By Rob Campbell
www.cypresscreekchurch.com
Andrew was a disciple of Jesus Christ. The scriptures teach us that Andrew was the first of Jesus= twelve disciples. Notice John 1:40-42: AAndrew, Simon Peter=s brother, was one of the two who heard what John [the Baptist] had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon [Peter] and tell him, >We have found the Messiah (that is, Jesus Christ).= And he brought him to Jesus.@
In scripture, Andrew is known as the Ainviter@ who brought his own brother to meet Jesus. Further, he is the disciple who brought the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus. Think of the ramifications of his invitations. Think of his brother=s enormous experience with Christ and his impact throughout the New Testament and even today. Think of Andrew=s simple recruitment of a young boy to offer all that he had so that Christ might perform a miracle in the midst of thousands gathered to experience the living Messiah.
My friends Ryan and John are much like Andrew. Because of their passion for Christ, God has given to these men a deep passion to see God change lives. This is their heartbeat: Allowing others to experience a change of life through the touch of Jesus Christ. Ryan, John and Andrew are synergists, connectors. They are not flaming evangelists prowling around condemning the Alost@ to hell. They look like Jesus who was a Afriend of sinners.@ These men were not and are not independent flyers, soaring through the lands seeing who they might target and Apick off@ all in the name of Jesus. They are a part of a teamB the body of ChristB the church today.
There is another exceptional quality that bears mentioning concerning Ryan, John and Andrew. They love their fellow man. They live out Christ=s second greatest commandment of loving one another.
Love God and others. Be an inviter.
Comments?
Rob