------------------------------------------------------------ Jesus and the Kingdom of God E-Mail Bible Study ------------------------------------------------------------ Week 1 - Matthew 3:1-17; 4:17 PREPARING FOR THE KINGDOM John the Baptist gets people ready for the Messiah's coming ------------------------------------------------------------ MONDAY ------ ------------------------------------------------------------ LEVEL 1: OBSERVATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY? ------------------------------------------------------------ 1.1 If John the Baptist had a theme which ties together his messages recorded in this chapter, what would that theme be? TUESDAY ------- ------------------------------------------------------------ LEVEL 2: INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES THE TEXT MEAN? ------------------------------------------------------------ 2.1 Why do you think John dressed as he did? (vs. 4) Was he a weirdo, did God have a sense of humor, or did it have a serious purpose? (Hint: look at the cross references to vs. 4 in your Bible.) 2.2 John quoted Isaiah in vs. 3 to explain what his mission was. Read Isaiah 40:1-11. Vs. 4 describes how a highway was built (and is still built today), by making cuts through the mountains, filling the low spots, and smoothing the rugged parts. For whom was this prophesied royal highway to be built? Why does John identify himself with road work? WEDNESDAY --------- 2.3 How do the good tidings in Isaiah 40:9 relate to John's message? 2.4 If you were trying to prove that "kingdom of heaven" is synonymous with "kingdom of God," how might you go about it? THURSDAY -------- 2.5 (Vs. 2) "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" Why the sense of urgency? Why is repentance appropriate? How is repentance like road work? 2.6 In Matthew 4:17 we read that Jesus preached the same message. Did the kingdom come at that time? If not, when did it come? FRIDAY ------ ------------------------------------------------------------ LEVEL 3: APPLICATION QUESTIONS. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME? ------------------------------------------------------------ 3.1 Does this passage teach the "fear" of God? How? 3.2 Is a "fear of the Lord" an ESSENTIAL preparation for the Kingdom? Or just ONE of the ways people can come, others being love, need, etc.? 3.2 How has the fear of God led YOU to repentance? What do you need to repent of NOW so you can experience Jesus' reign in your body and life? ------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright 1997, Ralph F. Wilson, all rights reserved. Joyful Heart is a trademark of Joyful Heart Ministries. For reprint permission contact pastor@joyfulheart.com