1. Sunday in the Word Good Lessons from Good Examples
August 20, 2017
Unit 2, Study 12
Bring Others to Jesus
Study Texts: John 1:35-51; Acts 8:26-39

2. Acknowledgements Material adapted from
Radiant Life: Adult Teacher Guide
June-July-Aug 2017
Unit 1, Good Lessons from Bad Examples
Unit 2, Good Lessons from Good Examples
Volume 91 Number 4
Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO 65802
@2017 ISSN
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International NIV, Copyright 1973 Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
All Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version of the bible.

3. Bring Others to Jesus Key Verse: John 1:41-42
41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (KJV)
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 [a] ). (NIV)
[a] Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) both mean rock.
Focus: To review how Andres and Philip brought others to Jesus and witness to others
Central Truth: Christians are called to bring others to Christ

4. Becoming a Christian No one is born a Christian
Most often, when someone becomes a Christian, the gospel (good news) was presented by another person
Today’s study looks at how three believers, the apostles Andrew and Phillip, and the deacon Phillip, told others about Jesus
We will look at how people become followers of Christ
We will be encouraged to witness to others about Jesus

5. Andrew Learns of Jesus John 1:35-40 NIV
John’s Disciples Follow Jesus
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 they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.

6. ?Question?
What do you think is meant when John the Baptist is described as the forerunner of Jesus?
John had been sent as the forerunner of Jesus
His role was to prepare the way for Jesus and His ministry
He was to “bear witness of the light” (John 1:7 KJV)
God used John the Baptist to introduce Jesus to others as the sacrificial Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world (v 35-36)

7. Andrew Speaks of Jesus John 1:41-42 (NIV)
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 [a] ).
[a] Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) both mean rock.

8. ?Question?
What have you come to know about Jesus that would compel you to introduce others to Him?
Andrew believed in Jesus as the Anointed One-a phrase that identifies Jesus as Messiah and Christ
Andrew saw in Jesus hope for his people and nation
Andrew wanted to share this hope with his brother
Many of us today have found in Jesus what we need and long for: a hope, our peace, love, forgiveness, and a new life
It is natural for people to want to share with others the wonderful blessings that come from knowing Jesus

9. ?Question?
Do you find it easy or hard to talk to family members about Jesus?
Andrew brought his brother, Simon (Peter) to meet Jesus
Jesus saw something in Simon and named him Cephas, or Peter, which means rock (v 42)
This new name foreshadowed the steadfastness of Christian character Peter would display later in life

10. Philip Brings a Friend John 1:43-46 (NIV)
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

11. Jesus Calls Philip
Jesus continues his journey to the village of Bethsaida in Galilee (v 43-44)
There, he calls Philip to “follow Me” (v 43)
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from Bethsaida
Philip goes and tells a friend, Nathaniel
Nathaniel was skeptical
Philip invites him to meet Jesus (v 46)

12. ?Question? What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Following Jesus means forsaking sin and obeying His teachings
Following Jesus means laying aside our personal ambitions in favor of going where He leads
Christian faith bring transformation
Jesus is not just our savior, He is our Lord
Philip understood this, recognizing that Jesus was inviting him to become His disciple
He would travel with Him and listen to His teachings

13. ?Question?
How can Christians deal with skepticism, misgivings and preconceived ideas unbelievers have about Jesus?
Often people we talk to about Jesus may have a limited or flawed opinion about Him.
They may have had a negative experience with someone, a church, or a religious spirit
We should respect their sincerity, and answer their concerns with kindness
Our goal is not to win an argument, but to introduce them to Jesus, who can speak for Himself (1 Peter 3:15)

14. Give Reason for Our Hope 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
1 Peter 3:15 New International Version (NIV)
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
1 เปโตร 3:15Thai New Contemporary Bible (TNCV)
15 แต่ในใจของท่านจงเทิดทูนพระคริสต์เป็นองค์พระผู้เป็นเจ้า จงเตรียมพร้อมเสมอที่จะตอบทุกคนซึ่งถามถึงเหตุผลที่ท่านมีความหวังใจเช่นนี้ แต่จงตอบอย่างสุภาพอ่อนโยนและให้เกียรติ

15. Nathaniel Believes John 1:47-51(NIV)
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe [a] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[b] you[c] will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’[d] the Son of Man.”
[a] Or Do you believe … ? [b] The Greek is plural. [c ] The Greek is plural [d] Gen. 28:12

16. Philip Witnesses to a Stranger Acts 8:26-35 (NIV)
Philip and the Ethiopian
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian [a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,     and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,     so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.     Who can speak of his descendants?     For his life was taken from the earth.”[b]  The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
Footnotes: [a] That is, from the southern Nile region [b] Isaiah 53:7,8 (see Septuagint)

17. Divine Appointments
In Acts 8, we have the story of Philip, the evangelist, another follower of Jesus
He was one of the original seven deacons chosen to serve in overseeing ministry to the widows in the Church (Acts 6:1-6)
Philip was in Samaria, preaching Christ and seeing many come to believe in Jesus
While there, an angel of the Lord instructed him to go to a remote road that led from Jerusalem to Gaza (v 26)
While there he met an official from Ethiopia (v 27-28)
He was likely a convert to Judaism, and had been in Jerusalem to worship,
He evidenced a hunger to know more about God, and was reading from Isaiah (v 28)

18. Divine Appointments
Philip had what we might call a divine appointment (v29-31)
When he came near the chariot, he heart the Ethiopian reading from the prophet Isaiah, giving him an opening to start a conversation
Philip takes advantage of the situation by asking “do you understand what you are reading?” (v 30)
The man answered that he needed guidance and invited Philip to join him

19. Divine Appointments
The circumstances clearly indicate that Philip had a divine appointment
The Ethiopian official was reading a prophecy about Jesus’ sacrificial death (v 32-32)
It provided a clear opening for Philip to explain that Isaiah was writing about Jesus (v 34-35)
Because Philip was open to the leading of the Spirit, and because he was prepared to explain that Jesus is the Messiah, this man heard the gospel presented in a manner he could understand

20. ?Question?
What can we do to be more open to divine appointments to present the Gospel?
We can pray for such opportunities, then listen to the Spirit’s guidance
We should be prepared to simply and clearly explain God’s plan of salvation
Having a pocket bible or bible app can be handy when it comes time to share
We can offer to pray with those we evangelize, even if they are not ready to pray for salvation.
We might pray that God will guide them as they seek answers for their spiritual questions
Describe a time you may have had a divine appointment—a time when God brought someone to you who was open to hear the gospel (good news).

21. New Believer Baptized Acts 8:36-39(NIV)
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” [37] [a] 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
Footnotes: [a] Some manuscripts include here Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

22. Water Baptism
What role does water baptism play in the life of the Christian?
Water baptism plays an important role in the lives of new believers
It is part of the discipleship process that helps us understand what new life in Christ means
It is also a public testimony to others that we have chosen to become a follower of Jesus Christ
Water baptism was the first step in discipleship that the Ethiopian man took
Philip was supernaturally snatched away (v 39) perhaps sealing this experience and encounter for the Ethiopian
This new believer went on his way rejoicing in his newfound faith

23. Practical Application
Jesus commanded His followers to go, reach, and teach (Matthew 28:18-20)
Whether we go to family members, friends, co-workers, or strangers, we must be prepared to tell them the good news about Jesus
We can start by telling our story, of what Jesus did for us
Jesus promised the help of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7)
Pray for the Spirit’s help in staying alert to those around us who are open to hearing about the Lord,
Look for Divine Appointments, and pray for the Lord to help you guide conversations toward spiritual matters in an effective way
We can always invite people to experience Jesus for themselves

24. Sunday in the Word Good Lessons from Good Examples
August 27, 2017
Unit 2, Study 13
Be an Encourager (Barnabas)
Study Texts: Acts 4:32-37; 9:26-28; 11:19-30; 13:1-5; 14:1-28
15:36-40; 1 Timothy 6:17-19