CALL TO REPENTANCE II

JOHN THE BAPTIST

John the Baptist was known to be a messenger of God specifically calling people to repentance for forgiveness of sins. His message was basically on baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. John the Baptist clearly told the multitude that came to him to listen to his special message that he baptized them with water for repentance, but someone is coming after him, the one who is mightier than himself who will baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He further told them that Jesus was the one he was talking about and He would gather His wheat from the threshing floor into His granary, but the chaff He would burn with unquenchable fire.

THE PRODIGAL SON (LUKE 15:11-32)

Jesus told a parable of a man who had two sons and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of property that falls to me the father divided his belongings between them. After some days, the younger one gathered all he had and went to a far country where he squandered his wealth in loose living. After spending all he had, he had nothing left. He came back to his senses and decided to go back to his father. As the father saw him afar off, he was so happy and ran towards him and embraced him and made a feast for him. The elder brother was not happy. The father comforted him and asked him to join in welcoming his younger brother, for his brother who was dead had come back to life.

LESSONS TO LEARN

The important point to note in this case is that the father had compassion on the son and welcomed him back with happiness, despite the loose life he had lived and the father’s wealth he had wasted. In the same manner, God is always ready to welcome his children once they confess their sins and forsake them.
The prodigal son decision to return as a servant and not as a son shows a high sense of humility on his part. The Psalmist wrote A broken and contrite heart, O God thou will not despise This is the type of Sprit God wants in His children Christians.

EVALUATION

Narrate the parable of the prodigal son.
Explain the significance of the parable of the prodigal son.

THE DEMAND OF REPENTANCE [LUKE 3;1-14, MATT 3;1-12]

John the Baptist, preached repentance and baptized people at river Jordan. He said that it was voice of one crying in the wilderness that people should repent of their sins. The following are reward of genuine repentance.

Acknowledge your sins [Rom 6;23, 3;23]
Accept that you cannot save yourself
Belief that Jesus died for your sins
Repent of your sins and forsake them

EVALUATION

List the four conditions for repentance.
Why was John called John the Baptist?

GENERAL EVALUATION

Narrate the parable of the prodigal son
What are the lessons to be drawn from it regarding God’s love?
State three lessons you learnt from the parable of the prodigal son.
What is the importance of the ministry of John the Baptist?

WEEKEND ASSIGNENT

____ killed Uriah when he was a king in Isreal [a] David [b] Saul [c] Johab [d] Jazebel

If I have taken anything forcefully, I will return was said by ____ [a] Jesus [b] Peter [c] Zacchaus [d] Judas

Jonah was sent by God to preach in ____ [a] Tarship [b] Ninevah [c] Isreal [d] Jerusalem

The first step of repentance is ____ [a] acknowledge of sin [b] forgiveness [c] reading the bible [d] going to church
The main message of John the Baptist was [a] forgiveness [b] baptism [c] repentance [d] reconciliation