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PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE
THE APOSTLES OF JESUS CHRIST
THE APOSTLE ANDREW
Introduction
Some mighty big things sometimes can come out of what appear to be some mighty small happenings.
I understand that the mighty Mississippi River begins with the bubbling of a little spring somewhere in Minnesota.
Not only that, but vast areas of Holland have been covered by floods that began with a break in the dikes no larger than a man’s hand.
When we trace great events, great movements, great organizations and great men to their beginnings, we often find their beginnings were small and humble.
In our study of the Apostles of Christ, we first looked at Simon Peter who became a great Apostle of Christ and saw thousands converted on several occasions as he preached.
How would you have like to have been the one who brought Peter to Christ?
Think of all the souls credited to that person’s account. That person was his brother Andrew.
Andrew was almost a total opposite in both personality and temperament than Peter:
While Peter was brash and impulsive, Andrew appears to be quiet and reserved.
While Peter sought the limelight, Andrew kept to himself in the background.
While Peter was the born leader, headstrong, determined and sure of himself, Andrew was more of a follower and a helper.
And so Andrew lived in Peter's shadow.
Leonard Bernstein was once asked what's the hardest instrument in the orchestra to play? He replied that it was “second fiddle.”
The reason for that 's because there is a lot of self seeking in all of us. Sometimes we get to thinking life is all about us, but its not. Our attitude many times is we are interested in “I, me, my, mine – us four and no more.”
I. THE BACKGROUND OF ANDREW.
His name meant “manliness.” He was Simon Peter’s brother so his background and upbringing would have been similar to Peter.
A. His family background.
1. His father was Jona, a man who we know nothing about.
2. He was from the city of Bethsaida, in Galilee. (On the North shore of the sea of Galilee.)
B. His pre-salvation life.
1. As a young Jewish boy he most likely would have been raised in the synagogue schools. (We are not told this for sure, but it is highly likely.)
a. There he would have learned many Scriptures.
b. He would also have learned to value his Jewishness.
2. As a grown man he was involved in the fishing business with his brother Peter. (Matthew 4:18)
3. He and Peter’s family lived in a home in Capernaum. (Mark 1:21,29-30)
Its called “the house of Simon and Andrew.”
II. HOW ANDREW CAME TO KNOW JESUS. (JOHN 1:35-42)
We see that Andrew is mentioned as being one of John the Baptist’s disciples.
He would have heard the fiery preaching of that prophet of God who laid the foundation for the coming of the Messiah!
Since he was one of John’s disciples, it is quite possible that Andrew was even in attendance when Jesus was baptized. We don’t know for sure.
But, we do know this, it was John the Baptist who pointed Andrew to Christ. (Vs 36)
It helps for folks to be around good Bible preaching doesn’t it! It points them to Jesus!
The Scripture says that when John the Baptist pointed Andrew and another of his disciples to Jesus, they followed Jesus. (Vs 37)
When we get pointed to Jesus, then we need to follow Jesus and try to get others to follow Jesus. And that’s exactly what we see happen in Andrew’s life.
III. ANDREW THE SOUL WINNER. (JOHN 1:41-42a)
After following Christ, Christ questioned these two who followed. (Vs 37-38)
They wanted to know where Jesus dwelt and Christ invited them to “Come and see.”
If someone truly wants to know where Jesus dwells and get to know Him more intimately Jesus still says, “Come and see.” There is an open invitation from the Saviour!
I want you to see that Andrew followed Christ and spent some time with Christ and it caused him to recognize for Himself who Jesus was and then it caused him to bring his brother to Christ. (Vs 38, 39)
What a wonderful picture this is of what the Christian life should be like. When we follow Christ and come to know who he is ourselves and as we spend time with Him each day, we should also be involved in bringing others to Christ.
We are not told what Peter’s reaction was when Andrew said, “We have found the Messiah!” Maybe, he had every reason to expect his big brother to dismiss the idea.
But we know that Andrew didn’t stop there. He brought Peter to Jesus!
Andrew must have known that Peter would take charge, yet he brought him anyway—this says much about his character.”
Some of the most difficult people to try to bring to Christ is our loved ones. Some people would rather give hundreds of dollars to foreign missions than to talk to their own kin folk about the eternal destiny of their immortal soul. But that is where Andrew began.
There must have been a joy in his countenance and a fervor in his voice that caused Peter to think there might just be something to what Andrew was saying.
We need to do whatever it takes to bring others to Jesus!
Folks need to sense our joy and fervor as we tell them the story of Jesus!
Andrew didn’t have to be out front. He was perfectly willing to just be himself and quietly serve and do the best he could and keep on bringing others to Jesus.
He never converted three thousand with a single sermon as Peter did on the day of Pentecost, but he was the one who brought Peter.
Do you remember David Livingstone, who carried the light of the Gospel to the Dark Continent of Africa? It was a broken, discouraged, unspectacular, and seemingly unsuccessful preacher who won David Livingstone to Christ as a boy.
Most of us have never heard of Edward Kimball. He was the Sunday School teacher who led D.L. Moody to Christ. He went one day to where Moody worked as a boy in a Boston shoe shop and shared Christi with him.
About the conversation Kimball said, “I never could remember just what I did say: something about Christ and His love; that was all.” He said it was a “weak appeal”. But, Moody gave his heart to Christ through it. As a result, Moody went on to preach great revivals in America and England. He founded Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, which still operates today and has trained thousands of missionaries, evangelists and others. All of this because of one person like Edward Kimball.
Andrew was like that. He never sought the spot light for himself. He was content to point others to Christ. Yet, because he was faithful and unselfish in his witness, Peter came to Christ. That is how our neighbors and friends and family will be won to the Lord, one at a time. We may not be able to reach everyone, but we can reach someone for Christ.
We don’t know what the influence of our bringing just one soul to Jesus Christ might be!
We may never minister to the multitudes, but by ministering the Gospel one by one to individuals we come in contact with, we can make a difference!
III. ANDREW BRINGS A LAD TO JESUS. (JOHN 6:1-9)
We see Andrew wanting to be of service and be of help to the Lord.
Jesus had commanded the disciples to offer the people something to eat. While the other disciples seemed stymied by the request, maybe Andrew alone realized that the Lord would not issue such a command with out making it possible for them to obey.
Andrew did the best he could. It appears that Andrew probably took the time to talk to with the children at this event. Because it seems that he alone knew about the boy with the loaves and fishes. He identified the one source of food available and made sure Jesus knew about it.
Did Andrew understand that no gift is insignificant when it is brought to Jesus?
Probably not before showing the lad to Jesus, but most certainly afterward he did!
You see, it is not the greatness of the gift, but the greatness of the God to whom it is given that matters.
The lesson for Andrew and for us is simple: Jesus can accomplish much with very little.
Most of the time we think that we have so little to offer God, but we’d be surprised at what God can do with what we see as our limited gifts if we just give them over to Him.
IV. ANDREW BRINGS GENTILES TO JESUS. (JOHN 12:20-32)
Some people only wanted to bring certain types of people to Jesus.
Here we see some Greeks are seeking Jesus. They sought out the disciple Philip—maybe because he had a Greek sounding name. For reasons unknown Philip hesitates. He doesn’t immediately lead the Greeks to Christ. Instead he goes to Andrew.
Maybe Philip was timid, maybe he thought he would be bothering Jesus, maybe he didn’t think Jesus would want to meet the Greeks. We don’t know. In any case, Philip must have known Andrew’s reputation for introducing people to Christ.
When Andrew hears about the Greeks, once again he does not hesitate. He immediately introduces them to Jesus. Maybe he just understood that Jesus welcomes us all regardless of our nationality, our Bible knowledge, or our gifts.
Because he brought Peter to Christ and later the Greeks, Andrew is often called the first home missionary—someone who brings people to Christ in his own land—and the first foreign missionary—those who convert people from other countries.
V. ANDREW ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES WITH JESUS. (MARK 13:1ff)
VI. ANDREW IN THE UPPER ROOM. (ACTS 1:12-13)
Legend and tradition says that after Christ’s ascension, Andrew preached in Jerusalem and that he was crucified because of his strong rebuke of Aegeas for adhering to idolatry.
He was nailed to a cross in the form of an X, which is known as the St. Andrews Cross.
He is said to have suffered for 2 days before dying. All the while he preached to those who passed by.
He was still trying to bring others to Jesus even in his death.
Conclusion
Maybe we can’t perform great service for the Lord such as a Peter.
Nevertheless, we can still serve the Lord like an Andrew and bring some Peter’s to the Lord.
Peter may have been the father of the converts at Pentecost, but Andrew was their grandfather!
If we are Christ’s, then our passion should be to lead others to Him!
We must discover our own gifts and use them for the glory of God!
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!