Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-01-02
IMPROVED UNlFoRM INTERNATIONAL
SUNIEYSQI()G
LESSON
10y REV. p. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
teacher OF English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago)
tCs. 1920. Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR JANUARY 2
THE CHILD AND THE KINGDOM
LESSON TExT-Matt ,s.s,4


THE CHILD AND THE KINGDOM.
LESSON TEXT-Matt IS1-14.
GOLDEN TEXT-Whosoever therefore
snail humble himself as this little child.
tsle same shall be greatest In the king
oom Of heaven.-Matt. 1874.
REFERENCE .MATERIAL-Mark 9:ss;
Luke S:36-4S; 1872
PRIMARY TOPIC-God's Care for Little
Children
JUNIOR ToPIC-God's Care for Us.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-,,responsiplhty for the Younger and
Weaker
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-our Responsibility for Childhood.
!. The Greatest In the kinudom OF
Heaven (vv. 1-4).
l. The disciples question ". ".
Inc promise given to Peter in connec
tion with the announcement of his pur-
pose to build the church, and the pay
ing OF tribute with the money in the
nshs mouth, provoked jealousy on the
part Of the other disciples. The trans.
nguration 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 or 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 o. entering into sympathy with
Jesus In the dark hour of his passion.
they were supremacy concerned with
the dignities to be conferred upon
themselves.
2. jesus answer (vy. 2-4). He taught
them concretely by placing little
child in their midst. % 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 into the kingdom, they must be
born from above John %, 81. En-
trance into the kingdom is infinitely
more important than rank therein.
(2) Whosoever possesses childlike hu-
mility is the greatest ". ~. The
child is dependent, lowly, and modest.
Those who have been born agaln-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
own unworthiness, the more worthy
he is Of the divine favor and trust.
II. The Lords Identification With
His Believing Ones wv. 5-9).
1. Receiving the believer in Christ's
name is receiving Christ ". 81.
Through conversion We become Gods
children, and SO completely is our life
IgterwoYen with His that He regards
n :seatment of US as treatment of Him.
elf. 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
open our hearts to receive Him.
2. The awful peril of causing a be-
liever to stumble (vy. COY. To STUN
BILE means to give occasion for 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 stife the tender
life of 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 I helping
someone to a higher level, or am
pulling him down to q lower? To so
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.
i'll. Believers Are Especially Cared
For by the Heavenly Father wv. 1914.
I. They are under angehc 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 beholdng 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 wv.
11-14l. 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 them.