The Value of One Life

Welcome

Psalm 118:24 ESV

24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Good Morning! I’m Pastor Wayne and I’d like to welcome you all to the gathering of Ephesus Baptist Church.

We believe we are a called people! Called to worship and exalt our God among the nations in order that His glory may be spread over all the earth!

If you are visiting with us this morning, we want you to know that ...

At Ephesus, we are all one family giving our all to love God, love others, proclaim Jesus, and make disciples in our generation.

We have a connect card in the pew in front of you. I invite you to take one and fill it out! If you have prayer needs, you can let us know about those as well.

I promise, our prayer team will lift you up soon. You can place those cards in the offering plate when it comes around.

Scripture Memory

Galatians 6:9–10 ESV

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Opening Scripture

2 Timothy 2:1–15 ESV

1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. 14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Introduction

Think about Peter, James, John, and Andrew.

James and John.

Jesus referred to them as “the sons of thunder.” It didn’t take much to tick them off. Somebody didn’t want to listen to the gospel, they’d say, “Call down fire from heaven,” that will light them up.

Peter

Impetuous, hasty, bold, oftentimes proud. Most of the times, many times, he responded without Christ’s permission.

How many of us fit into one of those two molds?

Today, we are going to begin our Who’s Your One campaign, by looking at another Biblical character, a seemingly insignificant one. (But there is nothing insignificant in the Bible)!

He’s one that the Bible teaches touched one, but the one he touched, touched thousands, really millions.

This one is going to reveal to us,

“What’s the value of one life lived out for God’s glory?

His Name is Andrew.

What we will see in Andrew is that we’ve lost the capacity to really understand how important even those who feel they’re insignificant really are.

Join me in John 1:35-42 as we go to the infallible, inerrant, inspired, and Holy Word of God to be convicted, inspired, and instructed on the value of one life in God’s economy!

John 1:35–42 ESV

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Historical Context

Peter’s brother, Andrew, is the least known of the four disciples in the inner circle. Andrew ordinarily is left very much in the background.

We will learn, too, he was used by our Lord to touch one who touched thousands. Homer Lindsey referred to Andrew as “the Inviter.” We could call him “the Introducer.”

Andrew was part of a chain reaction that helped to establish the New Testament. Peter met Jesus through the introduction of Andrew. Peter would go on to preach the famous Pentecost sermon of Acts 2.

Through introducing Peter to Jesus, Andrew helped to provide us with two books of the New Testament, 1 and 2 Peter. Only heaven knows the value of the life Andrew lived out in the Bible and church history.

Andrew was the first of all the disciples to be called (John 1:35-40). His eagerness to follow Christ, combined with his zeal for introducing others to Christ, fairly represents Andrew’s character.

Let’s look briefly at Andrew’s encounter with Christ!

Briefly explain this part of the passage

John 1:35–39 ESV

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

Think about it: Peter, James, John and Andrew. Certainly, Andrew was the least conspicuous. Scripture doesn’t tell us a lot about him.

He appears in the New Testament only nine times and most references simply mention him in passing. Andrew lived his life in the shadows of his better-known brother, Peter.

He is even mentioned in the text as Simon Peter’s brother. However, lest we forget, Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus.

Andrew shows that he had the right heart for effective ministry in the background.

Andrew’s name means “manly.” He was a strong fisherman. His life proved him to be bold, decisive and deliberate. He was driven by a hearty passion for the truth, and he was willing to subject himself to the most extreme kinds of hardship.

Andrew’s personal encounter with Jesus took place a little after Jesus’ baptism in (John 1:29-34).

Andrew and John were standing next to John the Baptist when Jesus walked by, and John the Baptist said, “Behold the Lamb of God in (John 1:36)!”

Andrew became Jesus’ first disciple. We don’t know exactly what Jesus taught Andrew at their first encounter, but the news Andrew heard was too good to keep to himself, so he went and found the one person in the world he most loved, whom he most wanted to know Jesus, and introduced him to Jesus.

What is the value of one life? Andrew life reveals to us the answer. He valued Christ and valued others and in doing so, his life became extremely valuable to God’s Kingdom expansion.

This morning, I’d like to suggest three principles that guided Andrew’s life. Three principles that made a seemingly insignificant life tremendously significant.

Three Principles to Value.

1. HE SAW THE VALUE OF INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE.

Andrew appreciated the value of a single soul. He was known for bringing individuals, not crowds, to Jesus.

Almost every time we see him in the gospel accounts, he is bringing someone to Jesus.

He brought Peter to Jesus: Just one

He brought the boy with his lunch to Jesus: Just one

Andrew has been referred to as the first home missionary because of the Jewish people he brought to Jesus.

He saw the value in his brother understanding who Jesus was!

John 1:40–41 ESV

40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).

Andrew was obviously excited. He spent enough time with Jesus to believe that Jesus was “the Messiah!”

This is the first time in John’s Gospel that Jesus is connected with being the long awaited Messiah!

The very first thing Andrew did was to go find the one closest to him, his brother! He told him about Jesus, but notice that He also brought him to Jesus in verse 42.

Andrew was the first disciple, the first witness for Christ, and therefore, the first missionary to the Jewish people.

Andrew has also been referred to as the first foreign missionary because of the Greeks he brought to Jesus in John 12:20-22.

John 12:20–22 ESV

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.

We don’t actually know the outcome of the Greek’s encounter with Christ, but the important thing is Andrew and Philip brought them to Jesus!

Most people do not come to Christ as an immediate response to a sermon they hear in a crowded setting.

They come to Christ because of the influence of an individual. Andrew brought one—his brother—Peter. Peter then brought thousands.

All the fruit of Peter’s ministry is ultimately also the fruit of Andrew’s faithful individual witness.

Who’s Your One?

There’s not a person that breathes this morning that doesn’t have somebody in their life that they deeply love. They rise above everybody else, and they say, “I’ve got to take this to them.” They need to know the Gospel that transcends and transforms life!

Who’s Your One?

Your Mama? Your Daddy? Your Brother or Sister? An Aunt or Uncle? Maybe it’s a cousin? What about one of your friends? A co-worker? Someone you see regularly?

Most of you, a good number, you will go out to eat today. Do you concern yourself with the person that’s waiting on you? Or are they just an insignificant waiter?

Love people! They need to know the Gospel that transcends and transforms life through Jesus Christ!

Find one and invest yourselves into that life, because in God’s economy, no life is insignificant!

Edward Kimball

Few have ever heard of Edward Kimball. He was a Sunday School teacher who led D.L. Moody to Christ.

Edward went to a Boston shoe store where the 18-year-old Moody was working, cornered him in the stockroom, and introduced him to Christ.

That sounds like a mighty man of God, doesn’t it. Kimball must have been extremely bold and courageous.

Kimball was anything but bold. He was a timid, soft-spoken man. He went to that shoe store frightened, trembling and unaware of whether he had the courage to confront this young man with the gospel.

Moody, on the other hand, was known to be crude and obviously illiterate, and Kimball trembled in his boots as he recalled the incident.

Moody had begun to attend his Sunday School class. Moody was totally untaught and ignorant about the Bible.

Kimball said, ‘I decided to speak to Moody about Christ and about his soul. I started downtown to Holton’s shoe store. When I was nearly there, I began to wonder whether I ought to go just then during business hours. And I thought maybe my mission might embarrass the boy, that when I went away the other clerks might ask who I was, and when they learned might taunt Moody and ask if I was trying to make a good boy out of him.

While I was pondering over it all, I passed the store without noticing it. Then, when I found I had gone by the door I determined to make a dash for it and have it over at once.’

Kimball found Moody in the stockroom and spoke to him with ‘limping words.’ Later, he said, ‘I never could remember what I said, ‘something about Christ and His love, that was all.’ He admitted it was a ‘weak appeal.’

But Moody, then and there, gave his heart to Christ.”

Tens of thousands have testified that they came to Christ under Moody’s ministry.

Moody led C.T. Studd, the great pioneer missionary and William Chapman, who himself became a well-known evangelist, to Christ. Moody founded the Moody Bible Institute that has equipped and trained thousands for ministry.

It all began when one was faithful to introduce another to Christ.

Andrew was a bringer, an inviter, an introducer!

Let me tell you why that’s so significant. Ninety-six percent of the people that will ever sit in that empty seat, those empty seats there. Ninety-six percent of them will come because somebody invites them, somebody will be an inviter.

They’ll invite them, they’ll bring them, and they’ll come and hear the gospel. They’ll come on the arm of a friend, a neighbor, a work associate, a relative, and they will be changed forever by the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Andrew saw the value of individual people!

2. HE SAW THE VALUE OF INSIGNIFICANT GIFTS.

Some people see the big picture more clearly just because they appreciate the value of small things.

In the account of the feeding of the 5,000, Philip’s vision was overwhelmed by the size of the need.

John 6:5–7 ESV

5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.”

Philip was thinking in natural terms, but Jesus was about to do the supernatural. Meanwhile, Andrew is looking around to see if there was enough food there for them to work with.

Disappointed that he didn’t find enough, he still recognized the value of a young boy’s offer to donate his five loaves of barley bread and his two fish.

John 6:8–9 ESV

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”

That’s the reason some of you don’t give. You’re in a tough time right now, your gift seems insignificant, and you think, what is that among such a great need?

Little is much when God is in it. Insignificant gifts are used to do significant things, and God gets the glory.

No gift is insignificant in the hands of Jesus.

Think about the poor widow and her offering!

Luke 21:1–4 ESV

1 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. 4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

God’s ability to use a gift is in no way hindered or enhanced by the size of that gift. It is the sacrificial faithfulness of the giver, not the size of the gift, that is the true measure of the gift’s significance.

It’s not the greatness of the gift that counts, but rather the greatness of the God to whom it is given. The miracle of feeding the 5,000 illustrates the way God works.

He takes the sacrificial and often seemingly insignificant gifts of people who give faithfully, and He multiplies them to accomplish monumental things.

Something in Andrew seemed to understand that no gift is insignificant in the hand of Jesus. So little could be used to accomplish so much, it was a testimony to the power of God.

Some of you think, “I could never go witness to my neighbor.”

God can take your little weakness, and it’s only when you acknowledge your weakness that the power of Christ can become your strength, and He can take your insignificant abilities and accomplish extraordinary things.

III. HE SAW THE VALUE OF INCONSPICUOUS SERVICE.

Andrew is the picture of all those who labor quietly in humble places.

Paul mentioned the humble way of service for those who are servants.

Ephesians 6:5–8 ESV

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.

Also,

Colossians 3:23–24 ESV

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Andrew did not mind being hidden as long as the work was being done. He was a leader with a servant’s heart.

As far as we know, Andrew never preached to multitudes or founded any churches. But he lived and died bringing people to Christ, one person at a time.

Who’s Your One?

CONCLUSION:

Tradition has it that Andrew took the gospel north into Russia, possibly Scotland. He was ultimately crucified in Achaia, which is in southern Greece, near Athens.

One account says he led a wife of a provincial Roman governor to Christ and that it infuriated her husband. He demanded that his wife recant her devotion to Jesus Christ, and she refused.

So the governor had Andrew crucified. He was lashed to the cross instead of being nailed, in order to prolong his suffering. Tradition says it was an X-shaped cross.

Most accounts say he hung on the cross for two days, exhorting passersby to turn to Christ for salvation.

So how do we measure the value of one life?

1 Corinthians 1:27–29 ESV

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Andrew was an ordinary guy with a big heart for Jesus. He was “the inviter,” “the introducer!” He lived his life one person at a time, always seeking to bring people and glory to his Savior!

So here is the challenge?

Who’s Your One? invite, invest, introduce.