Week 1
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION: Today, we’re starting a new summer series called “No Bummer Summer”
When it comes to summer break, there are two main types of families
The first group has amazing plans and won’t stop moving for a single moment of the summer...
The second group will also have a great summer…but they have no idea what they will be doing over the next few months
Regardless of which of these describes your family, today, we are kicking off our summer together by talking about those people you are going to see A LOT during these summer months-your family
Let me tell you about my family
I am one of 3- I’m the middle child
Brother in North Carolina
Sister in Colorado
My mom was one of 9, Dad was one of 8
I have 40 first cousins between the two families
A holiday with either family includes more than 50 people
Many of my summers growing up were sleepovers and springs days with cousins
Hardly see them now, but close growing up
Who here sees their family often?
Our families all look different. Some are big, some are small. Some are boring and others could have a reality tv show. But all of us have one thing in common: we are a part of a family of some form
What if I told you that your summer adventure may start with your family
TRANSITION: That happened to one of the early followers of Jesus, a guy named Andrew
Open your Bibles to the Gospel of John, chapter 1
And while you find your spot, let me give you a little background
Andrew had been a disciple, or student, learning from a man called John the Baptist
TRIVIA: John the Baptist was actually a cousin of Jesus!-Lots of family connections today
John the Baptist didn’t write the Gospel of John-that John was one of the 12 Apostles
But John the Baptist had come ahead of Jesus as a prophet that pointed people to Jesus, and to help them turn away from sin
Andrew was one of his followers. Let’s look at the text together:
Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,
and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”
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.
One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).
He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
PRAY
So, Jesus comes walking by the place where John the Baptist is teaching
John points out who He is
And Andrew and another guy get up together and leave John to go follow Jesus
Normally, most people might be a little offended by that, right
Imagine that as I was standing here teaching and Mrs. Bethany walked through the room
I say “hey, that’s Mrs. Bethany and she’s an amazing teacher and youth leader”
And you guys just got up and walked out with her
That wouldn’t feel good, right?
I might get my feelings hurt, or maybe depressed
But that was John the Baptist’s whole job. His whole reason for living and teaching was to point people to Jesus
You know, we never hear a negative word from John the Baptist about it!
He might have even been excited because he knew they were experiencing Jesus first hand!
It’s our job to lead others to Jesus as well, even our own families, Just like Andrew
According to the Gospel passage we just read, when Andrew meets Jesus he does two things,
He decides to follow Jesus himself
He runs to lead his brother to Jesus
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT THAT CONVERSATION WAS LIKE? ***CJ IMPROV SKIT***
Maybe it was like one of those conversations, or maybe it was totally different
We don’t know how easy or hard it was, but we do know that Simon eventually came with Andrew to meet Jesus.
WE DO KNOW THAT EVERYTHING ABOUT SIMON CHANGED-EVEN HIS NAME!
Jesus gave him a name that should be familiar to you, Peter
Peter became one of Jesus’ closest friends
Peter struggled some along the way figuring out his faith
But Peter became one of the most important leaders in the early church, even writing some of the New Testament
THE POINT: BUT SIMON NEVER BECOMES PETER IF ANDREW DOESN’T LEAD HIM TO JESUS!
WHAT if your mission this summer is to lead someone in your family to know Jesus?
Maybe it’s a brother or sister
They already come to church, but you can talk with them about what we learn in our worship each week.
Maybe they are close in age to you and could come to youth group with you
Maybe you have an older sibling, and it’s intimidating to think about talking to them-anyone in here like that?
Did you know that Simon was Andrew’s older brother? But, Jesus gave him the boldness to press on
Maybe you have parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins that seem to love you, but that don’t know or care much about Jesus
Don’t be scared to talk to them about Jesus just because they are older than you.
Talking about Jesus is an act of love
This summer, our church is going to be on missions!
Next week we are hosting VBS, and there will be others here that don’t know Jesus.
A group from our church is going to Idaho on missions with our Association to start the very fist steps in starting a new church there.
Our elementary kids are going to camp SonRise, and some are bringing friends that don’t know Jesus.
Later in July, we are hosting a youth camp right here at Friendship, and if you come you’ll be right in the thick of sharing the Gospel there as well.
All of these projects will involve people and places that are familiar and that are brand new to us
But, regardless of whether you are a part of all of these things or none of them, you can be on mission this summer in your own family—JUST LIKE ANDREW
You might be the only person in your family that loves Jesus
It may be that God wants to do something amazing using you in your own family-
We don’t know a lot about Andrew
But the things that his brother, Peter, did still affect people today
Maybe a great missionary or pastor or evangelist is in your family-they just don’t know it yet
Maybe, just like Andrew, God has given you the chance to be the one that leads them to Him
You can’t physically walk up to Jesus, but you can tell them about Him
You can live a transformed life in front of them…and explain to them why you’ve changed (Got Fruit?)
You can share Bible stories with them (everyone loves a story)
IMAGINE how different your family could be at the end of this summer if you go on missions with them!
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE TO SMALL GROUPS, but before we do, I’m going to pray for you. And I want you to thing about this question: WHO IN MY FAMILY NEEDS TO HEAR AND SEE JESUS?
>>PRAY