Who are you going to tell?

Ministry@Work Monday

This morning while reading the Gospel of John, I took a mental note of how John the Baptist, Andrew, and Philip once meeting Jesus instantly found their nearest of kin or a dear friend to share with them Jesus. Let take at look a John 1:35-51:

³⁵ Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. ³⁶ And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” ³⁷ The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” ³⁹ He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). ⁴⁰ One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹ He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).⁴³ The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” ⁴⁶ And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” ⁴⁸ Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” ⁴⁹ Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”  ⁵⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” ⁵¹ And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Who was talking?

1. John the Baptist was the first to declare to two students with him that Jesus was the the Lamb of God. These two disciples were instantly compelled to follow Jesus and learn from Him. They called Him Teacher and dwelled with him for the remainder of the day. 

                       

2. Andrew thereafter went and found his brother Simon, whom he worked with as a fellow fisherman, and spoke boldly to him that they had found the Messiah.

3. Philip was found by Jesus and was commanded "Follow me." Philip was so awed by this encounter that he found a friend, Nathanael and declared with great exclamation “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

What are the benefits of telling?

1. People need to know that Jesus, the Lamb of God, has come as a sacrificial lamb, who bore their sin, and that they can be redeemed by grace through faith. 

2. People's identity can be transformed. Jesus when speaking with Simon, which mean hot-tempered, volatile, and violent, was called Cephas or Petros in the Greek or Peter which stable a rock or stone.

3. People's hearts can be revealed. Jesus upon meeting Nathanael declared that he was an Israelite without any deceit or guile which meant having an intent for trickery, cunning, and/or craftiness. 

These are just a few insights from looking at the first disciples and their instantaneous response to go and tell someone else about Jesus Christ. So, make sure to find someone to tell about Jesus whether at work, school, or in your community. 

Every Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge

Suggested Readings Sunday


Greetings!!! I've really been feeling a press in my spirit to share one of my favorite books. Every Woman's Battle  is written by Shannon Ethridge modeled after Stephen Arterburn's Every Man's Battle and Every Young Man's Battle. Every Woman's Battle: Discovering God's Plan for Sexual and Emotional Fulfillment was written to address the sexual and emotional compromise women face whether married, engage, or single. The books is written to encourage women to "keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life," Proverbs 4:23 KJV. 

The book begins with demystifying the myth that sexual compromise was just a man's battle. However, sexual and emotional compromise does present to be a problem with women. Ethridge then introduces the need for balance and integrity in the lives of women physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Etheridge continues with addressing seven myths women believe that intensifies the battle which could lead to compromise including everything from fantasy to inappropriate media material. Ethridge then indicated that need for a revolution by accepting and knowing who we are in Christ. 


Ethridge transitions and begin to introduce a defense against compromise which included taking thoughts captive, guarding your heart, being mindful of words/communication, and setting and keeping boundaries. The final section of the book address our need to release past pain, present pride, and future fears by surrendering to Jesus. Finally, to learn true intimacy with God and maintaining watch over boundaries. 



This is a great book. Every Woman's Battle can be used for small group and/or read individually. Every Woman's Battle can be studied with a workbook and there is Every Single Woman's Battle design specifically for unmarried women. I've also studied Every Young Woman's Battle which addresses the same need for adolescent girls to embrace and begin the process of guarding their heart and bodies against sexual and emotional compromise a sex saturate world.