Who’s Your Daddy?

GETTING STARTED

In the film Remember the Titans, African-American head coach Herman Boone is hired to lead a newly desegregated high school football team. As the team prepares to board the bus for preseason camp, the leader of the white players, Gerry Bertier, challenges Boone’s authority. Boone responds with these questions:      

“Gerry, who is your Daddy?” (with respect to the football team), and

“Gerry, is this your team or your Daddy’s [team]?”

Gerry’s begrudging acknowledgement of Coach Boone’s authority became the most important step of reconciliation between the white and black players. Without it, the team’s development and the players’ acceptance of each other as equals would not have occurred.   

  • Whom do you acknowledge as having authority over you? 

READ THE WORD: LUKE 18:15-17(ESV)

15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What does the disciples’ response to those bringing children to Jesus reveal about their perception of their role and position (vs. 15)?
  2. Place yourself in this event. How would you have reacted as one of the disciples, parents, or children? 
  3. To whom did Jesus address his instructions and statement regarding the children (vss. 16-17)?
  4. How would you describe to a friend the important truth Jesus revealed about God’s kingdom through the example of a child (vs. 17)?
  5. Where might your pride, position, or pursuits be keeping you from simply approaching Jesus?

RESPOND TO GOD

Though the disciples may have only intended to protect Jesus’ image or time, Jesus knew their potential for prideful positioning and pursuits. Jesus used this seemingly insignificant event to teach his disciples a radical perspective. He established the prerequisites for being in God’s kingdom as the characteristics of a child­­—innocence, humility, trust, and dependence—rather than worldly honors earned through human effort. Like the children, we are invited by Jesus to be near him, to trust him, and to receive his gifts of grace and mercy.

  • Thank God for his kingship, loving care, and provision for you.
  • Confess to God where your priorities are inconsistent with his.