Sermon Cloud

I. Introduction:

The first part of our mission statement as a church reads that we want to lead others into a new beginning with God.  Today our message will touch on the first part of our mission statement.

You have significant introductions in your life... Where you met people and it set your life on a distinct course.  I have had two such introductions, which changed my life forever...  Last Summer- Don Wilson (who then introduced me to Kevin Carlson over at Spring of Life).

Feb. 2000- My friend introduced me to a good looking gal named Lisa Leigh...  My friend Kourtney thought that Lisa and I would hit it off, and, well, 8 years later, three kids later, three cross country trips later, my life went from living in the basement of a house to leading a family of 5.  That introduction back in February of 2000 forever altered my life.  You've had similar introductions.

We're going to look today at a story of Andrew in the Bible...  He was introduced to Jesus, who made an eternal impact on his life...  It didn't just cease with his life, but spilled over to others.  He experienced the most important introduction anyone could go through...

Turn to the Gospel of John (it's the fourth book in the second half of the Bible).  Gospel means good news and it refers to four books which record eye witness accounts of Jesus during his time on earth.

II. Introduction to Jesus:

Three points: introduction to Jesus, invitation from Jesus, & introducing others to Jesus.

A. The story starts off immediately with the question, Who is Jesus? Great question... Some of us know things about Jesus... He's this or that. He is a teacher. He is a healer. He worked miracles. He said profound things like "turn the other check." "Do it unto the least, you have done it unto me. Love you neighbor as yourself." John the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God. We like to talk of Jesus as the Lamb who forgives. Lamb is not the full picture of who Jesus is... He came like a lamb in humility to earth, and because of his lamb-like sacrifice, you and I can experience forgiveness. A lamb is not threatening. A lamb is safe. However, when Jesus returns again in won't be as a lamb, but as a lion.

B. What is this Lamb of God? Gen. 22:7-8 Abraham and Isaac are going to offer a sacrifice. Isaac asks where is the lamb? Abraham answers: God will provide the lamb. In this case God provided a ram. One day he would provide a lamb to save the world!

• Passover- Exodus... The Israelites are told to sacrifice a lamb and wipe the blood over their house, out of obedience to God and protection against God's judgment.  Instead of judgment, God's people receive mercy and deliverance because of the lamb's blood.  Their lives were saved or spared by the Lamb's blood.
• Isaiah 53: He was led like a lamb to slaughter....  He was pierced for our iniquities... that is: our sins.

          Here is the one promised, the one who would deliver the world, the one who would be broken and give his life for your sins. This is personal... This lamb- Jesus- came to earth because of your sin.  Great news- Jesus as the lamb is ready to forgive your sin. 

C. Lamb of God- came to die for your sin, came to sacrifice for you, came to be slaughtered on your behalf. Without the lamb there is certain death and judgment. You will be judged for your sins... all those things that you have done that were against God... Thoughts (anger, lust, selfish), cutting words (gossip to rip others down), greedy actions, lying, stealing (@ work- so small no one will notice... Maybe it's you getting paid for 8 hrs of work but you really only worked 6...), etc. You'll be judged for these unless you let Jesus take your place, absorb the judgment that your actions and thoughts have earned.

So, what do you believe about Jesus?  Would you consider yourself a bystander, an observer, curious, or a follower of Him? Some people aren't quite sure about Jesus...  Agnostic- maybe Jesus is the One?  I just don't know...  Atheist- no way!  I don't think there really are too many.  Theist- yes God...  is He Jesus?

Andrew and another guy (could be John, the writer of this gospel) respond to John the Baptist's words by following Jesus.  Until this time they were students of John the Baptist...  But here before them is the one whom John the Baptist spoke of...   

III. Invitation by Jesus. They start following Jesus based upon John the B's info... Jesus asks them: what do you seek? NIV translates this want... The word in which this was written is seek? Similar... What do you seek? What do you really want?

A. What do you seek? Or, do you even seek Jesus at all? What do you want in life, from work, in relationships, with a family, in your career, what's at the core of your heart that you're really desiring? Is it love, money, recognition, acceptance, respect, meaning of life, a special cause, justice, etc. Jesus cuts to the chase. He would ask each one of us, "What do you seek?" Many of the things we seek have a short shelf life, meaning that are temporary, they don't last.

B. These two guys don't know how to answer... Where are you staying? They want to know who Jesus is. John told them about Jesus and now they are checking Him out for themselves. It's 4 pm as they hang out with him. Notice what Jesus says to them.... He commands them to come and see. Jesus invites and calls people to Himself in the Bible and He does it still today. Come and follow me? The invitation stands. Have you heard His call and responded to it by following Him? Or, did you walk away or remain at arm's-length because you're still not quite sure?

C.  My story from soph. year of college.  I believed in Jesus when I was a child.  My belief was largely built on my parents.  I believed in Jesus because they told me, and my parents were trustworthy people.  My faith in Christ was real, but it wasn't tested.  It wasn't until my sophomore year of college at Western Oregon State where I really sought and investigated Jesus.  It's where I heard again so to speak Jesus calling me to come and see.

This is personal, Come and see.  How have you responded to Jesus' invitation in your life?    

Their conclusion after a day with Jesus: He's the messiah, the Christ!  The Messiah is God's sent one who would bring salvation.  He would be the prophet, the king, and priest that Israel always wanted.  He would be a leader better than Moses and wiser than Solomon.  Essentially He would be the one that they needed, to bring about deliverance and salvation from our greatest threats: our sin, death, selfishness, ego, pride, arrogance, deception, fighting, irresolvable conflict, etc. 

IV. Introduce others to Jesus. When you find Jesus, when you discover who He is and your need for HIM and when you trust your life to Him... Then, you don't want to keep Him to yourself. You want to share Him with others. You want others to know of Him. He's great and so you introduce others to Him. Andrew found the messiah and brought his brother Peter to Jesus. Can't keep it to yourself...

A. This is the first part of our mission as a church. We want to lead others into a new beginning with God...

B. This is why we are here as a church. We want to grow closer to Jesus and lead others to Him.

C. Sometimes we feel afraid or not prepared to do this. Don't let guilt stop you, fear, or lack of preparation.

D. Look how prepared Andrew was? He had spent not even a full day or so with Jesus. He didn't explain everything to his brother Simon, but what he did do was bring Simon to Jesus. This our responsibility and privilege. We are simply to bring others to Jesus. I think of a few guys in our church. Two guys who are only months old in the faith and they are probably the two most looking to tell others about Jesus. They look for those opportunities because Jesus is still a fresh reality to them. We need to be reminded by them and encouraged by them to do the same!

E. Introduce others to Jesus. Here's Jesus. This is who He is and what He's done in my life. *He has given me purpose when I was struggling to know what life was about.

*He forgave me of all the junk in my life so that now, being truly and totally forgiven, I can put my head on my pillow at night with a clear conscience and sleep in peace.  That is t what Jesus does and when you experience that or are reminded of this, then it gives you motivation and reason to introduce others to Jesus.

V.         Conclusion:

            Have you been introduced to Jesus?  How have you responded to Him?

Through Jesus' forgiveness as the Lamb of God, you can start a new beginning with God right now. 

Perhaps you already know Jesus, but you have hesitated in introducing others to Him maybe because of guilt you feel, fear of what others may think, or something else.  God wants to work through you to introduce others to Jesus.  Are you ready and willing?  It just may be that your introduction of someone to Jesus may alter their life forever.  Don't hold back, but tell others about the Jesus who is changing your life.