How to use the Bible Study Guide:

1. Pray. Ask the Lord to open your eyes, that you might behold wondrous things out of his Law (Ps. 119:18).

2. Read Sunday's passage. Feel free to read it more than once, or in another translation.

3. Review the sermon outline. Try to see how the points came out of the text.

4. Answer the questions below. Focus on personal application.

5. Pray. Praise and thank the Lord, then ask him to work in mighty ways.

Remember, we live not by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God (Dt. 8:3; Mt. 4:4).

The Passage: John 1:19–28 ESV

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

"A Voice in the Wilderness" Sermon Outline

Intro: There are three questions that emerge from this exchange between the religious leaders and John the Baptist: (1) Who are you? (2) Why are you baptizing? (3) What's this really all about?

I. John was the forerunner of the Lord. He is the voice Isaiah spoke of in Isaiah 40, the one who would make straight the way of the Lord. Interestingly, in Isaiah, the Lord is Yahweh, the God of Israel. In other words, the people anticipated the return of God to Israel. And in the person of Jesus Christ, he has! Jesus is God and man. John came to prepare his way.

II. John's role was always to point people to Jesus. He never sought fame or recognition for himself, but in humility, he continually pointed people to the Savior.

III. God is sovereign and faithful, working out his plans in Christ. Whether it seems slow or fast, dark or light, God is always working out his plans. And those plans have always centered on the redeeming work of Jesus.

Conclusion: Amidst many voices, heed only those who point you to Jesus. Realize you have a place in God's plan. Speak the truth in love. Point people to Jesus. Be willing to suffer for Christ. Go to Jesus. Live faithfully come what may.

Questions

1. Who is John the Baptist?

- How do we make sense of John's denial that he is Elijah, when Jesus affirmed that he was?

- What stands out to you about John?

- Why is humility often undervalued in our culture today?

- How can we grow in our humility, and in our habits of pointing people to Jesus?

2. Why did he baptize?

- How does the Old Testament inform our understanding of John the Baptist?

- What do the other gospels include about John?

- What's the connection between John's role and Jesus' ministry?

3. What's it all about?

- Think back on the timing. Over 1400 years since Moses spoke of a prophet like him (Dt. 18). Over 700 years since Isaiah prophesied (Isa. 40). Over 450 years since Malachi wrote of "Elijah" coming (Mal. 3). Why do we sometimes feel like God is slow to act, when he has shown us time and again that his plans take time?

- Does a slow timeframe necessarily mean God is not at work? Why or why not?

- What have you learned in the process of waiting?

- What do you hope/pray God will do in this season?