People prepared for the Lord.

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; **to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.** (Luke 1:17) 1/ A people prepared for the gospel. 2/ A people prepared for the Lord. 3/ A people prepared for the Lord to service in the church. **Sermon Summary:** The sermon centres on the divine preparation of a people ready for the Lord, drawing from the prophetic role of John the Baptist as a forerunner who fulfilled Scripture, preached repentance, baptized in anticipation of Christ's work, confronted sin, and pointed directly to Jesus as the Lamb of God. It unfolds in threefold application: First, individuals must be prepared for the Gospel through a deep, personal awareness of their sin and spiritual need, which the Holy Spirit instils through conviction and longing; Second, believers are prepared for the Lord's return through faith in Christ, a life of sanctification, and a growing anticipation of His coming, marked by union with Him and liberation from the law's condemnation; Third, God equips and calls individuals for service—whether in ministry, diaconate, or other roles—through a lifetime of spiritual formation, even in past experiences, so that each may be willing in the day of His power. The overarching truth is that God alone prepares His people, not by human effort, but by grace, through the Word and the Spirit, to receive the Gospel, to be with Christ, and to serve Him faithfully.