PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD

Luke 3:1-38

Key Verse: 3:3

“He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”

1.   1. Read verses 1-2. Who does Luke mention as the political and religious leaders of John’s time? What does this tell us about those times? Who was John? Where was he when the word of God came to him? What does it mean that the word of God came to him?

2.   2.  When the word of God came to John, what did he do? (3) What is a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins?” According to Isaiah, why did he do this? (4) How is a path made straight? (4-5) What does this quotation teach us about the nature of repentance? How is preparing the way related to God’s salvation? (6)

3.    3. Read verses 7-9. How did the crowds respond to John’s preaching? How did he rebuke and challenge them? (7-8a) Why were they proud and self-confident? What did John tell them? Why are human credentials not so important? What happens to fruitless trees? How does this parable apply to the unrepentant crowds?

4.   4.  Read verses 10-14. How did the crowd respond? What does the fruit in keeping with repentance mean to each of four people? What does this tell us about fruit in keeping with repentance? What then should we do? Review the things God does not like.

5.   5.  Read verses 15-18. What were the people expecting of John? In his answer, how did he contrast his ministry with that of Jesus? What can we learn here about Jesus’ ministry? What does it mean that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire? When do these two baptisms occur? What was the good news John continued to preach? (18)

6.   6.  Read verses 19-20. Why did Herod lock John up in prison? What kind of man was John? What can we learn from him?

7.   7.  Read verses 21-22. Describe Jesus’ baptism. Why was Jesus baptized? (Mt 3:13-15) What can we learn from God's testimony about Jesus? Skim over the genealogy. Summarize what we can learn about Jesus from verses 15-38.