The Way of Jesus. Week 4 - Matthew 3

Start by Watching Jez’s announcement video ( In the private facebook group or leaders whatsapp) & spending some time in open prayer. Pray for the future of City Light and for Guidance around the potential decision to combine services at the high school.

Main Ideas: John the baptist calls people to prepare for Jesus

Read: (Before reading tell group that the first question will be “What phrases or ideas stands out to you as we read these passages”. Ask them to keep this in mind as we read through the passages)

MATTHEW 3

 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[a] 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[b] 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.”

The Baptism of Jesus

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,[c] 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,[d] with whom I am well pleased.”

DISCUSSION

1. What phrases or ideas stood out to you from the passage?

2. What might John’s location, dress and diet communicate about him and his message?

3. John says that people need to repent in order to prepare themselves fo the kingdom of heaven.
Why do people find the idea of repentance so difficult?

4. The Pharisees and Sadducees rely on their ancestry and religion to rationalise why they don’t need to repent. What things do we turn to to excuse ourselves from repentance?

Read the following regarding Jesus’ Baptism.

“"“Jesus might well have been up there in front standing with John and calling on sinners to repent. Instead he was down there with the sinners, affirming his solidarity with them, making himself one with them in the process of the salvation that he would in due course accomplish”

-Leon Morris

5. How does Jesus baptism point towards his ultimate purpose?

6. Why is it a comfort that Jesus humbled himself in baptism.

You may want to discuss the following in smaller groups before having some people share with the larger group:

7. At this stage of your journey with Jesus are you more likely to forget that:
a) Sin is real and following Jesus requires real repentance and confession?
OR
b) Jesus came for sinners to stand in our place so that we could experience mercy rather than Judgment.
Why?

Spend sometime sharing anything that you would like prayer for .

Pray.