The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-12-30

shall humble himself as this little china
the same shall be greatest In the king
dom Of heaven. Matt ist
REFERENCE MATERlAI,-Mark sa
Luke s:S-ts. MA
PRIMARY ToPIc-God's Care for Little
children.
JUNIOR ToPIC-ood's Care for ia
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 wv. la.
!. The disciples question ". ID.
The promise given 10 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
hsh's mouth. provoked jealousy on the
part of the other disciples. The trans.
hguntion 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 10 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 81 his passion.
they were supremely concerned with
the dlgnities 10 be conferred upon
themselves.
2. Jesus answer wv. 20. lie taught
them concretely by placing little
child In their midst. Cd Condition Of
entrance into kingdom ". 30. lie
showed them that the great question
which concerned them II as TO wheth.
or 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 be
born from above John go. -. En-
trance into the Kingdom N Infinitely
more important than rank therein.
(2) Whosoeyer possesses childlike hu-
mllity In the greatest w. -. The
child il dependent. lowly. and modest.
Those who have been born agaln-con.
verted. have these characteristics. The
principle which determines rank In the
kingdom II lowllness OF heart. In the
kingdom We rise by sinking The way
Il down. The more one realizes his
own unworthlness. the more worthy
he Is Of the divine favor and trust.
~. The Lords Identification With
ris Believing Ones wv. 5-9).
l. Receiving the believer In Chrlst's
name IL receiving Christ ". 81.
Through conversion We become Gods
children. and So completely Is our life
interviewer with His that lie regards
treatment Of US as treatment OF Him
self Those who welcome into fellow
ship the lowly believer welcome Christ.
II ;h;s were fully realized II would
sanctIfy our relationship with beliey
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.
?. The awful peril OF causing be
lever to stumble wv. 6-9). To stun
bile means to give occasion for moral
fall. The particular reference was to
the carnality and seliishness which
was expressing itself In their conten-
ton for pre-eminence. Such spirit
and behavior would stifie the tender
life OF babe In Christ. Their be
havior was not only self-inJury. but
al.ll eA Afh
Christian should solemnly inquire as
TO whether his life would help or hin
der his fellow believers. Am ! helping
someone 10 n higher level, or am
pulling him down TO n l0werf To so
sin against Christs own Is 10 meet a
sure and awful fate. His doom will
be worse than drowning In the sea
with n milestone around his neck; II
will be eternal IRE ". 81.
~. Believers Are Especially Cared
For by the Heavenly Father wv. l0lD.
1. They are under angelic guardian
ship ". 100. So precious Is the be
lever Ia Gods sight that angelic mes
sengers have access TO the very throne
Of God. even beholdlng his face. SO
high Is the honor bestowed upon be-
llevers that the highest angels are sent
10 guard them.
2 The Son came especially 10 save
such from their lost condition wv.
mo. The Heavenly Father does not
will that any one of these should per
lsh. 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 he
lever. we should be most carefu' III
our manner of life before them ana III
our treatment Of them.