Embracing Childlike Qualities in God's Kingdom
Summary
Today's talk, "Kingdom Kids," invites us to embrace the childlike qualities that Jesus highlights as essential for experiencing the kingdom of heaven. The series "Unshakeable Kingdom" emphasizes that God's kingdom is not just a future promise but a present reality we can live in now. Jesus, in Matthew 18, teaches that to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must become like little children. This means adopting a mindset of humility, wonder, and trust, much like a toddler who is full of curiosity and awe at the world around them.
The qualities of a child, such as wonder, trust, purity, dependency, honesty, forgiveness, and fun, are not just endearing traits but are essential for living a life that is aligned with God's kingdom. Wonder keeps us open to the miraculous and the divine in everyday life, while trust allows us to rely on God fully, without the skepticism that often comes with adulthood. Purity, in its biblical sense, means being unmixed and focused, allowing us to live with power and purpose. Dependency on God, akin to a child's reliance on a parent, fosters humility and a prayerful life. Honesty, though sometimes brutal, frees us from the masks we wear and allows for genuine community and healing.
Forgiveness is a cornerstone of the kingdom, as it reflects the grace we have received from God. Like children who quickly move past conflicts, we are called to release grudges and extend forgiveness as a gift. Lastly, fun and joy are integral to the kingdom life. Children laugh hundreds of times a day, and this joy is a reflection of the kingdom's nature. Joy is not merely an emotion but an attitude we choose, even amidst life's challenges.
By embracing these childlike qualities, we can experience the kingdom of God more fully and live the life God intended for us. This transformation is not just about personal growth but about becoming vessels of God's love and grace in the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. Wonder and Curiosity: Embrace a holy curiosity about life and God. Like a child, approach each day with awe and anticipation of what God might do. This mindset opens us to the miraculous and keeps our faith vibrant and alive. [06:22]
2. Trust and Faith: Return to a simple, childlike trust in God. As adults, we often overthink and become skeptical, but God calls us to trust Him fully, believing that He is guiding our paths and working for our good. [13:24]
3. Purity and Focus: Live with an unmixed heart, free from the distractions and impurities that dilute our spiritual power. Purity restores our innocence and allows us to walk in the kingdom's power and purpose. [17:31]
4. Dependency and Humility: Cultivate a life of prayer and dependency on God. Humility is shown in our willingness to ask for help and acknowledge our need for God, while pride isolates us and stifles growth. [19:50]
5. Forgiveness and Joy: Practice forgiveness as a gift, releasing grudges and embracing joy. Joy is a choice and a reflection of the kingdom's nature, inviting us to live with a light heart and a spirit of gratitude. [28:41]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:52] - The Greatest in the Kingdom
[06:22] - Embracing Wonder
[08:48] - The Power Within
[09:54] - Awe and Familiarity
[11:20] - Trust and Simplicity
[13:24] - Faith and Overthinking
[14:53] - Simplicity and Life
[16:11] - Purity and Power
[17:31] - Restoring Innocence
[18:55] - Dependency and Humility
[19:50] - Asking for Help
[20:58] - Honesty and Vulnerability
[22:15] - Wisdom and Learning
[23:18] - No More Hiding
[25:41] - Hypocrisy and Growth
[27:25] - Forgiveness and Grudges
[28:41] - Unoffendable Patience
[30:19] - Joy and Fun
[31:27] - Choosing Joy
[37:04] - Joy in the Kingdom
[38:22] - Living Childlike
[40:51] - Invitation to Follow
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Kingdom Kids
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 18:1-5
- Proverbs 3:5-6
- Ephesians 3:20
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 18:1-5, what does Jesus say is necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven? How does He illustrate this point with a child? [01:52]
2. According to the sermon, what are some qualities of a child that Jesus highlights as essential for experiencing the kingdom of heaven? [06:22]
3. How does the sermon describe the concept of "wonder" and its importance in our spiritual lives? [06:22]
4. What does Proverbs 3:5-6 say about trust, and how is this related to the childlike faith discussed in the sermon? [13:24]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might Jesus have chosen a child as an example of greatness in the kingdom of heaven? What does this suggest about the values of God's kingdom? [01:52]
2. How does the sermon suggest that "wonder" and "curiosity" can impact our relationship with God and our daily lives? [06:22]
3. In what ways does the sermon connect the idea of "trust" with simplicity and faith? How might this challenge adult perspectives? [13:24]
4. How does the sermon interpret the concept of "purity" in a spiritual context, and what implications does this have for living a life aligned with God's kingdom? [16:11]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: How can you cultivate a sense of wonder and curiosity about God and His works this week? What specific steps can you take to notice the miraculous in everyday life? [06:22]
2. Consider a situation where you find it difficult to trust God fully. What practical steps can you take to develop a more childlike trust in Him? [13:24]
3. Identify an area in your life where distractions or impurities might be diluting your spiritual focus. What actions can you take to restore purity and focus in that area? [16:11]
4. Think about a recent conflict or grudge you are holding onto. How can you practice forgiveness as a gift, and what might be the first step in releasing that grudge? [28:41]
5. Joy is described as an attitude rather than an emotion. What is one way you can choose joy in a challenging situation this week? How can you incorporate more fun and laughter into your daily routine? [30:19]
6. Reflect on your prayer life: How can you demonstrate greater dependency on God through prayer? What specific needs can you bring to Him this week? [19:50]
7. In what ways can you be more honest and vulnerable in your relationships, both with God and others? How might this honesty lead to deeper community and healing? [23:18]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Holy Curiosity
In the journey of faith, adopting a mindset of wonder and curiosity is essential. Like a child who approaches the world with awe and anticipation, believers are invited to see the divine in the everyday. This perspective keeps faith vibrant and alive, opening hearts to the miraculous. By embracing a holy curiosity, one can experience the fullness of God's kingdom, recognizing His hand in both the mundane and the extraordinary. This childlike wonder is not naivety but a profound openness to God's ongoing work in the world. [06:22]
"Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever." (Psalm 111:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one aspect of your daily routine where you can intentionally seek to see God's hand at work today?
Day 2: Return to Simple Trust
Trusting God with a childlike faith means letting go of skepticism and overthinking. As adults, it's easy to become entangled in doubts and complexities, but God calls for a simple, unwavering trust. This trust is not blind but rooted in the assurance that God is guiding and working for our good. By returning to this foundational trust, believers can navigate life's uncertainties with peace and confidence, knowing that God is faithful and His plans are for our ultimate benefit. [13:24]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a current worry or decision in your life. How can you actively choose to trust God with it today?
Day 3: Live with Unmixed Purity
Purity in the biblical sense is about having an unmixed heart, free from distractions that dilute spiritual power. This purity restores innocence and allows believers to walk in the kingdom's power and purpose. By focusing on what truly matters and removing impurities, one can live a life of clarity and strength. This focus is not about perfection but about aligning one's heart with God's will, enabling a life of purpose and impact. [17:31]
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one distraction or impurity in your life that you can address this week to align more closely with God's purpose?
Day 4: Cultivate Dependency and Humility
Dependency on God is akin to a child's reliance on a parent, fostering humility and a prayerful life. This dependency is not weakness but a recognition of one's need for divine guidance and strength. By cultivating a life of prayer and humility, believers can experience growth and transformation. Pride isolates, but humility opens the door to community and support, allowing God's grace to work powerfully in one's life. [19:50]
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to ask for help or guidance from God or others today?
Day 5: Choose Forgiveness and Joy
Forgiveness is a cornerstone of the kingdom, reflecting the grace received from God. Like children who quickly move past conflicts, believers are called to release grudges and embrace forgiveness. Joy, too, is a choice and a reflection of the kingdom's nature. By choosing joy, even amidst challenges, one can live with a light heart and a spirit of gratitude. This attitude transforms not only personal life but also impacts the world with God's love and grace. [28:41]
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone you need to forgive. How can you take a step towards forgiveness and joy today?
Quotes
1) "There's something so mesmerizing about watching a toddler experience the world. If you've ever been around a toddler, they ask the question why a lot. They're super curious, and a toddler will be so excited about the little things of life. You can let a toddler go outside and they are mesmerized by everything. Everything is just wow. I mean the garbage truck when it's coming down the street. There's some kids I know that'll be so excited to know that the garbage truck is coming out and they want to see it go or they'll go outside and they'll see like a little bug and they'll just want to play with the bug or a leaf and they'll play with the little leaf. There's something that is so wonderful to kids that I think as we get older we kind of lose that you guys. We kind of lose the wonder of life and if you're not careful losing that wonder of life will actually cause you to lose the wonder of God." [06:22] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "But if we're honest, I think we become too familiar with a God that we barely know. And we're just like, oh yeah, of course. Like, you know, this is just, you know, my ordinary regular life. No. Every day, listen to me, listen to me, every day should be an extraordinary day. Because the Spirit of God is living on the inside of you. There's ways that he's wanting to move in your life. There's ways that he's wanting to move through your life. And what if we woke up every morning with that same kind of a wonder as a toddler going, what's gonna happen in my day today? When I go outside, what person am I gonna run into? When I go to work, what's gonna happen? But if we go into life wondering about the amazing ways that might be happening for me, we're gonna go in paying attention to every detail." [09:54] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "There's something so amazing about a toddler. They will believe anything you tell them, which as adults, be nice. Don't mislead them. Don't tell them crazy lies because that's how they lose their trust in adults is we lie to them, especially, you know, come around December. We, man, we're like, I know everyone has their opinions about the, how you celebrate Christmas, but I am not a fan of lying to our kids and saying, Hey, if, if, if my kids are going to believe somebody is going to bring them gifts, I'm going to, I'm going to make them know that it's dad bringing the gifts, not some person that doesn't exist. All right, I'll just leave it there, park there, because I got little ones in the room." [13:24] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "And I believe the call of God is to get back, not necessarily to a trust of people, but get back to a trust of God. That he can use people in powerful ways that are not perfect people. And if we can move it, a friend of mine in Vegas, he called this being baby simple. And I don't know if you, it's kind of a weird term, like being baby simple, but it's coming back to a place of simplicity where you don't overthink it. Any classic overthinkers in the room? Online, come on, put your hand up online. Give a little, in the chat, you can say like, that's me. We have a problem as adults. We overthink situations. And you can overthink the simplest situation to where you talk yourself out of doing anything. You can do anything. You can do anything about it. Have you ever been there? I call it the paralysis of analysis." [14:53] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Another way we can say dependency is the word humility. Write that down. Dependency and humility. Dependency, if you've ever been around a toddler, they're not embarrassed to ask for help. I would argue... that in most cases, they know that they need help, especially getting the food off the top shelf that they can't reach. They need an adult to help them get that food. So a little one is not embarrassed to ask for help. But I think something happens as we get older that maybe we get embarrassed to ask other people for some help. And maybe we even let that bleed into our faith and we stop asking God for help." [19:50] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "And I think maybe sometimes we hide in our shame because we're afraid that people are going to reject us. I think Adam and Eve hid from God because they were afraid of rejection. And I want you to know that Atmosphere Church is a safe place for you. And just as God would never reject you in your stuff, we will never reject you in your stuff. And sometimes the most powerful thing that you can say is, I've never told anybody in my life this, and we're going to. I love you, and we're going to pray for you, and we're going to see to it that you walk in your healing. It's interesting that scripture says if we confess our sins to God, he is faithful and just to forgive us. But when we confess our sins to one another, as it says in James chapter five, that we are healed." [24:04] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "There's a running theme in this series about unshakable kingdom because, listen, forgiveness is heaven's business, church. Come on. You've got to be forgiving. And have you ever watched a toddler go through a little problem with a friend? They get mad. I mean, toddlers can get mad. And by the way, the call of Scripture is to be childlike, not childish. Can I just say that? So God is not telling us to go through temper tantrums around. But there is something like a toddler can be so mad at you. I hate you. I hate you. Man, that's hard. That hurts as a parent, doesn't it? But then 20 minutes later, they're cuddling with you on the couch. Wee me a stowie." [28:01] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "And here's what I know about the kingdom of heaven. It's full of joy. And here's what I also have learned. Joy is not an emotion. It's not an emotion. It's not an emotion. It's not you feel as much as it's an attitude that you choose to choose joy and kids little toddlers they can have some hardship but they are gonna find something to play with and they're gonna have a good time I was reading a study this week that I found so fascinating it's from the Journal of Hospital Medicine it stated that children laugh on average 400 times a day they know how to laugh and I will tell you it's one of the sweetest sounds on the planet to hear a child laugh do you know how many times an adult laughs on average per day 15 times some of you you got to get your laugh back you got to get your laugh back let me give you a scripture Proverbs 17 verse 24 being cheerful keeps you healthy it is a slow death to be gloomy all the time who's that for this morning who is spongebob grumpy pants in here" [31:27] (77 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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