Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost September 5-6, 2026
“Finding My Place in This World” Matthew 18:1-20
Rev. John R. Larson Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
What is my place in this world? What is my purpose in this life? Those are big questions. I believe that God has a place for all of us in this world.
But finding it, discovering it, understanding it and living it is not so easy. It will take much thought and some good guidance to answer those two questions:
- What is my place in this world?
- What is my purpose in this life?
It is quite amazing that the Apostle’s, those Twelve, who were the closest to Jesus, had such a hard time finding the right answer to those questions.
Our reading from Matthew 18 begins, “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’” (Verse 1) That question, “Who is the greatest?”, often preoccupied their minds. James and John, brothers, part of the inner circle with Jesus, along with Peter, had a mother who asked that her sons would sit on the right and left in the kingdom where Jesus would rule. Luke 9 begins a paragraph, “An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.” (Verse 46) I find it shocking that this same thought was the topic of conversation following the foot washing and the initial gift of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, the night before the day of the crucifixion, “Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be the greatest.” (Luke 22:24)
I guess my place in the world is to be #1, the greatest, the King of the Hill. And when you get to be the King of the Hill, you get to push everyone else down. Competition and comparison can destroy us. Who has the largest church? Who has the most friends or the most followers? Who is most influential in the office? Who is prom king or prom queen? Who owns the car with the most coveted decal? Whose home is the biggest and the most expensive? Who gets paid the most money. Who is #1? Isn’t that my place in life? Isn’t that my purpose for living? How miserably poor we would be if that is what our life has become!!
Do you like children’s messages? Some people like them more than the pastor’s sermon – they sure get more laughs. Do you know who originated children’s messages? Jesus!!
“He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matthew 18:2-4)
Why are they the greatest? So cute? So pure? So trusting? Because they make us smile?
No, they are the greatest because they are so weak, so dependent, so needy. A child is dependent on others for everything. We are dependent on God for everything. He supplies our needs. He gives us our true identity. Our God rescues us and protects us from our enemies.
What is my place in this world? Our best place is finding ourselves in the hands of God – just like a little child in the embrace of their mom or dad. Trusting in our God is falling into His arms and knowing that He has us. Our sins find cleansing in Jesus. Our guilt finds its removal by the sacrifice of Jesus. Questions of what will happen to us after death is answered by the resurrection of Jesus.
Life is not about arrogance. It doesn’t find its greatest statement when we say – “Look at me!! Look at what I can do!! Look at what I own!!” The Bible says, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’” (I Corinthians 1:30-31)
Jesus, whom the Bible says has the name above all names, whom the Bible says brought all things into existence, who is named “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”, also says “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) At the Last Supper Jesus gets out the basin of water and the towel and washes His disciple’s feet. But Peter objects. “You shall never wash my feet!” And Jesus tells him, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” (See John 13:6-9)
What is my place in this world? You become a child, a needy child. You need Jesus to wash your feet and your mind and your soul. And He’ll do it. Earlier, in Matthew 16, Jesus said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Verse 25)
Finding my place in this world begins with repentance and humility. And then, according to this reading, asks the question, “What is my purpose in this world?”
I imagine you have a number of purposes in life. You have to pay the bills and have something to put on the table. You need to care for those in your family. You have to maintain good health. You get to enjoy God’s good creation all around you.
But you, as a disciple of Jesus, as a child of God, have a purpose in your daily life. You have a purpose to lead others and bring others to the fullness of life that is found in Jesus. Pastor Don Ginkel, now in his later years, received this note from some folks he knew from years ago. It was from Chuck and Betty Giertz. It began, “Chuck and I talked about what a great Pastor you are. We loved your bible classes. I am so happy to become a Christian because of your classes.” Pastor Ginkel was used by God to bring the Giertz’s to faith.
What is a purpose for us being in this community, in your neighborhood, among your colleagues at work? So others can be in Christ too!! In the little town of Holyoke, Colorado lived a man named Bryan Kroeger. Bryan died 3 years ago of ALS – Lou Gehrig’s disease. He had a life verse, one that he lived while he was alive, and that continues since his death. That verse is Acts 20:24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”
What is my place in this world? It is one of humility and dependence – it begins there. What is my purpose in this world? To live and speak the truth of Jesus to others. Jesus, in our reading from Matthew 18, says, “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills to go look for the one who wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of those little ones should be lost.” (Verses 12-14)
Too many are wandering. Too many don’t know God’s freeing, joyous truth that is found in Jesus. Too many don’t live by the direction of Spirit, but only by their own ways and own strength. Too many don’t know that Jesus died for their sins and that by believing in His name they will have life now and forever in heaven. Too many are not baptized. Too many don’t come to the feast of Christ’s body and blood. Too many don’t believe. They are the one that wandered and got lost. We get to bring them back. That is our purpose.
“If only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Folks – God has a divine plan for you. Become once again a child – needing the care and rescue of your heavenly Father. Our place in this world begins and stays as a child – seeking the hand of our great God. Our purpose in this world is also divine. We can live and speak God’s truth and love and new direction through Jesus to others who God has brought into our lives.
A divine plan for you. A divine plan for them. We have found our place. Amen!!
