Luke 3: Unexpected

2:52 – Luke 3: Unexpected

Jesus doesn’t start in the
place we expect

It was now the fifteenth year of the
reign of Tiberius… At this time a message from God came to John son of
Zechariah, who was living in the wilderness. Then
John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that
people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and
turned to God to be forgiven. LUKE 3:1-3 NLT  

God gets close when we get real

The Lord
is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.  PSALM 145:18 NLT

The Lord
is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.  PSALM 34:18 NLT

So let us
come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy,
and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.  HEBREWS 4:16 NLT

When the crowds came to John for
baptism, he said, “You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee God’s coming
wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have
repented of your sins and turned to God.  
Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of
Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of
Abraham from these very stones. The crowds asked, “What should we
do?” John
replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share
it with those who are hungry.” Even
corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, “Teacher, what should we
do?” He replied, “Collect no more taxes than
the government requires.” “What
should we do?” asked some soldiers.  John
replied, “Don’t extort money or make false accusations. And be content with
your pay.” LUKE 3:7-14 NLT

He is a voice shouting in the
wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him! The valleys will be filled, and
the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the
rough places made smooth. And
then all people will see the salvation sent from God.’” LUKE 3:4-6 NLT

Jesus doesn’t start with
the people we expect

“One day when the crowds were being
baptized, Jesus himself was baptized.” LUKE 3:21 NLT   

I
desperately need a community that desperately needs a savior

“… the
son of Adam, the son of God.”   LUKE
3:23-38 NLT   

Jesus doesn’t end his
ministry where it was expected to end

“And you will be my witnesses,
telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.” ACTS 1:8 NLT

God will invite me to write
the end to this story


COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

  1. Explain a time that you had to ask for help and if/how it was difficult for you.
  2. If we have a tough time asking each other for help, how does that relate to asking God for help?  Do we have some of the same fears, hesitations, or resistance to approaching God in our moments of need?
  3. Read and discuss this verse: “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” HEBREWS 4:16 NLT
  4. How does admitting we have needs become easier when we have a community that encourages us to be real with ourselves, God and each other?
  5. All people need to find the good news of Jesus, both here in Riverside and around the world.  How have we done at inviting people into a community of grace like the one we have, or has the story stopped with us? 
  6. How have we done at “going to” those who are needy like Jesus went out to those at the Jordan (whether that is physically going, having conversations, giving or praying)? How can we be a part of finishing God’s global story?

My Notes