Owingsville outlook., 1922-10-12
IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
SlnndaySchool.
' Lesson '
(By REV. r. b. FITZWATER, ID. De-
Teacher OF English Bible In the MOODY
Bible Institute Of Chicago.D
Copyright 1929. Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR OCTOBER IS
THE MINISTRY OF JOHN The
BAPTIST

LESSON TEXT-Luke s:l-22
GOLDEN TENT-Repent ye, for the
kingdom of heaven Is at hand.-Matt. 81
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Matt n;2-
II: Phil 2.5-ll.
PRIMARY TOPIC-what John Said
About Jesus
JUNIOR TOPIC-John Preaching and
Baptizing
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
"A Fearless ReformCr.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Repentance: What II Is and What IL
Does.
I. The Deseneraey Of the Times
wv. !, p.
The Jews had sunk to a very low
level of civil, moral and religious life.
Luke carefully enumerateS the civil
and religious rulers in order 10 show
the prOfigacy Of the times, and there
fore the -eed of a messenger TO call
the people back TO God and virtue.
Herod, the son of the Great, was a
murderer. Annas and Caiaphas were
corrupt ecclesiastical rulers.
%. The Hature Of Johns Ministry
wv. 3-6).
In the wilderness he underwent
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 ".
-. This ministry is declared TO be
fulfilment of IsaiaL'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
a monarch Of the East about 70 make
a Journey. A servant was sent before
to prepare the highway. Valleys
needed to he filed, mountains and
hills needed 10 be lowered, crooked
places needed 10 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-
ceedlng high mountains Of sin and
iniquity need 20 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. Despite the great
wickedneSs OF the nation, John de-
clared that all flesh shall see the sal
walton 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.
40. The Content Of Johns Message
wv. 7-1S).
/. Denunciation of Sin tvv. z, 81.
He called them IA generation of VI
perc." 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.
.. Announcement of Judgment ".
%. 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. 1O-14). ~ The people tvv. 10,
III. Each man was to turn from his
besetting sin and show love and kind
ness 10 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 (vv. u, 13). These tax
gatherers who were guilty Of greed
and oppression we're not asked TO give
I'D 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
| 10 extort money from no man, to ac-
cuse none falsely, and to be content
with their wages. To all these classes
he made 1t clear that they should
hencefOrth perform their duty from
motive Of love instead of selfish
ness and greed.
4. Testimony TO Jesus wv. 1919.
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 menial act
of a 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 SIM
John went to the dungeon. The preach
er Of righteousness must become 9
martyr. Gods faithful prophets arr
usually despised by the world, ever
cast into prison, burned, or beheaded
co-Workers.