In a moment of tremendous guilt (standing in line at Best Buy on Black Friday) I mistakenly accepted a call from my pastor. I knew that whatever it was he would ask, my response would be, "Sure, Pastor, I can do that." I also knew that I would not want to do whatever it was he asked. How did I know how that would transpire? Because that's how it always transpires. Since I have no Catholic guilt, it must be a woman thing ~ this foresight and insight and hindsight.
My latest service to the church? I am the developer of discussion questions for our family Sunday school class. It's a class where entire families sit and review whatever Bible story the pastor has just preached about. Although it pains me to admit, I love this class and may have said so on Facebook -- where my pastor is my friend. You can do the rest of the math on that one.
Last Sunday our topic was John the Baptist. Let's see how your J the B knowledge holds up.
Key Verses:
Isaiah 40:3
Malachi 4:5
Matthew 3:1-12
Matthew 14:1-12
Mark 1:1-8
My latest service to the church? I am the developer of discussion questions for our family Sunday school class. It's a class where entire families sit and review whatever Bible story the pastor has just preached about. Although it pains me to admit, I love this class and may have said so on Facebook -- where my pastor is my friend. You can do the rest of the math on that one.
Last Sunday our topic was John the Baptist. Let's see how your J the B knowledge holds up.
Key Verses:
Isaiah 40:3
Malachi 4:5
Matthew 3:1-12
Matthew 14:1-12
Mark 1:1-8
Warming up our Memory Banks…
• Who were John the Baptist’s parents? (Zachariah and Elizabeth)
• How was he related to Jesus? (some degree of cousins)
• What was remarkable about his birth? (parents' age and infertility)
• What did John the Baptist eat when he lived in the desert? (locusts and honey)
• From what animal was his clothing made? (camel)
• Did everyone else who lived at that time dress like John?
• John the Baptist’s job was to prepare people for which person?(no)
• What did John ask the people to do? (repent)
• In what body of water did John baptize others? (Jordan River)
Starting to See the Sparks Fly from our Brains…
• John the Baptist was a prophet. What is the job of a prophet (saying “To prophecy,” doesn’t count!)
• What was it that John prophesied? (the Messiah would soon arrive and that hearts needed to be prepared for his arrival)
• Why was baptism important? (it is an outward sign of a heart made right with God)
• John’s simple clothing and lifestyle was a visual protest against what?(self-indulgence)
• Why did so many Jewish people not understand why they needed to repent?(because as descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they were assured of their place in Heaven)
How does this apply to my own life?
• Other than repentance and baptism, what else did John say people needed to do (Matthew 3:8)? (live a life bearing proof of their repentance)
• Some of the religious leaders of John’s time were caught up in the popularity of John’s message, but it was mostly a show for them rather than a genuine lifestyle change. Does this ever happen in our time?
• Like the Jewish people of John’s time, do we ever rely on things other than repentance to get us to Heaven?
• John the Baptist’s job was to prepare people for which person?(no)
• What did John ask the people to do? (repent)
• In what body of water did John baptize others? (Jordan River)
Starting to See the Sparks Fly from our Brains…
• John the Baptist was a prophet. What is the job of a prophet (saying “To prophecy,” doesn’t count!)
• What was it that John prophesied? (the Messiah would soon arrive and that hearts needed to be prepared for his arrival)
• Why was baptism important? (it is an outward sign of a heart made right with God)
• John’s simple clothing and lifestyle was a visual protest against what?(self-indulgence)
• Why did so many Jewish people not understand why they needed to repent?(because as descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they were assured of their place in Heaven)
How does this apply to my own life?
• Other than repentance and baptism, what else did John say people needed to do (Matthew 3:8)? (live a life bearing proof of their repentance)
• Some of the religious leaders of John’s time were caught up in the popularity of John’s message, but it was mostly a show for them rather than a genuine lifestyle change. Does this ever happen in our time?
• Like the Jewish people of John’s time, do we ever rely on things other than repentance to get us to Heaven?
Coming next Sunday to a class near me: the baptism of Jesus.
8 comments:
That is so cool!
I knew some of it, but not most of it.
I think the Pastor gave this job to the correct person!!!!
I think I would have been graded a C+ on this test. :)
LOL, there would have been a lot of page shuffling from me in that class. You did great! Thanks for sharing and teaching us!
Oh dear, I would fail this test miserably. Didn't get much exposure to the church growing up although I was raised Anglican.
See that's why you are the teacher and why I need to get back to Sunday School!
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and yet in Matthew 11:11 and Luke 7:28 he is least in the kingdom of heaven and we are greater, wow, that is amazing, isn't it??
great lesson!!! I bet it was enjoyed by all :)
(I'm on break posting but reading blogs as I can, limiting my computer time :)
betty
WOW!! I would luv to attend your SS class!!! THat was GREAT! Sadly, even though I've read the bible 3 times through...I've still so very much to learn...thank you for todays lesson!!! SERIOUSLY!!!
This is really great! Thanks.
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