Scripture Focus: Luke 3:3–4

The Lesson in Context

Like John the Baptist, our message may seem fierce. We preach repentance and the need for a new birth. That can be a hard pill for people to swallow. The gospel is unflattering because it essentially resists all human attempts to find a solution within ourselves. Perhaps it is most insulting to human pride because it is a free gift of God. The gospel essentially says, “You are so impoverished and broken that none of your own efforts could ever earn you salvation. The only way you could ever be saved is if salvation is granted to you as a gift from above.” Even if the gospel does not flatter us but starts with ground zero, would we not rather be a part of a plan that works?

Group Discussion

1. What does conviction feel like?

2. What might this look like in our own lives if we were to follow John’s pattern of preparing the way for others to believe in Jesus?

3. Why was it important that Jesus was baptized?

4. Why do you think some churches avoid using the word sin anymore?

5. How can we best share God’s Word with others?