40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah.
You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone). John 1:40-42 (NKJV)
Discussion Questions:
- Verse 42 says that Andrew brought Simon Peter to Jesus, what are some ways that you can take unbelievers to Jesus?
- If Jesus was to give you a descriptive nickname to describe your character what would it be?
Comments:
Yesterday we began to look at the opening steps of discipleship by observing the step by step progression of the two disciples. So here is a quick review: first they repented of their sins (they were disciples of John the Baptist and repentance was the essence of his teaching), next they were introduced to the Lamb of God, and then they followed Him and sought to learn more about Him. Today, we get the next step, evangelism. Andrew's first action after discovering that he had met the Messiah was to tell someone. He knew that news that good had to be shared, so he immediately became an evangelist. The only requirement for the job was that he knew the truth about who the Messiah was. He did not know every detail of God's plan; he did know, however, that the Savior of the world had come and was seeking followers, this had to be told. Another important note about this is that Andrew's first mission field was his own family and notice Andrew did not just tell Peter about the Messiah, "he brought him to Jesus".
It is in this passage that we get to meet Peter. His birth name was Simon but Jesus gives him another name, a nickname if you will. Jesus calls him Cephas, which is Aramaic for stone (Peter is from the Greek Petros, meaning rock or stone). This new name was likely puzzling to those who knew Simon because we learn as we read about him that his personality is anything but "rock" solid. However, God knows that Simon will become a foundational leader in the coming Church so He (Jesus) gives him (Simon) a name to reflect the character that God will shape him into.
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Many people think that we can only bring someone to Jesus when a person has a crisis in their life or some dramatic event, but that simply is not true. What about the person who has a healthy family, a wonderful wife or husband, beautiful children, plenty of money, a big house, and all the toys. How do we reach these people who don't see the "need" for religion, nevermind Jesus?
Well, we must show them that they have a big problem. They have offended a Holy God. We bring the law before them, we show them how they have lied, stolen, haven't put God first in everything, how they have disobeyed their parents, how they have been jealous of things, how they have committed adultery by lusting, how they have used God's name as a swear word or in a non-reverent manner.
We let God's law, the 10 Commandments crush them, it leaves them guilty before a Holy God, we warn them of the judgment to come. It is appointed for a man to die once, and then the judgment. Then when their mouth is stopped, and they quit proclaming their own goodness, we give them the cross, we give them the great Gospel we have, and why Christ went to that cross and because he loved us, he paid our fine, and how it pleased God to place that wrath on Christ.
When we talk to a lost person, someone who is not familiar with church or God, we cannot start out with, "God Loves You, or Jesus Loves You." Yes, he does, but that comes after we give them the law and show them that they are guilty. Furthermore, we cannot say that God has a wonderful plan for your life, especially when Jesus says that it costs to follow him, and that there will be trials and tribulations to come because we are followers of Christ.
We must show them how they have broke God's law and God sees them as criminal and that God judges by rigtheousness, not by goodness. The person needs to realize they have a big problem.
We must explain the FULL GOSPEL, and when we leave out words like sin, judgment, wrath, hell, righteousness, we are not being honest with the person we are witnessing to.
Thank you to Team Joy for all you do.
In His service,
Chuck
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