Matthew_18_1-4_manuscript.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Conversion Is a Change of Heart, Not Just Habits

True conversion is not about adding more religious activity or simply trying harder to be good. It is a deep, inward transformation that changes the very posture of our hearts. Jesus calls us to be “converted and become like children,” which means turning away from self-sufficiency and pride, and embracing a humble dependence on Him. This is not something we can manufacture on our own; it is a work of God’s grace that reorients our desires, our trust, and our sense of identity.
If there is no real change—no new humility, no new dependence on Christ—then it is worth asking whether we have truly entered the kingdom. The evidence of salvation is not just in what we say, but in a life that reflects the lowliness and trust of a child. God invites us to examine our hearts honestly and to seek the kind of transformation that only He can bring.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you see the greatest resistance to change? Ask God to show you if there is a place where you are relying on your own strength instead of His transforming grace.

Day 2: Humility Is the Doorway and the Journey

Humility is not just the way into the kingdom of God—it is the way we continue to walk with Him every day. Jesus teaches that greatness in His kingdom is not about status, knowledge, or achievement, but about ongoing, childlike humility. As we grow in faith, the temptation is to become self-reliant or to think we have “arrived,” but the call of Christ is to continually humble ourselves, recognizing our constant need for His grace.
Humility is not a one-time event but a daily, active choice. It means admitting our need, being willing to learn, and refusing to put ourselves above others. The Christian life is a journey of going lower, not higher, and finding joy in being dependent on our Father.

“For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.” (Psalm 138:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you find it hardest to humble yourself—at home, at work, or in your relationships? What is one practical way you can choose humility today?

Day 3: Dependence on God Is the Path of Wisdom

The world often tells us that maturity means independence, but in God’s kingdom, true maturity is growing in our awareness of our need for Him. Children are lowly because they are needy and trust others to provide. In the same way, spiritual maturity is not about becoming self-sufficient, but about deepening our trust in God’s provision and care.
Dependence on God is not a weakness to overcome, but the very wisdom that leads to life. When we recognize that we cannot provide for ourselves spiritually, we are freed to rest in God’s sufficiency. This posture of dependence is the foundation for a life of faith, peace, and fruitfulness.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to rely on your own resources instead of God’s? How can you practice trusting Him with that area today?

Day 4: Pride Is the Greatest Barrier to Growth

The greatest obstacle to spiritual growth is not other people, difficult circumstances, or even spiritual opposition—it is our own pride and self-reliance. Jesus teaches that the real enemy is within: our desire for recognition, our self-love, and our tendency to trust in ourselves. Even good things like spiritual knowledge or service can become fuel for pride if we are not careful.
True spiritual growth is marked by an increasing awareness of our own weakness and a deeper reliance on God’s grace. The more we see our need, the more we are drawn to Christ and His sufficiency. God invites us to wage war against pride by confessing our need and seeking His help daily.

“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.” (Proverbs 28:26 & 10:8, ESV)

Reflection: When was the last time you recognized pride in your heart? What is one step you can take today to confess your need for God and depend on His grace?

Day 5: Childlike Faith Is the Posture of the Kingdom

Children are quick to believe, slow to argue, and open to receive. Jesus calls us to lay down our opinions, our “truths,” and our self-made wisdom, and to receive God’s Word with the simple trust of a child. This is not naivety, but true faith—a willingness to let God define reality and to trust Him even when we do not fully understand.
The way of Christ is the way of lowliness and trust. To enter and thrive in the kingdom, we must return again and again to the posture of a child: open, teachable, and ready to receive. This is the path to true greatness in God’s eyes.

“For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.” (Proverbs 2:6-8, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a truth from God’s Word that you have struggled to accept or trust? What would it look like to receive it today with the simple faith of a child?

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon**

In this sermon on Matthew 18:1-4, we explored Jesus’ teaching on what it means to be a child of God and how that shapes our entrance and greatness in the kingdom of heaven. While Matthew 18 is often associated with church discipline, the heart of the chapter is about the character and posture of God’s children. Jesus responds to the disciples’ question about greatness by redirecting their focus: before anyone can be great in the kingdom, they must first be sure they will even enter it—and entrance requires becoming like a child. We examined what it means to be “converted and become like children,” focusing on humility, neediness, dependence, and a simple, trusting faith. We also considered the ongoing battle with pride and self-sufficiency, and how the Christian life is a continual call to humble ourselves, recognizing our ongoing need for God’s grace and provision.

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Key Takeaways

1. True Conversion Is Marked by Transformation, Not Addition Jesus’ call to be “converted and become like children” is not about adding religious activity to our lives, but about a fundamental change of heart and posture. Conversion is a work of God that turns us from self-sufficiency to humble dependence. If our lives show no real change—no new humility, no new dependence on Christ—then we must honestly examine whether we have truly entered the kingdom. The evidence of salvation is not mere profession, but a transformed life that reflects the lowliness of a child.
2. Humility Is the Gateway and the Pathway Entrance into the kingdom is through humility, and greatness in the kingdom is through ongoing humility. The Christian life does not graduate from childlike dependence; rather, it deepens in it. As we grow in knowledge and experience, the temptation is to become self-reliant or prideful, but Jesus calls us to continually humble ourselves, recognizing that we are always needy, always dependent, and always learners before our Father. Humility is not a one-time event but a daily, active choice.
3. Dependence on God Is Not Weakness, but Wisdom Children are lowly because they are needy and trust others to provide. In the same way, spiritual maturity is not about becoming independent from God, but about growing in our awareness of our need for Him. The world prizes self-sufficiency, but the kingdom of heaven is for those who know they cannot provide for themselves and who trust God’s provision in Christ. This dependence is not a flaw to overcome, but the very wisdom that leads to life.
4. The Greatest Obstacle to Spiritual Growth Is Self Our own pride, self-love, and desire for recognition are the greatest hindrances to godliness. It is easy to blame others, circumstances, or even spiritual opposition, but Jesus teaches that the real enemy is within. The flesh wars against the Spirit, and even spiritual knowledge or service can become fuel for pride if we are not vigilant. True spiritual growth is marked by an increasing awareness of our own weakness and a deeper reliance on God’s grace.
5. The Posture of a Child Is the Posture of Faith Children are quick to believe, slow to argue, and open to receive. To enter and thrive in the kingdom, we must lay down our opinions, our “truths,” and our self-made wisdom, and receive God’s Word with the simple trust of a child. This posture is not naivety, but faith—a willingness to let God define reality and to trust Him even when we do not fully understand. The call is to return, again and again, to the lowliness and trust of a child, for this is the way of Christ and the way of true greatness in His kingdom.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Matthew 18:1-4 – Becoming Like Children in God’s Kingdom**

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### Bible Reading

- **Matthew 18:1-4**
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, ‘Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’”

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### Observation Questions

What question did the disciples ask Jesus at the beginning of this passage, and what does it reveal about their mindset?
How does Jesus respond to their question about greatness? What does He do before He answers?
According to Jesus, what must happen before someone can enter the kingdom of heaven?
What specific quality does Jesus highlight in the child as the key to greatness in the kingdom?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus redirect the disciples’ focus from “Who is the greatest?” to “Who will enter the kingdom?” What does this shift teach about priorities in the Christian life?
The sermon described conversion as a transformation, not just adding religious activity. What does it mean to be “converted and become like children” in practical terms?
How does humility function as both the “gateway” and the “pathway” in the Christian life, according to the sermon?
The sermon mentioned that dependence on God is not weakness but wisdom. In what ways does the world’s view of self-sufficiency conflict with Jesus’ teaching here?

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### Application Questions

The disciples were focused on their own greatness and recognition. Are there areas in your life where you find yourself seeking recognition or status, even in spiritual things? How can you shift your focus to humility?
The sermon emphasized that true conversion leads to a changed life marked by humility and dependence. Looking at your own life, do you see evidence of this transformation? If not, what steps could you take to honestly examine your heart before God?
Humility is described as a daily, active choice. What are some practical ways you can humble yourself this week—at home, at work, or in your relationships?
The greatest obstacle to spiritual growth is often our own pride and self-sufficiency. Can you identify a recent situation where pride got in the way of your relationship with God or others? What would it have looked like to respond with childlike humility instead?
Children are quick to trust and receive. Is there an area of your life where you are struggling to trust God or receive His Word simply? What would it look like to approach God with the faith of a child in that area?
The sermon warned against thinking we “graduate” from dependence on God as we grow in knowledge or experience. Have you noticed yourself becoming more self-reliant in your spiritual life? How can you intentionally cultivate a posture of dependence on God, no matter how long you’ve been a Christian?
The call is to return again and again to the lowliness and trust of a child. What is one specific way you can remind yourself of your need for God’s grace and provision this week?

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Sermon Quotes

“Many people think they can add Jesus to their current life and lifestyle, not change anything else, just add a little Jesus, and that will let them enter the kingdom of heaven. No, there must be a change, a transformation—you cannot experience the salvation of God and not experience a change.”

“The way into the kingdom is through God making you humble like a child, and the way to greatness in the kingdom is through continual humility as a child of God. The way to greatness is continuing in that humility.”

“Children are lowly because they are needy. Young children cannot provide for themselves, they need someone to provide for them. Similarly, we must become like a lowly child, who recognizes our great need, to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

“Your love for yourself, what you desire, what you fear, what you avoid, what you want for protection, for pleasure, for you—this is your enemy to living the Christian life as we are called to live it.”

“We might know a bit more, understand a bit more, but in our flesh still dwells no good thing, and the only way we walk by the Spirit is by the power of the Spirit of God.”

“If we are going to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must become lowly in our opinions like children. We don’t cling to our own truth, but rather we cling to every word God gives us, simply believing what He says.”

“The greatest enemy to your Christian life is you. You are your own worst enemy to being what God calls you to be. You can blame others, but you are the problem, you are the issue, you are the greatest hindrance.”

“We are called to humility, humility, humility—that is the life of the believer. If you desire to commit to that humility, would you say amen?”

“When we find ourselves in a place of sin, of pride, of arrogance, we should go back to this lowliness of children, and examine ourselves: am I needy, dependent, and believing Him? Is this who I am?”

“Let us never forget, church, that we still live with the flesh, and that flesh is in a war against the Spirit, always seeking an inroad, always seeking an advantage, always seeking to pop up its ugly head and cause us to fall.”

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