Sermon Slides

January 19, 2014

Gospel Reading

John 1:29-42

35 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.

38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and

asked,

“What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi”

(which means Teacher),

“where are you staying?”

39“Come,” he replied,

“and you will see.”

So they went and saw

where he was staying,

and spent that day with him.

It was about the tenth hour.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,

was one of the two who heard

what John had said

and who had followed Jesus

41 The first thing Andrew did

was to find his brother Simon

and tell him,

“We have found the Messiah”

(that is, the Christ).

42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said,

“You are Simon son of John.

You will be called Cephas”

(which, when translated, is Peter

Come and See

John 1:34-42

January 19, 2014Rev. John W. Landis, DMin

John the Baptist

• Not threatened

• Willing to accept his place and position

• Willing to let his ministry go so that another might prosper

John the Baptist

• Does his job– Witness– Prepares

• Lets his disciples decide for themselves where they belong

• Faithful and patient

Andrew

• Curious• Takes what John says and acts on it• Willing to take a risk• Willing to move on• Willing to share

Jesus

• Lives life that is different enough so that people want to know more

• Doesn’t try and proselytize• Doesn’t push, just says “Come and see”• Does things to help people realize their life

has been changed– Renaming Peter

Sequence of our Christian Lives• Be open to the possibility of God and Jesus

• Repentance - turn

• Baptism– Water– Holy Spirit

Sequence of our Christian Lives• Prepare for God’s call– Wrestle through our issues

• Accept the gift of grace• We gain the strength we need from the wrestling

– Identify our gifts– Do the things to get ready for ministry– Strengthen our faith

• Do a Ministry– All Christians are ministers– Doing what God has called us to do– Alleviate suffering

Sequence of our Christian Lives

• Keep a personal spiritual discipline– Prayer– Bible reading– Bible Study– Regular worship– Stewardship

Sequence of our Christian Lives• Share the “Good News”– Live a life that is different enough to cause people to ask

why?– “Come and See”– Share your story

• Mentor others as they make the same journey– The cycle repeats

Where are you in your journey?

• Have you accepted Jesus’ invitation to come and see?

• Have you repented, turned your life to a journey back to God?

• Have you accepted the gift of grace?

Where are you in your journey?

• Are you keeping yourself in shape by practicing the spiritual disciplines?

• Are you preparing to minister as God has called you to do?

• Are you doing what you can to alleviate suffering

Where are you in your journey?

• Are you inviting others to “Come and See”?

• Are you sharing your story

• Are you mentoring others on their journey?

Wherever you are in your journey

there is another step!

With each step there is another title

• Seeker

• Christian

• Disciple

• Witness

With each step there is another title

• Minister– Prayer warrior– Witness– Teacher– Deacon– Trustee– Missionary– Musician– Caregiver– Pastor

. . . Or the name given to anyone who uses any of the other gifts.

They are all the same levelThey are all necessary

They all are valued by God!

When you finish your journey there is one more title by which you may be called based on how

well you followed the Great Commandment and the

Great Commission . . .

“Good and Faithful Servant!”