Everyday Usefulness

C.H. Spurgeon.

John 1:42

And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, You are Simon the son of Jona: you shall be called Cephas…

We are intensely desirous of a revival of religion, and we look for it through some extraordinary agency. God works in this way sometimes; but while waiting for it we miss actual opportunities, Our proper course is to do what we can and God will be sure to bless it.

I. THE MISSIONARY DISCIPLE.

1. His character.

(1) He was a sincere follower of Jesus. Men who have not made Christ's acquaintance experimentally are not fit to work for Him. An unconverted man in the pulpit is an impostor and exposes himself to extraordinary peril.

(2) He was a young convert. He beheld the Lamb of God one day and found out his brother the next. Those who have learned but their A B C let them tell that.

(3) He was a commonplace disciple, yet he became a useful minister. So servants of Christ must not excuse themselves because they are not greatly gifted.

2. His manner was(1) Prompt,

(2) Persevering.

II. HIS GREAT OBJECT,

1. To bring Peter to Jesus. This should be our aim —

(1) Not to a party. To recruit one regiment from another is no real strengthening of the army.

(2) Not to bring men to outward religiousness merely. To make the Sabbath breaker a Sabbath keeper and a Pharisee, to make the prayerless the heartless user of a form of prayer, you but take one poison from him to expose him to another.

(3) Many, alas I are satisfied if they get to the priest, church, sacraments.

2. We may bring men to Jesus —

(1) By prayer.

(2) By putting them in the way of being informed about the Gospel.

(3) By our example.

(4) By occasionally, and as opportunity serves, giving a word of importunate entreaty.

III. HIS WISE METHODS.

1. Being zealous he was wise.

(1) He used what ability he had.

(2) He set great store by a single soul.

(3) He did not go far afield to do good. Many Christians do all the good they can five miles away, when the time taken up by going there and back might be well spent in their vineyard at home. Andrew goes to Cappadocia in his after life, but he begins with his brother.

2. How did Andrew persuade Peter?

(1) By narrating his own experience. What you have experienced tell to others.

(2) He put the good news before him in an earnest fashion.

IV. THE SWEET REWARD ANDREW HAD. He won his brother's soul. In your Sunday-school class or in your home there may be an unconverted Wesley or Whitefield.

(C.H. Spurgeon.)