Jesus' arrival brought the Kingdom of Heaven to earth and opened the door for us to become citizens of God's Kingdom. We need to repent and align our lives with the Kingdom of God.
Jesus' arrival was a big deal, and it was predicted way back in the Old Testament. The Jewish people were waiting for this hero, the Messiah, to show up and set things right. John the Baptist was like the hype man, telling everyone, "The Kingdom of Heaven is coming. Get your act together and believe!" John was the warm-up act for Jesus, and we're still spreading the word today.
THINK: Just like John the Baptist was all about getting people ready for God's Kingdom, we need to realize how important it is to get our lives right with God. Jesus coming to earth was like opening the door to God's Kingdom for us.
FEEL: It's super important for us to take a good look at our lives, say sorry for the wrong stuff we've done, and get right with God. Saying sorry and meaning it cleans us up on the inside.
DO: Think about the stuff in our lives that doesn't fit with God's Kingdom. Decide to turn away from the bad stuff and go for the good stuff.
John was the warm-up act for Jesus, and we're still spreading the word today.
Imagine you're at a concert, and the opening act comes on stage. They're there to get the crowd pumped up for the main event. That's what John the Baptist was doing for Jesus. He was telling everyone, "Get ready! The main event is coming!"
Bring in a dirty, stained piece of clothing. Talk about how stains can ruin a good outfit. Then, show how a stain remover can clean it up. Just like the stain remover cleans the clothing, saying sorry to God and meaning it can clean up our lives.
1. Make Some Noise: John the Baptist wasn't afraid to stand out and make some noise. He wanted people to hear his message. He got people to say sorry for their wrongs and get ready for Jesus. Are you brave enough to share Jesus with your friends?
2. Walk the Talk: John the Baptist called out the religious leaders who were just pretending to be good. He told them to show they were sorry by how they lived. Our belief in Jesus should change how we live.
3. Jesus is the Real Deal: John baptized people with water as a sign they were sorry. But he said Jesus would do something even better. Jesus would clean people up on the inside with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is so important that John didn't even feel worthy to tie his shoes.
Think about a time when you got some awesome news that you just had to share. Now, think about the news of God's Kingdom. It's so amazing that we can't keep it to ourselves. Who can you share this news with today?
In the book of Mark, there's a story about a man who was possessed by evil spirits. Jesus set him free and told him to go home and tell everyone what happened. The man did just that, and it led a lot of people to Jesus.
The news about Jesus is too good to keep to ourselves.
Let's pray together.
Jesus, help us to see where we need to clean up our lives. Give us the courage to share your love with others. Amen.
1. What does repentance mean to you?
2. How can you align your life more with the Kingdom of God?
3. What are some ways you can share the news of Jesus' Kingdom with others?
4. How have you experienced the Kingdom of Heaven in your life?
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