The Ministry of John the BaptistPastor KeoneMark 1:1-8

Mark 1:1-3 1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" {2 Mal. 3:1} -- 3 "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" {3 Isaiah 40:3}

Mark 1:4-54 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

John’s Role• Prepare people for the coming of the Lord• Fulfilled role by preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and baptizing

Mark 1:66 John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

John’s Role• Prepare people for the coming of the Lord• Fulfilled role by preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and baptizing

John’s Lifestyle•Different from the people of his time

Mark 1:7-87 And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

John’s Role• Prepare people for the coming of the Lord• Fulfilled role by preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and baptizing

John’s Lifestyle•Different from the people of his time

John’s Message• Pointed people to the Coming One, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit

Our Role• Prepare people to meet Jesus• Fulfill role by making disciples of all nations through baptizing them and teaching them to obey

Our Lifestyle•Different from the people of this time

Our Message

"The Change" by Steven Curtis Chapman

Well I got myself a T-shirt that says what I believeI got letters on my bracelet to serve as my IDI got the necklace and the key chainAnd almost everything a good Christian needs, yeah

I got the little Bible magnets on my refrigerator doorAnd a welcome mat to bless you before you walk across my floorI got a Jesus bumper stickerAnd the outline of a fish stuck on my carAnd even though this stuff's all well and good, yeahI cannot help but ask myself--

What about the changeWhat about the differenceWhat about the graceWhat about forgivenessWhat about a life that's showingI'm undergoing the change, yeahI'm undergoing the change

Well I've got this way of thinking that comes so naturallyWhere I believe the whole world is revolving around meAnd I got this way of living that I have to die to every single day'Cause if God's Spirit lives inside of me, yeahI'm gonna live life differently

I'm gonna have the changeI'm gonna have the differenceI'm gonna have the graceI'm gonna have forgivenessI'm gonna live a life that's showingI'm undergoing the change

What about the changeWhat about the differenceWhat about the graceWhat about forgivenessI want to live a life that's showingI'm undergoing the change

Our Role• Prepare people to meet Jesus• Fulfill role by making disciples of all nations through baptizing them and teaching them to obey

Our Lifestyle•Different from the people of this time

Our Message• Points others to Jesus