Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned: Identity John 3: Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him,

Lessons Learned: Identity John 3:23-30 "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan--the one you testified about--look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." 27 To this John replied, "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.'

Lessons Learned: Identity John 3: The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less."

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned: Identity Jesus is the great Teacher. Everyone He knew acknowledged Him as Teacher who taught with authority.

Lessons Learned: Identity John 14: Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 "All this I have spoken while still with you.

Lessons Learned: Identity John 14: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Lessons Learned: Identity The Spirit of God works inside us and teaches us. Have we learned our lessons?

Lessons Learned: Identity Were going to be looking at lessons that Ive learned in the last few years. One important lesson Ive learned is everyone is searching for identity.

Lessons Learned: Identity Who is John? Relative of Jesus Born to Zacharias and Elizabeth Born into a Levitical, priestly family Became Gods prophet Similar beliefs to Qumran

Lessons Learned: Identity What is Qumran? Religious Jewish sect Formed an isolated community in the wilderness Levitical and Priestly in nature Focused on ritual washings and the end of the world. Call for repentance before judgment

Lessons Learned: Identity Who is John? Lives in the wilderness Preaches repentance before judgment Baptizes converts Proclaims the coming of the Messiah Many followers

Lessons Learned: Identity Who is John? John was crazy. He was a revolutionary who danced to the beat of a different drum. But everyone loved John- even his enemies loved and respected Him. He had many disciples, even after Jesus came and after John died.

Lessons Learned: Identity The Setting: A m an debates Johns disciples about washings.

Lessons Learned: Identity John 3:23-30 "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan--the one you testified about--look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him." 27 To this John replied, "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.'

Lessons Learned: Identity The Bridegroom Analogy: Its all about Jesus

Lessons Learned: Identity John 3:30 30 He must become greater; I must become less."

Lessons Learned: Identity John had many reasons to fight for his own identity. But John knew Jesus was the Savior of the world. And Jesus honors him above others because of his humility.

Lessons Learned: Identity Matthew 11: Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

Lessons Learned: Identity Why was John so humble? Why did he never act for his own benefit?

Lessons Learned: Identity My experience: I have learned that all of us want to be special. Everyone is searching for their own identity. Teaching on an Indian reservation Gung Ho!- You Americans think youre so special!

Lessons Learned: Identity My experience: The search for identity effects all of us and leads to many of the conflicts we have. We are looking for: Control Recognition

Lessons Learned: Identity My experience: But ultimately what happens is we are focused on ourselves- our desires, our needs, our reputation, and we leave everyone else behind. And we leave Jesus behind.

Lessons Learned: Identity My experience: Think of your latest conflicts. Think about why you were angry, why you pushed it, why you fought- was it for their sake? Was it for Christ? Or was it all about yourself? And why were they fighting?

Lessons Learned: Identity My experience: I have learned that I become offended and angry because of how much I love myself. I have had conflicts with people who were not really fighting with me, but with their own sense of identity.

Lessons Learned: Identity My experience: But it does not have to be like this. The same Spirit that teaches us can help us love others above ourselves. We can look to empower others, to lift them up, to celebrate their achievements even more than our own. And its only then that we embrace the life of Christ and become our true self.

Lessons Learned: Identity C.S. Lewis- Mere Christianity Give up your self, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it. Submit to death, death of your ambitions and favourite wishes every day and death of your whole body in the end: submit with every fibre of your being, and you will find eternal life. Keep back nothing.

Lessons Learned: Identity C.S. Lewis- Mere Christianity Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.

Lessons Learned: Identity My identity motto: He must increase, I must decrease.

Lessons Learned: Identity My experience: Stomp the Balloon Stop living to stomp everyone elses balloon so you can win some contest. You will not truly find your identity until you give up your self.

Lessons Learned