Teacher: Pastor Chet Lowe
Main Scriptures: Mark 1, John 1, Acts 19, Matthew 11
- Mark 1:1-11
- v. 2 The Good News of Jesus Christ began just as God said it would
- Mark wants us to know that if God says it, we can believe it and that should settle it
- Jesus and John the Baptist are the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3
- Mark wants us to know that if God says it, we can believe it and that should settle it
- v. 3 God’s message is worthy of our passionate and unashamed proclamation, even in the wilderness
- Israel had not heard God’s Word in 400 years–it was a spiritually dry and dark place
- v. 4 John the Baptist was called to be the messenger (John 1:19-27)
- He defined himself by the Word of God—not his family, culture, etc.
- He had read Isaiah 40:3 in his “devotional time,” heard God speak to him personally and obeyed it passionately
- Our devotional time is not just for our edification but also for God to give us direction
- He had read Isaiah 40:3 in his “devotional time,” heard God speak to him personally and obeyed it passionately
- He defined himself by the Word of God—not his family, culture, etc.
- v. 5 John baptized and preached and refused to be distracted by anything else
- The Gospel is powerful (Romans 1:16)
- Revival starts with one person preaching the Gospel
- John was baptizing according to the Old Testament Jewish law
- It was a purification for breaking the law (Acts 19:1-4, Luke 16:16)
- The Gospel is powerful (Romans 1:16)
- v. 6 John’s whole life was affected by his calling
- He looked, sounded and was wholly different than everyone around him (Matthew 11:7-11 )
- He had modeled his life off of Elijah and was completely dependent on God for his sustenance
- Our lives should be this distinguishable to those around us
- He had modeled his life off of Elijah and was completely dependent on God for his sustenance
- He looked, sounded and was wholly different than everyone around him (Matthew 11:7-11 )
- v. 9-11 John preached that Someone greater than him was coming in obedience and by faith (John 1:29-34, Matthew 3:15)
- Walking by faith looks like
- Learning the word of God and taking the step of faith to put it into action in our lives
- Trusting the Lord will show up in the power of the Spirit to fulfill in us all the He has promised
- Jesus wasn’t being purified in this baptism—He was proclaiming his death, burial and resurrection
- Walking by faith looks like
- v. 2 The Good News of Jesus Christ began just as God said it would
Selah: Mark 1:3 – “Prepare the way of the Lord…”
Challenge to Change: Choose to be different in the world God has placed you!
