Modeled Generosity

Monday, December 21, 2015
John 1:10-18 KJV 

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Apostle John write about our Lord and those who received Him? (v.10-13)
2) What does the apostle write about the Word? (v14)
3) What does John write about John the Baptist and his testimony concerning our Lord? (v.15)
4) What else does John the Beloved apostle write about our Lord? (v.16-18)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Have you been born-again?
6) If so, how do you know?

LIFE LESSONS
7) The greatest manifestation of the new birth experience is a change in the believers' behavior, character and/or nature.

Why are you Baptizing?

Saturday, February 28, 2015
John 1:24-28 KJV 

24 And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; 27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After John the Baptist identified himself as the one who would prepare the way of the Lord to the priests and Levites, who else was sent to question him and what did they ask him? (v.24-25)
2) What was John's response to their question? (v.26)
3) What did John say about the One who would come after him? (v.27)
4) Where did the confrontation with John take place? (v.28) 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Has anyone ever confronted you about your witness for Christ?
6) What has been, or what will be, your response to those who ask why you share Christ with unbelievers?

LIFE LESSONS
7) Our witness for Christ is not just in what we say about Him, but in what He does through us for His glory.
8) The greatest witness for Christ is a changed life.

Make the Way Straight

Friday, February 27, 2015
John 1:19-23 KJV 

19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. 22 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) Who did the Jews send to John the Baptist? (v.19a-b)
2) What did these people ask John and what was John's response to each of their questions? (v.19c-23)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
3) In what ways has the Lord used you to prepare the way for Jesus in the life of the unsaved in your family, job, or community?

LIFE LESSONS
4) The Lord has called us all to be ministers of reconcilation: restoring relationship between God and the unsaved.
5) We may not be called to do great things in the kingdom of God, but we are all called to prepare the way of the Lord in the lives of the unsaved through our prayers and/or our witness.