The Kingdom Fulfilled, Part One

Week thirty-five | september 1-7

Israel waited 400 years for a sign that would assure them God had not forgotten his promise to send a Savior to restore his kingdom. At long last, the years of silence were broken. God, in his perfect timing, brought forth the sign that signaled the promised King would soon be arriving. All the way back in Genesis 3, God told Adam and Eve that the Serpent-Crusher would come one day, and that promise was about to be fulfilled! As we cross the bridge from the Old to New Testament, we look from Isaiah, who foretold of the one preparing the way for Jesus, to John the Baptist, the one Isaiah spoke of. The people had been through such a long time of silence from God, the shouts of John saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is near,” were very shocking. Some people heard his words and were excited, but many considered him crazy. Though John was an unusual character, we will see clearly in scripture that God was using him to prepare the hearts and minds of the people for the coming of Christ, just as God designed it to be.

Memory Verse

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, “Look, the Lamb of God. He takes away the sins of the world! 

John 1:29

Worship

Day One

Read

Here are some verses for your family to read about Isaiah’s prophecy of John:

Isaiah 40:1-5

Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the LORD’s hand
double for all her sins.
3  A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4  Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

Father, we praise You because you did not create the world and walk away. You entered into the world through Jesus. We confess that we often forget your goodness in planning to bring us to yourself. Thank you, Lord, that you continue to work in our hearts to grow us more like you. Give us hearts like Isaiah’s and John’s, that want other people to get their hearts ready for you to come again. In the name of your Son, amen.

Day Two

Read

Here are some verses for your family to read about the coming of John the Baptist:

Matthew 3:1-3

Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” 3 The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,
“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

Day Three

Read

Here are some verses for your family to read about John the Baptist:

Matthew 3:4-6, 11-12

Matthew 3:4 John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. 5 People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.6 And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

Day Four

Read

Here are some verses for your family to read about John’s relationship to Jesus. 

John 1:19-29 (ICB)

John 1:19 The Jews in Jerusalem sent some priests and Levites to John. The Jews sent them to ask, “Who are you?”
20 John spoke freely and did not refuse to answer. He said clearly, “I am not the Christ.”
21 So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”
He answered, “No, I am not Elijah.”
Then they asked, “Are you the Prophet?”
He answered, “No, I am not the Prophet.”
22 Then they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to tell those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John told them in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am the voice of a man
    calling out in the desert:
‘Make the road straight for the Lord.’”
24 In the group of Jews who were sent, there were some Pharisees. 25 They said to John: “You say you are not the Christ. You say you are not Elijah or the Prophet. Then why do you baptize people?”
26 John answered, “I baptize people with water. But there is one here with you that you don’t know. 27 He is the One who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie the strings of his sandals.”
28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River. This is where John was baptizing people.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, “Look, the Lamb of God. He takes away the sins of the world! 30 This is the One I was talking about. I said, ‘A man will come after me, but he is greater than I am, because he was living before me.’ 31 Even I did not know who he was. But I came baptizing with water so that the people of Israel could know who he is.”

Pray

Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.

Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs) 

Day Five: Family Sabbath

Be Present

Set aside distractions (electronics, work, chores, etc.) and spend time with God and each other. 

Pray

God, thank you for giving us rest. You created us with limitations and command us to rest to remember You and all You provide. Help us rest in You today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Play

Choose a fun activity to do together as your family rests from work. 

• Practice tying shoes or race to see who can put shoes on the fastest. 
• Call grandparents or other friends or family and tell them about how you’ve seen God’s faithfulness lately
• Throw a party at home to celebrate starting the New Testament this week! 

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