What Can We Learn from John?
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1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ” 4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
John had a…
Ministry
Ministry
3:1-6
Ministry = Service
As we see John’s Ministry, we need to understand that every Christian has a ministry!
You should have a ministry
I should have a ministry
What makes up a ministry?
We see in John’s story that there is
#1, a
Ministry Assignment
Ministry Assignment
Ministry Assignment
John’s ministry assignment was to
Preach & Prepare
Preach...
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
Prepare…
3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”
So, we see his Ministry Assignment.
Now we also see,
#2, a…
Ministry Heartbeat
Ministry Heartbeat
Ministry Heartbeat
John’s was…
Repentance & Jesus
2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Repent = turn
John’s desire was for people to turn from sin! So that they can receive…
Remember, that John’s assignment is preparation. For Jesus.
Matthew 3:3 (ESV)
…“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ”
Circle “LORD” & “HIS”
Ministry assignment and Ministry Heartbeat……
We also see,
#3, a…
Ministry Cost
Ministry Cost
Ministry Cost
Comfort & Self
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Yuck.
Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
John’s had to be present and available for “all” those who came!
John’s Ministry had…
An Assignment
Preach & Prepare
A Heartbeat
Repentance & Jesus
A Cost
Comfort & Self
Remember, every christian has a ministry:
What Is Your Ministry?
How does God want to use you? At home? At school? On your team? In youth group?
What will it cost you?
Like John, all Christians have a
Ministry
We see that…
John had a…
Message
Message
3:7-12
Part of that Message was…
God’s Wrath Is Real
God’s Wrath Is Real
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Next
Repentance Produces Fruit
Repentance Produces Fruit
Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Lastly
Repentance Fruit is Fed by the Holy Spirit
Repentance Fruit is Fed by the Holy Spirit
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
John’s Message was…
1. God’s Wrath Is Real
2. Repentance Produces Fruit
3. Repentance Fruit is Fed by The Holy Spirit
What type of fruit does your life have?
Last section…
John had a…
Messiah
Messiah
3:13-17
John new his…
Messiah’s Worth
Messiah’s Worth
Matthew 3:11b (ESV)
…He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry…
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
John felt weird serving Jesus by baptizing him. He knew that baptism and repentance were not something Jesus needed because Jesus was righteous, good, and infinitely worthy of worship.
But…
John also knew his…
Messiah’s Authority
Messiah’s Authority
But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
Jesus communicated His assignment to John and that baptism was supposed to be a faithful and righteous embrace of that assignment.
So John says “OKAY MASTER”
Do you want to be the kind of person who says yes to Jesus?
He’s worthy of obedience.
Lastly, John new his…
Messiah’s Identity
Messiah’s Identity
And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus is God the Son.
The Trinity is in these verses.
Father, Son, and Spirit
Trinity Basics
God The Son
God The Spirit
God The Father
BOOM!
What is your understanding of Jesus?
Who do YOU say He is?
What do You Think He is Worth?
Do YOU care?
This should be more than someone else faith to you!\
John Knew His Messiah’s…
Worth
Authority
Identity
Grow Group Questions
How does God want to use you?
At home? At school? On your team? In youth group?
What is your “heartbeat”?
What motivates you? What causes you to get excited?
What things that you love to do cost you something?
Not just money, but time, energy, thought.
Does the gospel of Jesus Christ have priority in your life?
Like really? Has following Jesus cost you anything? Does it cost you anything?
What message do you care that people hear?
Is it about who’s the best athlete? Best band? The best food? Be honest!
What is Jesus’ worth to you?
Scale from 1-10.
Does Jesus have authority over you?
Do you submit to Him? What are ways you need to submit to Him?
Does who Jesus is effect you in any way?
Is Jesus identity as God and King make you happy, sad, or blah?