As followers of Christ, we have a greater experience of the kingdom of heaven than those who lived before Jesus, because we have the forgiveness of sin, Christian community, an indwelling Holy Spirit, and the mind-blowing beauty of the gospel story.
Hey everyone! Today, we're going to talk about how we, as followers of Jesus, have an even greater experience than John the Baptist. Yeah, you heard that right! We have some amazing advantages that people before Jesus could only dream about. So, let's dive in and see what this is all about.
But first, let me show you something. (Bring out a wrapped gift) Imagine this gift represents all the amazing things God has in store for us. Now, imagine you've been waiting for this gift your whole life, and finally, it's here! That's kind of like what it was like for people in the Old Testament, waiting for the Messiah to come. They were waiting for that "someday" when everything would be made right.
We have some amazing advantages that people before Jesus could only dream about.
1. Forgiveness: We get to experience the forgiveness of our sins because of Jesus. In the past, people could only hope for this forgiveness, but now we have it! (Read Colossians 2:13-15)
2. Christian Community: We get to be part of a loving and supportive community of believers, something that didn't exist before Jesus. We can be ourselves, love others, and grow together in our faith.
3. The Holy Spirit: We have the Holy Spirit living inside of us, guiding and comforting us. This is something that people before Jesus didn't have.
4. The Gospel: We get to hear and believe the mind-blowing good news of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. This is the greatest story ever told, and we get to be a part of it!
Now, let's look at a story from the Bible that shows us how Jesus talked about this greater reality. (Read Matthew 11:2-11) In this story, Jesus tells the crowd that even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist. That means you and me!
So, what does this mean for our lives? It means that we have an incredible opportunity to live in the fullness of God's love and power. We can experience forgiveness, be part of a loving community, be guided by the Holy Spirit, and share the good news of the Gospel with others.
As we go through our week, let's remember that we have this amazing gift from God. Let's unwrap it, enjoy it, and share it with others. Let's pray:
"God, thank you for giving us a greater experience than John the Baptist. Thank you for the forgiveness, community, Holy Spirit, and the Gospel that we get to enjoy. Help us to live in the fullness of your love and power, and to share this gift with others. In Jesus' name, Amen."
1. What are some things you are anticipating or longing for in your life? How does knowing that we live in an age of fulfillment in Christ change your perspective on these things?
2. How have you experienced forgiveness in your life? How can you extend that same forgiveness to others?
3. In what ways have you experienced Christian community? How can you help create a more loving and supportive community in your youth group?
4. How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in your life? What are some ways you can be more open to the guidance and presence of the Holy Spirit?
5. What does the gospel story mean to you? How can you share this mind-blowing good news with others?
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