TURN

• 2nd Sunday of Advent
with Matthew 3:1-12
www.FirstChurchBville.com    @FirstUMCBville   @kerrfunk

• Last week: Watch. Be like Bob.
Do what you can with what you have.

• Who’s excited for Christmas? Why?
Emmanuel, God-is-with-us…

Who looks forward to the return of Christ? Why?

There’s something terribly frightening about the return of Christ… he’ll come in like a lion…

• Today’s Gospel reading introduces us to John the Baptist.
What would your reaction be if you saw this guy on the street? Cross the street to avoid him!

And yet, people go out of their way to hear him.
And then they confessed their sins?
I’d rather have my teeth pulled!

What might motivate you to humble yourself,
to confess your sins to a maniac street preacher?

• Consider that feeling when a cop car pulls behind you…
Even if you’re not doing anything wrong, sinking feeling.
Shouldn’t be that way. Need to turn, to rightsize cops.
(And seek to drive right.)

How about meeting God, how about return of Christ?
Both terrific and terrifying. Need to turn, need to rightsize God.

God is more terrifying than we imagine
AND God’s grace is much greater than we imagine.

• Another thing from this passage: Christianity is not something you merely say, but verse 8 produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. They’ll know we are Christians by our love.

Merely being religious is no guarantee of being right with God.
James 1:27 (brother of Jesus): Religion that is pure and faultless is this, to look after the orphan and the widow in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

• AND knowledge that God’s grace is not dependent on my faithfulness.
I want to be closer to God. To be the me God made me to be.

Your words are sweeter than honey. By your teachings I gain understanding.
Psalm 119:103-104

• Hymn 142 If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee

Matthew 3:1-12 (CEB)

3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the desert of Judea announcing, ² “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!” ³ He was the one of whom Isaiah the prophet spoke when he said:

The voice of one shouting in the wilderness,
        “Prepare the way for the Lord;
        make his paths straight.”^{[Isa 40:3]}

⁴ John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

⁵ People from Jerusalem, throughout Judea, and all around the Jordan River came to him. ⁶ As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. ⁷ Many Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized by John. He said to them, “You children of snakes! Who warned you to escape from the angry judgment that is coming soon? ⁸ Produce fruit that shows you have changed your hearts and lives. ⁹ And don’t even think about saying to yourselves, Abraham is our father. I tell you that God is able to raise up Abraham’s children from these stones. ¹⁰ The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire. ¹¹ I baptize with water those of you who have changed your hearts and lives. The one who is coming after me is stronger than I am. I’m not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² The shovel he uses to sift the wheat from the husks is in his hands. He will clean out his threshing area and bring the wheat into his barn. But he will burn the husks with a fire that can’t be put out.” X