15 Sep Who’s Next? | Week 2 “Shoulder Tap”

Key Verse: John 1:35-42

B.Y.O.B Weekend – September 26/29

When you bring someone to Jesus you never know what that person is going to do, become, or accomplish. DL Moody was ‘Billy Graham’ before there was ever a ‘Billy Graham’. Because D.L.’s Sunday school teacher came back after many years to witness to him (Pastor Tim had described this story in detail of how he came to a store that Moody was working in and put his hand on him and told him about Jesus), even though he did not want to, The Holy Spirit prompted him and this became an amazing ‘shoulder tap’ story. This is the power of a shoulder tap. Dwight was not one who never wanted to go to church, but because of Ed Kimball, he became who God purposed him to be.

THEME: When we invited someone to Jesus, we invite them into unlimited potential.

“He (Edward Kimball) put his hand upon my shoulder, and talked to me about Christ and my soul. I had not felt that I had a soul till then. I said to myself This is a very strange thing. Here is a man who never saw me till lately, and he is weeping over my sins, and I never shed a tear about them.’ I don’t remember what he said, but I can feel the power of that man’s hand on my shoulder to-night. it was not long after that I was brought into the Kingdom of God.” – D. L. Moody

John 1:35-42 ESV

Question: “WHY should I impose MY BELIEFS on someone else?”

The answer to this question is: We don’t impose, we introduce them to the Person of Jesus and we get out of the way.

We are not to force people into some kind of religious mold, but to introduce them to someone that can change their life.

Q. Can you describe a time when someone thought you were trying to force your beliefs on them or vice versa? How did you handle the situation and what was the outcome?

John 1:35-36 ESV

WHEN PEOPLE MEET JESUS, SUPERNATURAL THINGS START HAPPENING IN THEIR LIFE.

God changes, transforms, and heals. We have witnessed those that have come to the altar for prayer and have come back cancer-free!

Q. What kind of supernatural things had you started to see happening when you met Jesus for the first time or that you have witnessed when others had met Jesus for the first time?

1. JESUS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AS WE ARE.

People should come as they might want to be. Their motives do not matter. We are glad people are coming to church. What we want to be might destroy us, but Jesus can change us to what He wants us to be.

Q. What is something you may have thought you wanted, that had you received it, may have destroyed your life? How has God changed the desires of your heart from what you had wanted to what He disires for you?

John 1:38 ESV

Jesus was much more than a Rabbi, teacher. We come as we are with whatever limited knowledge we have and it is okay. We come as we are and He is the one who changes us, we cannot change ourselves.

We want people to come to Jesus, not religion.

(Leader, this is an opportunity to invite those in your group to take Starting Point – you can go to the Events Page on this HUB and get them registered).

2. JESUS GIVES US THE TIME TO SEE WHO HE REALLY IS.

It takes time to understand Him. We never really fully understand who He is.

John 1:1

This is God eternal who never changes. He is all we need and we cannot whittle Him down to who we want Him to be.

John 1:39 ESV

He showed them where He was standing. Even though they had little understanding, He is still opening the door to show them where He was going. He starts where we are. The main thing is knowing Jesus and letting Him walk us through the transformation of our minds. We follow first and then see second. Come to church and then the lights come on. For some of us it takes a while, but God is patient.

Q. Can you describe a ‘come first and see second’ moment in your life? When you were first invited to church, did you think you needed to know and understand everything before you came?

John 1:40 ESV

This is the greatest shoulder tap in history. Peter is the first gospel preacher in the Book of Acts and Andrew shoulder tapped him. Andrew was Simon’s Peters brother and Andrew was always the second person. Andrew was a connector.

John 12:20-22 ESV

Philip went to see Andrew because he knew Andrew was a connector.

Q. Do you consider yourself an ‘Andrew’ (connector) or a ‘Peter’ ( one who was shoulder tapped by a connector) and why? Who are some ‘Andrews’ and ‘Peters’ that you know?

3. JESUS GIVES US TH POWER TO BECOME A NEW PERSON.

John 1:42 ESV

He changed Simon’s name to Peter.

Simon goes from Simon (hearing) to Peter (rock).

WHEN WE GIVE PEOPLE PERMISSION TO COME AS THEY ARE – WE OPEN THE DOOR TO WHAT JESUS CAN MAKE THEM.

MAKE TIME FOR PRAYER AND FELLOWSHIP