The Raymer enterprise., 1920-12-30
LESSON FOR JANUARY z
THE CHILD AND THE klNonon.

lESSUN FUN JANUAhJ &
THE CHILD AND THE KINGDOM.
LESSON TExT-Matt iS:1-iA
GOLDEN TEXT whososvsr thsrsfors
shall humble himself ~ this little child.
the same shall bs greatest In the king.
dom Of hsaven.-Matt. 1874 il
REFERENCE MATERIAl.-Mark ~;
Luke s:Ss-4s; I7:l-l
PRIMARY ToPIc-ood's Care for Littis
Children.
JUNIOR ToPIc-ood's Care for "a
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Responsibility for the Younger and
Weaker.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Our Responsibility for Childhood.
.. The Greatest In he Kingdom q
Heaven wv. 1-4).
I. The disciples question ". u.
The promise given to Peter IN connee.
tion with the announcement Of bis Dur.
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
hguration scene revealed the divine
person and the program Of the king
dom. Seeing that the kingdom was to
come to realisation. despite the trag.
edy Of the cross, the disciples thought
1t 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.
2. Jesus answer Nv. ~. He taught
them concretely BY placing q little
child In their midst. ~ Condition Of
entrance Into kingdom ". 81. He
showed them that the great question
which concerned them 10 al 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 into the kingdom, they must bs
born from above (John 8:8, 81. En-
trance into the kingdom Is Infinitely
more important than rank therein.
(2) Whosoever possesses childlike hu-
mility Is the greatest ". A.. The
child Is dependent, lowly, and modest
Those who have been born again-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
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
II this were fully realized 1t 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 10 to
open our hearts to receive Him.
2. The awful peril Of causing a BE-
lever to stumble wv. 8-9). To STUN
BILE means to give occasion for q moral
fall. The particular reference was to
the carnallty and sel6shness which
was expressing itself In their conten-
ton for pre-eminence. Such spirit
and behavior would stifle the tender
life Of a babe In Christ Their BE-
havior was not only self.injury, but .
stumbling block to others. Every
Christian should solemnly inquire a.
to whether his life would help or him
der his fellow.believers. Am helping
someone to q higher level, or am I
pulling him down to a lowerf To 20
sin against Christ's own Is to meet Q
sure and awful fate. His doom win
be worse than drowning In the sea
with q milestone around his neck; Il
will be eternal fire ". 81.
III. Believers Are Especially Cared
For BY tho Heavenly Father wv. l0l4).
| /. They are under angelic guardian.
ship ". 10Y. So precious is the b.
liever in Gods sight that angelic mes
sengers have access to the very throne
Of God, even beholdIng his face. 81
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 wv
11.14). The Heavenly Father does no,
will that any one of these should per.
ish. They are the objects Of the Fa'
ther's seeking love. The salvation ot
the humble believer has been secured
by the incarnation and the sacrifice Of
the Good Shepherd. Since God setl
such value upon even the lowest be
liever, we should be most careful II
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