John the Baptist answers questions from the people... wha to do to bear fruit worthy of repentance: share; work honestly; do not abuse power given to you

1. How do we prepare the way of the Lord?
3rd Sunday of Advent: 12th December 2021

2. December 2021… What’s going on in the world today?
New
Leadership
…
New variant…
Relaxations…

3. Today… what are we looking to do?
New Plans / Direction…
Cures…
Procedures…

4. Today…
What does God’s Word have to say to us today?
Luke 3: 7-18

5. What happened just before this…?

6. Main Point:
• John’s harsh intro and
welcome
• Did not flower his sermon
• He accused the people
• Why?
• “Brood of vipers” usually
for religious leaders
• Inside and outside super
different
• Here… outside, do things,
inside, lack of fruit

7. Main Point:
• Challenge: exhibit the “fruit”
• Worthy of repentance?
• Results should be good
• But…
• They claimed lineage
• They claimed status
• John says No!
• It is not just being the people of
Abraham… it should be the faith
of the people of Abraham
• All who believe… and show it!

8. WARNING!
To all whom follow, there
needs to be evidence of fruit

9. 1st Group:
What then shall we do?
• Specific instructions
• Share with others
• For the good of your
neighbours
• For the community…
Message: Start building the Kingdom of God

10. 2nd Group:
What then shall we do?
• Specific instructions
• Do your jobs honestly
• For the good of your
neighbours
• For the community…
Message: Start building the Kingdom of God

11. 3rd Group:
What then shall we do?
• Specific instructions
• Don’t abuse the power
given to you
• For the good of your
neighbours
• For the community…
Message: Start building the Kingdom of God

12. If you are a leader, John
speaks to you here….
Know your identity….
You are not the one,
You serve the one who came, and who is to
come….
Tell people of Him, His Spirit and His refining
fire….
Message: Point the world to the King….

13. Message: In our service for the King,
we will go through the refining fire, so
be prepared, and keep on preparing, as
we serve and keep on serving, as we
wait, and keep on waiting… in action…

14. As John continues to preach….
So we continue to serve… as we
eagerly wait…

15. Which means…if you have not ...then ... DECIDE to FOLLOW HIM…

16. After that…..Prepare yourselves
Learn…
Read…
Listen…
Pray…

17. After that…..Prepare the people
Study and pray together
Share the good news
Be the good news

18. After that…..Prepare the world
Protect and
save the
environment
Protect and save
the animals
Protect and save
the world

19. What is the message today…?
Be preparing… as we await His return…