Following the order of disciples as listed in Matthew 10:2-4, this lesson on Andrew is the second in a series of lessons on the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ. We want to get to know these men so that we might learn valuable lessons from those who followed the Lord. In learning about their lives, we want to discover how we are like these men and how in many ways these men are like us. We want to discover virtues (good qualities) in the lives of these disciples that we should imitate, and we need to recognize any sins in the lives of these disciples that we should avoid.
Last week we considered the life of Peter, listed first in Matthew's list of the disciples. Which disciple is listed second in this list (Matthew 10:2)? ____________________ Who was this man's brother (Matthew 10:2)? _____________________________________
What did these two brothers do for an occupation (Matthew 4:18)? ____________________________________________________________ Because this was true, how might you describe Andrew and Peter (circle the words that you think would describe them)?
| rugged | accustomed to indoor life | |
| lazy | accustomed to outdoor life | |
| courageous | flabby | |
| muscular | strong | |
| weak | hard working |
Who were Andrew and Peter's fishing partners (Luke 5:10)? _________________ and _________________ Apparently these four men worked together and fished together.
Deep in his heart Andrew knew that there was more to life than just fishing and making money and going through the daily routine. He knew that there was something much more important and he wanted to find it. Somehow Andrew learned about a great prophet whose name was __________________ (John 1:6). This man was none other than John the Baptist. Andrew decided to leave his fishing for a time, and soon he became a disciple (follower) of John the Baptist. Andrew is mentioned in John 1:35. He was one of these two disciples of John (although we do not read his name until we come to John 1:40).
One day Andrew and another disciple were with John the Baptist. Jesus was there also (John 1:36). John the Baptist was a great prophet (see Matthew 11:11), but in John 1:36 we see John pointing to another Person who is much greater than he. John pointed to Jesus and said, "Behold the ____________ of ________" (John 1:36). Why do you think Jesus was called the Lamb of God? (Compare also John 1:29).
When the two disciples heard John the Baptist say these words, what did they do? Did they continue to follow John the Baptist or did they leave John and start to follow Jesus (John 1:37)? ____________________________________________________
Andrew was a SEEKER! His search made him leave his nets and boat for a time to seek John the Baptist, but his search was not over yet! John the Baptist pointed him to Jesus, the Lamb of God! When people are seeking, they need to be pointed in the right direction. If someone comes to you seeking to be saved and wants to know the Lord, where should you point him? Don't point them to yourself, but like John, point them to someone who is much greater than you are! Point them to the Lord Jesus Christ, God's only Saviour. When a seeker finds Christ, his search will be over.
Andrew and this other disciple stayed with Jesus on that day (John 1:38-39). Did Jesus
know that these men were SEEKERS (John 1:38)? _________ Did He turn them away or did He
let them come (John 1:39)? _________________________________
True seekers will never be disappointed. If a person really seeks to know the truth and
to know the true God, then this person will find what he is looking for. Andrew was a
true seeker and Andrew truly found the Lord. God's promise to SEEKERS is found in Jeremiah 29:13
-- "And ye shall ____________ Me, and_______________ Me, when ye shall
____________________ for Me with ______ your heart." God will not disappoint those
who truly seek Him! In Hebrews 11:6 we learn that God is a "rewarder of them that
diligently _____________________________________." Those who seek God with all
their heart (diligently) will be rewarded! Those who seek God will find God! Andrew was a
SEEKER. Was Andrew a FINDER (John 1:41)? ________________ What did he find (John 1:41)?
___________________________
Did Andrew keep his discovery to himself or did he share it with others (John 1:41)? _________________________ Who was the first person with whom he shared it (John 1:41)? __________________ In last week's lesson we learned that the Bible says a lot about Simon Peter. The Bible says little about Peter's brother Andrew, but we must never forget that it was ANDREW who brought his brother Peter to the Lord.
Suppose a man were to spend all his life seeking to find a cure for cancer. Finally as an old man he discovers the cure. He finds the very thing that he has been searching for all his life. What should he do now? Should he keep it a big secret? Should he tell no one about his discovery? Should he share it and make it known? Andrew did not keep his discovery to himself. He made it known. His attitude was this: "I found Him, and Peter, I want you to find Him too!"
What about you? Have you discovered Jesus Christ? There are many people who go to church and Sunday School every week and are familiar with Bible stories, and yet they have never discovered Jesus Christ and come to know Him as their personal Saviour. You must find Him before you can help others to find Him! It's one thing to know about Christ, but it's quite another thing to know Christ in a personal, saving way. Everyone knows about the President of the United States but not many people know him personally.
If you have found Christ and are discovering the joy of knowing Christ in a personal way, are you sharing your discovery and your joy with others? Have you shared your joy with your brother or sister or parents? Have you shared your joy with your friends? What a joy it is to introduce others to Christ!
Andrew was a man who brought others to_________________ (John 1:42).
Andrew later returned to his fishing occupation. One day Jesus met Andrew and his other fishing partners by the sea of Galilee. What were Peter and Andrew doing when Jesus walked by (Matthew 4:18)?__________________ In Matthew 4:19 Jesus called them and said, "_____________ Me , and I will make you _____________________ of men." This means that from this time forth, instead of catching fish they would catch ______ (Luke 5:10). Did they do what Jesus told them to do (Matthew 4:20)? ______ Their occupation was changed from fishers of fish to fishers of men!
All men are like fish swimming in the ocean of time. Moreover these "fish" are all swimming in the waters of death and destruction, because the Scripture has concluded ________ under __________ (Galatians 3:22). Graciously, the Saviour of men reaches down and is able to draw people into His wonderful net and catch them for His kingdom. Have you been caught and captured by the Saviour? Has God saved you from this evil world system that you were swimming in (Galatians 1:4)? ______ Have you been caught and rescued by God's grace?
God Himself is the great FISHERMAN (the great "catcher of souls"). And yet,
God uses men to catch other men. God used Andrew to catch P________________. God wants us
to have a part in the great work of catching and saving souls which He is doing. In
Proverbs 11:30 we read, "He that _____________________ souls is
__________." Andrew was a soul winner! Andrew was concerned for others. Andrew was
wise!
Andrew was a practical minded man. He did not walk around with his head in the clouds. He knew how to look at whatever was happening, size up the situation and offer some practical suggestions.
One day Jesus and the disciples were with a large crowd made up of thousands of hungry people. Jesus first asked Philip what should be done (John 6:5-7). Practical Andrew then looked around, sized up the situation, and told Jesus exactly how much food might be available (John 6:8-9). Did Andrew think that this amount of food would be enough for such a vast crowd of people (John 6:9)? _______ We all know the story of how Jesus took the barley bread and fish and fed this huge crowd of people with food left over to spare!
Andrew needed to learn an important lesson. "LITTLE IS MUCH IF GOD IS IN IT!" We need to give God the little that we have, even if it does not seem like very much. It is amazing what God can do with it if we put it in His hands! He can bless it and multiply it and do wonders with it! You may not have great abilities or great talents, but if you take the little that you do have and give that to God, you will be amazed how God will use you and bless your life.
We also learn about practical Andrew in John 12:20-22. There were certain Greeks who wanted to see Jesus and have an interview with Him (John
12:20-21). Philip came and told Andrew about these people who were interested in
seeing Jesus. Andrew sized up the situation and
decided to bring the request to Jesus to see what the Lord would say (John 12:22).
His decision is
good practical advice for all of us. When we are not sure what to do about something, we
can always take it to the Lord and let Him handle the matter. As one hymn writer
wrote, we
can "take it to the Lord in prayer."
In Mark 13:3-4 we learn that Andrew and three other disciples were concerned about what would happen in the future. Most people are interested about future things and what is going to happen in the world. How do we rightly learn about the future? Do we find someone who can read a crystal ball? Should we read some book by a person who claims to be a modern day prophet? Should we trust in astrology and try to determine the future by the stars?
Andrew and the other disciples went to the right Person to find out about what was
going to happen. They asked the right Person. Did Jesus give them accurate and true
information (Mark 13:5-31)? God's Word is the only safe place to go to find out about the
future. Why is this so? (See Mark 13:37) In the Bible God has given to us
everything
that we need to know about the future so that we can live the right way TODAY!
The Bible does not tell us about Andrew's death. We must get our information from historical records that have been handed down to us, and some of these records may not be very accurate.
In one account we are told that Andrew was faithfully preaching in the area which today is known as Greece. Even unto the time of his death, he was still seeking to bring others to Jesus and to share his discovery with them.
According to the tradition, one of the governmental leaders (the proconsul) was angry
that Andrew was continuing to preach Christ and refused to stop. He commanded Andrew to
join in sacrificing to the false gods of the heathen people. Andrew refused.
Then, the proconsul ordered that Andrew be severely scourged (whipped) and crucified. To make
Andrew's death
more lingering, he was fastened to the cross with cords rather than nails.
Praising God and still telling others to come to Jesus, Andrew hung on the cross
for two days before he finally died. The
cross he died on was in the form or shape of an "X." Since the
time of Andrew's death, this type of a cross has been called "St. Andrew's
cross."
We have taken a look at the man Andrew. The New Testament does not have too much to tell us about this man. We have learned that Andrew was a seeker, concerned for others, a real "fisher of men," practical, concerned about future things, and faithful to Christ to the very end.
ARE YOU LIKE ANDREW? HOW? WAS ANDREW LIKE YOU? HOW? What lessons have YOU learned from the life of Andrew?
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