Introduction // 5 minutes
What’s a person or event in history you’d like to meet or visit and why?
Sample answers may include…
- William Wilberforce
- Gettysburg address
- Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech
What would you tell the people living in that context?
Leader Note: When living in a historical moment most people tend the miss the weight and significance of what they are faced with. For others they are so blind by the current state of culture and society (example; the abolishment of slavery movement) that they can’t imagine that things can or even should change.
With the gift of historical hindsight what would you tell the people, what would you encourage them not to miss?
Observation // 15 minutes
Read Luke 3:3-9
What does John the Baptist say about preparing for the Lord’s coming?
Sample answers may include…
- That the people should be baptized and repent of their sins (v.3)
- To let their lives show that they have repented, turned their ways (v.8)
- To not rely on their heritage but to live lives that show repentance (v.8)
- To produce “good fruit” (v.9)
Read Luke 3:9-14
What does “good fruit” look like in the passage?
Sample answers may include…
- Giving your shirt to the poor, generous living (v.11)
- Sharing your good with the hungry, sacrificial living (v.11)
- Collect no more money than you’re owed, just living (v.13)
- To not use your power for corruption (v.14)
- Living without greed (v.14)
Leader Note: Raise the point to your group that John does not say… go to the temple or read the words of the prophets. John basically says to live generously and justly. To provide for those who need provision and protect those that need protection. To be mindful of the poor and powerless. This is what “good fruit” looks like… a repented heart in action spending themselves on others who are incapability or paying them back.
Understanding // 10 minutes
What causes people to miss Jesus today?
Sample answers may include…
- Greed
- Pride
- Self-centeredness
- Religious living without care for others
Leader Note: The crowds asked John “What should we do?” They wanted to know how to get ready for Jesus, how to not miss him. John clearly says that the best way to see Jesus is to live a generous and just life. Anything that falls outside of those categories can potential cause us to miss seeing Jesus.
Application // 10 minutes
How will you experience Jesus?
Leader Note: You may also ask the question this way… “If experiencing Jesus is clearly done in the context of generous and just living, then what would it look like for you to live that way and what holds you back?”
Live It Out // 5 minutes
What if we lived out generosity and justice? Who would see Jesus and what could the impact be?
Prayer: Pray for compassion to see what Jesus sees. Pray for boldness to enter into places that we may not want to go. Pray for any form of pride or selfishness to be uprooted in our hearts so that we may fully display, with our actions the power of repentance and the power of the Gospel within us.