“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.
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.
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
BOOK BY TRILLIA NEWBELL
LINK
MOMS IN PRAYER
The Moms in Prayer podcast is a place where we are encouraged and equipped as moms so we can better pray for, and impact the next generation. Our hearts desire is for every school, in every nation, all around the world, to be covered in prayer.
The Moms in Prayer Podcast is a ministry of Moms in Prayer International.
You can follow Moms in Prayer Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, and on their website at MomsInPrayer.org.
Stacy Callender is the host of the Moms in Prayer Podcast, encouraging and equipping listeners in over 160 countries to pray for the next generation and schools. She brings joy and over two decades of experience to her listeners, both as a Moms in Prayer mom and a former State Coordinator. She and her husband, Scott, live in Southern California where they have raised their four children. In her spare time, Stacy loves to read, hike, bargain hunt, and never says “no” to tacos.