NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR DECEMBER 27, 2020 : TOPIC – CALLED TO PREPARE THE WAY.

By | December 27, 2020

NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR DECEMBER 27, 2020 : TOPIC – CALLED TO PREPARE THE WAY.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR YOUR PREPARATION

NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE

Date : Sunday, December 27, 2020.

TOPIC : CALLED TO PREPARE THE WAY.

Devotional Reading:
John 1:19-34.

Background Scripture:
Matthew 3.

Lesson Scripture:
Matthew 3:1-12.

GOLDEN TEXT:
This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'” Matthew 3:3

Primary Learning Outcome/Indicators:
Learners will recognise God’s call and indicate achievement of this by:
Highlighting the role of John in the coming of Christ and the importance of his message;
Discussing the relevance of repentance before salvation;
Making personal commitment to practise what they teach and preach.

INTRODUCTION:

In the early 80s, there was a man in the city of Benin who was passionate about the salvation of the souls of the citizens. Every morning, often clad in his white shirt and trouser, he would stand at a strategic place where passers by would see and hear him. With his large-sized bell, he would ring it at intervals shouting, “My good people of Edo State, repent of your sins because the kingdom of God is at hand. I have been sent to prepare the way for the second coming of Jesus so that none will go to hell.” When he was interviewed about his motivation, he explained that God spoke to him in his dream about the sins of the people of the state and the need for repentance. Despite the fact that many people made mockery of him with the claim that he was idle, the fairly aged man continued with the ministry for a long time until he became very old. He did not receive money or other material things from people throughout the period. The story of this man can be likened to the ministry of John the Baptist.

John the Baptist started his public preaching ministry during a critical political period in the Roman Empire, during the time of Tiberius Caesar, while Pilate was the governor of Judea. The period was marked with lawlessness, insecurity, desecration of the priesthood office and secular corruption. However, it coincided with the fullness of time when God decided to implement the final part of His redemptive plan for humankind. At this time, John was in the wilderness when the Word of God came to him and God, therefore, commissioned him as a forerunner to prepare the way for the coming Messiah by proclaiming repentance and forgiveness of sin. Those who confessed their sins and repented were baptised. John’s message was important and timely, even though not many took him serious, just like it is today.

✍️THE LESSON EXPLAINED…✍️

A.🎈 JOHN’S MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE: [MATTHEW 3:1-6]

The ministry of John the Baptist is significant in the ministry of Jesus. He was the one sent by God to prepare the way for the coming of the long-awaited Messiah. As prophesied by Malachi and Isaiah, John the Baptist was in the wilderness of Judea proclaiming his message of repentance because the kingdom of heaven is near. He was the one spoken of through Prophet Isaiah when he said, “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” (v. 3; Isaiah 40:3). The last few verses of Malachi predict the coming of another Elijah who would preach repentance in preparation for the day of the Lord. John was unique in his character, ministry and dressing. For instance:
His clothes were made of camel’s hair like Elijah’s (2 Kings 1:8), which probably portrays righteousness or vanity.
He had a leather belt around his waist, perhaps a sign of his readiness for the ministry.
His food was locust and wild honey, perhaps the only available food in the desert.
People came to hear him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of Jordan.
Those who confessed their sins were baptised by him in the River Jordan.

The days of John the Baptist was known for lawlessness and insecurity. It coincided with the fullness of time when God decided to implement the final part of His redemptive plan. He was in the wilderness; a place of obscurity, when God called and saddled him with the responsibility to preach a message of repentance (the turning away from sin unto a life of righteousness with God, through faith in the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus) to the people. John’s preaching was genuine and his emphasis was repentance (to make a radical change) because of the nearness of the kingdom of God, which will come with God’s wrath and judgment. He recommended that the people must turn away from their sins, change their hearts and live faithful lives. Otherwise, God’s judgment will come upon them. The climax of the story is that many people from Jerusalem, Judea and other parts of Jordan responded positively to his message. They confessed their sins and were baptised into the family of God. Unfortunately, these days many people resist the hearing of the Word of God with various excuses and sometimes make mockery of believers. They prefer to continually live in sin, without the consciousness of God’s plan to judge the world. Nevertheless, John’s proffered plan of escape from the wrath or judgment of God is still available for sinners who are willing to turn away from their sins and begin to live new lives in Christ.

DISCUSSION TIME:
Discuss the relevance of John’s message of repentance to our generation today.
Why did the people respond to the message positively?
Discuss the significance of John’s character and dressing to his message.

B.🎈 JOHN’S FIRM DECLARATION: [MATTHEW 3:7-12]

John’s message of repentance attracted many people to him, including the Pharisees and Sadducees. He, however, rebuked their hypocrisy and addressed them saying, “You brood of vipers! (A symbol of deceit and cunning attitude). Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath” and thereafter challenged them to bear fruits in keeping with repentance (vv. 7-8)? John was firm in addressing the hypocritical lifestyle of the Pharisees and Sadducees who often presume that they are the people of God because they are descendants of Abraham (Genesis 17:7-8; John 8:33). Salvation does not come through birthright but by faith in Jesus (Romans 2:28-29). On the contrary, John made it clear that God can take stones and make them descendants of Abraham. However, he reminded them that God’s judgment is near and any tree that does not produce fruits will be cut down and thrown into the fire (v. 10; Matthew 7:19). According to verse 11, he acknowledged Jesus’ supremacy. Although he baptised with water, but Jesus would baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire, which manifested on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-18). The day of final judgment and final separation will come when both the wicked and the righteous will be duly judged (v. 12). John’s confession in verse 11 is worth mentioning. Rather than claiming superiority with or over Jesus, he humbly recognised Him as the Messiah whose duty he is not qualified to perform. He confessed that he is only an emissary sent ahead of the coming Messiah. His duty, like that of Elijah and other prophets, was to call humankind to repentance, in preparation for the coming Messiah. Jesus did same but had also the power to judge humankind (v. 12). To avert this judgment was the reason He came to prepare the way for Him in the hearts of humankind. Even today, the message of repentance is needed so that humankind will hear and turn from their wicked ways unto God who gives eternal life.

DISCUSSION TIME:
How relevant is water baptism today in the face of the possibility of being baptised with the Holy Spirit and with fire?
Class members should identify some hindrances to sharing God’s Word and how they can be overcome so as to enhance soul winning and Church growth.

Commitment Based on Today’s Lesson:
My Personal Commitment________________
Commitment to My Church_______________
Commitment towards My Relationship with Others________

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Ask God for the grace to be His mouthpiece in this end time.
2. Pray that your life will point humankind to Christ.
3. Pray that every obstacle hindering your total submission to God be removed.

Fellowship and Ministry Building Activities:
1. Class members should compare and contrast the message of John to the message of prosperity and blessings from our pulpits today.
2. How can our churches and pastors prepare people for Christ’s second coming?

TAKE HOME:
1. The message of repentance like John the Baptist’s is relevant today.
2. God still needs and calls people to be His mouthpiece today.
3. God’s Word must be spoken with boldness.
4. No one can claim equality with God.
Christians should be humble in all things.
5. Every believer is unique and is expected to use this uniqueness in bringing people to Christ, to the glory of God.
6. Jesus is the only One who baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Remain Inspired & Be Lifted!

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