NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Black Church Ministries and Leadership and Adult Publishing teams, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the YOU curriculum.
Bible Passage: Matthew 3:1-12
Discussion Questions:
— How does your faith make you stand out from the world?
— How can we share the truth of the Gospel in ways that connect in our culture?
— What are some lessons we can learn from the ministry of John the Baptist?
Food for thought:
Social media has changed its users’ lives in unprecedented ways. We have what they call, “Influencers.” The influencers are essentially content creators who share information that affects the behaviors, attitudes and choices of their audience.
Major companies have hired them to promote their brand. Many of our youth and young adults visit this platform hoping to be an influencer because they can be someone they admire. They seek validation and acceptance. These influencers can drive a person to think differently. Influencers sometimes have more control over a young person than their own parents. Many have put their faith in the person they see on those platforms.
As Christians, we have an influencer who is 100 percent right 100 percent of the time. Following Him will give us peace, contentment and joy. In a world of brokenness, let us lead others to the solution. How will they hear if we keep silent?
Read Matthew 3:1-12. The Bible contains the stories of many people of great faith. And most of them shared their faith with others. Some were called to a ministry of preaching and telling their audiences how they could receive the gift of faith. One such man was John the Baptist. Jesus had this to say about John: “Truly I tell you, among those born of women, no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared” (Matthew 11:11a).
Isaiah had prophesied John’s arrival on the scene. His ministry began prior to Jesus, and his role was to prepare people for the coming Messiah. This mission included crying out in the wilderness and making the way clear for Jesus.
John’s clothing and diet weren’t the only unique things about him. He shared a simple message with urgency. His impact was immediate. John the Baptist said to the crowd, “Repent, because the Kingdom of heaven has come near!” (3:2).
The Kingdom of heaven is still near. People need to be told about salvation through faith in Jesus and given an opportunity to respond, whether on a late-night visit to an emergency room, during a discussion with a neighbor while doing yardwork, or in a final conversation on a mission trip to Eastern Europe.
All Christ-followers must share their faith with someone. This is why God saves us and leaves us here! There are far too many people without faith in Jesus to leave all the sharing to a handful of people.
John the Baptist boldly preached God’s truth, and many people responded with repentance and baptism. However, some Jewish religious leaders who came to hear John believed they were excluded from his warnings because Abraham was their father. They weren’t there to respectfully listen to John but to confront him. John didn’t sugarcoat his words. Standing on his faith in God and His word, John took the first shot. He faced a group of angry religious leaders who believed their heritage was enough to protect them from God’s coming wrath.
As John continued his conversation with the Pharisees and Sadducees, he revealed his discipline in several ways. First, he was disciplined with his message. John’s message was one of hope. Jesus Christ is the only one in whom our hope should be placed.
Having faith in Jesus is the only hope for mankind’s salvation. John’s message always included a warning. People must know the consequences of rejecting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Jesus was the coming Messiah and the Judge of mankind at the end of time. John warned the people and the religious leaders alike. No one would be excluded from Jesus’ winnowing shovel.
If you have experienced forgiveness of your sins by faith in Jesus Christ, someone prayed for you, shared God’s message of love and challenged you to ask God to forgive you. It’s now your responsibility to tell others about Jesus.
YOU
YOU is committed to providing a complete Bible study experience for small groups and classes. Every session is written through an urban and multiethnic lens that provides relevant, engaging and applicable studies that not only encourage and equip people, but also motivate them to mission. This flexible, non-dated, all-in-one quarterly resource offers weekly Bible study for leaders and learners, devotionals and teaching plans, as well as articles on hot topics and missions. For additional downloadable online teaching resources, visit You.Lifeway.com.
Other ongoing Bible study options offered by Lifeway for all ages can be found at Lifeway.com/SundaySchool.
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