Luke 3:1-20 (NIV)

 1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—

2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.

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

4As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

"A voice of one calling in the desert,    'Prepare the way for the Lord,     make straight paths for him.

 5Every valley shall be filled in,     every mountain and hill made low.    The crooked roads shall become straight,     the rough ways smooth.  6And all mankind will see God's salvation.' "

7John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

 10"What should we do then?" the crowd asked. 11John answered, "The man with two tunics should

share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

 

12Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?”

 13"Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them.

14Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely—be content with your pay."

15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.

16John answered them all, "I baptize you with

water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

17His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

18And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.

19But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and all the other evil things he had done,

20Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

• SIGNPOSTS• New Era - God’s Kingdom• Eternal Realities - Pay Attention• Obstacles Removed• Salvation for All• Crossroad Ahead• Repentance• Changed Lives• Godly Sorrow• Jesus - the Messiah• Litmus Test - ACTIONS speak louder than words

• Psalm 51:1-17 (NIV)

For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.

 1 Have mercy on me, O God,        according to your unfailing love;        according to your great compassion        blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,

so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.

 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

 6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit

within me.11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from

me.12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing

spirit, to sustain me.13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn

back to you.14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my

tongue will sing of your righteousness.15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take

pleasure in burnt offerings.17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite

heart, O God, you will not despise.