Third Sunday Of Advent
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Cycle A, THIRD EDITION
THE LESSONS
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1-10 (C, E), Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 (RC)
Yahweh will come and restore the exiles to Jerusalem with joy. According to biblical scholars, this 35th chapter was originally in Isaiah 40-55, when the Jews were exiles in Babylon. Through Isaiah Yahweh promises to come to his people to lead them in a second exodus from Babylon to Jerusalem. Miracles occur on the return trip: nature will be rewarded (vv. 1-2), the physically handicapped will be healed (vv. 5-6), the returning exiles will be free from wild beasts (v. 9), and the homecoming will be one of great joy and gladness. In today's gospel, Jesus quotes from this passage as evidence that he is the Messiah. Christians see the fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus who came to save his people and to restore them to God.
Lesson 2: James 5:7-10 (C, RC, E)
Christians patiently wait for Christ's return. Lesson 2 dealing with the Parousia is out of sync with the other Lessons. Lesson 1 promises that the Lord would come and save. It has been over 2,000 years of waiting for Christ to come to end history. James assures his readers that the Parousia is coming shortly (vv. 8-9). With farmers and prophets as examples, we are to wait patiently (vv. 7, 10). Until he comes, we are to refrain from complaining and criticizing each other (v. 9).
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 (C, RC, E)
Through his disciples, John the Baptist, who is in prison, asks Jesus if he is the Messiah, and Jesus declares John to be the greatest prophet. While in prison John the Baptist questions whether Jesus is the Messiah. He sends a delegation of his disciples with the direct question, "Are you...?" Jesus gives an indirect reply: He points to the results of his ministry which are promised (Isaiah 35:1-10) when the Messiah comes. On the basis of this evidence, John can come to his own conclusions. After the delegation leaves, Jesus tells the crowd his estimate of John - he is the greatest prophet because he, like Elijah, was the messenger to prepare the way for the Messiah. However, the last person in the covenant is greater than John of the old covenant.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 146:5-10 (C, RC); Psalm 146 (E) - "The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind" (v. 7).
Prayer Of The Day
"Almighty God, you once called John the Baptist to give witness to the coming of your Son and to prepare his way. Grant us, your people, the wisdom to see your purpose today and the openness to hear your will, that we may witness to Christ's coming and so prepare his way."
Hymn Of The Day
"Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding"
Theme Of The Day: The Messiah Is At Hand
Gospel - The Messiah is known by his works - Matthew 11:2-11
Lesson 1 - The Messiah will bring paradise on earth - Isaiah 35:1-10
Lesson 2 - The Messiah is worth waiting for - James 5:7-10
Advent 3 deals with the identity of the Messiah. The Gospel assures us that Jesus is the Messiah promised of old and that John the Baptist is the greatest of the prophets because he prepared the way for the Messiah. Lesson 1 shows what kind of world we will have when the Lord comes to save us: utopia, paradise, healing, and joy. Lesson 2 takes us to the post-Easter experience when followers of the Messiah are urged to patiently wait for his Second Coming. At this Second Coming, the promised paradise in Lesson 1 will become a reality. Since Jesus is the Messiah, he is worth waiting for with patience. The Prayer of the Day refers to the Gospel: (1) "the wisdom to see your purpose" - the purpose of Christ is seen in the world of Jesus; (2) "the openness to hear your will" - God's will is heard in Jesus' preaching good news to the poor. In the Gospel, we come to the conviction that Jesus is the Messiah. In Lesson 1 we are given a description of conditions resulting from the Messiah's coming to earth. Here we see the fulfillment of these conditions in Jesus' ministry. But, the question may be asked, "Why do these conditions not exist on earth since Jesus came 2,000 years ago?" The answer is given by James in Lesson 2 who exhorts us to wait patiently for the Messiah's Second Coming when these conditions will become a reality for all of God's people.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
1. Are you? (v. 3). Through his disciples John the Baptist asks Jesus a direct question, "Are you he who is to come?" Why the question? John once hailed Jesus as the "Lamb of God." When he baptized Jesus, he saw the dove of the Spirit and heard God's voice, "You are my beloved Son." Confidence and assurance can turn into doubt. Adversity will do that to us. John is in prison for preaching repentance. Where is God now when John needs him? If Jesus is the Messiah, why does he not act to release his prophet? John has good reason to ask the question just as we do when we are in trouble.
2. Hear and see (v. 4). Jesus gives John the Baptist an indirect answer. Jesus could have said, "I am the one who is to come, I am the Son of God." But Jesus chooses a better way to answer, a more acceptable answer. He has John consider the evidence of his ministry. The evidence corresponds to the prophecy concerning what the Messiah will do when he comes. On the basis of the evidence, John is to come to his own conclusion and answer. That Jesus is the Messiah cannot be categorically and frontally declared to a doubter. The questioner must come to his/her own conclusion, based on empirical evidence of who Jesus is and what he does. When John was given the report of Jesus' miracles, no doubt he had to conclude, "Jesus is the Christ."
3. Greater (v. 11). The previous question was what John the Baptist thought of Jesus. Now the question is what Jesus thinks of John. When John's deputation left, Jesus gives John the highest tribute. Of all the prophets, including Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, Jesus rates John to be the greatest. That is because he was more than a prophet; he was the forerunner of the Messiah. He had the honor and responsibility to prepare the nation for Messiah's advent. None was greater than John. On the other hand, the least Christian is greater than John because he is in the new covenant. This alone should give Christians self-esteem and a sense of greatness.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1-10
1. Behold (v. 4). When we are in trouble, to whom do we look for relief? The Jews are in bondage in Babylon. The prophet calls upon them to "Behold" your God will come to save them and lead them back to their native land. This is based on the faith that God cares for his oppressed people and that God has the power to release captives. When over fifty Americans were held hostage in Iran for 444 days, the United States had the willingness to release them, but their attempted rescue was a total failure. We Christians say, "Our help is in the name of the Lord."
2. Break forth (v. 6). God is the great releaser and redeemer. In this passage we read how everything is opened when God comes to his people. We hear the words, "blossom," "opened," "unstopped," and "break forth." We are tied up inside or we may be in physical bondage. We can be blind, deaf, and dumb. We can be prisoners of ourselves. God has the power to open, release, and redeem. God is for our freedom and seeks to break the bonds that hold us captive.
3. Gladness (v. 10). Because of God's coming to us to free us from the bondage of our sins, we have reason to be glad. Do you remember how happy the American hostages were when they were reunited with loved ones? They were ecstatic with joy and tears of joy rolled down their faces. In this Lesson, note the words: "glad," "rejoice," "joy," and "singing." Christians should be the happiest people in the world. They have reason to be - they have God and they have been freed from sin, death, worry, and fear.
Lesson 2: James 5:7-10
1. Until (v. 7). James teaches that we should be patient "until" Jesus returns. That makes a long time of waiting - 2,000 years! It could be that the church will have to wait another 2,000 years. This is no easy task for many. We have to wait. We have to wait in a cafeteria line, at the check-out counter in a supermarket, in a long line of bumper-to-bumper traffic, or in a doctor's office. To wait patiently is a virtue, a gift of the Spirit.
2. Grumble (v. 9). Our lack of patience is seen in our grumbling. We complain that we must wait. We are unhappy with present conditions. This leads us to complain and to criticize others. Recall the murmuring of the Israelites in the wilderness when they had only manna or ran out of water. We, too, get tired of waiting for things to change and for better living conditions. We are tempted to take things in our own hands and use force or revolution to change things. James warns us not to criticize because our Judge is at the doors. We who grumble might ask whether we cause others to complain about us.
3. Example (v. 10). We all need an example to look up to and imitate. Just what does it mean to wait patiently? In this pericope James points to the farmers and prophets as examples of patience. The farmer plows and plants and then waits for the harvest. The prophets forecast the future and then wait for the prophecy to become a reality. James might have mentioned Job and Jesus as even greater examples of patience. It is not only for us to have examples but to be an example of patience.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Three Lessons: Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11
Look Who's Standing At The Door!
Need: We are getting close to Christmas. There is only one more Sunday in Advent. The coming of Jesus in a personal, internal way is close at hand. James said in his day that the Lord is at hand and is standing at the door of their lives. We are at that time of year when we need to get our minds off material preparation for Christmas and to get thinking more seriously about the coming Christ.
Outline: Consider the One at the door of our lives -
a. Who is standing at the door? - Gospel.
b. What good will he do us when he enters? - Lesson 1.
c. When will he enter? - Lesson 2.
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
It may appear as though this Gospel deals with two subjects: (1) John the Baptist's delegation to Jesus to learn if he was the Messiah; (2) Jesus' evaluation of John as the greatest prophet. In the former we get the identity of Jesus; in the second we have the identity of John the Baptist given by Jesus. The two are not separate but constitute one theme. By getting the report on the works and words of Jesus, John is to know that Jesus is the Messiah. As further proof of this, Jesus calls John the greatest of all prophets because he was more than a prophet - the forerunner of the Messiah. Yet, John the Baptist was not a part of the new age of Jesus and consequently the smallest in the kingdom of heaven is even greater than John of the old covenant.
1. Don't Take My Word For It! 11:2-5
Need: Jesus did not answer verbally John the Baptist's query. One comes to faith in Jesus as Messiah not because someone makes a claim but because the inquirer sees the evidence and comes to the conclusion that indeed Jesus is the Messiah. How will people today get the conviction that Jesus is the Christ? It is through the church's witness, for the church consists of disciples in whom Christ is supposed to live and rule. How shall church members witness successfully? The gospel teaches that it is by life rather than by words. It is obvious that the need for this sermon is based on the fact that church members largely fail to give evidence of Christ in their lives. We ask non-Christians not to take our word that Jesus is the Messiah, but to look at our lives to see what Christ does for people.
Outline: How we can witness without words.
a. By our conversation - "What you hear," vv. 4, 5. We witness not by speaking to non-Christians, but when non-Christians listen to our daily conversations. Our speech betrays the condition of our characters.
b. B
2. Christ Is The Conclusion. 11:2-5
Need: The ultimate confession to be a Christian is to say Jesus is Lord or the Messiah (Christ). How does one come to this conclusion? The answer is found in this text. A Christian does not begin with a priori doctrine and then build on it. We dare not take anybody's word that Jesus is the Messiah, nor even Jesus' word. We must find out for ourselves by studying the evidence. This is what Jesus told the disciples of John the Baptist to do and then to go back and let John decide for himself. The need for this sermon is that many people take their faith on hearsay rather than upon personal experience.
Outline: How to reach the conclusion that Jesus is the Christ.
a. Witness the power of Jesus to help - the power of God - v. 5.
b. Witness the grace of Jesus to bless - the love of God - v. 5.
3. Does Jesus Offend You? 1:6 - "And blessed is he who takes no offense at me."
Need: In this Gospel in which Jesus makes the claim that he is the Messiah, he realizes this claim could offend some. So he says, "Blessed is he who takes no offense at me." An "offense" is a stumbling block or trap. The Greek word for "offense" is skandalon, a scandal. Instead of being drawn to Jesus by the fact of who he is, what he does, and what he says, some are turned off and away.
Outline: Are you offended -
a. At Jesus' claims such as, "I am the Bread of Life"?
b. At Jesus
c. At Jesus' cross - victory through sacrifice?
4. If Jesus Is The Christ, What Then? 11:1-6
Need: If you come to the conclusion after surveying the evidence of the life and work of Jesus that he is the Messiah, what are you to do about it? The disciples of John the Baptist went back to report to John what they heard and saw, but was John convinced? The record does not say, but we believe he was satisfied that Jesus truly was the promised one. It is easy for us to make a confession of Jesus as the Christ, but we let it go at that. This sermon is to bring out the implications of that conviction.
Outline: If Jesus is the one who is to come -
a. We should believe in him as Messiah.
b. We should join the cause of Christ (become a disciple).
c. We should continue his work through the church.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1-10
1. Ah, Wilderness! 35:1-10
Need: For many, life is a wilderness, a desert. Like the Israelites who were in bondage in Babylon when this text was written, modern "man" lives in the bondage of his fear, anxieties, loneliness, and lovelessness. Today, people again are living in conditions of ignorance, poverty, and misery from which they need to be delivered.
Outline: From a wilderness to the garden when God comes.
a. From the wilderness of sadness to the garden of joy - vv. 1, 2, 10.
b. From the wilderness of fear to the garden of courage - v. 3.
c. From the wilderness of bondage to the garden of freedom - vv. 5, 6.
2. Does Jesus Fill The Bill? 35:1-6; Matthew 11:5
Need: Israel dreamed of God's coming in the person of a Messiah to deliver the nation from its bondage. The prophets promised that God would send this Messiah. For centuries Israel hoped for the Messiah to come. Then there appears a man of Nazareth who makes the claim that he is the Messiah. Shall he be believed and accepted as such? Does he fill the bill as described by the prophets? Did Jesus make things happen as the prophets foretold?
Outline: Jesus fills the bill of being the Messiah.
a. Promise: the blind shall see - v. 5a; fulfillment: the blind see - 11:5.
b. Promise: the deaf shall hear - v. 5a; fulfillment: the deaf hear - 11:5.
c. Promise: the lame shall walk - v. 6; fulfillment: the lame walk - 11:5.
d. Promise: rejoice with singing - v. 2; fulfillment the poor have the Good News preached -11:5.
Lesson 2: James 5:7-10
Worth Waiting For. 5:7-10
Need: Most of us lack the virtue of patience. We are like the one who prayed, "Lord, make me patient - and right now!" We are an "instant" people - instant coffee, instant television picture, instant long-distance calls, instant relief from drugs. If God does not respond instantly, we become impatient. We forget that God has eternity while we have only time. God is never in a hurry as we are. He does not need to be in a hurry with eternity at his disposal. Lesson 2 deals with the problem of Christ's return. Why does he not come now? It helps us to be patient if we agree that he will be worth the waiting.
Outline: To learn patience while waiting for Christ's return -
a. Know that he surely is coming - v. 8.
b. Follow the example of the patient ones - vv. 7, 10.
c. Accept the fact that he is coming to judge - v. 9.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1-10 (C, E), Isaiah 35:1-6, 10 (RC)
Yahweh will come and restore the exiles to Jerusalem with joy. According to biblical scholars, this 35th chapter was originally in Isaiah 40-55, when the Jews were exiles in Babylon. Through Isaiah Yahweh promises to come to his people to lead them in a second exodus from Babylon to Jerusalem. Miracles occur on the return trip: nature will be rewarded (vv. 1-2), the physically handicapped will be healed (vv. 5-6), the returning exiles will be free from wild beasts (v. 9), and the homecoming will be one of great joy and gladness. In today's gospel, Jesus quotes from this passage as evidence that he is the Messiah. Christians see the fulfillment of this prophecy in Jesus who came to save his people and to restore them to God.
Lesson 2: James 5:7-10 (C, RC, E)
Christians patiently wait for Christ's return. Lesson 2 dealing with the Parousia is out of sync with the other Lessons. Lesson 1 promises that the Lord would come and save. It has been over 2,000 years of waiting for Christ to come to end history. James assures his readers that the Parousia is coming shortly (vv. 8-9). With farmers and prophets as examples, we are to wait patiently (vv. 7, 10). Until he comes, we are to refrain from complaining and criticizing each other (v. 9).
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 (C, RC, E)
Through his disciples, John the Baptist, who is in prison, asks Jesus if he is the Messiah, and Jesus declares John to be the greatest prophet. While in prison John the Baptist questions whether Jesus is the Messiah. He sends a delegation of his disciples with the direct question, "Are you...?" Jesus gives an indirect reply: He points to the results of his ministry which are promised (Isaiah 35:1-10) when the Messiah comes. On the basis of this evidence, John can come to his own conclusions. After the delegation leaves, Jesus tells the crowd his estimate of John - he is the greatest prophet because he, like Elijah, was the messenger to prepare the way for the Messiah. However, the last person in the covenant is greater than John of the old covenant.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 146:5-10 (C, RC); Psalm 146 (E) - "The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind" (v. 7).
Prayer Of The Day
"Almighty God, you once called John the Baptist to give witness to the coming of your Son and to prepare his way. Grant us, your people, the wisdom to see your purpose today and the openness to hear your will, that we may witness to Christ's coming and so prepare his way."
Hymn Of The Day
"Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding"
Theme Of The Day: The Messiah Is At Hand
Gospel - The Messiah is known by his works - Matthew 11:2-11
Lesson 1 - The Messiah will bring paradise on earth - Isaiah 35:1-10
Lesson 2 - The Messiah is worth waiting for - James 5:7-10
Advent 3 deals with the identity of the Messiah. The Gospel assures us that Jesus is the Messiah promised of old and that John the Baptist is the greatest of the prophets because he prepared the way for the Messiah. Lesson 1 shows what kind of world we will have when the Lord comes to save us: utopia, paradise, healing, and joy. Lesson 2 takes us to the post-Easter experience when followers of the Messiah are urged to patiently wait for his Second Coming. At this Second Coming, the promised paradise in Lesson 1 will become a reality. Since Jesus is the Messiah, he is worth waiting for with patience. The Prayer of the Day refers to the Gospel: (1) "the wisdom to see your purpose" - the purpose of Christ is seen in the world of Jesus; (2) "the openness to hear your will" - God's will is heard in Jesus' preaching good news to the poor. In the Gospel, we come to the conviction that Jesus is the Messiah. In Lesson 1 we are given a description of conditions resulting from the Messiah's coming to earth. Here we see the fulfillment of these conditions in Jesus' ministry. But, the question may be asked, "Why do these conditions not exist on earth since Jesus came 2,000 years ago?" The answer is given by James in Lesson 2 who exhorts us to wait patiently for the Messiah's Second Coming when these conditions will become a reality for all of God's people.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
1. Are you? (v. 3). Through his disciples John the Baptist asks Jesus a direct question, "Are you he who is to come?" Why the question? John once hailed Jesus as the "Lamb of God." When he baptized Jesus, he saw the dove of the Spirit and heard God's voice, "You are my beloved Son." Confidence and assurance can turn into doubt. Adversity will do that to us. John is in prison for preaching repentance. Where is God now when John needs him? If Jesus is the Messiah, why does he not act to release his prophet? John has good reason to ask the question just as we do when we are in trouble.
2. Hear and see (v. 4). Jesus gives John the Baptist an indirect answer. Jesus could have said, "I am the one who is to come, I am the Son of God." But Jesus chooses a better way to answer, a more acceptable answer. He has John consider the evidence of his ministry. The evidence corresponds to the prophecy concerning what the Messiah will do when he comes. On the basis of the evidence, John is to come to his own conclusion and answer. That Jesus is the Messiah cannot be categorically and frontally declared to a doubter. The questioner must come to his/her own conclusion, based on empirical evidence of who Jesus is and what he does. When John was given the report of Jesus' miracles, no doubt he had to conclude, "Jesus is the Christ."
3. Greater (v. 11). The previous question was what John the Baptist thought of Jesus. Now the question is what Jesus thinks of John. When John's deputation left, Jesus gives John the highest tribute. Of all the prophets, including Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, Jesus rates John to be the greatest. That is because he was more than a prophet; he was the forerunner of the Messiah. He had the honor and responsibility to prepare the nation for Messiah's advent. None was greater than John. On the other hand, the least Christian is greater than John because he is in the new covenant. This alone should give Christians self-esteem and a sense of greatness.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1-10
1. Behold (v. 4). When we are in trouble, to whom do we look for relief? The Jews are in bondage in Babylon. The prophet calls upon them to "Behold" your God will come to save them and lead them back to their native land. This is based on the faith that God cares for his oppressed people and that God has the power to release captives. When over fifty Americans were held hostage in Iran for 444 days, the United States had the willingness to release them, but their attempted rescue was a total failure. We Christians say, "Our help is in the name of the Lord."
2. Break forth (v. 6). God is the great releaser and redeemer. In this passage we read how everything is opened when God comes to his people. We hear the words, "blossom," "opened," "unstopped," and "break forth." We are tied up inside or we may be in physical bondage. We can be blind, deaf, and dumb. We can be prisoners of ourselves. God has the power to open, release, and redeem. God is for our freedom and seeks to break the bonds that hold us captive.
3. Gladness (v. 10). Because of God's coming to us to free us from the bondage of our sins, we have reason to be glad. Do you remember how happy the American hostages were when they were reunited with loved ones? They were ecstatic with joy and tears of joy rolled down their faces. In this Lesson, note the words: "glad," "rejoice," "joy," and "singing." Christians should be the happiest people in the world. They have reason to be - they have God and they have been freed from sin, death, worry, and fear.
Lesson 2: James 5:7-10
1. Until (v. 7). James teaches that we should be patient "until" Jesus returns. That makes a long time of waiting - 2,000 years! It could be that the church will have to wait another 2,000 years. This is no easy task for many. We have to wait. We have to wait in a cafeteria line, at the check-out counter in a supermarket, in a long line of bumper-to-bumper traffic, or in a doctor's office. To wait patiently is a virtue, a gift of the Spirit.
2. Grumble (v. 9). Our lack of patience is seen in our grumbling. We complain that we must wait. We are unhappy with present conditions. This leads us to complain and to criticize others. Recall the murmuring of the Israelites in the wilderness when they had only manna or ran out of water. We, too, get tired of waiting for things to change and for better living conditions. We are tempted to take things in our own hands and use force or revolution to change things. James warns us not to criticize because our Judge is at the doors. We who grumble might ask whether we cause others to complain about us.
3. Example (v. 10). We all need an example to look up to and imitate. Just what does it mean to wait patiently? In this pericope James points to the farmers and prophets as examples of patience. The farmer plows and plants and then waits for the harvest. The prophets forecast the future and then wait for the prophecy to become a reality. James might have mentioned Job and Jesus as even greater examples of patience. It is not only for us to have examples but to be an example of patience.
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES
Three Lessons: Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11
Look Who's Standing At The Door!
Need: We are getting close to Christmas. There is only one more Sunday in Advent. The coming of Jesus in a personal, internal way is close at hand. James said in his day that the Lord is at hand and is standing at the door of their lives. We are at that time of year when we need to get our minds off material preparation for Christmas and to get thinking more seriously about the coming Christ.
Outline: Consider the One at the door of our lives -
a. Who is standing at the door? - Gospel.
b. What good will he do us when he enters? - Lesson 1.
c. When will he enter? - Lesson 2.
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
It may appear as though this Gospel deals with two subjects: (1) John the Baptist's delegation to Jesus to learn if he was the Messiah; (2) Jesus' evaluation of John as the greatest prophet. In the former we get the identity of Jesus; in the second we have the identity of John the Baptist given by Jesus. The two are not separate but constitute one theme. By getting the report on the works and words of Jesus, John is to know that Jesus is the Messiah. As further proof of this, Jesus calls John the greatest of all prophets because he was more than a prophet - the forerunner of the Messiah. Yet, John the Baptist was not a part of the new age of Jesus and consequently the smallest in the kingdom of heaven is even greater than John of the old covenant.
1. Don't Take My Word For It! 11:2-5
Need: Jesus did not answer verbally John the Baptist's query. One comes to faith in Jesus as Messiah not because someone makes a claim but because the inquirer sees the evidence and comes to the conclusion that indeed Jesus is the Messiah. How will people today get the conviction that Jesus is the Christ? It is through the church's witness, for the church consists of disciples in whom Christ is supposed to live and rule. How shall church members witness successfully? The gospel teaches that it is by life rather than by words. It is obvious that the need for this sermon is based on the fact that church members largely fail to give evidence of Christ in their lives. We ask non-Christians not to take our word that Jesus is the Messiah, but to look at our lives to see what Christ does for people.
Outline: How we can witness without words.
a. By our conversation - "What you hear," vv. 4, 5. We witness not by speaking to non-Christians, but when non-Christians listen to our daily conversations. Our speech betrays the condition of our characters.
b. B
2. Christ Is The Conclusion. 11:2-5
Need: The ultimate confession to be a Christian is to say Jesus is Lord or the Messiah (Christ). How does one come to this conclusion? The answer is found in this text. A Christian does not begin with a priori doctrine and then build on it. We dare not take anybody's word that Jesus is the Messiah, nor even Jesus' word. We must find out for ourselves by studying the evidence. This is what Jesus told the disciples of John the Baptist to do and then to go back and let John decide for himself. The need for this sermon is that many people take their faith on hearsay rather than upon personal experience.
Outline: How to reach the conclusion that Jesus is the Christ.
a. Witness the power of Jesus to help - the power of God - v. 5.
b. Witness the grace of Jesus to bless - the love of God - v. 5.
3. Does Jesus Offend You? 1:6 - "And blessed is he who takes no offense at me."
Need: In this Gospel in which Jesus makes the claim that he is the Messiah, he realizes this claim could offend some. So he says, "Blessed is he who takes no offense at me." An "offense" is a stumbling block or trap. The Greek word for "offense" is skandalon, a scandal. Instead of being drawn to Jesus by the fact of who he is, what he does, and what he says, some are turned off and away.
Outline: Are you offended -
a. At Jesus' claims such as, "I am the Bread of Life"?
b. At Jesus
c. At Jesus' cross - victory through sacrifice?
4. If Jesus Is The Christ, What Then? 11:1-6
Need: If you come to the conclusion after surveying the evidence of the life and work of Jesus that he is the Messiah, what are you to do about it? The disciples of John the Baptist went back to report to John what they heard and saw, but was John convinced? The record does not say, but we believe he was satisfied that Jesus truly was the promised one. It is easy for us to make a confession of Jesus as the Christ, but we let it go at that. This sermon is to bring out the implications of that conviction.
Outline: If Jesus is the one who is to come -
a. We should believe in him as Messiah.
b. We should join the cause of Christ (become a disciple).
c. We should continue his work through the church.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 35:1-10
1. Ah, Wilderness! 35:1-10
Need: For many, life is a wilderness, a desert. Like the Israelites who were in bondage in Babylon when this text was written, modern "man" lives in the bondage of his fear, anxieties, loneliness, and lovelessness. Today, people again are living in conditions of ignorance, poverty, and misery from which they need to be delivered.
Outline: From a wilderness to the garden when God comes.
a. From the wilderness of sadness to the garden of joy - vv. 1, 2, 10.
b. From the wilderness of fear to the garden of courage - v. 3.
c. From the wilderness of bondage to the garden of freedom - vv. 5, 6.
2. Does Jesus Fill The Bill? 35:1-6; Matthew 11:5
Need: Israel dreamed of God's coming in the person of a Messiah to deliver the nation from its bondage. The prophets promised that God would send this Messiah. For centuries Israel hoped for the Messiah to come. Then there appears a man of Nazareth who makes the claim that he is the Messiah. Shall he be believed and accepted as such? Does he fill the bill as described by the prophets? Did Jesus make things happen as the prophets foretold?
Outline: Jesus fills the bill of being the Messiah.
a. Promise: the blind shall see - v. 5a; fulfillment: the blind see - 11:5.
b. Promise: the deaf shall hear - v. 5a; fulfillment: the deaf hear - 11:5.
c. Promise: the lame shall walk - v. 6; fulfillment: the lame walk - 11:5.
d. Promise: rejoice with singing - v. 2; fulfillment the poor have the Good News preached -11:5.
Lesson 2: James 5:7-10
Worth Waiting For. 5:7-10
Need: Most of us lack the virtue of patience. We are like the one who prayed, "Lord, make me patient - and right now!" We are an "instant" people - instant coffee, instant television picture, instant long-distance calls, instant relief from drugs. If God does not respond instantly, we become impatient. We forget that God has eternity while we have only time. God is never in a hurry as we are. He does not need to be in a hurry with eternity at his disposal. Lesson 2 deals with the problem of Christ's return. Why does he not come now? It helps us to be patient if we agree that he will be worth the waiting.
Outline: To learn patience while waiting for Christ's return -
a. Know that he surely is coming - v. 8.
b. Follow the example of the patient ones - vv. 7, 10.
c. Accept the fact that he is coming to judge - v. 9.
