Humility and the Kingdom of God

February 22, 2026

Preacher: Andrew Love

Series: The Kingdom of God

Passage: Matthew 18:1-5, Mark 9:33-42

Service Type: Sunday Morning

Introduction

Example of Sarah Hoy
- Deeply moved
You do not normally hear people speaking like this
- We often want to lift ourselves
- We rarely want to be in the background
Talking today about humility & the Kingdom of God
The scene:
- The disciples disputing – who is the greatest?!
  - Do we do this?
- Jesus had to speak to them
  - Jesus tells them they must come like a little child
    - Humility
    - Simplicity
Thinking about 3 things
Humility as a prerequisite for the entry, honour and life in the kingdom of heaven

How awful never to enter into the kingdom of heaven
- Examples
- Unless you are humble like a little child – you will never enter the kingdom of God
What keeps people out?
- Busy-ness
- Indifference
- The reputation of the Church
- A terrible childhood
There are various secondary factors – but it is our own self-reliance, self-trust and pride
- Example of Scott
  - His pride, arrogance and ego kept him out of the kingdom of heaven
Why did Jesus use the example of a child?
- Not sinlessness but:
- Free from self-ambition
- Implicitly trusting their parents
- Humility
- No status
Example of Naaman (2 Kings 5)
There are many people who are not prepared to come to the feet of Jesus
- Some consider it too hard
- Some consider to big a step
Conversion/repentance
- A change in life
- Trusting in Jesus
- Being renewed
- It makes a real difference
- Jesus blood cleanses us from all sin
Have you been converted?
- It is a prerequisite for entry into the kingdom of heaven

Jesus talked more about the kingdom of heaven than any other subject
- The disciples were talking about what positions they might have in the kingdom of heaven
Context:
- Peter, James and John had been at Jesus’ transfiguration
- Some were unable to cast out a demon
- Jesus had rebuked Peter
Jesus addresses the matter
- If you want to be first, be prepared to be last/servant of all
  - Do we have a spirit of rivalry?
  - The disciples had a similar conversation at the Last Supper (which Jesus again had to address)
- You must be humble (18:4)
  - Example of John the Baptist
  - This is the greatest characteristic of all
  - Moses was the meekest man
Honour comes to those who humble themselves – they will be exalted