Introduction:
A. When I say the words “Dream Team,” what comes to your mind?
1. This picture? Probably not. It came up on my picture search. Animated movie – Madagascar.
2. If you are a sports fan, then this is the picture that probably came to mind.
B. The original Dream Team is the U.S. basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics
in Barcelona.
1. The team was a phenomenon, both on and off the court.
2. It mattered not that it dominated the Olympic competition, beating its eight opponents by an average of 44 points.
3. What was important was that the Dream Team was the first U.S. Olympic team to include NBA stars.
4. Since 1992, basketball has exploded in popularity around the globe, rising to a place where it truly challenges soccer’s status as the world’s most popular sport.
5. Much of that is due to the impact of the Dream Team, which attracted fans and followers wherever it went.
6. "It was," said Coach Chuck Daly, "like Elvis and the Beatles put together. Traveling with the Dream Team was like traveling with 12 rock stars. That’s all I can compare it to."
7. And what a band it was. Start with three of the game’s all-time greats: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Add the irrepressible Charles Barkley, as well as seven more NBA All-Stars: David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler and John Stockton.
8. Opponents didn’t have a chance, but they didn’t care. One player, while trying to guard Magic Johnson, was seen frantically waving to a camera-wielding teammate on the bench, signaling to make sure he got a picture of him with Magic Johnson.
9. As great as that team was, today I want to talk about an even greater team.
C. We are going to talk about a different Dream Team – the 12 Apostles.
1. When the time came for Jesus to choose 12 men out of perhaps a hundred or more who were following Him, Luke tells us that he spent the night in prayer.
2. This was certainly not a decision to be taken lightly. (Our most important decisions should be bathed in prayer as well.)
3. But why did Jesus choose 12? Why not 10 or 20?
4. Twelve seems to be an important number to God. It comes to represent the number of God’s government.
a. There were 12 tribes in Israel.
b. There were 12 stones on the High Priest’s breastplate.
c. There were 12 spies sent into the Promised Land.
d. In heaven there are 12 gates and 12 foundations to the New Holy City.
e. 12 different fruits on the Tree of Life.
f. And, therefore, there are 12 apostles.
D. But when we take a look at this group that was chosen, they don’t appear to be a Dream Team.
1. They’re more like the “Bad News Bears” team.
2. They’re more like a bunch of misfits.
3. John McArthur, Jr. wrote a book called “12 Ordinary Men.” In that book he says, “If you were going to recruit a team to alter the course of history, how would you begin? Jesus began with a walk by the lake. “Follow Me.” The Master told them. And they did. Thus began His uncommon mission with twelve most common individuals: men who would become Christ’s very first disciples. Have you ever considered who Jesus didn’t choose for His inner circle? He didn’t select a rabbi. He didn’t recruit scholars. He didn’t look within the religious establishment to build His team. Any of these would have given Him an inside track with those in power. Instead, he assembled a ragtag bunch of folks with unimpressive resumes. Jesus wasn’t looking for religious superiority or extraordinary talent. Jesus wanted ordinary people – people with hopes and dreams of their own, but people who were willing to leave their lives behind to follow the Savior. People like you.”
4. So let’s take a brief look at the 12 men whom Jesus chose.
I. The 12 Apostles – Their Stories
A. Before we look at them individually, let’s make two observations about them as a whole.
1. First, it is interesting that several of them were biological brothers.
a. We know for sure that there were two sets of brothers – Peter/Andrew, and James/John.
b. But we are told that Matthew and the other James were both sons of Alphaeus, so they may have been brothers as well.
c. If they were brothers also, then that means that half of the twelve were relatives.
2. The other interesting observation is that at least four of them were fisherman.
a. The four fishermen were two sets of brothers, and they may have all been in business together.
b. Being fishermen certainly translated well into becoming fishers of men.
3. Now let’s briefly introduce each of them individually and see which ones you or I might resemble the most.
B. Peter – The Bold Initiator
1. Peter is mentioned first in each of the lists of the apostles, and clearly was the main leader.
2. He was a fisherman and was also called Simon and Cephas.
3. He eventually lived up to the name Jesus gave him – “The rock.”
4. His impetuous, bold nature that helped him in his leadership, also got him into trouble.
5. We remember Peter stepping out of the boat to walk to Jesus, then sinking.
6. We remember Peter trying to correct Jesus when Jesus spoke of His crucifixion.
7. We remember Peter making great boasts when Jesus foretold that some would stumble.
8. He was bold enough to follow Jesus into the courtyard during Jesus’ trial, but then denied knowing Jesus when put on the spot.
9. But after the resurrection, Jesus reinstated Peter and he became a great leader in the early church.
10. Peter wrote 1st and 2nd Peter and some think that Mark was Peter’s scribe, which would make Mark’s Gospel, Peter’s Gospel.
11. Tradition tells us that Peter was later crucified upside down by Nero in Rome.
C. Andrew – The Behind the Scenes Inviter.
1. It may have been hard to be Peter’s brother, but Andrew seems to handle it just fine.
2. Andrew also was a fisherman.
3. He was a disciple of John the Baptist, and after being pointed toward Jesus, he brought others to Christ – Peter, and some God-fearing Greeks, and then the boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish.
4. Andrew is mentioned only 3 times, outside the lists of apostles, but we see that he was faithful, and tradition says he was crucified.
D. James – The Hard Nosed Competitor
1. This James was the brother of John and the son of Zebedee.
2. Jesus referred to them as the “Sons of Thunder” because of their fiery temperament.
3. And like their mother, they had a lot of nerve seeking positions of glory.
4. Jesus promised them suffering, and James was the first apostle to be killed – Herod had him put to death by the sword (Acts. 12:1-2).
E. John – Conviction with Love
1. He is the brother of James and son of Zebedee.
2. Even though he was a “Son of Thunder,” he became the beloved disciple of Jesus and the apostle of love.
3. He was next to Jesus at the last supper. He was given charge of Jesus’ mother.
4. He was probably the youngest of the apostles and lived the longest.
5. He wrote the gospel of John, and the letters of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John.
6. He was exiled to the Island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation.
7. Tradition says that he died a natural death.
F. Philip – The Slow Learner and Loyal Friend.
1. He was from Bethsaida and therefore likely knew Peter, Andrew, James, and John.
2. He is not to be confused with Philip the servant in Acts 6.
3. When called by Jesus he immediately invited his friend Nathaniel to join them.
4. He’s the one who after being with Jesus for so long said, “Show us the Father and that will be good enough for us.” (Jn. 14:8-9)
5. Tradition tells us that he preached in Phrygia and was crucified in the time of Domitian.
G. Bartholomew – The Honest One
1. He was from Cana and was also known as Nathanael.
2. He was praised by Jesus for having no guile – meaning that he was forthright and truthful.
3. He had some prejudice toward people from Nazareth, but perhaps for good reason.
4. Jesus took a good man and made him better.
5. Tradition tells us that he was crucified and buried in Armenia.
H. Matthew – The Gospel Writer to the Jews
1. This former tax collector probably sacrificed more from a financial standpoint than any of the other disciples.
2. He is also known as Levi, and is also a son of Alphaeus.
3. After being called to follow Jesus, he threw a party for his friends so they could meet Jesus.
4. He wrote the gospel of Matthew which seeks to show how Jesus fulfilled OT prophesy.
5. Tradition says he died at Hierees, a town of Parthia.
I. Thomas – The Skeptic
1. He was also called Didymus (the twin). Perhaps his twin was female.
2. He is remembered for doubting the resurrection of Jesus until he had personal evidence.
3. His skepticism has served us well, because it demonstrates that the Apostles were not gullible, and because when he was eventually given concrete proof, he believed, we can also believe.
4. Tradition says that he was thrust through with spears and buried in India.
J. James the Son of Alphaeus – The Less
1. He is not to be confused with James the Son of Zebedee, nor James the brother of Jesus who wrote the book of James.
2. His nickname is “James the Less,” perhaps because he was shorter, or humbler than the other James.
3. Other than in the lists of apostles, he is not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture.
4. Tradition tells us that while preaching in Jerusalem, he was stoned to death and buried beside the Temple.
K. Simon – The Zealot
1. The Zealots were Jewish revolutionaries who opposed Rome.
2. So imagine the tension between he and Matthew. Matthew was a tax collector for the Romans. Simon was a tax protester.
3. Matthew had made his living overcharging people like Simon, and Simon had lived to eliminate people like Matthew.
4. Tradition says that he became bishop of Jerusalem after James the Just, and fell asleep and was buried there at the age of 120 years.
L. Judas, Son of James – The Warm – Hearted
1. He may have taken the name “Thaddaeus” which means the warm-hearted, because of the infamy that came to be attached to the name Judas.
2. He is not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture.
3. Tradition says that he preached to the people of Edessa, to all Mesopotamia, and died and was buried at Berytus.
M. Judas Iscariot – The Betrayer
1. It is not surprising that Judas is mentioned last in every list of apostles.
2. When we think of Judas, we usually picture him as this shady guy with beady eyes and thick black eyebrows.
3. But in reality, Judas was probably the most trusted person in the group of disciples – that’s why they put him in charge of the money purse.
4. When Jesus said, “One of you will betray me,” they all asked “Is it me?” None of them immediately said, “I’ll bet it is the guy with the beady eyes and black eyebrows.”
5. Somehow Satan got to Judas and caused him to betray Jesus for 30 silver coins.
6. In his remorse, Judas committed suicide by hanging himself. A very sad ending indeed.
N. So there you have the “Dream Team.”
1. What an amazingly diverse collection of common men with whom Jesus entrusted the continuation of His mission.
2. Jesus took this band of men and worked with them for three years, and through them turned the world upside down.
3. So that’s their stories.
II. Our Story
A. What can we learn and apply to our lives from their story?
1. Let’s focus in on two simple lessons.
B. First, We learn that God Can Use Anyone
1. I think Jesus chose the men He chose on purpose – to show us what He can do through common, everyday people like you and me.
2. In Acts 4:13, the Bible says, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
3. That was no put down, it was just the truth – they were unschooled and ordinary people.
4. So are most of us, right?
3. In I Corinthians 1:26-27, Paul reminded his readers about the way God works, “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
4. See, in many respects it doesn’t matter what our background is.
5. It doesn’t matter that we are of noble birth, or that we are highly educated or have a lot of money or are beautiful.
6. The point I want to get across is that we might not think that we have much to offer God, but it doesn’t matter, because God doesn’t need much to work with.
7. To be useful to God we don’t have to have more talent than others, or more fame, intelligence, looks or money.
8. God can use anyone.
C. Second, the other thing we learn is that a willingness to follow and be faithful is necessary.
1. When Jesus called each of these men to be His disciples, they were all busy doing something else.
2. But each of them left what they were doing and gave themselves to the mission.
3. They were willing to learn, follow and grow.
4. That is what is absolutely essential to God.
5. If we have all kinds of talent, and intellect, and charisma, and money and popularity, and anything else, but we don’t have a willingness to follow and be faithful, then God cannot work with us.
6. He will not force us to do anything.
7. The Apostles made themselves available to God and so Jesus trained them and put them to work and they were all faithful to the end, even to death (with the exception of Judas).
Conclusion:
A. Will we let God put us on His “Dream Team?”
B. Are we sensitive enough to God to hear His call and respond to it?
C. Here’s how we can and should respond –
1. Seek to put Christ first in our lives. He must be numero uno.
2. Seek to offer ourselves to Him as living sacrifices. We must give up our will and give our lives over to Him.
3. Seek to learn and to grow and to prepare. Effort is required.
4. Seek to employ our gifts and take on a role and responsibility suited to our abilities. This requires that we give up some of our freedom, but there are so many blessings that come with it.
5. Seek to be faithful. Follow through and be consistent.
D. Here’s the good news – God not only employs us; He equips us and empowers us.
1. We do what we do in His name with the wisdom and power that He gives us.
2. When we let Him have His way with us, we can step back and be amazed at what God can do through even us.
