Pass out 25 flyers to each person – make a commitment weekly
Bring one Hispanic friend with you to church next Saturday!!!!
SERMON TITLE : Reaching the Hispanic Community of Pasadena For Jesus!
Main Text: John 1:35-42
35The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. 40One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
In order to grow in our relationship we Jesus, we need to tell others about Him. Follow the FOUR B’s to Sharing your Faith with others and inviting them to Church!
To reach the Hispanic community of Pasadena for Jesus we need to follow the four B’s………
1. Be Excited !!!
John 1 35-37
35The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, 36and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" 37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
We need to be EXCITED amen?
STORY - When I first found the peace of Jesus in my heart – I couldn’t help but talk about Him and how he took away my emptiness and pain! I was excited!!!!
"The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ’Look, here is the Lamb of God!’" (vv. 35-36). John continues his witness to Jesus. In this case, he witnesses to two of his own disciples, who respond by leaving John and following Jesus.
37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
Has anyone ever HEARD you talk about CHRIST???? Do they know you are a Christian
STORY – AT work , when someone curses – they always apologize if they think I heard them
They know who I am and what I am about. The feel the conviction – AMEN?
and they followed Jesus
It is so interesting to me that they followed him right away
They didn’t say after a week
After they told their employers they were leaving
To reach the Hispanic Community of Pasadena for Jesus we not only have to be excited about how he has rescued us, we need to ..
2. Be like Jesus
John 1 : 38-39
38When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" 39He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon
Jesus never once defended himself , He let His Father do it for him
Jesus was happy with what He had- He didn’t attempt to try to accumulate weath in possessions
Jesus was calm and forgave others
Jesus was Jesus
Story: I saw two children walking together today, happily exchanging words and glances, laughing aloud at shared jokes. They didn’t worry about the cracks in the sidewalks or bumps in the road, but rather, skipped along over them.
God wants our walk with Him to be just like that – enjoying His company, sharing together , and crossing the rough places on our journey home with out the slightest care.
1 John2:6
Whoever claims to live in Him must walk like Jesus did
Is it easy?? No way! Jesus never said it would be easy. But church – what do people see when they see you?
Church what do you do when life throws you a curveball
People are influenced by you – People watch what you do – how you react to life difficulties, anger etc
Don’t Criticize. Don’t make someone remember the bad things they do. Don’t tell the person they are LOST.
They have no concept of what being lost is! Don’t tell them you are lost or they will ask you if you have lost your marbles. They know where they live – They think lost is a tv show. Or they need a GPS system in their car
THEY NEED TO BE LIFTED UP!!!!!
Jesus spoke LIFE into all of those he met. When speaking to the woman at the well, he didn’t condemn her for her sins – He SPOKE LIFE INTO HER
The lost are saying to you “ I am empty and I know that you are NOT”
So I am going to watch everything you do to see if it is REALLY LOVE that keeps you talking to me or NOT
The lost are saying “ I want you to reach me!!” Demonstrate your love for me!
BUT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME!! DON’T GIVE UP ON ME!
Besides being excited and doing our best to resemble Jesus, we need to
3. Be open and available for Relationships
"What do you seek ?" (v. 38). When Jesus asks this question, the two disciples respond by asking where he is staying. A rabbi would have a place used for teaching disciples, and their question could indicate a desire to go to that place for instruction. However, the word translated "staying" is the same meno that we encountered earlier (vs. 32) –– a word used often in this Gospel to describe relationships. Their question may be less about Jesus’ lodging arrangements than with the substance of his being –– Who are you? –– Where do you stand? –– What are you about?
a. Seek Relationships with others
Jesus had made Himself known, and John had introduced Him as the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Andrew and another followed Jesus. Jesus asked them the question, “What seek ye?” The word “seek” speaks of a quest for something that is hidden or lost. There was something missing in Andrew’s heart. There was an emptiness there, a hunger that had not been satisfied. The fact that Jesus asked him what he was seeking indicates that Andrew was searching and on a quest to find that which was missing in his life.
******Psychiatrists tell us, that there are four things people are basically searching for in life: They are trying to discover how to be useful, they are trying to discover how to get rid of guilt, they are trying to discover how to love, and they are searching for a feeling of security. The bottom line to these four things is, there is something missing in life and the great search of life is to find the answer to this vacuum.
Story : A few years ago, on Valentine’s day, a couple was enjoying a romantic drive along a wooded section near Belle Chasse, Louisiana. Something white, shimmering in the trees, caught their eyes. Their investigation led them to a dead teenager hanging from a limb, a white bed-sheet knotted tightly around his neck A farewell note was near the trunk of the tree. It was addressed simply, “Mom and Dad.” The note read: “I never did develop into a real person and I cannot tolerate the false and empty existence I have created. What frustrated me most in the last year was that I had built no ties to family or friends. There was nothing of lasting worth and value. I led a detached existence... I am a bomb of frustration and should never marry or have children. It is safest to defuse the bomb harmlessly now . . . simply cremate me as John Doe.”
Authorities circulated the youth’s description and fingerprints to police across the country. He was later buried, unidentified and unclaimed.
I read that story and thought of the emptiness and lack of fulfilment that echoed from his actions and note. Yet, there are multiplied hundreds that are just as empty and unfulfilled. There was something missing in Andrew’s life. There was something that he had not found and something he was searching for in life. Andrew was a man with a hungry heart! Listen, Listen, let me tell you Jesus can satisfy your hunger in life whatever it may be!
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b . Seek to make and spend quality time with others
"Come and see" (v. 39). This is their call to discipleship –– and Jesus’ first words in this Gospel.
"It was about four o’clock in the afternoon" (v. 39). Literally, it was about the tenth hour. Measured from the beginning of the Jewish day at sunrise (approx. six a.m.), this would be four o’clock in the afternoon, which is how the NRSV translates it.
Andrew responded to Jesus’ question in verse 38 by saying, “Rabbi (Master) where dwellest Thou?” It was as though Andrew was saying, “Jesus, I would like to sit down and talk to you about it.” Jesus said in verse 39,
“Come and see.” It is literally, “Come and you shall see.” Andrew was saying, “I’m missing something.” Jesus was saying, “Come, and I’ll tell you what it is.”
Notice John 1:39, “He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.”
Andrew and another disciple (probably John) followed and spent the day with Jesus. There is an interesting note made by John: “for it was about the tenth hour” (4:00 p.m.). It was like John was saying, “About 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon, something happened!” What happened? The same thing that happened to me around 7:00pm on the 8th of September 2004.
I FOUND JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day ( v 39)
Church have you followed Jesus to where He is staying. Make you heart a place for him to want to stay . Make your life a place where you can bring others to Christ and they can see Him living inside of you AMEN?
Finally to reach the Hispanic Community of Pasadena for Jesus, we not only need to be excited and try to be like Jesus as much as possible while being available and open for relationships to form , but we need to ..
4. Be Bold
John 1: 41-42
41He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). 42He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).
A. Find ways to talk about Jesus with those people you know and work with
1. Your coworkers are talking about a recent movie
Most films speak about – meaning in life, good vs evil, life and death, family, what makes a happy life ----
Look for opportunities in conversations to talk about God and why He is important in your life
2. Coworkers are struggling with illness family or finances or all
Share how your peace with Jesus helps you through these types of struggles
3. In the news there has been a tragedy – shooting, traffic accident, bombing
Launch into a conversation about what happens when we die
Ask your coworkers if they believe in heaven or hell
B. Use your TESTIMONY! And tell others!
Story – A little about my testimony
The works of the devil are overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony!
Notice John 1:41, “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
Notice the word “found.” The word means to make a marvellous discovery. I can see Andrew running down to the boat dock shouting, Peter, Peter, I have found it. I have got it.” What had he found? He had found the Messiah and in finding the Messiah he found what he had been searching for in life. The greatest day and hour of our life is when we met Jesus! Oh, that we could maintain the wonder of those early days of salvation.
Andrew was very close to Jesus and the inner circle of three being James, Peter and John. Andrew is only mentioned a few times in the gospels, but most of the time he is introducing someone to Jesus and in a position of authority
Andrew "first found his brother Simon and said to him, ’We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus" (vv. 41-42). Andrew has no grand vision. There is no record of him establishing a mission in a foreign land or preaching in synagogues. He goes only to his brother, but that outreach will have profound consequences.
" ’You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter)" (v. 42). This kind of name change has precedents in the Old Testament (see Genesis 17:5; 32:28).
Cephas is the Aramaic word for rock and Peter is the Greek word for rock. Jesus sees rock-like possibilities in Peter that will not be realized for quite some time.
"With the transfer of these disciples to the new teacher Jesus thus achieved, John the Baptist slips away" He has succeeded in his witness to Jesus. He will re-appear briefly in chapter 3 only to re-affirm that he must decrease while Jesus must increase (3:30).
C. Use The Gifts God gave You!
Andrew Used His Gift:
Andrew not only understood his gift, but he used his gift. He didn’t have some of the gifts his brother Peter had, but he gave to God what he had and used what gift he had for the glory of God. When we get to heaven, God is not going to judge us based on what we could not do, but what we did do and what we could do.
Andrew was well aware that he could not preach like his brother Peter. He knew that he was not a leader like Peter. He knew that he could not get up in front of large crowds like Peter and hold them spell-bound. He knew that he was not a writer like the others. Andrew had come to understand what his gifts and abilities were. He knew what he could do and what he could not do.
We read in Romans 12:3, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
Paul is telling us that God has given each believer different gifts and abilities. Not everyone can preach and not everyone is to preach. Not everyone can sing and not everyone is to sing. Not everyone can get up in front of a class and teach, and not everyone is to get up in front of a class and teach. Happy is the person who accepts what they can do and does not worry about what they can’t do.
There have been times when I listened to some preacher and I felt so inferior. I thought, “Man, if I could use words the way he does,” or “I wish I had a memory like he does,” or “I wish I could get up like he does and it just flow out.” But I have realized that I am what God made me and I have all that God wanted me to have. I am not saying that we cannot DEVELOP those gifts. We can develop those gifts throught the help of the Holy Spirit in our lives and consistency. I constantly learn from our Pastor Granberry and he is molding me as a Pastor. He has been Pastoring for over 14 years. He is pouring into me. Find someone to pour into you if you want to hone in on your gift.
“It is not a question of our equipment, but of our poverty; not what we bring with us, but what he puts in us; not our natural virtues, our strength of character, our knowledge, our experience; all that is of no avail. God can do nothing with people who think they will be of use to him.
Oswald Chambers.
”It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.” Corrie ten Boom.
There are some here that have never got involved because you can’t sing like so and so, teach like so and so, pray like so and so. God is not interested if you can sing, teach, pray, like so and so. He is interested in you doing what you can do.
D. Speak to strangers or people you don’t know!
Story of Maria Consuelo and Poison Bug Killer suicide stopped by Phone call
There were a lot of things that Andrew couldn’t do, but there was one thing he could do and he dedicated his life to doing the one thing he could do. Andrew couldn’t preach before thousands like Peter at Pentecost but he could tell people one on one about Jesus. He couldn’t write a book like Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but he could tell others about Jesus.
Notice Mark 1:16-17, “Now as he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”
That day Andrew found what he could do. He could be a fisher of men. The rest of his life was dedicated to winning men to Christ. One of the interesting features of Andrews’s life is that he was always bringing someone to Jesus. Every time you turn around, he is bringing somebody to Jesus.
IN CLOSING…..
There is nothing greater one can do or be than to be a plain Andrew and do the most wonderful thing; winning souls to Christ.
There are some of you that have family members that are unsaved. The great tragedy is that you have never one time witnessed to them about being saved. You may not be able to preach and 3000 get saved like Peter, but you can
Bring your FAMILY to CHURCH!
.Andrew Brings The Family To Jesus:
Notice again John 1:4142, “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A rock.”
The first thing he did after getting saved was to bring his brother Peter to Jesus. He led one of his family to Christ.
There are some of you that have family members that are unsaved. The great tragedy is that you have never one time witnessed to them about being saved. You may not be able to preach and 3000 get saved like Peter, but you can witness to your family. The family is often times the hardest people to witness to, but often times it is a family member that will reach them.
Story My mother has been to every service here at IGLESIA CENTRAL since we opened the doors. She was raised Catholic, as was I . My mother is a worshiper now. She worships Jesus with all of her heart! She is here because I brought her here. You don’t have to be the preacher to bring your family to church, but you might end up one.
Story : Pastor Rittenhouse and his family were on vacation traveling down the highway when they saw a suitcase fly off the top of a car going the opposite direction. They stopped to pick it up, but the driver of the other car never stopped. The only clue to the driver’s identity was a twenty-dollar gold piece inscribed: “Given to Otis Sampson at his retirement by Portland Cement Company.” After extensive correspondence, Otis Sampson was located and contacted. He wrote a letter telling them to discard the suitcase and all its contents, and send only the gold piece. Mr. Sampson used the phrase “my most precious possession,” several times to describe the gold piece. Pastor Rittenhouse sent the gold piece, and wrote a cover letter telling Otis Sampson about his most prized possession, Jesus Christ. A year later, the pastor received a Christmas package. In it was the twenty-dollar gold piece. Mr. Sampson wrote, “You will be happy to know we have become active members of a church. We want you to have this gold piece. I am seventy-four; my wife is seventy-two. You were the first one to tell us about Jesus. Now He is our most prized possession.” James S. Hewett.
There is nothing greater one can do or be than to be a plain Andrew and do the most wonderful thing; winning souls to Christ.
