Advent_3A_Sermon.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Let Jesus redraw your map of the Kingdom.

When John the Baptist was locked away, he expected the Messiah to swing an axe and bring a swift end to injustice. Instead, Jesus was healing the sick, forgiving sinners, and eating with people on the margins. John sent his disciples to ask, “Are you the One?” Jesus did not argue; he pointed to the evidence—eyes opening, legs walking, good news reaching the poor. The kingdom was advancing, just not in the way John expected.

We often carry our own maps of how God should act—quick fixes, obvious victories, public wins. But Jesus invites you to let him redraw your map. He asks you to notice where mercy is mending what judgment would only break, where compassion carries a deeper power than control. Faith grows when you release your picture of how God ought to work and begin to see how God is already working.

Matthew 11:2-6
John, hearing in prison about what Jesus was doing, sent his followers to ask, “Are you the One to come, or should we wait for another?” Jesus answered, “Go tell John what you’ve seen and heard: blind eyes are opening, lame legs are walking, those with skin disease are cleansed, ears are hearing, the dead are raised, and the poor are being told good news. And blessed is the person who doesn’t trip over me.”

Reflection: Where is one place you’ve expected Jesus to act a certain way—and will you ask him today to show you one small, surprising sign of his kingdom at work there before the day ends?

Day 2: Doubt can become a doorway to trust.

John’s doubts did not disqualify him. Jesus did not shame him for asking hard questions; he honored John’s calling and strength. Doubt, when brought to Jesus, can become honest prayer. It can clear away illusions and make space for real trust. It can move you from demanding answers to receiving evidence of God’s mercy in motion.

You may carry questions that feel heavy or embarrassing. Bring them out of hiding. Ask Jesus plainly. Then watch for the quiet confirmations he loves to give—an answered need, a timely word, a door you didn’t see before. Jesus meets doubters with dignity and direction, not contempt.

Matthew 11:7-11
As John’s messengers left, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John: “What did you go into the wilderness to see—a reed blown around by the wind? A man dressed in soft clothes? No, those in soft clothes live in palaces. You went to see a prophet—and more than a prophet. John is the one Scripture pointed to: ‘I send my messenger ahead to prepare the road for you.’ I tell you the truth: among those born of women, no one has risen greater than John; yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

Reflection: What is the one question you’re afraid to ask Jesus—will you speak it to him today, write it down, and share it with a trusted friend before the day ends?

Day 3: Move from announcing to joining what Jesus does.

John’s ministry prepared the way; when Jesus arrived, John’s role shifted. He released the spotlight and found joy in pointing to Jesus, not himself. Discipleship works the same way. It is not clinging to a title or a season that once fit; it is staying aligned with Jesus as he moves, and joining his work as followers, not as center stage.

Ask where you might still be “announcing” without “joining.” Maybe you love planning but avoid participating, or you speak of faith but resist the humble tasks that embody it. The invitation is to step into the ongoing work of Jesus with open hands—less about your image, more about his presence through you.

John 3:27-30
John answered, “A person can only receive what is given from heaven. You yourselves heard me say, ‘I’m not the Messiah; I was sent ahead of him.’ The bride belongs with the bridegroom. The friend of the groom stands close, listens, and is thrilled to hear his voice. That joy is mine, and it’s full. He must grow greater; I must grow smaller.”

Reflection: Where can you move from talking about Jesus to joining him today—what one concrete action will you take in the next 24 hours, and when will you do it?

Day 4: Seek the quiet revolutions of mercy.

Jesus named the signs of God’s kingdom not as political headlines but as human lives mended—sight restored, bodies strengthened, good news landing in poor hearts. The kingdom arrives like seeds in soil, yeast in dough, a whisper that reorders a room. It grows in homes, workplaces, schools, neighborhoods—where mercy is practiced, burdens are lifted, and people are seen.

You are invited to find and join this quiet revolution. Look for someone overlooked. Listen longer than necessary. Bring a simple gift. Offer a prayer. Share good news in a way that fits their pain. These acts may seem small, but they carry the weight of the King who loves the least and lost.

Luke 4:18-19
Jesus read, “God’s Spirit rests on me because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to announce freedom to the captives, sight for the blind, release for the oppressed, and to declare that the time of God’s favor has arrived.”

Reflection: Who is one overlooked person within your reach today, and what specific act of mercy will you do for them before sunset?

Day 5: Joy blooms where attention meets participation.

Joy does not wait for perfect circumstances. Mary sang with joy while facing uncertainty, because she could see what God was doing and said yes to it. In the same way, joy rises when you pay attention to Jesus’ presence and participate in his work. It is less about control and more about consent—less about outcomes and more about being with him in what he is doing now.

Practice noticing and joining. As you learn to say, “Here I am,” and “Yes, Lord,” you will find joy growing quietly within you. Joy follows attention; it follows participation. It is the fruit of magnifying Jesus, not yourself.

Luke 1:46-49
Mary said, “My soul makes much of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. He has looked kindly on his servant in her low position. From now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”

Reflection: Will you set two five-minute pauses today to notice where Jesus is at work and say yes—what exact times will you choose, and will you set those alarms now?

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon**

This sermon explores the story of John the Baptist’s doubt while imprisoned, as he questions whether Jesus is truly the Messiah he had been proclaiming. Drawing connections between Mary, Elizabeth, and Hannah, the message highlights how God’s promises unfold in unexpected ways. John, expecting a Messiah who would bring judgment and political liberation, is confronted with a Jesus who heals, forgives, and brings good news to the marginalized. Jesus responds to John’s doubts not with arguments, but by pointing to the evidence of God’s kingdom breaking in through acts of mercy and transformation. The sermon challenges us to recognize the kingdom of God at work in ways we might not expect, to find our identity in Christ, and to embrace our mission of pointing others to Jesus, even amid our own doubts and disappointments.

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Key Takeaways

1. God’s Kingdom Often Defies Our Expectations John the Baptist anticipated a Messiah who would bring swift justice and political change, but Jesus revealed a kingdom marked by healing, forgiveness, and compassion. Our own expectations of how God should act can blind us to the ways God is already at work. True faith requires us to let go of our preconceived notions and remain open to the surprising ways God’s kingdom breaks into our lives.
2. Doubt is Not the Enemy of Faith, but Part of the Journey Even John, called the greatest among those born of women, experienced doubt and disappointment when God’s actions did not align with his hopes. Rather than condemning John, Jesus honors his role and gently redirects his focus to the evidence of God’s work. Our doubts do not disqualify us from discipleship; instead, they can become opportunities for deeper trust and honest engagement with God.
3. Discipleship Means Shifting from Preparation to Participation John’s ministry was to prepare the way for Christ, but once Jesus arrived, John’s role shifted from forerunner to follower. Likewise, discipleship is not about clinging to past roles or identities, but about continually reorienting ourselves to Christ and participating in the ongoing work of God’s kingdom. Our calling is to magnify the Lord, not ourselves, and to point others to Jesus through our lives.
4. The Kingdom is Found in Small, Transformative Acts Jesus points to the blind seeing, the lame walking, and the poor receiving good news as signs of the kingdom’s arrival. These are not grand political revolutions, but quiet, persistent acts of love and restoration. We are invited to look for God’s presence in the ordinary and the overlooked, recognizing that the kingdom often grows in hidden and humble ways.
5. Joy Emerges When We See and Join God’s Work John’s story reminds us that joy is not dependent on our circumstances or the fulfillment of our expectations, but on recognizing and participating in what God is doing. Even in darkness and uncertainty, joy can be found when we let go of our assumptions and allow Christ to reshape our vision. Our mission is to offer Christ to others, magnifying Jesus so that all may experience the grace and joy of God’s kingdom, here and now.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: When Seeing is Believing**

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### Bible Reading

**Matthew 11:2-11**
_When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”_

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### Observation Questions

What did John the Baptist expect the Messiah to do, and how did Jesus’ actions differ from those expectations?
How does Jesus respond to John’s doubts? What evidence does he offer?
According to Jesus, what are the signs that God’s kingdom is breaking in?
How does Jesus describe John the Baptist’s role and significance to the crowd?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why might John the Baptist have struggled with doubt while in prison, even after his earlier confidence in Jesus?
What does Jesus’ response to John’s question reveal about the nature of God’s kingdom?
In what ways does the passage challenge the idea that faith means never having doubts?
How does the shift from John’s role as a forerunner to a follower illustrate what it means to be a disciple?

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### Application Questions

Can you think of a time when God acted in a way that was very different from what you expected or hoped for? How did you respond?
John’s doubts didn’t disqualify him from being honored by Jesus. When you experience doubt or disappointment in your faith, how do you usually handle it? Is there a way you could bring those doubts honestly to God?
Jesus points to acts of healing, restoration, and good news for the poor as signs of the kingdom. Where do you see these kinds of “small, transformative acts” happening around you today? How can you join in?
The sermon says that discipleship means shifting from preparation to participation. Are there ways you might be “clinging to past roles or identities” instead of stepping into what God is calling you to now?
The message challenges us to look for God’s presence in the ordinary and overlooked. What is one area of your daily life where you might start looking for God’s kingdom at work?
Our mission is to point others to Jesus, even when we have our own questions. Who in your life might need to see Jesus through you this week? What is one practical way you could “magnify the Lord” for them?
The sermon says that joy comes from recognizing and joining in what God is doing, not from having all our expectations met. What is one expectation or assumption about God you might need to let go of in order to experience deeper joy?

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Sermon Quotes

Seeing is believing. Believe what you see. The problem is not with the kingdom; it is with our view of it.

The disciples of John were looking for the wrong thing. John was expecting military power and swift judgment, but Jesus came offering forgiveness.

We do not see the kingdom at work around us, because we are looking for the wrong thing. We may be looking for a quick solution to all our problems, but Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow him.

John's ministry marks both the end of the old order and the beginning of the new; this is where grace takes over and the kingdom of God breaks into our world in the person of Jesus Christ.

To be a disciple is no longer to look backward or forward or even deep into our own hearts, but rather to look only at Christ.

Once we grasp this truth, that we belong to God as followers of Jesus Christ, we have a job to do.

Our job is to see others who need to see Jesus, so we can magnify Jesus for them, and offer them Christ.

As the year draws to a close and the nights get longer, many of us may find that fear and doubt come creeping in.

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