Matthew At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And 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 the kingdom of heaven. Scripture Reading

Being God’s Child

Children Have a big smile Have fun and explore the world Not afraid to play Don’t worry about the past Don’t care about the future Live in the moment Not afraid to express what they feel Are not afraid to love Can melt into love

Matthew At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And 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 the kingdom of heaven. Scripture Reading

Bible Is about Children 1154“children of” 532“sons of” 59“daughters of” 1745about 26x per book Bible Is about Relationships A Child’s Relationship to Their: God Family Nation Religion

Matthew Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5, mc , v 5.9

Luke Jesus replied, "The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. Luke 20, mc , v 20.36

John The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God John 1, mc , v 1.12

Romans because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs— heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8, mc , vv

1 John How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3, mc , vv 3.1-3

1 John He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. 1 John 3, mc , v 3.10

1 John Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 1 John 5, mc , vv 5.1-2

God’s Child Has a Right To Be God’s Child Is a Child of God because of Faith in Jesus Loves God Keeps God’s Commands Is Lead by the Holy Spirit Loves God’s Children Seeks Peace Is Blameless and Harmless Does What Is Right Will Be Like Jesus Will Be Resurrected

Endnotes Lesson:Freely Received; Freely Give Presented: January 17, 2010 Author: Raymond Harriswww.raymondharris.com All Scripture Quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version; used from Children descriptions, The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz, pp “children of,” “sons of,” and “daughters of” King James phrase searches, e- Sword version