C eative Com un ations

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3 SING: Sing or speak in unison this theme song for the session. A Song (To the tune Puer Nobis LM) SHARE: Allow participants to share wi one another about times when they ha e witnessed to others about Jesus Part 1: Going Outside The Box READ: Read aloud or have someone read aloud these Bible verses. On Jordan s banks the Baptist s cry Announces that the Lord is nigh; Awake and hearken, for he brings Glad tidings of the King of kings! Then cleansed be ev ry heart from sin; Make straight the way for God within, And let us all our hearts prepare For Christ to come and enter there. All praise to you, eternal Son Whose advent has our freed m won, Whom with the Father we ad re, And Holy Spirit, everm re. Sharing Time Talk with each other ut a t e when you witnessed to someone about your faith in Jesu Part 1: Going Outside The Box ead L ke 3:1-18: In he fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber s Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and H rod b ing tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch f the r gion of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of A ilen durin the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the w d of God c me to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And wen nto all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a bapt m of pentance for the forgiveness of sins. As it is writ n in the b ok f the words of Isaiah the prophet, 15

4 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin 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. And the crowds asked him, What then shall we do? A d he answered them, Whoever has two tunics is to share with im ho has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise. Ta col ectors also came to be baptized and said to him, Teacher, hat sh we do? And he said to them, Collect no more th you a authorized to do. Soldiers also asked him, And we, what hall w do? And he said to them, Do not extort money rom anyo by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your ges. As the people were in expect tion, and all were questioning in their hearts concerni g John, wh her he might be the Christ, John answered them all saying, I baptize you with water, but he w o is mightier than I i coming, the strap of whose sandals a not worthy to untie. He ll baptize you with the Holy Spiri and w th fire. His winnowing fork n his hand, to clear his reshi g floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the aff h will burn with unquenchable fire. So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 1. The opening verses make i clea that John was alive during a time when the e w e ma y government forces at odds with one anoth Wha effect did that hav on the people of the da 2. Why, th were th people so receptive to John s words? Th peop were being oppressed y the Romans and the Jewish leaders were at often at odds with each other, so they were desperately seeking meaning and direction and new leadership for their nation. 2. He was giving them new and different ideas about how to live and talking about the coming of salvation. 16

5 3. Answers will vary, but may include approaching political matters by considering What would Jesus do? in particular situations and then speaking and acting in accordance with what Jesus might do. 3. What do you think our role as Christian men should be when it comes to discussing political matters? 4. How do you think John was made aware of his mission? 5. How would you describe John s message to the people? 4. John s parents certainly explained his mission to them and he obviously had read Scripture, which clearly described what his role should be as the voice crying out in the wilderness. 5. Answers will vary, but may include the exhortation to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. 6. He felt he had to share this message with the people because he could see that the people of God were not going in the right direction and were not understanding or living ou God s will for them. 7. His message was about NOT looking out for ourself, but reaching out to others and giving of yourself to the mmon good. 8. Answers will vary, bu may include that we refer to God s Word for guidance in what to say. 9. They were curious and wanted to be renewed in their faith. 10. Answers will vary. 11. Answers will vary. 12. Possible suggest r each bit of advice: Take your old clothes to Goodwill. Be honest when a waiter or cashier gives you too much change back and don t cheat on your taxes. Don t complain to your boss about your salary and don t demand that people to give to a fundraiser if they say they can t afford it. 13. John told them to follow Jesus and told them Jesus was mightier than he was. 14. We need to put aside our own egos and desire for attention and tell others that Jesus is the only one on whom their lives should be built. 15. Jesus has come to save you. 6. Why did he feel he had to share this message with them? 7. What made his message seem so unconventional? 8. What can we learn from John about preparing ourselves to speak a difficult message to someone? 9. Why do you think the people came to J hn the Baptist to ask him these questions? 0. Who alues your opinion? 1 Whose opinion do you valu? 12. How can we carry ut the following words of advice from John as we live out o lives s men on a mission in our world today? Whoev has t o tunics is to share with him who has none and whoever has food is to do likewise. llect more than you are authorized to do. o not extort money from nyon by threats or by false acc sation, and be content wi you wages. 1 How did John point p ple to Christ? 14. What can we learn fro Joh about pointing the people we meet in ou liv to C rist? 15. What is good ews that we must preach to people as ohn did? 17

6 Part 2: A Watershed Experience Part 2: A Watershed Experience Read Matthew 3:13-17: 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? But Jesus answered him, Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented. 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. 1. How does John see himself in relation to Jesus? 2. What can we learn from John about how ap roaching Jesus in our prayer life and faith life? 3. What prompts John to act? 4. What does Jesus response say abou what our Savior desires from each of us s en o a mission? 5. How is John onfirmed in his mission? 6. What do G d s words, spoken from heaven, revea us about Jesus? 7. What do those words from heaven reveal o us out God? 8. What role does the Holy Spirit play in this event? 9. What does the Holy Spirit d for us in our mission as God s instruments in this world 10. How do you think this vent ffected John s missi n? 11. What ev nt in y ur life has affected your Christian mission READ: Read aloud or have someone read aloud these Bible verses. 1. John sees himself as bene h Jesus and a receiver of h s sa ation 2. We need to be h mble and obedient to Jesus a d liste to him. We should not let ur se fish esires get in the way of our re tionship with him. Jesu nsists that John baptize him. 4 esus wants us to follow his will when we are called upon to do so. 5. John was confirmed in his mission when heard God eaking to Jesus and witness d the Sp rit descending as a dove just fter h had baptized Jesus. 6. Jes is tr ly G d s Son and he is dearly love by God. God lovi g and finds pleasure in ose who follow his will. 8. The fact that the Holy Spirit descended from earth shows that Jesus, too, had descended from heaven to earth. Jesus is anointed by the Spirit as he begins his ministry. 9. The Holy Spirit is the one who calls us to faith and enlightens us along the way as to what our heavenly mission is on this earth. 10. Answers will vary, but certainly it invigorated his ministry and gave him confidence in what he was doing. 11. Answers may vary. 18

7 Part 3: I Must Decrease Part 3: I Must Decrease READ: Read aloud or have someone read aloud these Bible verses. 1. John has a servant heart. He is humble. He knows that his mission is just the warm-up act for the main event. 2. Answers will vary, but may inc de the fact that we can give o frien s accolades in front o oth rs, g ve others the c ance to hine when we are working on somet ng ogether, give credit to hem when they have done something, and refer them to others when we see that their skills match a certain task. 3. John resolves the argument by helping people to see what is really important Jesus is here! Read John 3:22-36: After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison). Now a discussion arose between some of John s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom y u bore witness look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him. John answered, A person can ot receive even one thing unl it is giv n him from heaven You yourselves bear me witnes hat said I am not the Chr t, bu I have been sent before him Th one ho has the bride is he bridegroom. The friend of t e br degr m, who stands and hears m, rejoices greatly at the br degroom s voice. Therefore this j y of mine is now complete He ust i ase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is a ve all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in earth y way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He b ars w nes to what he has seen and heard, yet no one recei s his estimo Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, hat d is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the So and s given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the n has ternal life; whoeve does ot o ey the Son shall not see fe, b the wrath of God remai s on im. 1 He must increase, but I m dec ase might be considered John s missi stat ment. What does this mission statement abo him? 2. How can we s rve s the frien of the bridegroom in our relationships w h oth rs? 3. How does oh handle disagreements in this passage? 19

8 4. How can we apply John s strategy for conflict resolution to our ways of dealing with conflict? 5. According to John, how can we tell what is from above and what is from the earth? 6. What can we do to show others that our mission is from above? 4. We can help people to focus on what is really important in a certain situation. Most important of all, we know that we are forgiven and we are saved through Jesus Christ. 5. We can know the difference by the words that are said. Part 4: Reconfirming The Mission Read Matthew 11:1-11: When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, h w nt on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when J hn heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word b his scip es and said to him, Are you the one who is to ome, r sh ll we look for another? And Jesus answered them, Go an tell Jo n what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight d the me walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead re rais d up, and the poor have good news preached to the nd bl d is the one who is not offended by me. As they went aw y, esus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: W did ou go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by t e wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clo ng? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kin s houses. What then did you go out to see A prophet? Yes, I tell y u, and more than a prophet. This is he whom it is written, Behol I send my messenger before you ace, ho will prepare your way b you. Truly, I say to you amo g those born of women there has arisen no one greater tha John he B tist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is reate han he. 1. What do you think caused John to doubt his mission? 2. What causes you to doubt y ur mission at times? 3. What can we learn from w t Jes words to John to keep us firm in our res ve to ay the course in ou mission? 4. Who ca you go t for onfirmation in your mission? 6. We can speak God s Word. Part 4: Reconfirming The Mission READ: Read aloud or have someone read aloud these Bible verse 1 John was i prison and was going th ough difficult time. 2. nswers will vary, but may include hardships, injuries, illnesses, and the like. 3. We learn that we have to keep our eyes and ears open to witnessing God at work in the world. 4. Answers will vary, but may include a pastor, a good friend, or a spouse. 20

9 Part 5: Mission Moment 1. Answers will vary. 2. Answers will vary. 3. Answers will vary. Part 5: Mission Moment 1. What is something you learned today from John the Baptist s story that you can incorporate into your mission as a man of God and a follower of Christ this Advent season? SING: Sing or speak in unison this closing hymn. READ: Have someone read Closing Prayer or read the p ayer in unison ASSIGN: Assign participants to read Matthew 1:18-25 for the next session. 2. How can you decrease that someone might increase this week? 3. What is something you can speak out about this week as a Christian in your community through a letter to the editor, a post on your Facebook page, or on a blog? A Closing Hymn (To the tune Stephano 85 83) I am trusting you, ord J sus, t sting only you; Trusting you for fu salv ion, ree and true. I am trusting you f pard ; at your feet I bow, For your g and t d r mercy trusting now. A Closing Prayer Give us mouth O Lord, to speak your saving grace to people who need it mo Giv us eyes to see where help is needed so that we can lif p tho who are downtrodden. F l us ith your Holy Spirit to ene ized in our mission to b your vants and prepare the way, a John did, for your coming amo g us he Last Day. Amen. prepare for Session 3: Joseph, the Provid- Read Matthew ing Typ Assignment For Next Session 21

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