Five Who Followed In Faith

Ill:

• The body of missionary and explorer David Livingstone;

• Was buried in Westminster Abbey England in 1874.

• But one part of him was missing!

• His heart was buried in the Africa he loved.

• It was buried at the foot of a tall mpundu tree in a small African village.

• The natives dug a hole & placed in it the heart of this man who they loved & respected.

• They then his embalmed body in a cylinder of bark;

• Which was wrapped in sailcloth and carried their shoulders a thousand miles to the coast;

• It was a nine month march, before it was then sent home to England

• During his life he received a letter form a missions committee;

• They wrote to him saying,

• "Some people would like to join you. What’s the easiest road to get where you are?"

• He replied:

• "If they’re looking for the easiest road, tell them to stay in England.

• I want people who will come, even if there’s no road at all!"

• TRANSITION:

• These men we read about in John chapter 1;

• Are about to discover that following Jesus will not be easy.

• They are about to embark on a journey that would not only change their lives;

• But would also change the world.

This evening we are looking at five men who followed Jesus:

• Five men who became his disciples;

• The term "disciples" occurs 269 times in the New Testament,

• While the term "Christian" only occurs three times.

• We are told that in the Bible book called Acts (chapter 11 verse 26):

• That "The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch”,

• The word “Christian” means “one in whom Christ dwells.”

• Here believers stopped calling themselves “Jews,” “Greeks” and “Gentiles.”

• They took the name of Christ.

• They were Christ-indwelt ones.

• Today in the UK;

• We have kind of made these terms ‘Christian’ & ‘Disciple’ interchangeable.

• We forget or deliberately miss out or skip over the fact;

• That the word disciple demands so much from the person who owns it!

• Note: every disciple is a Christian, but not every Christian is necessarily a disciple!

• A disciple is someone who is committed to,

• And who tries to follow, put into practice the teachings and lifestyle of their master.

Quote: Jonathan Dodson:

“A disciple is rational (learner), relational (family), and missional (missionary)”

Quote: Alan Redpath the late great British evangelist, pastor and author.

"The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment,

but the manufacture of a saint is the task of a lifetime."

• Becoming a Christian, a follower of Jesus may start suddenly;

• Can happen this evening, if you are willing to take a step of faith;

• And invite the living Christ to be your saviour & Lord!

• But the learning process never ends this side of eternity!

• Our passage this morning is a reminder that discipleship is a process!

Ill:

• Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff said:

• When he first came to the United States from Russia;

• He wasn’t prepared for the incredible variety of instant products;

• That he found available in American grocery stores.

• He says, "On my first shopping trip,

• I saw powdered milk--you just add water, and you get milk.

• Then I saw powdered orange juice--you just add water, and you get orange juice.

• And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to myself, what a country!"

• TRANSION: There are no instant disciples:

• Becoming a Christian may happen the instant you believe & repent;

• But becoming a disciple takes a lifetime!

• It is a learning process that never ends this side of eternity!

• Our passage this study is a reminder that discipleship is a process!

Note:

• We read of five people in these verses;

• Only four of them are named; Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael.

• Most scholars believe the anonymous one is John.

(1). Andrew and John.

“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus”.

• The first men to follow Jesus were Andrew and John.

• Although before they followed Jesus we are told;

• They were followers of John the baptiser.

Note:

• John the baptiser was the forerunner of Jesus,

• The one who came to preparing the way for someone greater.

• John the baptiser was a preacher who did not mind losing his congregation;

• John the baptiser came to prepare the way,