RAP SHEET LUKE 3:15-20

SERIES: FULFILLED: The Chosen King

SERMON: Spirit & Fire

SCRIPTURE: Luke 3:15–20

REVIEW

This week, we concluded our three-part look at John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus and a template for the church.

Crowds came out to John, wondering if he might be the Messiah. Their longing was genuine—they yearned for someone to rescue them from Rome. John made it clear: he wasn’t the one.

He baptized with water, but Jesus was coming with a baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire.

John described Jesus as in another category of power, so much greater that John wasn’t even worthy to do the lowliest slave’s task of untying his sandals. John knew his role and pointed everyone to Jesus.

He warned that Jesus would baptize the whole world—those who believed with the Spirit, and those who rejected Him with fire. Like wheat and chaff, Jesus would separate what was fruitful from what was useless.

Even though John’s words were heavy judgment, fire, unquenchable wrath—Luke reminds us this was good news! Why? Because what we deserve is judgment, but Jesus came to take that fire on Himself so we could be baptized into life.

Finally, we saw the contrast between John and Herod. John represented humility, repentance, and radical focus on Jesus. Herod represented pride, rebellion, and rejection—and his story ended in shame and judgment.

APPLY

John’s message forces us to ask: Where is your hope really placed?

• Is it in rituals, traditions, or a vague spirituality?

• Is it in people—pastors, leaders, influencers, movements—hoping they can save you?

• Is it in wealth, success, or pleasure—the “kingdoms of this world” like Herod trusted in?

Or is your hope fully anchored in Jesus—the Chosen King who baptizes with the Spirit, who brings life, and who will one day return to set everything right?

Think about your daily life:

• Where do you run when the “fires” of life get hot?

• What keeps creeping onto the throne of your heart?

• If someone looked at your schedule, your spending, your reactions—what would they say your hope is really in?

Big Question: What is ONE WAY you are going to demonstrate this week that your hope is in Jesus and not in anything else?

PRAY

• Thank God that Jesus came to take the fire of judgment on Himself so we could be baptized in the Spirit.

• Ask God to reveal the places where your hope is misplaced—in people, things, or rituals.

• Invite the Spirit to re-center your hope in Jesus alone.

• Pray that our church would live with urgency, like John, preparing the way for others to meet the Chosen King.