43 Preaching/Teaching: John 1:43-51
Notes
Transcript
Will you role the DICE? : Fresh Vision of Discipleship!
Will you role the DICE? : Fresh Vision of Discipleship!
EOT-Jesus met his first disciples
EOS-We must role the dice
DDS?Will you take a step in rolling the dice?
Intro Trevor: Little did I now Trevor was going to role the dice. We were shooting free throws after practice. We both had ambitions to play college basketball and all the sudden he asks me about Jesus Christ? WHAT??? dIn the middle of practice. Each practice I had a goal of making 96 out of 100 free throws. Give me the ball. Trevor and I had been friends throughout all of high school and not once had we talked about God. Give me the ball man.
What I did not know is Trevor had went to a basketball camp the previous summer and the guy who led it was a Christian. One night they shared the good news about Jesus and Trevor recieved the gift of God and was now a Christian. he did not know much but he had an excitement a passion to make a difference and now here we were shooting free throws and he asked me this question.
Have you ever rolled the DICE?
and tried to share with a friend about Jesus.
Have you ever not rolled the dice when you know you were supposed to?
Today we are going to meet some of Jesus’ first disciples and one thing is for sure they rolled the DICE.
There are a couple of reasons that I am using this DICE phrase, because sharing our faith with someone period is risky. It is a gamble. Are they going to accept me, will it ruin our friendship. Especially now where it is proper to be politically correct. But secondly because when I worked for a campus ministry we had this Acronym called DICE.
DISCIPLESHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF EVANGELISM
There are a lot of essentials to growing as a disciple: Today I want us to see that one of those is inviting people to come and see Jesus.
But the reality is the longer you are a christian it is a lot easier to stay around other believers and not get out of our comfort zone and never engage those who need Christ the most.
What I have even seen in my own life is the longer I have been a Christian the easier it is to be get comfortable. T
But I want to have the heart of God to reach those far from God as Charles Spurgeon said:
“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned or unprayed for.” CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON
“If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned or unprayed for.” CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON
Today I want to give us a fresh vision of discipleship so that we will live lives that roll the DICE for Jesus.
Today I want to give us three specific challenges so that we will role the dice:
Challenge #1
We roll the DICE when:
We roll the DICE when:
1. we prioritize presence (35-39).
1. we prioritize presence (35-39).
Why did these first followers prioritize presence?
They had a great teacher (35-37)
They had a great teacher (35-37)
Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,
Discipleship was a part of the culture then. You learned from and wanted to become like your teacher.
These disciples had John as a teacher.
Illustration of friend who went to Isreal and they did an exercise you did what your rabbi did, at one point they walked in the water with all there clothes on. Why because there Rabbi did. You did not want to just learn from your rabbi, you wanted to become like your rabbi.
and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
Last week we talked about how our greatest need is forgiveness: Lamb of God illustration.
Isaiah 53:7 “He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.”
This is the second time Jesus uses the term lamb of God.
One other place this picture of the Lamb of God.
The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
This great teacher, John the Baptist lead them to the greatest teacher of all time.
As great of a teacher is I want to be my greatest ambition is to point you to the greatest teacher. If I say the fanciest thing in the world and it does not hold up to what the Bible says, take the Bible everytime.
A disciple is willing to learn and teach
(35-37)-The transfer of discipleship
Howard Hendricks-Would only disciple someone for 2 yrs, because he knew his limitations. He did not want to reproduce his weaknesses. .
We can get possessive.
John was not possessive.
Could you picture a pastor saying hey this church is not right for you, you need to go to this church. This is not our natural inclination our natural inclination is to hold onto people.
Goal of discipleship-help someone be as much like Jesus as possible.
John was not insecure. How do we become secure: = Follow Jesus.
How did they prioritize presence?
They asked for time (38)
They asked for time (38)
And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”
Notice Jesus is always asking people questions. I think he wants people to really think about why we do what we do. He wants to reveal hearts.
The Gospel according to John 3. Jesus Gains His First Disciples (1:35–42)
The two disciples of the Baptist begin their response with Rabbi. The word literally means ‘my great one’, but was a common term of honour addressed by a student to his master, his teacher (as John’s explanatory aside points out, for the sake of his Greek readers).
Could you picture asking to spend time from the very son of God.
Time I met Bert and talked to him for hours, NFL player. Afterwards I was like I just talked to a legit NFL player. I was shocked.
They asked the King of Kings for time and he said yes.
Isn’t this amazing about God. If you are not prioritizing God’s presence right now it is not because he does not want you. It is because you do not want to be with him. Or you are not making time for him.
They came and saw (39)
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
Can you picture what it would be like to spend a full day with Jesus.
Do you remember a time in your walk with God where you just wanted to be in his presence.
Are you prioritizing time with God right now?
You are not going to roll the dice if you are not prioritizing time with the King of Kings!
Challenge #2
We roll the DICE when:
We roll the DICE when:
2. We invite (40-42).
2. We invite (40-42).
One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).
He invited those closest to him.
He invited those closest to him.
After spending day with Jesus he was convinced this is the one we were looking for that they talked about for so long.
Jesus is described as:
The lamb of God (36) John the baptist
The messiah (41) Andrew
Him who it was written about
This is him. Let me tell my brother.
This is what happened to Trevor after he became a Christian. I have to tell others.
The Gospel according to John 3. Jesus Gains His First Disciples (1:35–42)
The first thing Andrew did (cf. Additional Notes) was to find his brother and announce, We have found the Messiah. He thus became the first in a long line of successors who have discovered that the most common and effective Christian testimony is the private witness of friend to friend, brother to brother.
Many times those closest to us are the most natural to invite to Christ. I love the excitement of new believers.
it’s raw
it;s fresh
Heather was in a Bible study one time with a girl who had just come to Christ and she said Damn that is good.
This is why Trevor tried to share with me because when you spend time with Jesus you can’t help but invite others into it. Trevor also invited his family to Christ. Trevor’s dad left when he was young and was raised by his mom and grandparents. After he came back from that camp where he became a Christian he shared with his mom and grandparents.
He is so excited about his new found faith that he does not have to share he gets to share. He just invited his brother to Jesus. here is what is amazing about this. Andrew is the one we here less about in scripture. But the reality is that there is now Peter without an Andrew. Peter literally becomes the disciple who is closest to Jesus.
He communicated to the best of his ability and what happened he led a person who would go on to be ginormous leader of the faith.
Have you invited those who are closest to you to Jesus?
What are your circles?
Family
Work
hobbies
This year we are hoping to double our launch team, we want 50 committed adults to be a part of renovations so we can make more disciples. A big role we have to play in this is invite people to Jesus. Because even more important than having people at this church is having this church impact people for Jesus.
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
Jesus the master sculpter is going to make Peter into his rock. Notice at this time and in much of the gospels this characterization would not be true of him, but this is who he would become because Andrew brought him to Jesus.
Peter would struggle much of Jesus time on earth. But he would go onto be one of the key leaders of the Church. You know how he died.
He said crucify me upside down because I am not worthy to die like my master.
Why did this happen. Simply because a brother invited his brother to the Messiah.
Will you invite others.
Who are you praying for right now.
I get that this can be very intimidating at times: but we want to make this as easy as possible.
Some simple wins.
Invite people to Church or Bible study.
invite people to our events, next week we are having a cookout at the Wong’s.
Be an Inviter.
Challenge #3
We roll the DICE when:
We roll the DICE when:
3. We follow (43-51).
3. We follow (43-51).
God wants us to follow him for a lifetime
God wants us to follow him for a lifetime
The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.”
Here is what Jesus said when we follow him
Matthew 4:19 “And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.””
Over Covid Trevor’s grandpa died: this was a man who was more of a dad than a grandpa to Trevor. But Trevor got to see his grandpa come to faith in Jesus because he became a follower of Jesus. I remember when I graduated my Uncle got me a Canon camera. And I would go around taking pictures of people. I would get up in people’s faces with that camera. Death always sucks but at the funeral we got to celebrate beacause Trevor’s grandpa was a believer in Christ.
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
Remember people were looking for the greater Moses.
Notice all the different names they used for Jesus in this passage.
Everyone is a candidate
Everyone is a candidate
Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
This is like banter: Can anything good come out of Dallas. Nathanael is a skeptic.
Notice this beautiful picture of discipleship. Jesus told Andrew come and see, and now Andrew tells Nathanael come and see.
Discipleship is reproducible we become like Jesus.
When we are following Jesus we start doing what Jesus does.
We have so much excitement that even the person who is the most unlikely candidate becomes a candidate.
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”
Connected to Jacob. Jesus gave him a compliment.
God’s qualities are amazing
God’s qualities are amazing
Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
God knows everything.
Just think about that for a second.
Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
IF we are going to roll the dice we need to stop thinking that even the most unlikely candidates cannot come to Christ.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Will you roll the dice?
Because one man had a vision to use his basketball skills, Don Eddy, to roll the dice literally generations of a family’s life have been changed.
I wonder how many other people lives where changed by Don Eddie.
Trevor after becoming a believer reached out to his dad who was non existent in his life.
His entire’s side of his dad’s family is non religious which means they are agnostic and atheist. Trevor has build that bridge back and forgiven his dad and no he has a relationship with that side of the family.
Church as we go forward in year two: I want to ask us will you roll the dice.
I challenged you to three thigns, because I am confident if you do these three things you will roll the dice
Pursue his presence
Invite others
Follow Jesus.
Repetition:
(29 & 36) John announcing Jesus as the Lamb of God.
Philip repeated Jesus words to Nathaniel (Come and See)
Discipleship = life on life-they wanted to stay with Jesus.
DICE
DISCIPLESHIP IN CONTEXT EVANGELISM
Jesus is described as:
The lamb of God (36) John the baptist
The messiah (41) Andrew
Him who it was written about
The Son of God. Nathaniel
King of Israel (49)
Jesus interaction:
38-Asked Questions: What do you seek?
39-Invited: Come and you will see
42-Renamed Peter
43-Invited Philip-Follow Me
47-Jesus dialogued with Nathaniel -An Israelite whom their is no deceit
50-Jesus basically says you ain’t seen nothing yet
Possible Resources:
That’s my king
The disciples interaction with Jesus:
35-They were with John
37-They were willing to leave John for Jesus .
Application Question: What do you need to leave so you can follow Jesus?
John was holding onto something good that could keep him from the best.
38-They literally followed Jesus and dialogued.
39-They went to where he was staying. Remained with him all day.
40-Andrew-Followed Jesus
41-Andrew went to find his brothers
42-Andrew brought Peter
43-Jesus invited Philip to follow him: Come follow me
44-These disciples knew each other.
What was it about their hometown that attracted Jesus to it.
45-Philip took initiative to look for Nathanael
Why
They had struck gold
The one Moses is talking about
46-Nathanael Questioned
Honest question
Philip is doing exactly what Jesus said to him: COME AND SEE-Reproducible from what Jesus did to him.
48-Nathanael asked (HOW?)
Nathanael professed
Potential Illustration of discipleship:
Friend who visited Israel and he had to do whatever the Rabbi does, including walked in water!!!
The name change of Peter
The Gospel according to John 3. Jesus Gains His First Disciples (1:35–42)
The Epilogue (Jn. 21:18–19) tells us a little of what would happen to Peter. Here in John 1, however, the focus is much less on what this name change means for Peter, than on the Jesus who knows people thoroughly (cf. vv. 43–51), and not only ‘sees into’ them (cf. 47–48) but so calls them that he makes them what he calls them to be.
How the gospel has always spread
The Gospel according to John 4. Jesus Gains Two More Disciples, Philip and Nathaniel (1:43–51)
That has been the foundational principle of truly Christian expansion ever since: new followers of Jesus bear witness of him to others, who in turn become disciples and repeat the process.
The Names of Jesus-He is the fulfillment of the OT
The Gospel according to John 4. Jesus Gains Two More Disciples, Philip and Nathaniel (1:43–51)
Philip’s witness is of a piece with Andrew’s (v. 41), except that he does not call Jesus the Messiah but the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote. That is the stance of this entire Gospel: Jesus fulfills the Old Testament Scriptures (cf. 5:39).
What does it mean how Jesus calls Nathaniel
The Gospel according to John 4. Jesus Gains Two More Disciples, Philip and Nathaniel (1:43–51)
That Jesus refers to him as an ‘Israelite’ is not surprising; Palestinian Jews commonly referred to one another that way (K. G. Kuhn, TDNT 3. 359ff.). Jesus’ point is not that Nathanael is an Israelite, ‘true’ or otherwise, but that Nathanael is a certain kind of Israelite, an Israelite in whom there is no guile, no deceit (dolos; cf. J. Painter, in BETL, pp. 359–362). Nathanael may have been blunt in his criticism of Nazareth, but he was an Israelite without duplicitous motives who was willing to examine for himself the claims being made about Jesus.