Luke 18:15-30

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Becoming a Believer and Entering the Kingdom of God

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Becoming a believer involves becoming like a little child.

  2. Becoming a believer involves becoming like a poor person.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Enjoy the abundant life both now and forevermore.

QUESTIONS

  1. Explain the “camel through the eye of a needle” expression.

  2. Is verse 29 teaching that you should divorce or forsake your wife in order to follow the Lord?

  3. In what ways must we become like little children in order to receive the kingdom of God?

  4. In verse 22, is the Lord teaching that salvation is by good works?

  5. Explain verse 19, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but one, that is, God.”

ANSWERS

  1. The word here is a sewing needle and could even refer to a surgeon’s sewing needle, which Dr. Luke would be very familiar with. So this is a figure of speech describing a very difficult, if not impossible task.

  2. No, that would contradict other Scripture on marriage. The teaching here is about priorities. The Lord must be number one in your life, and that may involve giving up the comforts of home or even foregoing marriage.

  3. In humility, dependency, and faith

  4. No! He is testing the man on the very first commandment – You shall have no other gods before Me.

  5. The Lord was asking the rich young ruler if he was willing to recognize that Jesus is God.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss how little children are humble, dependent, and full of faith. Contrast this with how we approach something new, especially a matter of faith. What is one way you can become more child-like?

  2. Wealth brings power, clout, security, and independence. Discuss why it is hard for people who have money to turn to God. But the good news is with God, all things are possible! What about you? Whether you have money or not, have you turned to God with a willingness to give up whatever you have to serve Him?

CHALLENGE

  1. Every believer receives eternal life, but not every believer experiences the abundant life now. Are your priorities straight? Are you willing to leave all for the sake of Christ in order to enjoy the abundant life both now and forevermore?

KEY VERSES

  • “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:16

  • “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Luke 18:25

  • “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30



Luke, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsLuke 18:15-30