Go Tell Your Brother

GO TELL YOUR BROTHER

JOHN 1: 35-51

AUGUST 18, 2002

INTRODUCTION:

Around the corner I have a friend, In this great city that has no end, Yet the days go by

and weeks rush on, And before I know it, a year is gone. And I never see my old friend’s face, For life is a swift and terrible race, He knows I like him just as well, As in the days

when I rang his bell. And he rang mine if, we were younger then, And now we are busy, tired men. Tired of playing a foolish game, Tired of trying to make a name. "Tomorrow" I say "I will call on Jim" "Just to show that I’m thinking of him. "But tomorrow comes

and tomorrow goes, And distance between us grows and grows. Around the corner! -

yet miles away, "Here’s a telegram, sir." "Jim died today." And that’s what we get and deserve in the end. Around the corner, a vanished friend.

Remember to always say what you mean. If you love someone, tell them. Don’t be afraid to express yourself. Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you. Because when you decide that it is the right time it might be too late. Seize the day. Never have regrets. And most importantly, stay close to your friends and family, for they have helped make you the person that you are today.

A couple of weeks ago, a small group got together for a movie night. They watched “Unbreakable,” the latest movie from the writer and director of “The Sixth Sense.” In this movie, Bruce Willis discovers that he has a special gift, but he doesn’t yet know how to use it. So his new friend, played by Samuel L. Jackson gives him this advice: “Go where people are – and you’ll know what to do.”

That’s God’s advice to us too: Go where people are – and you’ll know what to do. I’ll show you. I’ll tell you. Just make yourself available. Go out in your yard when your neighbor is outside in his, sit and listen when your uncle wants to talk, go to the company picnic. Just go where people are – and you’ll know what to do!

Matthew Rogers

TRANSITION THOUGHT: As we continue on this Journey of discovering just how to share our faith, we realize that time is of the essence! But how we argue! And to that Samuel L. Jackson says, “Go where people are – and you’ll know what to do.” Our text for today continues with this theme of getting the word out. It is so simple and basic, but somehow we have made it so complicated! I feel this text teaches us why we have made it so difficult and why it truly is not! Jesus is responsible, not us!

THESIS SENTENCE: THE JOURNEY OF FAITH INCLUDES BRINGING OTHERS ALONG!

So, let us look at the Journey as found in John 1: 35-51!

I. THE JOURNEY BEGINS WITH COMING TO JESUS (VV. 35-39; 43)

A. Coming to Jesus is hearing what others are saying about Him!

1. Did you notice where this text got started? John sees Jesus, and responds, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

2. John is speaking with feeling here! He gets fired up when he sees Jesus! I get fired up when I see Jesus! Do you get fired up when Jesus walks by? Ask our Prayer team about when Jesus walks by! We get fired up!

3. John 1: 29 – 34 is the reason to get fired up!! (READ THIS TEXT!)

B. Coming to Jesus is our personal response to Him!

1. How did John’s disciples respond? They took off after Jesus! Have you taken off after Jesus!

2. Guess what? IF you start to follow Jesus, HE WILL TAKE NOTICE OF YOU AND WHEN HE DOES, HE WILL ASK YOU, “WHAT DO YOU WHAT?”

3. Are you ready to answer that question?

4. Their reply, in case you don’t get it, is we want to be where you are!! 5. Jesus reply is okay; you can be where I am!!

6. Did you get that? You can be where Jesus is!

7. Verse 39 is the Key to this thought, “COME,” HE REPLIED, “YOU WILL SEE.”

8. The call is to come to Jesus and when we receive the call, WE WILL SEE! BUT, YOU MUST COME FIRST IF YOU WANT TO SEE!!!!!!

9. The text reads, “So they went and saw…and spent that day with Him (verse 39).”

ILLUSTRATION: God does not ask your ability or your inability. He asks only your availability.

— Mary Kay Ash

TRUTH: UNLESS YOU COME YOU WILL NOT KNOW

II. THE JOURNEY CONTINUES WITH BRINGING OTHERS TO JESUS

A. First things First Go Tell a Seeker! (Go get your family)