The Champion Comes Series

[Statements in brackets are for the preacher not the preaching. They are notes that reflect ideas based on the homiletics recommended in "Preach with No Pants" (https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/preach-with-no-pants-john-allen-sermon-on-inductive-250167) which proposes an inductive-deductive five-point outline: Trip, Tension, Twist, Truth, Triumph.]

[EXEGETICAL Subject: The ministry of John the Baptist...]

[EXEGETICAL Complement: ...was to prepare people for Jesus.]

[HOMILETICAL Subject: Your life...]

[HOMILETICAL Complement: ...should change because of Jesus.]

[HOMILETICAL IDEA: Your life (thoughts, words, actions) should change because of Jesus.]

[TWIST - The Clue to the Idea, Most Startling Idea]

What then should we do with our lives (v. 10)? What is the purpose of your life? What are you here for?

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[TRIP/UPSET]

No one near death ever said, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office."

What will be your biggest regret at the end of your life? When you get to heaven Jesus will ask, "What have you done with the life I gave you?"

[TENSION - Provoking the Questions, Opposites of the Truth]

"But that's a hard question," you say. Life is hard! Life is complicated.

According to one web site (https://spines.com/the-best-selling-book-genres-and-why-they-succeed/, accessed 2025-07-11) the top selling genres are: romance, mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, and self help. Of course, religious books, especially the Bible, have always been top sellers. All of these books mean people are trying to find the meaning of life.

(Verses 3, 5, 7-9) We make mistakes. We have regrets. We are not satisfied with our lives. We want life to be good and right. But it's not.

[TWIST - The Clue to the Idea, Most Startling Idea]

So, what should we do? What is the purpose of your life? Do you know that's a very biblical question! It came up 2000 years ago. After 400 years of silence from God, John the Baptist shows up, people are excited, and they say. "What then should we do?"

Turn to Luke, chapter 3. We will see here that it takes actual, measurable change. What kind of change?

[TRUTH - Preaching the Bible's Solution]

1-3 Look down through the history of this planet and see how momentous the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar is! That's the year John the Baptist introduced the greatest person who ever walked on this earth. In verse 3 John is encouraging us to make changes, to repent, and to leave your sins behind because of the forgiveness God lavishly provides us at horrific cost to himself.

4-6 By quoting Isaiah John proclaiming hope. "It will get better." But it must come through Jesus, not your job or your money or your family or friends.

Furthermore, this meaningful, satisfying life comes by knowing the Bible. The better you know the Bible, the better the quality and happiness of your life.

7-9 Look at the crowds that come to John. It is the same way we come to Jesus. Where do you fit?

Sometimes we come like the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matt 3). We make excuses and justify ourselves. We say, "Well, I go to church ... pretty regularly. I read my Bible ... pretty irregularly." At the end of your life you cannot offer such excuses. And Jesus will not accept them. Be honest with yourself and with God (Heb 4:13). We need help.

10-14 Let's go back with the crowds to our question, "What then should we do?" What should you do with your life? John lists some right things to do that are relevant to each group. You have temptations and challenges. If you can't think of anything, do what the old evangelist said, "Well, guess at it!"

Are you generous like the first group? Are you greedy like the tax collectors? Are you honest and fair? Maybe the hardest question is, Are you content with your pay? Paul said it's a secret and it takes the mighty power of God (Php 4:11-13)!

For more commands to obey to make your life mean something, just turn to the Epistles and start reading.

One caution: Make sure this is more than just external obedience. It has to come from your heart. To have the right conduct you must also have the right beliefs, attitudes, thoughts. Your words will reveal your heart (Matt 12:33-37). Dr. J. Vernon McGee on the "Through the Bible" series translated it this way, "What's well of the heart comes up in the bucket of the mouth."

15-17 Do this and you will be filled with anticipation and wonder. John tells the people, "Jesus is coming!" You will anticipate the wonders of Jesus. He wants to become more a part of your life. And that's the best thing that can happen in life.

Be hopeful because God began a good work in you and will keep at it right to the end (Php 1:6). He is "the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort" to make your salvation reality in every moment of your life (Php 2:12-13). And he does that because he wants to. It makes him happy!