Have You Made Christ's Paths Straight? - The Ministry of John the Baptist

I. EXPOSITION FOR CONTEXT, Luke 3:1-20
A. Ministry of John Begins, vv1-2
1. August Caesar died August 19, 14 AD
a. Michael Grant, The Twelve Caesars, ©1996, pp. 79, 86

B. Messenger with God’s Message, vv3-6
1. Isa 40:3-5
2. Mal 4:5-6; Luke 1:17

C. Messages of God’s Wrath to Come, vv7-14

D. Magnificent Expectation of the Christ to Come, vv15-17

E. Malicious Imprisonment by Herod, vv18-20
1. Matt 14:3-4; Mark 6:17-18

II. EXHORTATION FROM THE TEXT, Luke 3:4
A. Preparing the Way of the Lord
1. preparation for repentance, v3a
a. every mountain & hill made low, v5b (Psa 97:5; Jas 4:6)
2. preparation for forgiveness, v3b
a. every valley filled, v5a (Psa 23:4)
3. preparation for gospel grace, vv5c-6
a. crooked become straight, v5c [Regeneration] (Ezek 36:26)
b. rough places leveled, v5d [Rest] (Matt 11:28-30)
c. all flesh shall see, v6 [Revelation] (Phil 2:5-11)

B. Straight Paths for the Professing Believer
Have you made Christ’s paths straight?

C. Straight Paths for the Penitent Sinner
Have you made straight paths for Christ?