The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-12-30

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GOLDEN TExT-Whososvsr therefore
the same shall be greatest In the king
dom OF heaven.-0Att lsA
| REFERENCE NATERIAl-Nark en-:
Luke $3.50; l7:1-a
PRIMARY TOPIC-ood's Care for Little
Children.
JUNIOR ToPJc-oods Care for us.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
| -Responsibility for the Younger and
| Weaker.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Our Responsibility for Childhood
.. The Greatest In the Kingdom Of
Heaven (vv. 1-4).
/. The disciples question ". ID.
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
dsh's mouth. provoked Jealousy on the
part Of the other disciples. The trans
fguration 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
II 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 dignities to be conferred upon
themselves
2. Jesus answer tvv. 2-4). He taught
them concretely by placing a little
/ child In their midst. "a Condition OF
entrance into kingdom ". 81. 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 could enter into the kingdom.
Before they could even se,.. much less
enter into the kingdom. they must be
born from above (John 3: %, 81. En-.
trance into the kingdom is infinitely
more important than rank therein.
| t2) Whosoever possesses childlIke hu-
mility Is the creates; ". ~. The
child is dependent lowly, and modest.
Those who have been born ngnIn-con-
verted. 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
! own unworthiness, the more worthy
! he is of the divine favor and trust
! u. The Lords Identification with
He Believing Ones wv. 5-9).
/ l. Receiving the believer In Christ's
lame is receiving Christ ". %.
I 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
II this were fully realized IL would
sanctify our relationship with beiiev.
ers In Christ Reception OF believers
includes all forms Of sympathy and
aid. To do this In Christ's name is to
open our hearts to receive Him.
2. The awful peril of causing be-
lever to stumble wv. COY. To STUN
BILE means to give occasion for a moral
fail The particular reference was 10
the carnality and selfishness which
was expressing itself In their conten-
] ton for pre-eminence. Such spirit
and behavior would stife the tender
| life of a babe In Christ. Their be-
havior was not only self-lnjury, but a
stumbling block to others. Every
| Christian should solemnly inquire as
/ to whether his life would help or him
! der his feiiow-believers. Am helping
someone to higher level. or am
pulling him down to lowerf To so
sin against Christs 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. II
will be eternal fire ". 81.
~. Believers Are Especially Cared
For by tho Heavenly Father wv. Old.
1. They are under angelic guardian
ship ". 10). So precious is the be
lever In Gods sight that angelic mes
( sengers have access TO the very throne
: Of God, even beholding his face. So
! high Is the honor bestowed upon be-
/ levers that the highest angels are sent
! 10 guard them.
| 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 secdred
| by the Incarnation and the sacrifice OF
the Good Shepherd. Since God sets
such value upon even the lowest he
: lever, we should be most careful In
our manner OF life before them and In
our treatment of them.