Cody Courter - The Deep End

Scripture: Matthew 18:3 (NLT)
Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Observation:
What are the two things this verse tells us we need to do to be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
Turn from our sins
Become like little children (in this case, being like little children is a good thing!)
What do you think it means to become like little children?
Little children love to learn! In Jesus’ community children were particularly and even unimaginably eager to learn from the scrolls (paper that the scriptures were originally written on and kept in the Synagogues). They would rush to school every day with the hope that the rabbi (Teacher) would read to them out of the holy scrolls.


Application:
What does ‘turning from your sin’ have to do with ‘becoming like little children’?
Jesus suggests that when someone becomes like a little child in the Jewish context (eager to dig in and explore God’s teaching and instruction given in the scriptures) one is able to get rid of sins in their life.
Jesus makes the assumption that when you learn something new from God’s scripture you will apply and implement it to your life which will in turn push out certain sins in your life.
Are you like a little child?
Do you have the desire to explore and learn everything you can about God?
What’s holding you back?

Prayer:
During your prayer time, ask God to give you a childlike attitude towards learning. Take time to pay attention to God and let him teach you something new today. Remember there is NO substitute for studying God’s scripture.