Matthew 3:1-12 This sermon explores the deep longing and anticipation of Advent by connecting Israel’s centuries-long cry for deliverance with John the Baptist’s prophetic announcement that the Kingdom of Heaven has drawn near in the person of Jesus. While Israel had drifted far from God—trading true devotion for religious posturing, political power, and spiritual insincerity—John calls them to genuine repentance: a heartfelt change of mind that leads to a transformed life empowered by the Holy Spirit. The sermon challenges modern believers to examine where we too may resemble the Pharisees and Sadducees, using God’s name without honoring His heart, and invites us to embrace Advent as a season of honest confession, renewed dependence on God, and anticipation of Christ’s return.