1 Jesus says, Make Disciples (Pt. 2 Come and See) Ephesians 2:1-3; John 1:35-39 Temple Baptist Church June 25, 2017 Introduction: There were several reasons the famous Texan, Sam Houston (1793-1863), was referred to as Big Drunk. He was believed by many to have a larger than life ego and had the reputation of being a life-long brawler that could handle himself in a fight, whether it being a military battle, political discord, or perhaps the most scandalous, a marital dispute. In many regards, this brawler of a man s personality of verbosity and over-the-top displays represents the state whose largest city is named after him. Yet, throughout his lifetime, Houston achieved many worldly accolades. He was a soldier who victoriously fought against England in the War of 1812 and also helped Texas achieve its independence from Mexico by winning the Battle of San Jacinto. In addition, Houston is remembered throughout history as the only man to serve as governor of two different states. Despite all his success, Houston s marriage and scandalous public divorce to Eliza Allen was ever circulating in our young country s newspapers and seemed to overshadow all the success he assisted our nation in achieving. Fortunately for Houston, his second marriage to Margaret Lea, a devout Baptist from Alabama, would not only change this egotistical man s life, but his eternity as well. For years Margaret Lea prayed for her husband to come to know Christ and on occasion would ask other believers to speak with her husband about his faith. Finally, at the age of 61, Sam Houston committed his life to Christ. Reverend Burleson, who played an instrumental role in leading Houston to Christ, was chosen to baptize the famous politician and military leader. As the two men made their way into the baptizing hole at Rocky Creek, Reverend Burleson pointed out to Houston that he better remove his wallet before entering the water to which Houston responded, No, I believe not pastor. I m afraid it needs baptizing, too. After having been baptized in the freezing cold conditions, Houston was being congratulated by a friend who commented, Well, General, all your sins have been washed away. With a twinkle in his eye and a wit like none other, Houston replied, If that be the case, God help the fish. Although humorous, Sam Houston s comment truly does speak to the fallen nature of humanity and the depravity present in the life of a non-believer. Ephesians 2:1-3 states it this way, And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.
2 Last Sunday we learned how Jesus is the perfect model for us to make disciples who make more disciples. He is like us in every way and we have the same resources available to us to make disciples as He did. As we read about Jesus life in the Gospels we are able to see how Jesus recognized that people are at different stages in the disciple-making journey, and how that is okay. In his book, 4 Chair Discipling, author Dann Spader points out four different challenges that Jesus issued during His earthly ministry and continues to issue through His written Word to humanity. The first of these challenges the one we ll be emphasizing this morning is the challenge to Come and See. John 1:35 paints the scene of John the Baptist standing with two of his disciples, Andrew and presumably John as the second disciple, when they see Jesus passing by. In his typical fashion, John the Baptist is pumped up to see and proclaim the presence Jesus Look, the Lamb of God! he says to his disciples. The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and noticed them following him, he asked them, What are you looking for? They said to him, Rabbi (which means Teacher ), where are you staying? Come and you ll see, he replied. So they went and saw where he was staying and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. (John 1:35-39). Respond to those who show interest I love how Jesus begins His ministry in such a relational way. When He recognizes Andrew and John following He looks to them and asks, What are you looking for? or even more simply put, What do you want? (John 1:38). Jesus knew that no one would come to Him unless the Father drew them to Himself so He kept His eyes peeled for those who may show signs of being called by His Father. We see this very scenario played out in the passage we just read Jesus spots two young men showing an interest. In response to their question, Rabbi, where are you staying? Jesus issues a simple challenge Come and See. In addition, following the challenge to Come and See, we read that Andrew and John went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. What really stands out is that not only did Jesus make Himself available to the disciples for questioning, but He basically took the rest of His day off so that He could invest in these two young men. Obviously, Jesus life and ministry were incredibly busy, but He took the time to build a multitude of relationships and watched for those who showed an interest in His Kingdom as the Father was drawing them to Himself. First and foremost, lost people need followers of Christ to enter into their world relationally. Jesus did this for us when He left the comfort and glory of His heavenly home and became like us in every way. Jesus went where His people were so that He could identify with them and so they could come to know Him.
3 If you re here this morning having put your full faith in Jesus Christ than my question for you is who has God placed right around you? Are you entering into their world? Would others identify you as a friend of sinners, like Jesus was? In order to enter into the world of those without Christ we need to be willing to leave the comfort of our homes, churches, and to make ourselves available to those that are unlike us. Secondly, the lost need Christ-followers who understand the culture and context in which they live. Jesus spent the first thirty years of His life in preparation for His ministry by studying the needs of His culture and wrestling with the questions facing the people of His day. What are the unique questions that seekers are facing in our community and in our workplaces? In what ways has the Father been preparing you to answer their questions? What challenges in life has God helped you endure so that you can minister to those who are facing similar problems? The challenge to Come and See is a simple challenge that doesn t ask a lot from the person giving the challenge or the one receiving it. We see this in the passage read earlier where Jesus simply invites Andrew and John to come and see and then makes Himself available to their questions. Likewise, listen to what the woman at the well says to her neighbors after she finishes speaking with Jesus Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah? They left the town and made their way to him. (John 4:29-30). What does this challenge of Come and See look like practically speaking? This can be something as simple as inviting a seeker over to your home for dinner. It can be an invitation to attend church, an outreach event, or to go fishing. As said earlier, asking someone to come and see can look like us entering the seeker s world of interests. If they love to golf in their free time, ask if you can come along. If they pride themselves in their ability to slow-cook ribs to perfection, ask if they can show you their technique. If they re big readers, ask them if they would like to start a book club. Or a chess club. Or a play a game of pick-up basketball with them if they re into sports. Or ask them to go with you to Wal-Mart to pick up Q-tips. Anything where you re spending time with one another! The key of inviting someone to come and see hinges on the friendship going deeper. Clearly present the Good News of God s saving grace In his text, 4 Chair Discipling, Dann Spader has this to say about the lost, It s easy to believe that a lost person who doesn t know Jesus is very much alive. They may even be religious. If so, we can convince ourselves that they just need a little more church, or a little more Bible, or a little more faith. We can convince ourselves that they just need to make Jesus a bigger part of their life. But the fact is, instead of turning over a new leaf, what they really need is a new life. God s Word says, the lost live according to the ways of this world and act according to the ruler of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2). They are by nature children under wrath (Eph. 2:3). Likewise, Paul references the lost in Romans 8:7-8 when he says, The mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit to God s law. Indeed, it is unable to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. The result of this hostility towards God is spoken of in Luke
4 16:23 as well as John 3:16 when the lost are physically dead, they are destined to an eternity apart from God. The Good News, which is the lynchpin of the Gospel is that Christ can reverse this condition! Howard Hendricks, a former professor at Dallas Theological seminary had this to say in one of his final sermons, The amazing thing, my friend, is not that you die, but the amazing thing is that you live. [We] think we are in the land of the living on the way to the land of the dying. My friend, nothing could be further from the biblical truth. You and I are in the land of the dying and on our way of the land of the living. In order to move seekers from the land of the dying to the land of the living Jesus challenged the lost to repent and believe. Jesus knew that His listeners were dead in their sin and trespasses and that unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:3,5). It was for this reason that Jesus preached a simple message the same as John the Baptist before Him Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near! (Matt. 3:2). The spiritually dead are incapable of knowing God through their own efforts. They need the life that comes from our Father above the life that can only come through repentance and belief. As we invite our non-believer friends to come and see and make ourselves available to their questions and life challenges the Holy Spirit will give guidance and discernment in knowing when to challenge the seeker to repent and believe. When that opportunity presents itself boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus conquering death, rising from the grave, and giving eternal life to all who believe! Outreach is a process and that s okay! The reality is that very few seekers respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ the first time they hear it. For most, the Gospel must be heard and experienced several times before the individual is able to receive it. In his book, Dann Spader refers to the process of outreach as Spiritual CPR. He writes, Physical CPR is the resuscitation of physical life, but spiritual CPR is bringing people to real, spiritual life. Using Spader s acronym of CPR we look to Isaiah 28:23-28 to provide believers a blueprint for outreach. The C in Spader s acronym represents Cultivation. For those of us with a farming background we know good and well that cultivating is the most difficult aspect of the process. It s when the tractor is working it s hardest the ground must first be plowed, then disked, and finally cultivated in order to break up the hard ground so that it s able to receive the seed. The prophet Isaiah asks the question, Does the plowman plow every day to plant seed? Does he continuously break up and cultivate the soil? (Isa. 28:24). Often times the soil needs to be cultivated several times in a season before it can be fertile ground.
5 Often times the most difficult aspect of evangelism is the process of building friendships with the lost so that they will be open to receiving the Good News of the Gospel. Isaiah informs us that if we fail to complete this crucial first step of building friendships with the lost than we re scattering our seeds on hard and unproductive soil (Mark:15-16). The P in Spader s CPR acronym stands for Planting. Isaiah 28:25-26 says, When he has leveled its surface, does he not then scatter black cumin and sow cumin? He plants wheat in rows and barley in plots, with spelt as their border. What we re reading from the prophet Isaiah is that after the ground has been properly cultivated then the crops must be planted in a specific orderly way. The seed needs to be planted at the right time and right depth if the farmer hopes to reap a harvest. Spader says, In the same way, planting in a relationship means sowing the seed into the friendship with a lost person. Although there is no magic formula to follow for sowing friendship seeds with a lost person, Isaiah 28:26 tells us that God teaches and instructs us in the right way. Finally, the R in CPR stands for Reaping bringing in the harvest at the appropriate time. In order to have a spiritual harvest the believer must share the Gospel, clearly and concisely, and call for a response from the seeker. For those of you that are seasoned Christians you know that outreach is a process. We can t expect to reap before we sow any more than the farmer can plant before they cultivate. In the same that the apostle Paul wrote, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. (1 Cor. 3:6) we do not all participate in the same step of process. We saw how this very process was played out in Sam Houston s conversion to Christ. His wife, Margaret Lea, modeled Christ for her husband and prayed for him on a regular basis, while others met to share Christ s love with him. Finally, when God had prompted Houston s heart into a place of submission, He used Reverend Burleson to assist the man formally known as Big Drunk to repent of his sins and to be cleansed by the saving grace of Jesus through baptism first by the Holy Spirit and then through a public profession of faith in a cold watering hole. Regardless of our role regardless of your role with a particular person, we can rejoice together as God uses His people in different ways to help others discover the joy and ultimate satisfaction that can be found in a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.