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How Can You Keep Your Resolutions?

Parkhurst Bible Lesson
Luke 3:7-18
Sunday, December 28, 2008

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International Sunday School Lesson
Sunday December 28, 2008
Luke 3:7-18

“Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (Luke 3:8—NRSV).

“Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham”  (Luke 3:8—KJV).

If you make New Year’s Resolutions, think about them in the context of John the Baptist’s preaching. Resolutions imply repentance and the desire to turn around and stop practicing some bad habits. In his sermon, John revealed the best way to keep your resolutions. Do more than resolving to stop doing something. Resolve to replace your bad habit with a good one. John put it this way, “Bear fruits worth of repentance.” What “good things” could you start doing to replace some of the “bad things”?

John also gave solutions to the world’s current economic crisis and the resultant suffering we read of in the newspaper. To replace greediness, everyone should develop the heart attitude and willingness to do what John preached: “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise” (Luke 3:11). John preached to people who were so poor they had only two coats and he told them to share. What would John or Jesus say to us today with our ever-enlarging walk-in closets while our food pantries for the needy remain empty?

John preached to all those in government, especially those who have power over the lives of others. He told them not to extort money or collect more money than the prescribed amounts (Luke 3:12-14). Both John and Jesus laid the ethical foundation for those in business who have responsibilities to stockholders, employees, and customers. They must not become greedy, especially regarding wages and prices, but strive to be fair to all concerned.

© Copyright 2008 by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.

You may be reprint or reproduce this Parkhurst Bible Lesson for not-for-profit use.

Questions for Further Thought
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International Sunday School Lesson
Sunday December 28, 2008
Luke 3:7-18

Printable PDF With Questions
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          Think about your answers to the questions below before your Sunday school class meets, discuss in class, or use for further study. In some cases, I do not always write the questions to have a definitive right or wrong answer. In most cases, the questions should encourage everyone to think about how to apply biblical truths to their daily lives. Before beginning to answer the questions below, read the entire Scripture lesson in your favorite translation or compare translations. Write your thoughts in the space provided and take them to your Sunday school class for discussion.

Available in the "Religion Section" of The Oklahoman newspaper every Saturday, please do not remove the copyright notice or publish these lessons for profit if you reprint them. To download these Bible Studies as an audio file or podcast to listen to, go to ParkhurstBibleLessons.com.

For newspapers, reprints, or other for profit use, contact:
L.G. Parkhurst, Jr. - lgp@InternationalBibleLessons.com.

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