Sermon Tone Analysis

*FUN FACTS ABOUT JOHN THE BAPTIST:*

*            What did his daddy do?*

*            What OT birth did his birth circumstances resemble?*

*            Who delivered the birth announcement?*

*            To what OT prophet is he compared?*

*            Diet:     favorite wilderness foods?*

*                        What did he refuse to drink?*

*                        What group does that resemble?*

*            On the best dressed or worst dressed list?*

*            Most famous relative?*

*            His message?

Judgement, repentance, coming Kindom and Messiah*

*            His role?*

*            Was there any tension between John's followers and Jesus' followers?*

*My favorite John the Baptist quote:  John 3:30 - "He must increase, I must *

*decrease."*

*            How did he die?

(Mark 6:14-19)*

*            Tell me about the party?*

*            At whose hand did he die?*

*            *

* *

*Matthew 3*

 

(Matthew 3 NIV)  "In those days *John the Baptist* came, *preaching in the Desert* of Judea {2} and saying, *"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."*

{3} This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"

·         What does it mean to "Repent"?

-          Can religious people ever need to repent?

Luke reports John's ethical message (Luke 3:10-14)

 

·         What is the "Kingdom of Heaven?"

 

 

{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.

·         Is this the first time baptism is mentioned in the Bible?

·         Types of baptism in the Bible?

-          no OT references to the practice by that name

-          however, ceremonial washings were common

-          The Essenes, in John's day, had an elaborate ceremony that involved water

 

 

{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.

·         What does that last sentence mean?

 

·         Relationship between repentance and lifestyle/deeds/works?

·         James 3:14 -26

 

 

 {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.

·         Your heritage/family religious connections do you no good.

Not about your pedigree.

{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.

{11} "I baptize you with water for repentance.

But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with 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."

{13} Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.

{14} But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" {15} Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."

Then John consented.

{16} As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.

At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

·         Why do you think Jesus insisted on being baptized?

·         Why are we commanded to be baptized?

·         Is baptism necessary for our salvation?

·         Is baptism important?

{17} And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.""

(John 1:6-8 NIV)  "There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.

{7} He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.

{8} He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light."

(John 1:15-34 NIV)  "John testifies concerning him.

He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'"

{16} From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

{17} For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

{18} No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

{19} Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.

{20} He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ."

{21} They asked him, "Then who are you?

Are you Elijah?"

He said, "I am not."

"Are you the Prophet?"

He answered, "No." {22} Finally they said, "Who are you?

Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us.

What do you say about yourself?"

{23} John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"

{24} Now some Pharisees who had been sent {25} questioned him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" {26} "I baptize with water," John replied, "but among you stands one you do not know.

{27} He is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie."

{28} This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

{29} The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

{30} This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' {31} I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel."

{32} Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.

{33} I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' {34} I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.""