1. ICEL Ron Michener 4 December 2015 Title: Preparing the Way for the King Scripture: Luke 3: 1-6 (NIV)

2. ICEL 1. Introduction

3. ICEL 2. Luke 3:1-6 A. Times and context Luke 3: 1-2

4. ICEL Luke 3: 1-6 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 wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

5. ICEL 2. Luke 3:1-6 A. Times and context Luke 3: 1-2 B. A Sense of Urgency Luke 3: 3-6

6. ICEL Luke 3: 1-6 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. 5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. 6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”

7. ICEL 3. John’s message of hope: The King will deliver His people! A. A Kingdom with a change of mind and heart “Think Different!” B. A Kingdom conquering fear and death

8. ICEL 4. Preparing the way for Jesus today: Practicing and Celebrating the fruit of a new Kingdom A. Celebration preparations as Kingdom interruptions B. Surprise interruptions and Kingdom opportunities

9. ICEL 5. Conclusion Preparing the way for the King this Advent season is doing this: Showing “God with us” to others and celebrating Jesus' radical, humble Kingdom when all hope seems to be lost.