Sermon Notes

Matthew 11:1–19 NIV
¹ When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
² Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples ³ and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” ⁴ And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. ⁶ And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
⁷ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is he of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
¹¹ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, ¹⁴ and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
¹⁶ But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
¹⁷ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

John 1:26–34 NIV
²⁶ John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, ²⁷ even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” ²⁸ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ³¹ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” ³² And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

Isaiah 61:1 NIV
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

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God does not always work the way we expect or hope.

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Series Resources

Dive deeper into the Gospel of Matthew with additional resources from our teaching team.

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Discussion Igniters

(1)  Read Matthew 11:1–3.
Why do you think John asked this question?
Have you ever wondered the same?  

(2)  Read Matthew 11:4–6, Isaiah 26:19, Isaiah 35:5–6, and Isaiah 61:1.
How does Jesus point to what he was doing to show that he was the Messiah John was waiting for? 

(3)  What is significant about the section Jesus chooses to leave out?
If you were in John’s position, how would you have received that?

(4)  Read Matthew 11:6–19.
Has God ever worked in a way that was contrary to your hopes or expectations?
How did you work through that?

(5)  How can we focus on God’s faithfulness and promises rather than being discouraged by what seems unmet or unexpected?