favor and trust.
u. The Lords Identification With
His Believing Ones wv. soy.
1. Receiving the believer in Christ's
name is receiving Christ ". 81.
! Through conversion we become Gods
children, and so completely is our life
interviewer with His that He regards
treatment of us as treatment of Him
SELF Those who welcome into fellow
ship the lowly believer welcome Christ
If this were fully realized it would
sanctify our relationship with believ-
ers in Christ. Reception Of believers
includes all forms of sympathy and
aid. To do this in Christ's name is to
OpeH UuE near 10 W tSNSlNC AAllus
2. The awful peril of causing a be-
lever to stumble wv. 6-9). To stun
BILE means to give occasion for a moral
fall. The particular reference was to
the carnality and selfishness which
was expressing itself in their conten-
ton for pre-eminence. Such spirit
and behavior would stifle the tender
life of q babe in Christ. Their be-
havior was not only self-injury, but
stumbling block to others. Every
Christian should solemnly inquire as
to whether his life would help or him
der his fellow-believers Am helping
someone to higher level, or am |
pulling him down to lower? To so
sin against Christ's own is to meet a
sure and awful fate. His doom will
be worse than drowning in the sea
with a milestone around his neck; it
will be eternal fire ". 81.
~. Believers Are Especially Cared
For by the Heavenly Father wv. 1O-14).
/. They are under angelic guardian
ship ". 10Y. So precious is the be-
liever in God's sight that angelic mes
sengers have access to the very throne
of God, even behoding his face. So
high is the honor bestowed upon be-
levers that the highest angels are sent
to guard them. s.
2. The Son came especially to save
such from their lost condition wv.
11-14). The Heavenly Father does not
will that any one of these should per-
ish. They are the objects Of the Fa-
theirs seeking love. The salvation Of
the humble believer has been secured
BY the incarnation and the sacrifice OF
the Good Shepherd. Since God sets
such value upon even the lowest be
lever we should be most careful in
our manner of life before them and In
our treatment Of thelh.