Hope inspires us and helps us persevere during tough times, while giving us peace that surpasses all understanding. Throughout history, brave men and women have inspired others through hope—hope of a better life, hope for civil rights or liberties, hope for freedom. From Martin Luther King Jr. to Rosa Parks, to Joshua of the Old Testament or the apostle Paul—these individuals have made bold statements that have declared hope. There was perhaps no greater beacon of hope in history, however, than John the Baptist. He proclaimed to the people the greatest message of hope humankind would ever know—Jesus Christ in the flesh, coming as their Savior.

In this powerful six-week series titled Forerunner, people are invited to discover the “behind-the- scenes” story of how John the Baptist was prophesied for centuries to be the forerunner for Jesus Christ. Each week of the series explores passages from the Old Testament, which foreshadow not only the forerunner’s coming in John the Baptist, but also the coming of Messiah and how the two are intertwined.

This series will help show us how to declare hope to their communities by serving as a forerunner for Christ. Just like John’s ministry pointed to Jesus, so should our lives point to Christ.