Sermon Discussion Guide: 9/15/24
Sermon Recap
Text: Matthew 3-4:11
Big Idea: The King is on a mission!
Summary: A pivot occurs between Matthew 2 and Matthew 3. The story turns from Jesus' birth story and transitions to His adult life. However, before Jesus steps onto the scene, He is announced. John the Baptist fulfills the prophecy of one crying in the wilderness "Prepare the way of the Lord!" And to fulfill the plan, to accomplish the mission, Jesus was baptized by John, signifying (1) His identification with sinful humanity, and (2) to declare war. The Son in the water, the Father's voice in the heavens, and the Spirit descending as a dove all indicates the Messianic work of redemption is inaugurated.
From the waters of the Jordan River, the narrative turns to the deserts of the Judean wilderness. After a period of fasting—40 days to correlate to the 40 years of wilderness wandering in the Exodus story—Jesus is tested by the devil. The testing is not merely about food, but trust in the Father's love and will, and Jesus' fidelity to the mission of the Kingdom. Ultimately, the devil is seeking to derail the mission of the cross. Yet, Jesus, in His perfection, wins the battled with an unwavering resolve to do what His Father sent Him to do.
Discussion Questions
1. What is the purpose of John the Baptist's ministry in the grander scope of the whole Bible story?
2. What are your thoughts about why Jesus insisted on being baptized in a baptism of repentance when He was perfect and without sin?
3. Why is the baptism of Jesus so important for us?
4. How does Jesus' temptation account actually teach us about our freedom from temptation? How does His victory in Matt. 4 impact your life?
5. In what ways are you tempted to satisfy the flesh over and against the will of God for your life?
6. How have you seen Scripture taken out of context to justify sin? Have you been tempted to flex a verse to endorse or justify something in your life?
7. Share about a season of life in which your circumstances tempted you to question your beloved status as a child of God.
Text: Matthew 3-4:11
Big Idea: The King is on a mission!
Summary: A pivot occurs between Matthew 2 and Matthew 3. The story turns from Jesus' birth story and transitions to His adult life. However, before Jesus steps onto the scene, He is announced. John the Baptist fulfills the prophecy of one crying in the wilderness "Prepare the way of the Lord!" And to fulfill the plan, to accomplish the mission, Jesus was baptized by John, signifying (1) His identification with sinful humanity, and (2) to declare war. The Son in the water, the Father's voice in the heavens, and the Spirit descending as a dove all indicates the Messianic work of redemption is inaugurated.
From the waters of the Jordan River, the narrative turns to the deserts of the Judean wilderness. After a period of fasting—40 days to correlate to the 40 years of wilderness wandering in the Exodus story—Jesus is tested by the devil. The testing is not merely about food, but trust in the Father's love and will, and Jesus' fidelity to the mission of the Kingdom. Ultimately, the devil is seeking to derail the mission of the cross. Yet, Jesus, in His perfection, wins the battled with an unwavering resolve to do what His Father sent Him to do.
Discussion Questions
1. What is the purpose of John the Baptist's ministry in the grander scope of the whole Bible story?
2. What are your thoughts about why Jesus insisted on being baptized in a baptism of repentance when He was perfect and without sin?
3. Why is the baptism of Jesus so important for us?
4. How does Jesus' temptation account actually teach us about our freedom from temptation? How does His victory in Matt. 4 impact your life?
5. In what ways are you tempted to satisfy the flesh over and against the will of God for your life?
6. How have you seen Scripture taken out of context to justify sin? Have you been tempted to flex a verse to endorse or justify something in your life?
7. Share about a season of life in which your circumstances tempted you to question your beloved status as a child of God.
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