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Sunday School Special : Lesson 41

Text: Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8
3 January 2021

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 3 January 2021

Texts: Matthew 3; Luke 3

Subject: “Bear fruits worthy of repentance” Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8

INTRODUCTION

1. Theological Study of the Gospels

2. Subject: The Fruitful Life

3. Approach

a) To look at the Life of the Lord Jesus

i) As our Example

ii) As He described it

iii) As He taught it

b) To examine our Life candidly

i) Our fears

ii) Our failings

iii) Our weaknesses

iv) Our sins

v) Our unfruitfulness

4. Vital Goals

a) To discover this life that the Lord Jesus suffered to give us

b) To develop this life till it is fruitful

c) To deal with the problems that hinder us from being fruitful

d) To diligently seek the Lord to help us fruitful Christians

A STRONG MESSAGE OF JOHN THE BAPTISER

1. His ministry

a) Forerunner of the Messiah

b) Prepare the way of the Lord 

c) To address the problems of the nation of Israel

d) To offer the baptism of repentance

2. His message of Repentance 

a) Matthew

i) Addressing the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matthew 3:7a)

ii) Brood of vipers (Matthew 3:7b)

iii) Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8a)

iv) And even now, the ax is laid to the root of the trees (Matthew 3:10a)

v) Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 3:10b)

b) Luke

i) The multitudes (Luke 3:7a)

ii) Brood of vipers (Luke 3:7b)

iii) Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance (Luke 3:8)

iv) And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees (Luke 3:9a)

v) Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Luke 3:9b)

c) Additional material in Luke

i) Question of the repentant people

“What shall we do then?” Luke 3:10

ii) Question of the tax collectors

“Teacher, what shall we do?” Luke 3:12

iii) Question of the soldiers

“And what shall we do?” Luke 3:14a

d) Appropriate answers were given

i) To the people (Luke 3:11)

ii) To the tax collectors (Luke 3:13)

iii) To the soldiers (Luke 3:14b)

3. His Message about the Messiah 

Matthew 

a) Winnowing

His winnowing fan is in His hand (Matthew 3:12a)

b) Cleaning

He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor (Matthew 3:12b)

c) Gathering the wheat

And gather His wheat into the barn (Matthew 3:12c)

d) Burning chaff

But He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12d)

SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS MESSAGE

1. Historical Context

Pharisees/ Sadducees/ People in general

a) John’s ministry is to deal with sin problems when they can still be dealt with

b) His message and ministry

Vital and relevant

c) Still not end-stage

2. Truth-Principles

a) Sins that are not dealt with

b) Results: Unfruitfulness

c) The Lord will have to deal with these sin problems

d) His dealing with it… if it is end stage

Then it is Final

3. Our Challenge

a) To examine our life

b) To repent 

c) To turn to the Lord 

d) To have Him deal with our sin problems

4. Hopefully

a) Not final stage yet

b) There is still Hope

c) We can repent and return to the Lord

d) We can still bear fruit of repentance

5. Fruit of Repentance

a) Not the same as fruit of abiding in Christ (John 15)

b) Not the same as the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)