John the Baptist was a bold preacher and spoke the same truth to everyone. He told the Pharisees that their lives need to show fruit of repentance before being baptised. He also told them a farming anology to help them understand the judgment that would be for those who do not bear fruit in keeping with repentance. The chaff will burn with unquenchable fire, the fire of judgment, but the wheat will recieve the Holy Spirit and eternal life. 

To understand this passage, the text has been divided into 3 parts:

1. The Context. John’s Preaching (3:1-6)
2. The Meaning. John’s Boldness (3:7-10)
3. The Conclusion. John’s Prophecy (3:11-12)

Getting Started                         

1. Jesus said in Mat 11:11, that “there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.” Have you ever had one of your parents, or siblings brag about you to others and say how much they love you and are proud of you? How does it feel to have someone do that about you?

•  Read Philippians 4:10-20

2. What insight, principle, or observation from Sunday’s sermon did you find to be the most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling?

 Digging Deeper

3. What was the core teaching of John the Baptist’s message? Why would that message have surprized the Jewish people he was talking to?
4. The Pharisees outwardly displayed signs of spirituality but did not have truly transformed lives. John says, "Don't say we have Abraham as a father"(v.9). In other words, being ethnically Jewish, has nothing to do with whether you are spiritually Jewish. What are modern ways in which Christians have relied on outward expressions of spirituality like the Pharisees and Sadducees (e.g ethnicity, bible knowledge)?
5. What is the purpose of baptism now? What is it a picture of? (Romans 6:1-4)

  The Heart of the Matter

6. He called the Pharisees and Sadducees a “brood of vipers”. What do you think about this? Were these words offensive? Should John have spoken more kindly?
7. OUR THEOLOGY FUELS OUR DOXOLOGY. In other words, what we believe about God(theology) fuels our worship(doxology). While you were a babe in Christ, what were some ways that your (wrong) theology, led you to worship God incorrectly
8. Godly character is developed over time—honed by the practice of spiritual disciplines and commitment to living honourably before men and God. Habits of devotion like prayer, fasting, and Bible reading are the means by which we are transformed by the Spirit. Why do you think the discipline of Bible reading is often neglected or so hard for some?