In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
Matthew 3:1-3 (NIV)
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.
Isaiah 11:10 (NIV)
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 11:6-9 (NIV)
Father, we strive to be the people you want us to be. Help us to see where in our lives we lack self-control and guide us to correct it today. Amen.
Today’s Passage: Matthew 3:1-12
Opening Prayer or Proclamation: In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
Matthew 3:1-3 (NIV)
Opening Song: Matthew West – Grace Wins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a1WKcB7umU
Message [used with permission from A Sermon for Every Sunday]: A Really Nice Guy – A Sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent [12/8/19] by David Lose, Senior Pastor of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church and a founder of the Working Preacher website.
“But still, he is a really nice guy…the tell-tale words we use too often to soften the unkind things we say about others.” David Lose, says that today’s passage, Matthew 3:1-12, is the biblical version of “still, he’s a really nice guy,” hinting that the Gospel writers don’t quite know what to make of John the Baptist. Listen as Lose explores how the author of Matthew uses the person of John the Baptist to point to Jesus in a unique way.
Closing Song: Unspoken – Call It Grace (Lyric Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAMU68NTVQw
Closing Prayer or Proclamation: 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.
“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. 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.”
Matthew 3:10-12 (NIV)
Epilogue: MercyMe – Grace Got You (Official Lyric Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtiUjNT_vAM
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
Isaiah 11:1-5 (NIV)
Titus 1:8 (NIV)
Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
Isaiah 40:6-8 New International Version (NIV)
Self-control is the Spirit-enabled ability to avoid excesses and stay within the God-given boundaries. – Alistair Begg
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:3-5 New International Version (NIV)
Faithfully Yours Forever 