Bible ReadingLuke 3:1–181–2. “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.”
[08:16]3. “And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
[16:14]4–6. “As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
[11:16]7. “He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’”
[21:43]8. “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.”
[23:18]9. “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
[24:42]10. “And the crowds asked him, ‘What then shall we do?’”
11. “And he answered them, ‘Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.’”
[19:48]12. “Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, ‘Teacher, what shall we do?’”
13. “And he said to them, ‘Collect no more than you are authorized to do.’”
[19:56]14. “Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.’”
[20:06]15. “As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ,”
16. “John answered them all, saying, ‘I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’”
[26:27]17. “His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
[28:51]18. “So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.”
Isaiah 40:3–53. “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’”
[11:16]4. “Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.”
[11:35]5. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
[11:40]Malachi 4:5–65. “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.”
[12:14]6. “And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
[12:42]Isaiah 29:1313. “And the Lord said: ‘Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,’”
[14:41]Observation questions- What details in Luke 3:1–2 show the political and religious setting in which God’s word came to John? Why might Luke name so many rulers and leaders? [08:16]
- What pictures does Isaiah use to describe preparing the way for the Lord—valleys, mountains, crooked places, and rough places? What would each of those pictures communicate to people living near Jerusalem?
- What specific instructions does John give to the crowds, tax collectors, and soldiers? What do those instructions have in common? [19:48]
- In Luke 3:8–9, what kinds of confidence does John confront, and what images does he use to warn people who do not bear good fruit? [23:18]
Interpretation questions- Why does John connect repentance so directly to generosity, honesty, contentment, and refusing to exploit others? What does this suggest about the connection between loving God and loving one’s neighbor? [20:16]
- Isaiah 29:13 warns about honoring God with words while the heart remains far from Him. What are some ways religious habits can be good gifts while still becoming a hiding place from real repentance? [15:12]
- John tells people not to rely on Abraham as their father. What are comparable forms of false confidence a churchgoing person might rely on today—family background, knowledge, service, attendance, or a past decision? [24:03]
- John says that Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. How does the passage show both Christ’s power to make people new and His authority to judge righteously? [27:07]
Application questions- Is there an area of life where outward faithfulness is easier than honest love for God—church attendance, serving, giving, knowing the right answers, or speaking Christian language? What might it look like to bring that area honestly before the Lord? [14:01]
- John’s examples of repentance are very ordinary: sharing resources, being honest at work, refusing to use power against people, and being content. Which of those areas most presses on your life right now, and what would one clear step of repentance look like this week? [20:06]
- Who is a “neighbor” God has placed near you whom you may be tempted to overlook, use, resent, or treat unfairly? How could repentance show itself in the way you speak to or act toward that person?
- Jesus offers new life now, not only a future hope after death. Where has life become stale, heavy, anxious, or joyless for you? What would it look like to seek Christ’s newness there rather than chasing relief somewhere else? [30:17]
- Some sin patterns are like an old floor that requires repeated grinding and cleaning. What is one repeated struggle where you are tempted to give up because growth feels slow? How might patient repentance and faithfulness look in that struggle? [33:38]
- Confession and asking forgiveness are often rare, even among Christians. Is there someone you need to approach to say, “I was wrong,” or someone safe you need to ask for prayer and accountability? What makes that step difficult? [32:49]
- John’s warning about wheat and chaff calls every person away from false confidence and toward real faith. Are you resting in Christ and His forgiveness, or are you mainly resting in evidence that you look religious from the outside? [36:20]
