## Bringing People To Jesus

## John 1:35-42

In today's world there are only a few really famous people. I realize that Andy Warhol said that everyone gets 15 minutes of fame, but I don't think so. When you stop and think about it, the majority of the world is made up of people who will never gain international, national, or even local notice. There are plenty of "nobodies" around, and most of us would fall into that category.

Before you get offended or upset with me, let me say that I don't think that is bad thing at all! As a matter of fact, where would most famous people be without the influence of normal, everyday 'nobodies'? Have you ever considered the person that visited the shoe store where Dwight L. Moody worked and challenged him to give all to the Lord? What about the elderly woman who prayed faithfully for Billy Graham for over twenty years? Pick a truly important figure, and you will find that there was someone who had great influence in their lives that no one knows anything about!

This morning I want us to consider a 'nobody' from the pages of Scripture, and the impact that his faithfulness had on the entire world.

Read: John 1:35-42

I. Andrew was a Nobody.

A. Usually noted as Peter's "brother."

a. He is only mentioned by name in twelve verses.

b. In eight of those verses he is referred to as Simon Peter's brother.

c. He is nearly always mentioned second.

B. In lists of the apostles, he is in middle.

a. Andrew wasn't included in Jesus' inner circle. (Peter James and John)

b. Yet he was one of the first two humans to follow Jesus.

c. You would think that was pretty important, wouldn't you?

C. But there is no evidence that Andrew ever got resentful; he just kept following Jesus.

II. Andrew's Only Claim to Fame.

A. He brought people to Jesus.

1. The first thing we read of Andrew doing after he was introduced to the Savior, was to go get his brother, Peter. v40

2. When the young boy with 5 loaves and 2 small fishes came to him, he brought the boy to Jesus. Cf Jn. 6:5-9

3. When there were some Greeks who were looking for Jesus, it seems Philip didn't know what to do, but Andrew took them to Jesus. Cf Jn. 12:21-22

B. Most of us are not bold leaders, but we all can be like Andrew.

1. Importance of sowing seed.

a. Witnessing with giving out tracts is great.

b. But many are hesitant, because they don't know answers to hard questions.

c. Some simply don't know their way around Bible, but if we can't witness with confidence, we need to take them to someone who can point them to Jesus.

2. We can invite our friends to Sunday School and church.

3. There they can hear and learn of Jesus Christ.

C. How can we bring people to Jesus?

1. Have desire for them to be saved.

2. Pray for them.

3. Tell them what Jesus did for us; give them our testimony.

4. Invite them to a place or an event where they will hear gospel.

5. Remember: '…It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" 1 Co. 1:21b

6. God can do a work in their lives, but a person must hear the Word to be saved!

(Rom 10:13-14) "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. {14} How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"

III. How Do Churches Grow?

A. Growth is one-by-one.

1. Mass conversions are very rare.

2. Great movements are usually one-by-one.

3. Even with Jesus, they came by ones and twos.

B. Growth comes from personal contact.

1. Few are saved from telecasts or radio broadcasts.

2. Most who are saved in church services are there because they were invited by a friend or neighbor.

C. Personal work has no substitute.

1. Start right now and begin to invite friends to come.

2. Don't be discouraged if they do not come the first time they are invited.

3. Persistence with prayer will prevail.

(2 Pet 3:9b) "The Lord is … not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

We are coming to the close of a great year. We can look back with many regrets of what we could have or maybe what we should have done differently. But we cannot go back and change anything! Each day that we awake, God in His great grace has given us another opportunity to be an Andrew. We may feel like we are 'nobodies', but look at the souls that were won through the great ministry of Andrew's brother. Thousands of people turned to Christ as a result of his preaching! Who is waiting for us to bring them to Jesus? Perhaps there is one here today who needs to come and trust Christ as their Savior.

(Rom 10:9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."