“I want to help parents engage further with their children about what it means to welcome and love the way Jesus does.” Today we hear from Trillia Newbell about her children’s book, The Big Wide Welcome. She brings to our attention the sin of partiality or favoritism and how important it is for us as parents to check our own hearts in order to model this for our children. Kids will learn that Christians and churches are called to be like Jesus, fully welcoming people so they can come to know the Good News.
SCRIPTURES
“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'” Matthew 19:14 NIV
My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? James 2:1-4 NLT
Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. James 2:8-9 NLT
The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:7-10 NIV
BOOKS BY TRILLIA NEWBELL
The Big Wide Welcome
52 Weeks in the Word
LINK
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ABOUT OUR GUEST
Trillia Newbell is the author of several books including 52 Weeks in the Word, A Great Cloud of Witnesses, Sacred Endurance, If God Is For Us, and the children’s books, The Big Wide Welcome, Creative God, Colorful Us and God’s Very Good Idea. When she isn’t writing, she’s encouraging and supporting other writers as the Acquisitions Director at Moody Publishers. Trillia is married to her best friend, Thern. They reside with their two children near Nashville, TN. You can find her at trillianewbell.com and follow her on Instagram at @trillianewbell.
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