Avoiding Spiritual Punishment

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Luke 3: 7 – 9, 16 – 17

What is the most creative means of discipline your parents ever used upon you?

Read verses 7 – 9.
Imagine you are approaching John the Baptist teaching out in the desert. What emotions are you coping with as you draw close to the crowd that has gathered? How does it feel to be visiting this crazy guy out in the sticks?

Describe John’s overall style of teaching? Why is he so intensely harsh with those who have come so far? What is something in your life that is nauseating to God? What are you going to do this week to remove that from your life?

In what do John’s hearers seem to be placing their hope for a better future?
Delineate the argument John uses to prove that their hopes are misplaced.
In what do people trust today rather than putting their faith in God?

Define the metaphor that John uses to describe the consequences of a faithless life.
How is that a particularly appropriate image in his particular setting?
What would be some modern images we could use to convey the same truth to our friends?
How do we go about avoiding the horrible fate pending those who have misplaced faith?

Read verses 16 – 17.
Based on these verses, describe in your own words the person that John is hoping to arrive on the scene.
John is a fairly prominent and popular teacher, why does act like such a groupie towards someone he probably had never met in his adult life?
How does your attitude towards Jesus need to change based on what you see in this text?
In a practical way, how do people go about building humility into their lives?
What are some ways that Jesus has figuratively immersed you in fire during the course of your life?
What does the Holy Spirit desire to blast out of your life tonight? Are you willing to surrender to His revolution in your heart?