Study & Discussion Notes "Becoming Myself: Back in the Saddle Again" Hear 0 Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:29-31. 1. Text: Luke 3:1-20 2. When you hear the name “John the Baptist” what images or thoughts come to your mind? 3. John was considered to be a prophet. What do you know about prophets in the Bible? Do you think there are prophets in the modern world? 4. As a prophet, what was John’s basic message? 5. Two ways we might summarize John’s message are these: You need to get your life right with God, so begin again in your relationship and start living the right way. God is coming to earth (as the Messiah) and you need to be ready to meet and welcome him. 6. Describe an instance in your own life when you need to “begin again.” What steps are involved in starting something over? What are the obstacles and what are the incentives? 7. Classic Christian language for beginning again uses words like confession, repentance, and forgiveness. How do you interpret these into your life today? 8. Describe your vision of what it would be like to meet Jesus. What would you do to prepare? How have you met him already? 9. John the Baptist can be seen as an example of what happens when a person loves God totally and loves others as himself. Describe how you understand him in that way. 10. What people in your own life have demonstrated and modeled Christian living for you? How? 11. How are you an example of Christ and Christian living to others? Week of December 2, 2007 The Village Church, Rancho Santa Fe The Rev. Dr. Jack W. Baca