The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1922-10-13

LESSON TEXT-Luke 3:1-22
GOLDEN TEXTARepent We. for tho
kingdom of heaven Is at hand.-Matt BE-.
| REFERENCE MATERIAL-Matt u:2-
49, Phil 2:5-1L
PRIMARY TOPIC-What John Said
About Jesus
JUNIOR TOPIC-John Preaching and
Baptizing.
INTERMEDIARY AND SENIOR TOPIC
"A Fearless Reformer.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Repentance: What 1t Is and What It
Does.
I. The Degeneraey Of the Times
wv. 1, p.
The Jews had sunk to very low
level of civil, moral and religious life.
Luke carefully enumerates the civil
and religious rulers in order to show
the profligacy Of the times, and there
fore the need of messenger to call
the people back to God and virtue.
Herod, the son of the Great, was
murderer. Annas and Caiaphas were
corrupt ecclesiastical rulers.
II. The Nature Of Johns Ministry
wv. 3-6).
In the wilderness he underwent q
discipline which fitted him for his
task. Out Of the wilderness he flashed
forth preaching the baptism Of re-
pentence for the remission of sins ".
81. This ministry is declared to be
fulf1lment of Isaiah's prophecy. The
message was described as one calling
upon the nation to prepare for the
coming of the Messiah. This prepare
ton was presented under the figure of
a monarch Of the East about to make
journey. A servant was sent before
to prepare the highway. Valleys
needed to be filled, mountains and
hills needed to be lowered, crooked
places needed to be made straight and
rough places needed to be made
smooth. Today before the nations will
receive Christ the valleys need to
be filled with righteous deeds, the ex-
ceeding high mountains Of sin and
iniquity need to be brought low, the
crooked dealings of the business world
must be Strengthened out, and the
rough ways of nations and individuals
must be smoothed out. Men must re-
pent of their sins before they can
receive Christ.
III. The Content Of Johns Message
wv. 7-1S).
/. Denunciation of Sin (vv. Z, s..
He called them "a generation of vi
pers." This. shows that he charged
them with deceitfulness and wicked
ness. Knowing the subtle hypocrisy
Of these Jews, he demanded evidence
Of their sincerity-the genuinenesS of
their repentance was to be demon
strated by their works.
2. Announcement Of Judgment ".
81. He declared that the axe was laid
at the root of the tree and that the
tree not bringing forth fruit was to be
hewn down and cast into the fire
John made it very plain that for their
sins they should be called into judg-
ment. Pauls preaching of a judg-
ment to come made Felix tremble
(Acts "a :25).
3. Instructions to the Inquirers
wv. 1919. % The people wv. 10,
1). Each man was to turn from his
besetting sin and show love and kind
ness to his fellow men. Clothing and
food were to be given those who had
need. They were to turn from a life
Of selfshness and greed and do unto
others as they would be done by. (2)
Publicans wv. IL, 13). These tax
gatherers who were guilty Of greed
and oppression were not asked to give
Z up their occupation, but to exact only
that which was appointed by law. (3)
The soldiers ". 14). These were likely
the policemen of that day-at least
men on military duty. He told them
to extort money from no man, to &C
Z cuse none falsely, and to be content
{ with their wages. To all these classes
I he made it clear that they should
henceforth perform their duty from
a motive of love instead of selfish
!, ness and greed.
f. Testimony to Jesus wv. 15-1S).
B. The people were musing in their
hearts as to whether John was indeed
the Messiah. When John perceived
this he with fine humility declared
that his mission was so lowly in COM
parison with Christ's that he would
be unworthy to perform the mental act
of slave in lOosing the latchet of
His shoes. John baptized with water,
but Christ, he declared, would baptize
with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
w. Johns Imprisonment wv. 10,
2O).
Because Of his reproOf of Herod for
his wicked lewdness and other sins
John went to the dungeon. The preach
er of righteousness must become a
martyr. Gods faithful prophets are
usually despised by the world, even
cast into prison, burned, or beheaded.
ldleness