2024 Advent Series
Sermon 2: LOVE Prepares the Way
Mark 1:1-8 - Victory Fellowship
December 8, 2024 – Rev. Roderick Grabski
2nd Sunday of Advent
I. One Word Advent Series: Hope, Love, Joy, Peace, then GOD with US
II. Introduction: Different Perspectives of the Gospels
• Matthew: genealogy of Jesus thru line of David & Abraham
• Mark: The ministry of John the Baptist announcing the coming of Jesus
• Luke: the birth of John the Baptist
• John: the beginning of the world
a. Same story – but the gospel writers each record their divinely inspired account of the coming of Jesus Christ
b. They all agree that God acted out of LOVE to provide a way for us to be reconciled to Him.
III. RELATING THE TEXT: John the Baptizer's message, preparing the way of the Lord – as Isaiah prophesied that John would do:
a. …make straight the paths
b. …repent of your sins
c. …be baptized
d. …and live holy lives devoted to God.
IV. Conclusion: Jesus is the Way
a. Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.
(Invitation to receive or recommit to Christ)
PRAYER
SONG: Born in Bethlehem (Third Day)
Mark 1:1-8:
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; 3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'" 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
