St. Paul’s Sermon 2005

The Third Sunday After the Epiphany - January 23, 2005

Lessons: Isaiah 9:1-4; 1 Cor. 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23

“Ah, to be Andrew”

Introduction:

In this “Epiphany” season, we talk about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and teaching. We hear about his baptism, his early message and especially the call of his disciples. In last week’s Gospel we heard about one of the disciples who doesn’t get mentioned much, and again this week his name pops up again. His name is Andrew, brother of Peter.

I) Some Background on Andrew

The other famous disciple brothers, James and John we hear a lot about. We hear a lot about their buddy Peter; but Peter’s brother, Andrew almost slips out of sight. His name is listed an even dozen times in the NT. In the Book of Acts, Andrew’s mentioned in the list in the upper room, then disappears. Not much to do a sermon about, right? Or is there something to see?

In last week’s text Jesus first calls Andrew, one of the followers of John the Baptist. After Andrew met Jesus in our text from John last week, he went to go get his brother, Simon, son of John. We know him better by a name he'll receive in a few verses, “The Rock”--Peter; Peter son of John. (Somebody once this proves there are Norwegians in the Bible, because he’s "Peter Johnson".)

Now, unless Peter just happened to be in the neighborhood, Andrew must have had quite a hike back to Bethsaida. Fifteen miles perhaps? Maybe twice that! And back again! Just to get his brother!

If we look at the few places the NT talks about Andrew’s actions, a pattern is clear:

- In John 1 he brings Peter to meet Jesus.

- In John 6 he brings a little boy with fish and loaves to meet Jesus.

- In John 12 he’s the first to bring Gentiles to meet Jesus.

Andrew was a bringer!

The only place Andrew ever shows up as more than a name is when he quietly and simply brings someone to meet Jesus! That introduction makes all the difference every time in John's gospel. Each time his is the action that makes the story go on in the gospel of John. In his excitement and love, Andrew simply brings people to meet Jesus.

II) The Call to be Andrew

That brings us to our application:

Hear the message! You're Andrew.

You're the common one. You're the one who may never become famous, but God can use you, too!

--Maybe you don't see yourself as important.

--Maybe you don't have a strong biblical background.

--Maybe you don't speak eloquently. Maybe you get all tongue-tied every time you try to share this good news about Jesus.

--Maybe you get filled with fear, lest someone think you're crazy, or a religious fanatic!

--Maybe you figure you're not religious enough, or holy enough, to be the kind of person God can use.

--Maybe you miss the chances, only to realize later that you had an opportunity to share, and you just blew it. Every time.

--Maybe you can't think of anybody you know that doesn't know the story.

--Maybe highpower witnessing has turned you off, either because you've been on the receiving end, or because you've tried and failed.

--Or maybe all this talk about introducing people to Jesus doesn't make much sense, because you're just not sure that you really know him yourself!

--Or maybe you've got some other excuse or experience I haven't thought of, but I've got to stop somewhere and get on to the point-----

You're Andrew. You can bring people to meet Jesus. That's the point of his appearances in John.

All of his appearances point to one thing. He's not flashy, he's not out doing miracles. Except for a listing of the names of the disciples, he never even shows up again in the New Testament!

He's not a glory hound. But he is two things. He's a guy who has met someone who has touched him deeply. And he's a guy who simply says so.

III) Telling About Who we Love

For years, Brenda has rolled her eyes as I have pulled out my wallet, even to complete strangers, to show them pictures of my boys. Brenda reminded me a couple weeks ago, as we were driving to my twenty-five-year seminary class reunion, "They're not babies anymore. Don't be the first to take out pictures of your kids... Again."

But I love them. I'm proud of them. I want others to know them as I do. They're a gracious gift of God to me, and I'm continually overwhelmed by their love and what neat people they are.

I think all of us get involved in telling people around us about what is we're really fond of in our lives, or things we think are great, whether it's our kids, a dependable car, a good restaurant, a terrific TV show we saw last night, or a good way to get mustard stains out of clothes.

But it's so hard to talk about a loving Lord, isn't it? The term "evangelical" tells us what Andrew did. Simply and innocently he just passed on a bit of good news. "Good News", translated to greek, comes out as "evangel". Evangelicals are "good news ones".

Andrew teaches us just to be ourselves, simple and innocent...and real! Jesus didn't tell the disciples to "Go out all over the world, and impress people with how good you are; it all depends on how slick you are at selling it. Cram it down their throats! And if you don't get results, feel guilty!

No, I don't find those words anywhere. I only hear a Lord who says "Follow me!" He's a lord who forgives, who welcomes broken people. He's a Lord who hangs around with the ones who need him most. And he loves them.

He's a Lord who heals, and breaks through every bondage, even our fear, guilt and stubborness, to meet us right where we're at.

As far as witnessing goes, our call is simply to be real. Our call is to tell of a Lord who is real. We tell of what we've found. Not that we're so great, not that we understand it all, and certainly not that we deserve it! But he is so good! He is so faithful! He is so real!

We needn't be afraid to be real. We needn't be afraid of what they'll think, nor what our qualifications are. We can even turn to our friends, and begin by telling them that we're scared stiff to share. We're afraid we may offend them. We don't want to cram anything down their throats, but we've got something amazing, and honestly wonderful:

--Maybe you've had a prayer answered.

--Maybe you've been through a tough situation, just like the one they're going through, and this is how the Lord cared for you.

--Maybe you've got no good answers, but you can tell of a Lord who has been with you all along, and has never let you go.

But be an Andrew. Be real. Be yourself! Listen to the needs of those around you. Just be real. That's your only call. Only on that can any response to the Great Commission be built.

That's the key to sharing. For some of us, sharing our faith has been an elusive butterfly for many years. Training, methods, booklets, --all those things can be good tools--but the only thing you really need is a heart full of Jesus that honestly cares.

Today, as we go into our prayer time, let's take a moment, and let's think about those people who surround us every day:

-People we love;

-neighbors;

-fellow workers;

-kids at school;

-relatives,

-friends.

Let's remember them by name. Let's pray for a way to be real to them, for Jesus' sake.

Or maybe, today might be a good day to get real. Jesus calls each of us, like those fishermen, to follow him. He's alive, he's real, and he loves you. He's died to prove it.

He wants to fill you with his joy and peace. He's real, and he wants to make you the human being he created you to be. He wants to make you real inside. He wants you to know him as a real friend.

This morning you've heard that story, and his call. He calls you to relax back into him. Come, all you who labor and are heavy laden. Maybe you've got questions. Maybe the future is uncertain. Maybe there's something in the past that seems unforgivable. Oh, he specializes in meeting those sorts of needs.

This morning, as we go to prayer, this is your altar. I invite you to come up here and pray, it's a good feeling. Or stay there; but let's take some time now to ponder the example of this simple fellow Andrew, and his "Eureka!" Let's come now, and think of being real. Amen.

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Andrew’s appearances in the NT:

Matthew 4:18, 10:2

Mark 1:16, 1:29, 3:18, 13:3

Luke 6:14

John 1:40-41, 1:44, 6:8, 12:22

Acts 1:13

January 23, 2005 - Third Sunday After the Epiphany

Isaiah 9:1-4

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan--

[2] The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

[3] You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,

as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

[4] For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered

the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor

1 Cor. 1:10-18

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. [11] My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. [12] What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."

[13] Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? [14] I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, [15] so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. [16] (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) [17] For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel--not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

[18] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Matthew 4:12-23

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. [13] Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali-- [14] to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

[15] "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

the way to the sea, along the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles--

[16] the people living in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death

a light has dawned."

[17] From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

[18] As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [19] "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." [20] At once they left their nets and followed him.

[21] Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, [22] and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

[23] Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

John 1:40-43

Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. [41] The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). [42] And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).

[43] The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."

John 6:8-9

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, [9] "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

John 12:20-23

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. [21] They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." [22] Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

[23] Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.