1. Old Testament Reading:
Malachi 3:1-4

2. Malachi 3:1 – 4
1 The Lord Almighty answers, “I will send my messenger to prepare the way for me. Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger you long to see will come and proclaim my covenant.”
2 But who will be able to endure the day when he comes? Who will be able to survive when he appears?

3. Malachi 3:1 – 4
He will be like strong soap, like a fire that refines metal. 3 He will come to judge like one who refines and purifies silver. As a metalworker refines silver and gold, so the Lord's messenger will purify the priests, so that they will bring to the Lord the right kind of offerings.
4 Then the offerings which the people of Judah and Jerusalem bring to the Lord will be pleasing to him, as they used to be in the past.

4. Gospel Reading
Luke 3:1 – 6

5. Luke 3:1 – 6
1 It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Emperor Tiberius;
Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,
Herod was ruler of Galilee, and
his brother Philip was ruler of the territory of Iturea and Trachonitis;
Lysanias was ruler of Abilene, 2 and
Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests.
At that time the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.

6. Luke 3:1 – 6
3 So John went throughout the whole territory of the Jordan River, preaching,
“Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins.”

7. Luke 3:1 – 6
4 As it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: “Someone is shouting in the desert:
‘Get the road ready for the Lord;
make a straight path for him to travel!
5 Every valley must be filled up,
every hill and mountain leveled off.
The winding roads must be made straight,
and the rough paths made smooth.
6 The whole human race will see God's salvation!’”

8. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 .

9. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6
Christmas is coming

10. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Christmas is coming
Decorations, lights, goods & music …

11. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Christmas is coming
Decorations, lights, goods & music …
A time to receive gifts

12. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Christmas is coming
Decorations, lights, goods & music …
A time to receive gifts
A time to catchup with families

13. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Christmas is coming
Decorations, lights, goods & music …
A time to receive gifts
A time to catchup with families
And we do so much to prepare

14. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Christmas is coming
Decorations, lights, goods & music …
A time to receive gifts
A time to catchup with families
And we do so much to prepare
Reading = time when the Lord will come

15. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Christmas is coming
Decorations, lights, goods & music …
A time to receive gifts
A time to catchup with families
And we do so much to prepare
Reading = time when the Lord will come
Messenger will come to prepare the way

16. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6
3:1“I will send my messenger to prepare the way for me. Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his Temple.

17. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
3:1“I will send my messenger to prepare the way for me. Then the Lord you are looking for will suddenly come to his Temple.

18. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
V3 So John went throughout …preaching, “Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins.”

19. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
V3 So John went throughout …preaching, “Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins.”

20. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Change of heart
Change of behavior
As one expects the coming judgement
V3 So John went throughout …preaching, “Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins.”

21. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
V4b ‘Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel!

22. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
V4b ‘Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel!

23. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
New paths, new ways
V4b ‘Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel!

24. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
New paths, new ways
V8 When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong?

25. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
New paths, new ways = bring your best to God
V8 When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong?

26. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
V5 Every valley must be filled up, every hill and mountain levelled off.

27. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
Make level paths
V5 Every valley must be filled up, every hill and mountain levelled off.

28. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
Make level paths
Valleys must be filled
V5 Every valley must be filled up, every hill and mountain levelled off.

29. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
Make level paths
Valleys must be filled – top up where you lack
V5 Every valley must be filled up, every hill and mountain levelled off.

30. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
Make level paths
Valleys must be filled
Hills & Mountains must be levelled off
V5 Every valley must be filled up, every hill and mountain levelled off.

31. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
Make level paths
Valleys must be filled
Hills & Mountains must be levelled off – reduce that which is unhelpful, ungodly
V5 Every valley must be filled up, every hill and mountain levelled off.

32. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
Make level paths
How?
V5 Every valley must be filled up, every hill and mountain levelled off.

33. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
Make level paths
How?
Fellowship with God
V5 Every valley must be filled up, every hill and mountain levelled off.

34. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
Make level paths
V5b. The winding roads must be made straight, and the rough paths made smooth.

35. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
Make level paths
Straighten & Smoothen the pathways
V5b. The winding roads must be made straight, and the rough paths made smooth.

36. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
Make level paths
Straighten & Smoothen the pathways
Vision: reflect God’s love, by faithfully following Jesus as we reach out to the community.
V5b. The winding roads must be made straight, and the rough paths made smooth.

37. Malachi 3:1 – 4 & Luke 3:1 – 6 Prepare the way for the Lord
By baptism of repentance
Make a straight path
Make level paths
Straighten & Smoothen the pathways
V6 The whole human race will see God's salvation!’”