Luke 3:3-9

"Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, "He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord's coming! Clear the road for him!..."

"When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, "You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you....."

"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..."

"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."

"The voice crying in the wilderness demanded a way for the Lord, a way prepared, and a way prepared in the wilderness. I would be attentive to the..."

Inspirational illustration of Luke 3:8 -- Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

Why put something like this on your Christmas list? Larry Davies reminds of our need to repent and get our hearts and behavior right if we are going to prepare the way for Jesus at Christmas.

You mean he means me? Patrick Odum confronts us with the words of John the baptist about repentance and how we need to face ourselves honestly in the mirror.

The season has a reason Centuries ago, in a small unimportant town, our salvation began with a baby's cry. We continue to search and hope for: Peace, goodwill toward men.

"Dear Friend, My cousin John the Baptist "appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Mark 1:4 NIV)......"

What has repentance led you to change? Repentance leads us to life change, not to just doing the same ol' relgious thing each week.

Can you actually feel good about your sorrow for sin? This is an honest look at repentance and sorrow and life change, and reminds us that God's goal isn't our sorrow, but our reformed life.