April 11, 2026 Message

Woonsocket | The Upside-Down Kingdom

From Matthew 18:1–4

The Common Conflict
What I to be the ?

📖 Matthew 18:1 ESV At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Kingdom are not with worldly

1. God’s is in the

📖 Matthew 18:2 ESV And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them.

📖 1 Corinthians 1:27–29 ESV But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Spiritual is not of childlike faith; it is into it.

2. God’s requires

📖 Matthew 18:3 ESV …and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’

📖 James 4:6–8 NLT “And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

📖 Isaiah 66:2 NIV “…These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

3. Jesus everything

📖 Matthew 18:4 ESV Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

📖 Philippians 2:3–7 ESV Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant…