Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background. Though often overshadowed by his brother Peter, Andrew faithfully connected people to Jesus, whether it was his own family, a young boy with loaves and fish, or outsiders like the Greeks. He was content to serve without recognition, focusing on bringing others to Christ rather than seeking credit. Andrew’s quiet, steadfast service reminds us that God values those who work humbly behind the scenes for the sake of the gospel.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE CHAPTER 6
Notes by Delbert Young (Doug Eaker shared)
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
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Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
Scriptures: Luke 6:12-16, Ephesians 2:19-20, John 1:41-42, Acts 1:8, John 6:8-9, John 12:21-22, Mark 13:3-4
Luke 6:12-16 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
We are taking a brief look at these men who changed the world. Luke introduced us to the twelve apostles. These men were well-known and popular people by the time Luke wrote his Gospel. We are attempting to know them better today.
Selection of Disciples
Out of a large group of followers, Jesus selected, after praying all night, twelve to be his apostles. These twelve men literally changed the course of world history. Actually, not only our faith but history today is built upon them.
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
Ephesians 2:19-20 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
The church exists today because of these men. Your future concerning heaven or hell, what history will record about you, is built upon the apostles.
Apostle Andrew
Today, we will look at Apostle Andrew, the brother of Peter. As we’ve discussed, the names are listed four times in the scriptures. Each listing follows a very similar pattern of four. Andrew is always listed in the first four, and is listed after Peter by Matthew and Luke. Andrew is the brother of Simon Peter, but notice how it’s written: “Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew…” It’s as though, outside of being Simon Peter’s brother, Andrew had no identity of his own, and that remains true throughout the scriptures. Andrew is a background-type person. He’s there, obviously supportive and important, but always in the background.
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
Apostles’ Circles of Closeness
Another thought about the listing of the names of the disciples, the inner circle, Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, and John, were known by their names. Simon had two.
The middle circle was also known just by their name, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, and Thomas.
Then, the outer circle required further identification: James, Son of Alphaeus; Simon, who was known as the Zealot; Judas, son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who later became a traitor. It seems that the closer your relationship is with Jesus, the simpler your name recognition; the further away you are, the more it takes to identify you. I want to be known simply as Delbert.
All the disciples (except for Judas Iscariot) came from the Galilee area.
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
How Andrew Found Jesus
It was in Capernaum that Andrew lived and worked with Simon Peter, James, and John in a fishing business. However, we initially find Andrew as a follower of John the Baptist. John’s message was that the Messiah (Kingdom of God) is at hand. He’s here. Andrew traveled from Capernaum to hear John the Baptist preach. That’s a hundred miles or so on foot. It was Andrew who heard John the Baptist point out Jesus, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:36-40). The Jewish nation was caught up in the Messiah’s coming, but thought it would be in splendor and military might. This would include Andrew and the other eleven as well.
When John the Baptist pointed out Jesus, Andrew didn’t wait for any more information. He ran after Jesus. Andrew was the very first of the apostles to meet Jesus. We learn that Andrew was committed to the coming of the Messiah. Andrew was ready. He spent some time with Jesus and once convinced that Jesus is the Messiah…
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
Bringing People to Jesus
Andrew Brought Simon (who became Peter)
John 1:41-42 THE FIRST THING ANDREW DID was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus…
It would have been months later when Jesus came to the Galilee and Capernaum area. Jesus likely came to Capernaum because of Andrew and Peter. Though convinced Jesus was the Messiah, neither Andrew nor Simon Peter began following Jesus in a “full-time” capacity immediately, but neither did anyone else. We are not specifically told why and are led to think by preachers that they were not dedicated enough. I believe there is a better reason. They had families to support and obligations. They simply could not abandon their families. I believe the plan was that when Christ’s ministry was capable of supporting them, they would follow Jesus full time, and they did.
Although Andrew was the first to connect with Jesus, even before Peter, he was often a secondary figure in the narrative. We don’t think of Apostle Andrew as one of the “inner circle” apostles, as it’s been called. Jesus was constantly with Peter, James, and John, but Andrew was not present (e.g., at the Transfiguration and Gethsemane, etc.). Yet, Andrew occupied a special place in Jesus’ life.
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
We learn some special things about Apostle Andrew.
John 1:41-42 The FIRST THING Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he BROUGHT HIM to Jesus…
That’s pretty important, right? How great would it be to be the person who introduced the Rock to Jesus? But, who have you brought to Jesus? Andrew was evangelistic. Evangelism began with Andrew, where it should begin with all of us, first and at home. Once we find Christ, the first thing we should do is look at home. How have you done in that area?
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The Boy with Loaves and Fish
In John chapter 6, we watch the disciples face a dilemma. Thousands and thousands of people came to hear Jesus teach. We are told there were about five thousand men (Joh 6:10). The people were hungry, and Jesus asked Philip what they could do to feed them. Philip had no idea, but Andrew knew something.
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
John 6:8-9 Another of his disciples, ANDREW, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
Andrew’s already been communicating within the crowd. He’s been talking to the people. The others saw the massive crowd. Andrew saw the people. Andrew’s heart was always to touch the lives of people, and in the process, he would bring them to Jesus. In the mass of people, Andrew had connected with a family who had a boy. He brought the boy out of the massive crowd to Jesus.
Perhaps he said something like, “I’ve found this boy with five biscuits and two small fish. I don’t know how that plays out here, but I believe it means something.” Andrew is bringing someone to Christ who might be useful, who was EXACTLY who Jesus needed. From that little boy’s lunch, Jesus fed thousands and thousands of people.
The Greeks from Bethsaida
Once some Gentiles, who were Greek, came to Philip and asked to see Jesus
John 12:21-22 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” PHILIP WENT TO TELL ANDREW; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
What did Philip do? Philip knew Jesus, but Philip didn’t know what to do with them. Philip was confused. Not Andrew. Andrew knew exactly what to do when someone wanted to get to Jesus. Philip thought these Greeks would bother Jesus, but Andrew understood Jesus came into the world to save sinners. The text specifically points out they were Greeks, meaning Philip possibly had some prejudiced issues with people. Andrew didn’t and knew there was no one Jesus would “not want” to see, especially if they wanted to see Jesus.
Heart for People
There is one more interesting insertion in the Bible about Andrew.
Mark 13:3-4 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, PETER, JAMES, JOHN AND ANDREW asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”
That was Peter’s group. Jesus had just told the Jewish religious leaders their generation would not pass before the religious system would be violently terminated. The question was when would that great tribulation come and the age of Judaism come to an end?
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
After attempting to gain insight into Andrew’s heart and seeing what we’ve seen, I can’t help but realize that Andrew’s concern was not for his own welfare, but for the welfare of the people. How long would he have to bring as many to Jesus as he could before the end came? I think about that along with today’s eschatology teachings. If people truly believed a great tribulation was imminent, then where are the Andrews?
I watch people write books and make horrific predictions, but if they truly believed the end was near, would they not get as many people to Jesus as possible? I think about the movie Schindler’s List, he says something like If I could have saved one more, and I think this is how Andrew was feeling. Is that not the way all of us should feel?
What We Learn about Andrew
1- He knew John the Baptist and heard him declare, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
2- Andrew was the first of all apostles to actually meet the Messiah.
3- It was Andrew who brought the great Peter to Jesus.
4- Andrew was Simon Peter’s brother and was always in his brother Peter’s shadow.
5- Although Andrew was in the overall background of the apostles, but that didn’t bother him one bit.
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
He probably knew he would be in Peter’s shadow if he brought Peter to Jesus, and that didn’t stop Andrew from bringing Peter. Andrew was willing to completely lose his identity if it meant someone else coming to Jesus and being used.
Andrew was more concerned about people coming to Jesus than about gaining credit or holding power. We see Andrew always connecting with people, bringing them to Jesus without prejudice. He would gladly bring a young boy or a gentile. We learn Andrew had faith that somehow Jesus could use not only a little boy but some biscuits and fish to feed thousands.
Background Andrew
Andrew was the type of person that all of us could depend upon. Jesus and every Peter must have Andrews who are always working in the background, connecting with the people and making the leaders look good. However, never forget that Andrew was given the power to cast out devils and heal diseases by Jesus, just as was Peter. Andrew was powerful. Though Andrew never wrote a book in the bible, the name of Andrew will be eternally remembered as an apostle of Jesus Christ and engraved on the foundation of the New Jerusalem, the holy city.
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
Apostle Andrew’s Death
How did Apostle Andrew die? It is said he led the wife of a Roman governor to Jesus. Imagine that! However, it infuriated her husband. The governor demanded that his wife recant her allegiance to Jesus Christ. She refused, so the governor had Andrew crucified on an “X” shaped cross. That’s why the “X” shaped cross is known as the St Andrew’s Cross. It is said he hung there, preaching the name of Jesus to all who passed by. He interacted with people, bringing as many as possible to Jesus until he took his last breath.
If we could activate the Apostle Andrew characteristic on just one person on each row here today, there would be no empty chairs by the end of the year. Is that someone you?
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
Apostle Andrew: How to Serve from the Background
Other Related Sermons:
Apostle Nathanael: How to Recognize Jesus Luke 6:12-16
Simon Peter, Was He Simon, or Was He Peter? video audio notes Luke 6:12-16
Revelation Chapter 11, Two Witnesses – sermon video audio notes
Apostle Philip Don’t You Believe video audio notes Luke 6:12-16
Apostle John Truth and Love video audio notes Luke 6:12-16
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