Meeting guide · command 51
Humble Yourself Like a Child
Turn from status-seeking, humble yourself like a child, and receive God's kingdom with dependent trust.
Read
Read the complete passage aloud.
Primary passage
Matthew 18:1–6
World English Bible
Mark
Mark 9:33–37
World English Bible
Luke
Luke 9:46–48
World English Bible
Luke
Luke 18:17
World English Bible
While the disciples argue about greatness, Jesus places a child among them and redefines greatness through humility, welcome, and lowly service.
Discuss
Listen carefully to what Jesus says.
- What does Jesus command?
- What does this passage reveal about Him?
- Where do we resist this command?
- What is difficult or unclear?
- Which childlike qualities does Jesus commend, and how are they different from childishness or vulnerability to manipulation?
Practice
Choose one specific act of obedience.
Choose one low-status act of service and give full attention to a child or overlooked person without using the encounter to elevate yourself.
Return
Come back and discuss what happened.
Where did you surrender status, and what did receiving a lowly person teach you about the kingdom?
Close together
Pray. Then prepare to teach.
Pray
Jesus, turn us from status and make us humble, receptive, and welcoming toward the people others overlook.
Teach
Keep the command in the disciples' argument about greatness; childlikeness means humble dependence and receptive trust, not lack of wisdom.
