John the Baptist demands that those seeking baptism 'bear fruits worthy of repentance.' He is not talking apples and oranges. A new way is coming and he tells what that requires from everyone. In Ezekiel, God's vision of peace and security for all is related. God's Kingdom is the subject in both.
John berates those who have come to him for imagining that, because they are 'the children of Abraham,' they are in God's good stead. Not at all, John scolds them.
The Baptist then responds to the questions of sinners, in general and in particular - tax collectors and soldiers. In doing so, we need to look beyond the basic prescriptions for new behavior. John is teaching about God's Kingdom ways and challenges the powers of the world which lead to such suffering by the poor, weak, and vulnerable.
Ezekiel's vision of a transplanted cedar is rich in imagery, but includes the curious "bear fruit" line about a tree that bears little "fruit." Looking a bit closer, we find that God's Kingdom is reflected in a manner than John the Baptist would understand.
Find out more about what the "fruits" refer to - it's more than you think - and watch the sermon video below.
John berates those who have come to him for imagining that, because they are 'the children of Abraham,' they are in God's good stead. Not at all, John scolds them.
The Baptist then responds to the questions of sinners, in general and in particular - tax collectors and soldiers. In doing so, we need to look beyond the basic prescriptions for new behavior. John is teaching about God's Kingdom ways and challenges the powers of the world which lead to such suffering by the poor, weak, and vulnerable.
Ezekiel's vision of a transplanted cedar is rich in imagery, but includes the curious "bear fruit" line about a tree that bears little "fruit." Looking a bit closer, we find that God's Kingdom is reflected in a manner than John the Baptist would understand.
Find out more about what the "fruits" refer to - it's more than you think - and watch the sermon video below.
| 12-16-18-sermon.mp3 |
| 12-16-18-ff-answers.pub.pdf |
| 12-16-18-bearing_fruit_thats_worthy.pdf |