Read a scripture and sing worship songs.

• (Optional) Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. He wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator also between God and man, the man Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for all. (Philippians 2:11b; 

  ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.

   1 Timothy 2:4-6a). 

  ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all people. 

Choose a way to cast vision for who they can become in Christ or what God can do through them by:

• a scripture that reminds them of the Father’s Heart and of the end vision.
• reflecting on the changes in their life since they started following Christ
• reminding them of what God wants to do through them.

Our vision is: “A church for every village and community, and the gospel for every person.”

John Testifies Again About Jesus

²² After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.²³ 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, “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.’²⁹ 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.”

³¹ The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.³² He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.³³ Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful.³⁴ For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.

Read More

John moved his ministry north of Judea to continue baptizing people on the edge of the regions of the Decapolis and Samaria. Meanwhile, Jesus continued his ministry in Judean countryside while John continued his ministry of preparing the way for people to come to Jesus. As John’s disciples ask why Jesus’ ministry was growing bigger than John’s, John explains his perspective: he knew who Jesus was and who he was. He knew that the source of real joy was being near Jesus and listening to His voice. John knew that after he heard Jesus speak he could only obey. John modeled dying to self and being obedient to the Father’s will.