Dec. 15, 2024

“A Most Unusual Baby”
Luke 1
Central Idea: Our mission is to point to Jesus.
I. The facts of John the Baptist
1. His birth was a ____________.
• His parents, most _______________ candidates to have a child.
• Luke 1:5-13 & 18-25
2. His ministry was _____________ in the Old Testament.
• John was spoken of in the books of Isaiah and Malachi.
• Matthew 3:3 > Isaiah 40:3
• Luke 1:14-17 > Malachi 4:5-6
3. His life was _____________.
• Living unlike others of his day.
• Luke 1:80
• Matthew 3:4
4. His identity was ______________ by others.
• John 1:19-23
• Was he __________?
• Was he the ___________ Moses predicted? (Deut. 18:15-18)
• Was he the ____________ himself?
II. The purpose of John the Baptist
• John’s ______________ in life was to point to Jesus.
1. His _________ pointed to Jesus (Luke 1:36-37)
• John’s conception, was given as a ________ to Jesus’ mother
Mary, that her virgin conception was God’s work.
2. His ______________ pointed to Jesus (Luke 1:16-17)
• John was ________________ the way - going before Jesus
• John preached a unique ____________ (Luke 3:3)
• A washing of preparation for the coming of _____ salvation.
• John’s baptism looked ___________ to the forgiveness of sins
that God would offer in His salvation.
• The One John pointed to was clearly __________ (John 1:24-29)
• “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Application:
1. How does John the Baptist prepare us for Christmas?
• He calls us to remember the __________ about Christmas
• ________ is not part of the story of Christmas.
• ____________ is part of the story of Jesus.
2. How do we remember the truth of Christmas?
• _______
• _________ activities
• _________
• _________ Christ with others