Scripture:  John 1:29-51

Subject:  Testimonies

Central Theme:  Testimonies Matter

Objective Statement:  When your testimony is about Jesus your testimonies matter.  When your testimony about Jesus is declared it can impact other people.  Look at how these four testimonies impacted the disciples.

Keyword: Testimonies

Points:

1. John's Testimony: Jesus is Lamb of God. (v.29-39)
2. Andrew's Testimony: Jesus is the Messiah. (v.40-44)
3. Philip's Testimony: Come and See. (V.45-48)
4. Nathanael's Testimony: You are the Son of God. (v.49-51)

Introduction:

Connection:

• 2 Discussion Questions:
  • When was the last time you bought something because it was advertised to you?
  • When was the last time you bought something because it was recommended to you?
• Word of mouth form of marketing is considered as the best form when it comes to influencing the customers. According to a study by Nielsenin 2009, approximately ninety-two percent people tend to completely believe their friends and relatives over other traditional forms of advertising whilst making a buying decision.
• We take into consideration the experience and testimony of others when we make decisions.
• Have you ever watched YouTube reviews online?
• Often what people say about the item and what the company says about the item are two different things.
• I always laugh at Apple's vocabulary when they release the latest device:
• This is our most powerful iPhone ever!
• This is the greatest laptop we've ever made.
• The superlatives are always the case.
• There are people who are making good money online reviewing these devices and giving their take on these things.
• People listen to them, at least in part, to get a different perspective than what the company will give.

Tension:

• I am not bringing up advertising or sales because it is the same as evangelism.
• We are not out here trying to market Jesus like he's something to purchase and add to your life.
• That being said, in today's text in John 1 we see a series of people, one right after the other, that declare there testimony of what they conclude about Jesus when they experience Him.
• And I want us to see something very important tonight.

When your testimony is about Jesus your testimony matters.  When your testimony about Jesus is declared it can impact others.  Look at how these four testimonies impacted the disciples.

1. John's Testimony: Jesus is Lamb of God. (v.29-39)

John 1:29-51

(29)  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

(30)  This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

(31)  And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

(32)  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

(33)  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

(34)  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

(35)  Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

(36)  And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

(37)  And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

(38)  Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

(39)  He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

When your testimony is about Jesus your testimony matters.  When your testimony about Jesus is declared it can impact others.  Look at how these four testimonies impacted the disciples.

1. John's Testimony: Jesus is Lamb of God. (v.29-39)

2. Andrew's Testimony: Jesus is the Messiah. (v.40-44)

(40)  One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

(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.

(43)  The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

(44)  Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

When your testimony is about Jesus your testimony matters.  When your testimony about Jesus is declared it can impact others.  Look at how these four testimonies impacted the disciples.

1. John's Testimony: Jesus is Lamb of God. (v.29-39)

2. Andrew's Testimony: Jesus is the Messiah. (V.40-44)

3. Philip's Testimony: Come and See. (v.45-48)

(45)  Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

(46)  And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

(47)  Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

(48)  Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

When your testimony is about Jesus your testimony matters.  When your testimony about Jesus is declared it can impact others.  Look at how these four testimonies impacted the disciples.

1. John's Testimony: Jesus is Lamb of God. (v.29-39)

2. Andrew's Testimony: Jesus is the Messiah. (v.40-44)

3. Philip's Testimony: Come and See. (V.45-48)

4. Nathanael's Testimony: You are the Son of God. (v.49-51)

(49)  Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

(50)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

(51)  And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Conclusion:

• Now, I want to bring this to a point of conclusion that I hope will help you.
• All of these people had a testimony. It was a testimony about Jesus.
• They communicated their testimony about Jesus and it made a difference in other people's lives.
• Do you know why they spoke up, and really why it made a difference?
  • They really had an experience with Jesus.
  • They had spent time with Him.
  • They saw Him.
  • They had evidence of His identity and His working in their lives.
• Do you know why I think so many Christians do not share their faith?
  • I believe it is that they do not have a faith that is active and growing.
  • They don't have a faith to share.
• People are looking for those who are authentic. They are looking for people who are real.
• When you share your testimony about Christ with others because you have met him, have spent time with him, are learning from him, and are growing in Him, it is way different than just a rehearsed, packaged, script.
• Here is how the disciples were used of God to change the world.
• They experienced Jesus Christ. The Word of God get into them.  Then the Word of God changed them.  Then the Word of God came out of them.
• The truth is that when the Word of God gets into you, then the Word of God will come out of you.
• You'll have a faith to share.
• So, here is my point. Your time spent with Jesus, and your ability and effectiveness in ministry are intimately connected.
• The best ministry you and I will ever do will come out of the overflow of what God is doing in us.
• Jesus said it this way:

John 15:1-5

(1)  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

(2)  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

(3)  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

(4)  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

(5)  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

• When was the last time you really spent time with Jesus?
• Have you been in your Bible?
• How is your prayer life?