Those of us alive today in the kingdom of God have a greater experience than John the Baptist because we have advantages that were once only dreamed about: the forgiveness of sin, Christian community, an indwelling Holy Spirit, and the mind-blowing beauty of the gospel story. These elements make the kingdom of heaven a greater reality for present-day followers of Christ.
Imagine you've been waiting for a package to arrive for weeks. You've been tracking it online, and you're so excited for it to finally get here. Then, one day, it arrives! The anticipation is over, and you get to enjoy what's inside the package. That's kind of like what it was like for people in the Old Testament who were waiting for the Messiah to come. They were waiting and waiting, and then Jesus came, and everything changed!
They were waiting and waiting, and then Jesus came, and everything changed!
John is in prison, and he sends some of his followers to ask Jesus if He's the Messiah they've been waiting for. Jesus tells them about all the amazing things He's been doing, like healing people and raising the dead. Then, He says something pretty wild: even the least important person in God's kingdom is greater than John the Baptist!
So, what does that mean for us? It means that we get to experience some awesome things that John the Baptist and people before Jesus didn't have:
1. Forgiveness: We don't have to worry about our mistakes and sins because Jesus has forgiven us. We can live free from guilt and shame.
2. Christian Community: We get to be part of a group of people who love and support each other, just like Jesus loves us. We can be ourselves and know that we're accepted and valued.
3. The Holy Spirit: We have God's Spirit living inside of us, guiding us and helping us every day. We're never alone because God is always with us.
4. The Gospel Story: We get to know the amazing story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. This story changes everything and gives us hope for the future.
So, how can we live out these awesome things in our lives? Here are some ideas:
- Forgive others when they hurt you, just like Jesus forgives you.
- Get involved in a youth group or Bible study where you can grow in your faith and make friends who love Jesus too.
- Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you make good choices and live like Jesus every day.
- Share the good news of Jesus with your friends and family, so they can experience God's kingdom too.
"God, thank You for giving us such an amazing experience of Your kingdom. Help us to live out forgiveness, community, and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And help us to share the good news of Jesus with others. Amen."
1. How does knowing that we have a greater experience than John the Baptist impact your faith?
2. Which element of the kingdom of heaven (forgiveness, community, Holy Spirit, gospel) do you feel most connected to and why?
3. How can you be more intentional about experiencing the kingdom of heaven in your daily life?
4. Share a time when you felt God's forgiveness, experienced Christian community, or sensed the Holy Spirit's presence.
5. How can we, as a youth group, better live out the kingdom of heaven together?
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