Luke 18:15-43

Luke 18:15-43
Lowering the Bar
How Low Can You Go?

Being like a little child (18:15-17)
1. What do you think about infant baptism vs. dedication?
All persons to be baptized shall have the choice of baptism by immersion, pouring or sprinkling. Since children are born into this world with natures inclined to sin, and yet the prevenient grace of God provides for their redemption during the period before reaching the age of accountability, those parents who so choose may testify to their faith in God’s provision by presenting their small children for baptism, while those who prefer to emphasize baptism as a testimony by individual believers to their own act of faith may present their children for dedication. (Wesleyan Position)
2. There are many ways to waste time, but investing in the lives of children is not one of them
3. We invite indignation & rebuke from Christ when we attempt to force Him to work on our agenda instead of trying to follow His
4. What childlike characteristics should we emulate?

Being unlike the rich young man (18:18-30)
1. The most important question is “Who is Jesus to me?”
2. The man needed to see his sinfulness before becoming a follower
3. We must decide whether we trust in our own resources or God
4. Letting go of everything for Christ is a great investment

Being unlike the anticipated Messiah (18:31-34)
1. They expected a powerful king in a worldly sense
2. Jesus predicted suffering in His future
3. They expected to be prestigious members of the new kingdom
4. Jesus predicted they too would suffer and focused on the lowly

Being like the blind beggar (18:35-43)
1. The beggar was a man of need
2. Those who led the way saw him as a disruption
3. Jesus altered his day to help this man
4. He didn’t just want something from Jesus, he followed Jesus