Single lesson
Greatness, Humility and Care for Others
Matthew 18:1–9; Matthew 18:15–20; Mark 9:33–43; Mark 9:45; Mark 9:47–50; Luke 9:46–50
Jesus answers questions about greatness by pointing to humility, service and welcome. He also speaks very seriously about causing others to stumble, and he gives careful steps for dealing with sin in a way that seeks restoration and peace.
Before you teach
In these passages, the disciples argue about who is greatest, and Jesus places a little child among them. He says the first must be servant of all, and that receiving a child in his name matters greatly. He also warns about stumbling, tells the disciples not to forbid someone working in his name, calls for peace with one another, and teaches a process for addressing sin among believers.
Students will identify that Jesus teaches greatness as humble service, welcoming others in his name, taking sin seriously, and seeking restored relationships through truthful, peace-seeking steps.
Welcome: What counts as greatness?
6 minBegin by asking students what people usually mean by greatness. Then read the disciples’ argument about who was greatest and Jesus’ answer that the one who wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. Set up the lesson by noting that Jesus measures greatness differently from status, winning and self-importance.
Matthew 18:1, Mark 9:33, Mark 9:34, Mark 9:35, Luke 9:46
Read and explain: The child in the middle
8 minRead the child sayings from Matthew, Mark and Luke. Jesus says his followers must turn and become as little children, and that the humble are greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He also says that receiving such a child in his name is receiving him. Explain that Jesus connects greatness with humility and welcome.
Matthew 18:2, Matthew 18:3, Matthew 18:4, Matthew 18:5, Mark 9:36, Mark 9:37, Luke 9:47, Luke 9:48
Discuss: Service, openness and serious warnings
10 minRead Jesus’ words about not forbidding the person acting in his name and about giving a cup of water in his name. Then read the warnings about causing little ones who believe in him to stumble. Explain soberly that Jesus uses severe judgement language and finishes by calling his followers to peace.
Mark 9:38, Mark 9:39, Mark 9:40, Mark 9:41, Mark 9:42, Mark 9:43, Mark 9:45, Mark 9:47, Mark 9:48, Mark 9:49, Mark 9:50, Matthew 18:6, Matthew 18:7, Matthew 18:8, Matthew 18:9, Luke 9:49, Luke 9:50
Make and respond: Steps that aim to gain a brother back
10 minRead Matthew 18:15-20 carefully. Trace the sequence: first speak privately, then take one or two more, then tell it to the assembly if needed. Point out that the stated goal at the start is to gain your brother back. After discussion, students make a reminder card using a key phrase from the passage and write one realistic example of applying it.
Matthew 18:15, Matthew 18:16, Matthew 18:17, Matthew 18:18, Matthew 18:19, Matthew 18:20
Closing: Summarise Jesus’ pattern of greatness
6 minReview the lesson in four statements: greatness means humility, greatness serves, believers should not place stumbling blocks before others, and correction should seek restoration. Invite a few students to share the phrase they chose for their card and why it fits the passage. End with the optional prayer.
Matthew 18:4, Matthew 18:5, Matthew 18:15, Mark 9:35, Mark 9:37, Mark 9:50
Questions to explore
According to Jesus, what must change if someone wants to be truly great?
Look at Jesus’ words about turning, becoming as little children, humbling yourself, and being last of all and servant of all.
Matthew 18:3, Matthew 18:4, Mark 9:35
How does Jesus connect welcoming a child with welcoming himself?
Compare the verses where Jesus speaks about receiving a little child in his name and notice how he links that welcome to himself and the one who sent him.
Matthew 18:5, Mark 9:37, Luke 9:48
When someone sins against you, what is the first step Jesus gives, and what result does he name?
Read the opening instruction in Matthew 18:15 and pay attention to the purpose Jesus gives for that private conversation.
Matthew 18:15
Make, think or respond
Key Verse Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card scraps
- pens or markers
- Bibles
- optional coloured pencils
Try it together
- Read several short phrases from the passages, such as ‘servant of all’, ‘receives me’, ‘cup of water’, ‘gain your brother’, or ‘be at peace with one another’.
- Ask each student to choose one phrase that captures Jesus’ teaching in these verses.
- On one side of a small card, students write the phrase clearly. On the other side, they write one realistic example of how that teaching could guide a choice at school, home or church.
- Invite volunteers to share their card and explain how their example matches the verse they chose.
The card links a key line from the passage with a concrete response, helping students connect Jesus’ teaching about humility, care, correction and peace with everyday choices.
Adapt for your group
- For younger secondary students, offer three verse choices and discuss one example together before students write their own response.
- For older students, ask them to compare Matthew 18:15-20 with Mark 9:50 and explain how restoration and peace belong together in these passages.
An optional closing prayer
‘Father, please teach us to be humble, to serve, to welcome others in Jesus’ name, to take sin seriously, and to seek peace and restoration in the ways Jesus taught. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 18
1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”
2 Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them
3 and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
5 Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,
6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if a huge millstone were hung around his neck and that he were sunk in the depths of the sea.
7 “Woe to the world because of occasions of stumbling! For it must be that the occasions come, but woe to that person through whom the occasion comes!
8 If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or crippled, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.
9 If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire.
15 “If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector.
18 Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”
Mark 9
33 He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?”
34 But they were silent, for they had disputed with one another on the way about who was the greatest.
35 He sat down and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
36 He took a little child and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,
37 “Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone who doesn’t follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Don’t forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and be able quickly to speak evil of me.
40 For whoever is not against us is on our side.
41 For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
42 “Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he were thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.
43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,
45 If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched—
47 If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out. It is better for you to enter into God’s Kingdom with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,
48 ‘where their worm doesn’t die, and the fire is not quenched.’
49 For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Luke 9
46 An argument arose among them about which of them was the greatest.
47 Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side,
48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.”
49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow with us.”
50 Jesus said to him, “Don’t forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.