''The Message of John the Baptist''

"The Message of John the Baptist"

Text: John 1:19-29

Introduction:

• He had an Amazing Promise
  • Luke 1:15a – “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord”
• He had an Astonishing Pattern
  • John 1:19-23 – John identifies himself as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness”
• He had an Advancing Program
  • Baptism ministry

➡️ Last week: Focused on the ministry of John the Baptist ➡️ This episode: Focus on the message of John the Baptist

1️⃣ A Christ-Centered Message (John 1:19-29)

• The Prophecy:
  • “Behold the Lamb of God” — speaks of forgiveness
• The Preferred:
  • John 1:30 – “This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.”
• The Picture:
  • Baptizing (John 1:30-33) — a symbol of Christ’s coming work
• He kept Proclaiming:
  • John 1:36 – “Behold the Lamb of God”

2️⃣ A Conviction-Filled Message (Mark 6:18-19)

• John called for repentance – but people got offended when he named their sin
• In a world of:
  • Weak Pulpits: No bold stand against sin
  • Worldly Practices:
    • Effeminate influence in dress, manner, doctrine
    • 1 Cor. 11:14 – “It is a shame for a man to have long hair”
  • Withered Convictions:
    • Double-minded and unstable (James 1:8)

Application: We need bold, conviction-filled preaching today

3️⃣ A Message Concerned with Humility (John 3:30)

• “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
  • Two musts: One for Jesus, one for me
  • Both are necessary for spiritual success

Closing Thoughts:

• John’s message was powerful because he made it about Jesus, not himself
• He preached Christ as Savior
• He preached against sin because he hated sin like Jesus did
• He humbled himself as Jesus humbled Himself

Church Website: https://www.ashlandstreetbaptist.com/

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