Matthew 3:1-12
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
LISten
REFLECT
1. Being in the wilderness like John the Baptist can be scary. What do you fear about the wilderness? Is it worth the risk to be there?
2. Amos said that he likes being in the wilderness because it makes it easier for the people wandering in the wilderness to find you. What does that mean for DOWNTOWN CHURCH? What does that mean in your own life?
3. Think of the ways you are hesitating to spiritually jump into the deep end. What is stopping you?
4. What are your hopes for the future at DOWNTOWN CHURCH? What are your fears?
Pray
God of water and fire, the God who creates a church in the wilderness, you are a God who measures success differently than the world. Grow us up spiritually this Advent season. Keep us in the wilderness so we can be there for those who are ill or hungry or homeless. May our lives and the way we boldly jump, shape a world that is good news to the poor.
Though we celebrate our humble beginnings as a church, we realize there is more work to do because your kingdom is near. Forgive us for attaching meaning to our music, our building, our titles…rather than continuing to jump into the deep end of the river. And so come Lord Jesus, into our world, our church, our families, our homes.
Credits:
Created with images by Donald Lee Pardue - "Baptism" • Moyan_Brenn - "Desert" • niki1997 - "spray deep sea dark blue"