Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1920-12-30

4 1h0i huthoic HIMSELF as TINS fltttS China
the same shall be greatest In this king
/ dom of heaven. Matt. lS4>
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Mark s:sa:
Luke 9:36-tS; l7.i-2
/ PRIMARY ToPIc-God's Care for Little
Children.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Gods Care for ua.
| INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
| Responsibility for the Younger ana
| Weaker,
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Our Responsibility for Childhood
I. The Greatest In the Kingdom o.
/ Heaven wv. l-4).
!. The disciples question ". ~.
The promise given to Peter In connee-
ton with the announcement of his pnr-
pose to build the church, and the pay
Ing Of tribute with the money In ths
asf's mouth, provoked jealousy Oh the
part OF the other disciples. The trans
hguratiOn 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 or
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 concre.ely by placing little
child In their midst. al 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 see. much less
enter iilto the kingdom. they must be
borr. from above John "a. 81. En-
trance is.sc the kingdom Is Infinitely
more important than rank therein.
t2) whatsoever possesses chIldlIke hu-
miiity Is the greatest ". ~. Tho
child IL dependent. lowly, and modest.
Those who have been born again -con-
/ verted, have these characteristics. The
| principle which determines rank Id the
Kingdom is lowliness Of heart In tho
Kingdom we rise by sinking. The way
is down. The more one realizes his
own unw0rthiness the more worthy
he " Of the divine favor and trust.
II. The Lords identification Win
His Believing Ones tvv. 5-9).
|. Receiving the believer In Christ's
name Ii receiving Christ w. 81.
Through conversion we become Gods
children. and NO completely Ii our life
interviewer with His that He regards
treatment OF us as treatment OF Him
self. Those who welcome Into fellow
ship the i0wty believer welcome Christ.
Ii this were fully realized It would
sanctify our relationship with beliey-
| ers I'D Christ. Reception of believers
includes all forms of sympathy and
aid. TO do this In Christ's name lis to
open our hearts to receive Him.
2. The awful peril OF causing be-
lever to stumble tvy. 8-0). TO Stun
bic means to give occasion for m0ral
| fall. The particular reference was to
the carnaiity and selfishness which
was expressing itself In their conteD-
ti0n for pre-eminence. Such spirit
and behavior would stifie the tender
life Of d babe in Christ. Their be.
havfor was not only seif-injury. but
stumbling block to others. Every
Christian should solemnly inquire -
to whether his life would help or him
der his fellow-believers. Am helping
someone to higher level, or am I
pulling him down to q lower? To 20
sin against Christ's own Is to meet .
sure and awful fate. His doom will
be worse than drowning In the sea
with a milestone around his neck: IL
will be eternal fire ". 81.
~. Believers Are Especially Cared
For by the Heavenly Father wv. 1919.
l. They are under angelic guardian
ship ". 10Y. 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
to guard them.
2. The Son came especially to save
such from their lost condition (vv.
ll-14). The Heavenly Father does not
win that any one OF these should per.
ish. They are the objects of the En-
TIERS seeking love- The salvation Of
the humble believer has been secured
by the incarnation and the sacrifice Of
the Good Shepherd. Since God sets
yuch vaiue upon even the i0west be-
lever. we should be most careful In
our manner Of life before them ind ID