John the Baptist - Part 1
Students may read Matthew 3:1-6 or through verse 12
Before Jesus began his ministry, John the Baptist came up from the wilderness to preach near the Jordan River. He cried out, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” People flocked to him, and he baptized them in the river. John knew that his work would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. Long ago, the prophet Isaiah said the people would hear “the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make ready the way of the Lord, make straight a highway for our God.”
Discussion Questions
Talk about John’s rugged life and manner of speaking. John told people to repent, to turn away from their old way of living. What might we need to turn away from? How does it help that “the goodness of God leads you to repentance”?
