John the Baptist: A Faith That Challenges Others

John the Baptist: A Faith That Challenges Others

God’s Word is truth- unchanging truth. Though culture and the world’s opinions are ever changing, God’s call and standards are not. We can stand quietly in our commitment to God’s standards for righteousness, but if we’re silent, we keep others from knowing the truth and having their own encounter of faith in Jesus. Our faith doesn’t need to be silent. We need to speak up, even when the message is hard for others to hear.

The Point: Faith stands unwaveringly on the .

Read Matthew 3:1-6

In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, ² “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.^[a]” ³ The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,

“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”^[b]

⁴ John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁵ People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John.⁶ And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

We can call to the same faith in Christ that we have.

How can we point others to Jesus?

Read Matthew 3:7-10

⁷ But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize,^[c] he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? ⁸ Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. ⁹ Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. ¹⁰ Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Calling others to faith calls for addressing .

How can believers strike a balance in confronting people lovingly but boldly?

Read Matthew 3:11-12

¹¹ “I baptize with^[d] water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.^[e] 12 He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”

The message of faith is never about us but solely about .

What is your faith story? Is the gospel in your faith story? How can you use your faith story to point others to Jesus?