Dr. Goodluck Ofoegbu Prof. Oby Ofoegbu Banking Blessings Ministry San Antonio, Texas USA What We Will Learn Human interactions As John the Baptist observed Differed from God’s purpose Preached repentance and turning to God Positive human interactions Luke 3 and 10 Matthew 3 and 25 John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 2 The Setting John the Baptist Ministry Wilderness of Judea Clothing made of camel hair Locust and wild honey for food Preached about repentance And kingdom of God People came to hear him from all around Jerusalem, Judea, all Jordan region Matthew 3:1–2 and 4–6; Luke 3:1–3 John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 3 Matthew 3 (NIV) 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 4 Matthew 3 (NIV) 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 5 Luke 3 (NIV) 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 6 Luke 3 (NIV) 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 7 The Message of John the Baptist Everyone has sinned (“brood of vipers”) Judgment is imminent (“coming wrath”) Repent and turn to God Prove your repentance by your deed Having father Abraham is insufficient Matthew 3:7–12 Luke 3:7–9 and 16–17 John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 8 Matthew 3 (NIV) 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 9 Matthew 3 (NIV) 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 10 Matthew 3 (NIV) 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.” John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 11 Luke 3 (NIV) 7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 12 Luke 3 (NIV) 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 13 Luke 3 (NIV) 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 14 Examples by John the Baptist Share your wealth With those in need Clothing or food, for example Refrain from extortion and false accusation Be satisfied with what you have Luke 3:10–14 John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 15 Luke 3 (NIV) 10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. 11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 16 Luke 3 (NIV) 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” 13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 17 Turn to God Makes repentance meaningful Repentance Acknowledge, regret, denounce Turn away from previous way of living Turn to God Change your way of living to God’s ways Change must be visible in everything John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 18 God’s Ways Positive human interaction Every person is God’s channel to others Conveyor of image of God Based on Genesis 1:26 Every person is God’s representative God’s provider assistant God’s channel for compassion Based on Genesis 1:28 John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 19 Positive Human Interaction God’s Channel for Compassion God’s provider assistant Christ explained further Through parables The Sheep and Goats [Matthew 25:31–46] The Good Samaritan [Luke 10:25–37] John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 20 Positive Human Interaction God’s Channel for Compassion Parable of the Sheep and Goats Acts of compassion [Matthew 25:35–36] Hungry and you gave me something to eat Thirsty and you gave me something to drink Stranger and you invited me in Needed clothes and you clothed me Sick and you looked after me In prison and you came to visit me John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 21 Positive Human Interaction God’s Channel for Compassion Parable of the Good Samaritan Acts of compassion [Luke 10:33–35] Samaritan recognized a need That God placed on his path And did what he could To provide for the need Promised to return And augment if necessary John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 22 Positive Human Interaction Conveyor of Image of God God’s representative in everything God’s ambassador to all people Conveyor of the image of God Make others feel God Know God more and better John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 23 Human Relationships as God Created Characterized by positive human interaction Conveyor of image of God And God’s provider assistant [God’s channel for compassion] Mutual provider-receiver relationships Every person expects to provide to others Or receive from others Relationships based on mutual benefits John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 24 Human Relationships as John the Baptist Observed Characterized by predator-prey interaction Always pursued by a predator Or pursuing a prey Every person wishes to be predator Surrounded by preys Community of “vipers” Winning based on making others lose John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 25 What We Learned John the Baptist Teaching Repent from relationships based on predator-prey interactions Start living life based on positive human interactions To be admitted to kingdom of God Being Abraham descendant Does not absolve a person from this responsibility John the Baptist Teaches Positive Human Interaction 26.