Sunday Night Sermons
Series: Character Studies
THE MINISTRY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:19-34
I. On the Character of John and His Ministry
A. Get out of the city.
B. Live simply, reliant on God.
C. Humble Yourself
D. Denounce the corrupt powers of this world
E. Always speak the truth.
F. Be a renegade for the way of Christ.
II. Repent
A. Stop sinning/change way of life.
B. Change way of thinking/cease from delusions
C. Repentance as inflection point
D. Repentance as an ongoing process
E. Repentance as preparation
III. The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand (or Near)
A. Perfection is near (in time).
B. Perfection is near (in proximity).
C. The Messiah and Son of God is coming.
D. AND he’s one of us/looks like you or me (son of man).
E. Preach the gospel of “what could be”
The Baptism of Jesus
Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-39
I. “To Fulfill all Righteousness” (Matthew 3:13-17)
A. Jesus was first a follower. (v. 13)
B. John considered himself greater than those he baptized, but not the Christ. (v. 14)
C. Emphasis with Jesus is on the one being baptized, not the one doing the baptizing
(v. 15)
D. “Heavens opened” angle 1 (v. 16)
E. “A voice from heaven” (v. 17)
II. “Heavens Opened” (Mark 1:9-11)
A. “In the Jordan” (v. 9)
B. “Heavens opened” angle 2 ((torn)) (v. 10)
C. “with YOU I am well pleased” (v. 11)
III. “My Beloved Son in Whom I am Well-Pleased” (Luke 3:21-22)
A. Prayer emphasized (v. 21)
B. Spirit like a dove (v. 22)
IV. The Lamb and The Leader (John 1:29-39)
A. The Lamb of God (v. 29-30)
B. John’s testimony (v. 31-34)
C. A Lamb to Lead (v. 35-38)
D. “What are you seeking?” (v. 38)
E. “Come and see.” (v. 39)
THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST
Luke 4:1-13
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Temptation One - The Flesh
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Satan's Call
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Christ's Response
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Temptation Two - The World
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Satan's Call
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Christ's Response
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Temptation Three - Self Destruction
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Satan's Call
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Christ's Response
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THE GROWING SEED
Mark 4:26-29
I. Scatter the Seed of the Word (v. 26)
A. “The Kingdom of God”
B. “…is as if…”
C. “…a man should scatter seed…”
D. “…on the ground…”
II. Sleep and Rise, and Know not How (v. 27)
A. “He sleeps and rises night and day…”
B. “…and the seed sprouts and grows…”
C. “…he knows not how.”
III. The Joy of Fruit (v. 28)
A. “The earth produces by itself…”
B. “…first the blade…”
C. “…then the ear…”
D. “…then the full grain in the ear.”
IV. The Finality of Harvest (v. 29)
A. “But when the grain is ripe…”
B. “…at once he puts in the sickle…”
C. “…because the harvest has come.”