1. Firm Foundations Lesson 33: God sent John to teach and baptize Memory verse: John 1:29

2. Introduction How do you get someone’s attention?  Mention something personally important to them God announced the coming Saviour through John the Baptist

3. John – God’s messenger Matthew 3:1-2 -- “Repent!”  Agree with God about sin  Prepare for the promised Saviour  James 2:10 John – the promised messenger for the Saviour  Isaiah 40:3  Matthew 3:3

4. John was a poor man He ate what he found in the wilderness  Matthew 3:4 Does God promise that His children will be rich?

5. Many believed John’s message Matthew 3:5-6 Showed repentance & trust in God Baptism does not save you

6. Scribes, Pharisees, & Sadducees Scribes  Copied God’s Word onto scrolls  Proud of their knowledge Pharisees  Made and kept many “righteous” laws  Kept separate from “sinners”  Proud of their righteousness Sadducees  Did not believe many Bible truths (angels, resurrection)  Tried to stay in good standing with Roman government  Wanted to remain position as leaders of Jews

7. John’s words to the proud Matthew 3:7  God hates the proud! Matthew 3:8  Must repent and prove repentance Matthew 3:9  Thought their parents/family made them right with God Everyone is judged individually In themselves - nothing to boast about

8. The Deliverer John 1:24-27 John was God’s prophet  Just a man  Saviour was much, much greater than he Not worthy to be His servant

9. John baptized Jesus Jesus was now about 30 years old (Luke 3:23) Matthew 3:13-16 Did Jesus need to be baptized?  He was born perfect  He lived perfect It was God’s command to all who accepted John as a prophet Holy Spirit came to enable Him

10. What God said about Jesus Matthew 3:17 God called Jesus His Son  He was a man  …but He was also God God was pleased with Jesus  He did everything that pleased God  Jesus was without sin  Jesus was perfect in God’s sight

11. Jesus, the Lamb of God John 1:29  The Lamb of God John 1:30-37  John now knew Jesus was the Deliverer!

12. Conclusion What about us?  Do we need signs? We have testimony of signs – the Bible! Jesus Christ is the only Saviour