02: Baptism and Temptations - Lesson Plan

Key Thought : By idle talk, evilspeaking, or neglect of prayer, we can lost the Savior’s presence, and it may take many days of sorrowful search to find Him.

Image © Justinen Creative from GoodSalt.com

[Lesson plan for Baptism and Temptations April 6, 2015]

1. Have a volunteer read Luke 3:11-14.

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. Why does John connect baptism with lifestyle changes in the performance of these men’s duties?
c. Personal Application: How did your attitudes and actions change at your work place after your conversion? What may still need to change? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Is John advocating socialism here by telling people to share everything they have with others? Are we to live poorly, day to day, and depend on others to live?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Luke 4:3,4.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. Why did Jesus spend forty days and nights fasting in the desert? What was His motive?
c. Personal Application: How much time do we spend daily reading God’s word compared to how much time we spend fixing, preparing, eating, and cleaning up after meals? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why is God so concerned about small things, like appetite? What difference does it make whether we eat two or three meals a day, whether we eat breakfast or not, or five snacks a day? Aren’t we making more focus on food than on the Savior?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

3. Have a volunteer read Luke 4:5-8.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why did Satan want Jesus to worship him? How do we inadvertently worship Satan instead of God on a daily basis?
c. Personal Application: Is there any point where you would be tempted to compromise say on keeping the Sabbath – a college test, a sports event, a promotion, an invitation from family members or friends? Share your thoughts..
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Many Adventists are too strict. You have to relax a little and enjoy life. You can’t expect to live in this world without compromising some. If you were absolutely faithful to Christ; you’d be considered a freak and weirdo.” How would you respond to your friend?

4. Have a volunteer read Luke 4:9-13.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why is it so easy for us to fall into temptation, even though God has given us promises of victory?
c. Personal Application: Have you ever been presumptuous in believing God would look out for you, even if you were doing something you shouldn’t? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note : “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149.

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Simon, I think answering your question depends on how we interpret the statement that John made. If we take it literally then I can see where we would have trouble with that statement but if we understand it spiritually in the same sense that many things are in scripture then I see no problem. Considering it in that way Pentecost was a fulfillment of what John said, "Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them" (Acts 2:3 NKJV).

The Bible has several symbols of the Holy Spirit and fire is one of them as a cleansing, purifying agent:

Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not (Jer. 20:9 NKJV).
I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say,`This is My people'; And each one will say,`The LORD is my God.' (Zech. 13:9 NKJV).
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness (Mal. 3:2-3 NKJV).
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see (Rev. 3:18 NKJV).

That is the same symbolism used in the sanctuary, especially with the altar of burnt offering where offerings were consumed by fire. It is also the agent involved with the incense where it became a sweet aroma ascending to God (Rev5:8; Rev 8:4). "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26 NKJV).

Therefore we can truthfully say that everyone entering Heaven will have had his or her sin consumed by fire in the refining process where those that cling to their sin are burnt up with it at the end.

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Comments

02: Baptism and Temptations – Lesson Plan — 4 Comments

ombati mariera george on April 10, 2015 at 7:05 am said:

The most points in this week's lesson is-prayer, word of God,and practicing whatever we have known.

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Simon Zimuto on April 11, 2015 at 11:55 am said:

Can you explain to me the meaning of 'baptize you by Holy Spirit and Fire'. How is somebody baptized by fire?

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- Tyler Cluthe on April 11, 2015 at 7:17 pm said:
  
  Simon, I think answering your question depends on how we interpret the statement that John made. If we take it literally then I can see where we would have trouble with that statement but if we understand it spiritually in the same sense that many things are in scripture then I see no problem. Considering it in that way Pentecost was a fulfillment of what John said, "Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them" (Acts 2:3 NKJV).
  
  The Bible has several symbols of the Holy Spirit and fire is one of them as a cleansing, purifying agent:
  
  Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not (Jer. 20:9 NKJV).
  I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say,`This is My people'; And each one will say,`The LORD is my God.' (Zech. 13:9 NKJV).
  But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness (Mal. 3:2-3 NKJV).
  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see (Rev. 3:18 NKJV).
  
  That is the same symbolism used in the sanctuary, especially with the altar of burnt offering where offerings were consumed by fire. It is also the agent involved with the incense where it became a sweet aroma ascending to God (Rev5:8; Rev 8:4). "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Rom. 8:26 NKJV).
  
  Therefore we can truthfully say that everyone entering Heaven will have had his or her sin consumed by fire in the refining process where those that cling to their sin are burnt up with it at the end.
  
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richard kereti on April 11, 2015 at 7:31 pm said:

After the baptism by immernsion in water one becomes acceptable as
a son or daughter of heaven through faith.It now implies that the Holy Spirit can work wi thin a person to do the will of God.That is baptism by fire and Holy Spirit. At pentecost the Holy Ghost came upon the disciples in form of tongues of fire. Also Moses in the o.t. saw a bush that coul d not burn. It therefore intonates that baptism by fire and Holy Spirit is actually being touchedInwardly

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02: Baptism and Temptations – Lesson Plan