Greatness in the Kingdom

Savior and Teacher: A Study of Matthew PART 28
Dr. Timothy Keller
19 August 2012

Matthew 18: 1-14
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

2He called a little child and had him stand among them.  3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  4"Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in hevaen.

5And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.  6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who beleive in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

7"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin!  Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!  8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter life mained or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.  9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away.  It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

10"See that you do not look down onone of these little ones.  For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.

12"What do you think?  If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for that one that wandered off?  13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than abouth the ninety-nine that did not wander off.  14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.

WHAT IS TRUE HUMAN GREATNESS? 
--Not reached through any worldly achievement as that always comes with strife. 
HUMILITY
--Willingness to engage the marginalized.
--Determines how you deal with others as well as your own flaws.
REPENTENCE
--Part of greatness and greatness can come from repentence.
--Biggest failure can become the biggest leader--Peter's denial.
Jesus was the greatest shepherd and became a lost sheep for us on the cross.