Great or Humble? Leader Guide

Opening Context (2 minutes)

Leader Note: This passage flips the world's definition of greatness upside down. Your students live in a culture obsessed with status, followers, achievements, and self-promotion. Jesus' answer to 'Who is the greatest?' is radically countercultural — then and now. Frame this discussion around the tension between what our world celebrates and what Jesus calls us to.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.' — Matthew 18:1-6

Question 1: What Does the World Say Makes Someone 'Great'? (5 minutes)

Ask: When you scroll through social media or watch influencers, what does our culture say makes someone important or great? What gets celebrated?

Expected Answers: - Popularity, follower counts, likes and engagement - Talent in sports, music, academics — being the best at something - Wealth, designer clothes, expensive cars - Physical appearance, attractiveness - Power, influence, being in charge - Independence — not needing anyone

Leader Redirect: If students struggle, prompt with: 'Think about who gets the most attention at school. What traits do they have?' Help them name the cultural values explicitly before contrasting them with Jesus' teaching.

Transition: The disciples were asking the same question — but notice Jesus' answer doesn't match any of those things we just listed.

Question 2: Why Did Jesus Use a Child as His Object Lesson? (6 minutes)

Context for Leaders: In first-century culture, children had no social status, no legal rights, no power. They were dependent, vulnerable, and overlooked. Jesus' choice was shocking. The sermon emphasized childlike dependence — not childish immaturity (see 1 Corinthians 13:11 for contrast).

Ask: Jesus called a child into the middle of the group. What qualities of a child was He pointing to? What does it mean to 'become like children' in terms of how we relate to God?

Cross-Reference: Mark 10:15 — 'Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.'

Expected Answers: - Children are dependent — they can't provide for themselves - They trust their parents to meet their needs - They're humble, not self-sufficient or self-promoting - They receive gifts without earning them (grace) - They're vulnerable and honest about their needs

Leader Note: Push back gently if students say 'innocent' or 'pure' — that's not the main point here. Redirect to dependence and humility. The sermon used the example of a four-year-old asking for a hot dog — she couldn't make it herself. That's the posture we need before God.

Transition: So if greatness in God's kingdom is about humility and dependence, what does that actually look like in real life?

Question 3: Where Do You Struggle Most with Dependence on God? (7 minutes)

Ask: Be honest — in what areas of your life are you most tempted to rely on yourself instead of depending on God? Where do you act like you've got it all together?

Expected Answers: - Academic pressure — feeling like grades depend entirely on my effort - Social life — trying to manage my reputation or image - Future plans — stressing about college, career, relationships - Moral struggles — thinking I can overcome sin on my own - Emotional struggles — hiding pain or anxiety instead of bringing it to God

Leader Redirect: If the group is quiet, share vulnerably from your own life first. Model the humility you're asking them to practice. You might say: 'I'll go first — here's where I forget to depend on God…'

Cross-Reference: Romans 12:3 — 'For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.'

Application: What would it look like this week to bring one of those areas to God in prayer — admitting you need Him?

Transition: Humility isn't just about our relationship with God. Jesus also talks about how we treat others, especially those the world overlooks.

Question 4: Who Are the 'Little Ones' in Your World? (6 minutes)

Context for Leaders: Verse 5 says, 'Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.' Jesus is talking about welcoming and valuing those with no status or power. The sermon connected this to servant-hearted living (see John 13, Philippians 2).

Ask: Who are the people in your school or community that get overlooked, ignored, or looked down on? How does Jesus call us to treat them?

Expected Answers: - Kids with disabilities or learning differences - Students who are socially awkward or don't fit in - People from different economic backgrounds - New students who don't know anyone - Those who've made mistakes or have a bad reputation - Younger students (middle schoolers, freshmen)

Cross-Reference: Matthew 20:20-28 (the mother of James and John asking for status) and Philippians 2:3-8 (Christ's humility).

Leader Note: This is where the rubber meets the road. Don't let this stay theoretical. Press for specific, practical examples.

Application Question: What's one concrete way you could 'receive' or welcome someone this week who doesn't have social status?

Transition: Jesus doesn't just call us to welcome the humble — He warns us sternly about leading others into sin.

Question 5: What Does Verse 6 Teach Us About Influence and Responsibility? (5 minutes)

Read Together: 'But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.' — Matthew 18:6

Ask: This is one of Jesus' harshest warnings. Why does He take it so seriously when we lead others into sin? What does this teach us about our influence?

Expected Answers: - We have responsibility for how we affect others' faith - Our actions and words can either build others up or tear them down - Younger or newer believers are especially vulnerable - God cares deeply about protecting His people - Influence is a serious stewardship, not a game

Leader Note: Help students see both sides — they are influenced by others (peers, media, influencers) and they influence others (younger siblings, friends, classmates). This isn't about guilt, but about taking our witness seriously.

Application: Who looks up to you? How does your life either point them toward Jesus or away from Him?

Transition: Let's wrestle with the big tension in this passage.

Debate/Discussion Springboard: Can You Pursue Greatness and Humility at the Same Time? (8 minutes)

Set Up the Tension: Jesus says the greatest in the kingdom is the one who humbles himself like a child. But we're also told to use our gifts, develop our talents, and not hide our light under a basket (Matthew 5:14-16). Some people say ambition is bad; others say God wants us to excel.

Debate Question: Is it wrong to want to be great at something — sports, music, academics, leadership? How do you pursue excellence without pride? Can ambition and humility coexist?

Divide the Room (Optional): Have students physically move to different sides based on their initial reaction, then discuss.

Guiding Points for Leaders: - The issue isn't what you do, but why and how you do it (see 1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:23) - Humility isn't false modesty or refusing to use your gifts - The question is: Are you dependent on God? Do you serve others? Or are you self-promoting? - Philippians 2 shows Jesus as both the most humble and most exalted - Romans 12:3 calls for 'sober judgment' — honest assessment, not inflated or deflated

Expected Tensions: - 'But if I don't promote myself, no one will notice me.' - 'Isn't it humble to downplay my abilities?' - 'How do I compete in sports or academics without pride?'

Leader Redirect: Bring it back to motive and posture. Ask: 'Who are you trying to impress? Who gets the glory? Are you willing to serve in hidden ways, or only when people are watching?'

Cross-Reference: John 3:30 — 'He must increase, but I must decrease.'

Closing Prayer Focus (2 minutes)

Leader, pray over these themes: - Confession: Where we've sought greatness by the world's standards - Dependence: That we would trust God like children trust a parent - Humility: That we would think of ourselves less and others more - Influence: That we would use our lives to point others to Jesus, not to ourselves - Grace: That we would remember we enter and live in the Kingdom by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone

Send them out with this: Humility isn't thinking less of yourself — it's thinking of yourself less. This week, look for one opportunity to serve someone no one else notices.