The Bolivar County Democrat., 1922-10-14
LESSON FOR OCTOBER IS
THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE
BAPTIST

| LESSON TEXT-Luke s:1-22
| GOLDEN TEXT-Repent ye. for the
kinsoom OF heaven is at hand.-Matt 3:2.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Matt u:2-
ID; Phil. 2:5-1l
PRIMARY TOPIC-What John Said
About Jesus.
| JUNIOR TOPIC-John Preaching and
Baptizing.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
"A Fearless Reformer.
| YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Repentance: What 1t Is and What 1t
Does.
!. The Deoeneracy Of tho Times
wv. l, 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 profiigacy Of the times, and there
fore the --eed 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 a
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
fulfilment Of Isaiak's prophecy. The
message was described as one calling
upon the nation to prepare for the
coming Of the Messiah. This prepara-
ton was presented under the figure of
q, monarch Of the East about to make
a journey. A servant was sent before
to prepare the highway. Valleys
needed to be filed, 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 filed with righteous deeds, the ex-
ceeding high mountains Of sin and
| 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. Despite the great
wickedness Of the nation, John de-
clared that all flesh shall see the sal
vation of God. This is the note of
hope needed today. The only hope
for the world Is Gods salvation
| through Jesus Christ. Let men accept
Christ and all war and contention will
end. Men will then love each other
instead Of hate each other.
III. Tho Content Of Johns Message
| wv. 7-18).
l. Denunciation of Sin wv. Z. 81.
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 ".
o., 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. Paul's preaching Of a judg-
ment to come made Felix tremble
(Acts "a :25).
8. Instructions to the lnquirers
wv. 1919. Q) The people wv. III,
11> Each man was to turn from his
hesetting sin and show love ana kind
ness TO his fellow men. Clothing and
| food we're to be given those who had
naad They were to turn from a life
of selfshness and greed and do unto
others as they would be done by. (2)
Publicans wv. II, 13). These tax
catherers who were guilty of greed
and oppression were not asked 10 give
nm their occupation, but to exact only
that which was appointed by law. (B
The soldiers (v. 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 ac'
cuse none falsely, and to be content
With their wages. To all these classes
ho made 1t clear that they should
benceforth perform their duty from
q motive of love instead of selfish
ness and greed.
Testimony to Jesus wv. 1919.
Tho people were musing In their
hearts as to whether John was indeed
the Messiah. When John perceived
this he with fine humility declared
.ho+ his mission was SO lowly In COM
nor,son with Christ's that he would
he unworthy to perform the menial act
or slave in loosing the latchet OF
H,s shoes. John baptized with water,
h,t christ. he declared, would baptize
1,,th the Holy Ghost and with fire.
~. Johns imprisonment wv. 10,
2O). uo, Go
h,s wicked lewdness and other sins
Iohn went to the dungeon. The preach
or Of righteousness must become a
martyr. Gods faithful prophets are
usually despised by the world, even
cast into prison, burned. or beheaded.
co-Workers.
! r-no sources of artificial strength
,.;eo,ol weakness are being dried