July 8, 2007 PM Service

CHOOSING THE APOSTLES

INTRODUCTION:

  1. Jesus’ mission was the final aspect of God’s plan to redeem man.
  2. Yet, His personal, physical involvement was to be a relatively brief appearance.
  3. He began early in His work to pick and prepare emissaries for the future.
  4. This was the job of the Apostles.
  1. WHAT IS AN APOSTLE?
  1. Jesus sets the example in everything (1Peter 1:21).
  1. He is our Apostle and High Priest (Hebrews 3:1).
  2. God sent Him to earth (Galatians 4:4; John 4:34; 5:36; 9:4; Acts 3:26).
  3. His work was to do the will of the one who sent Him (John 6:38).
  1. Christ called 12 "Apostles" (apostolos) (Luke 6:13).
  1. Envoy, missionary.
  2. They had specific work to do.
  3. They were chosen from the many disciples of Christ.
  1. An Apostle was simply "One who is sent."
  1. Generally one who was sent with a specific purpose to accomplish.
  2. One sent with a commission from a greater authority.
  1. The biblical definition in practice, comes from Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21.
  1. "We are ambassadors for Christ"
  2. "In Christ’s stead", as if Christ were speaking through us.
  1. Expanded definition: Others were called Apostles.
  1. James the Lord’s brother, may have been one (1 Corinthians 15:7; Galatians 1:10).
  2. Barnabas (1 Corinthians 9:5,6; Galatians 2:9; Acts 13:2; 14:4,14).
  3. Andronicas, Junias (Romans 16:7).
  4. Apollos (1 Corinthians 4:6-9).
  5. Timothy, Silas (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2:6).
  6. Epaphphroditus (Philippians 2:25, "Messengers" "Apostles").
  7. Titus and other brethren (2 Corinthians 8:23).
  1. God has sent many, but they have varying degrees of authority and responsibility.
  1. QUALIFICATIONS OF AN APOSTLE:
  1. Acts 1:21-22 During the replacement of Judas we see, to be one of the 12:
  1. Been with them since Jesus was physically present.
  2. From the baptism of John until the ascension.
  3. Witnesses of the resurrection.
  1. Paul’s defense of his own apostleship:
  1. Appointed not of man but by Jesus Christ: (Galatians 1:12; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Timothy 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:1).
  2. Received the gospel by the revelation of God (Galatians 1:12; John 14,15,16 by the Holy Spirit).
  3. Paul had seen Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:8; 9:1; Acts 22:6).
  4. Paul was commissioned to a work (Acts 9:15, 16; 22:14-21; 26:16-18; Galatians 2:7-8).
  5. His work showed the evidence that he was an apostle.
    1. Signs of an apostle were worked by him (2Corinthians 12:12).
    2. His converts were his seal (1 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 3:1-2).
  1. THE CALLING OF THE APOSTLES:
  1. Jesus began to gather disciples from the beginning.
  1. John the Baptist directed them to follow Jesus rather than himself (John 1:36-37).
  1. The apostles-to-be were first disciples, then later they were chosen specially to be apostles.
  1. Notice Matthew 4: 18-22 Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James and John.
  2. Compare Luke 5:1-10
  3. These accounts most likely occur before Jesus called them to be apostles.
  4. They probably had seen Jesus and then left Him, only to later return as their faith grew.
  5. When they ready, Jesus selected His twelve.
  1. Jesus makes His selections:
  1. Only when He was ready.
  2. After a night of prayer (Luke 6:12).
  1. The lists found in the New Testament:
  1. Matthew 10:2-4: Simon (Peter); Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James Son of Alphaeus, Thaddaues (Lebbaeus), Simon (The Canaanite, Zealot), Judas Iscariot;
  2. Mark 3:16-19: Same
  3. Luke 6:14-16: Judas’ (James’ brother instead of Thaddeaus, Lebbeaus).
  4. Acts 1:13: Same as above.
  1. THE TWELVE:
  1. Peter, well known:
  1. Andrew was his brother (Matthew 4:18)
  2. Jesus called Him Cephas (Peter) (John 1:42)
  3. He was a fisherman; a partner to James and John (Luke 5:10).
  4. He was brash, bold and eager.
  5. He confessed Christ first (Matthew 16:13-16).
  6. He walked on the water (Matthew 14:28-31).
  7. He rebuked Jesus (Matthew 16:22).
  8. Vowed faithfulness even to the death (Matthew 26:33-38).
  9. Denied Christ three times (Matthew 26:19; Mark 14:66; Luke 22:56; John 18:15).
  10. He was given the keys to the Kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19).
  11. He used them (Acts 2).
  12. He wrote 1 and 2 Peter.
  1. Andrew:
  1. Disciple of John the Baptist (John 1:40).
  2. He went and told Peter (John 1:41).
  3. Brought the boy with loaves and the fish to Jesus (John 6:8-9).
  4. Brought the Greeks to Jesus (John 12:20-22).
  1. James
  1. Brother of John, son of Zebedee (Luke 5:10).
  2. Mentioned only with John in the Gospels.
  3. Part of the "inner circle"
  4. At the mount of transfiguration (Matthew 17:1).
  5. AT the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:37).
  6. Went with Jesus into the garden of Gethsemene (Matthew 26:37).
  7. Considered a pillar in the early church (Galatians 2:9).
  8. Became the first apostle to die (Acts 12:1-2).
  1. John
  1. Brother of James, Son of Zebedee.
  2. Is mentioned alone only once in the Gospels (Mark 9:339-40).
  3. He is the beloved disciple in the Gospel of John.
  4. He and Peter are often seen together (Acts 3:1; 4:1; 8:14).
  5. James and John were desirous of position in the early days (Mark 10:35).
  6. They had tempers (Luke 9:51-56).
  7. Jesus called them "Sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17).
  8. He wrote John and 1,2,3 John and Revelation.
  9. Later in life he became know as the apostle of love.
  1. Matthew
  1. Also called Levi (Luke 5:27-28).
  2. Tax collector (Matthew 9:9).
  3. Worked at Capernaum (Mark 2:14).
  4. Jesus ate at His home with other publicans (Luke 5:29).
  5. Wrote the gospel of Matthew.
  1. Thomas (Didumus John 11:16; the Twin).
  1. Mentioned only by name in M,M,L.
  2. John tells us more about his activities.
    1. He urges the Apostles to die with Jesus (John 11:16).
    2. He questioned Jesus (John 14:5).
    3. He demanded proof of the resurrection (John 20:25).
    4. He declared Christ as Lord (John 20:26-28).
  1. Philip
  1. Mentioned only by name in M,M,L.
  2. He lived in Bethsaida (John 1:44).
  3. He was the first to be told by Jesus to "follow Me" (John 1:43).
  4. He told Nathaniel to "come and see" (John 1:46).
  5. He asked Jesus to show him the Father (John 14:8).
  1. Simon the Canaanite (Zelotes; the Zealot).
  1. He was of a sect of the Zealots.
  2. They were anti-Roman extremists.
  3. He would have been set to oppose any Roman sympathizer, like Matthew the tax collector.
  1. Bartholomew: mentioned only by name, no details about are known.
  2. James, the Son of Alpheaus: mentioned only by name.
  3. Thaddaeus (Labbeaus; Judas, brother of James).
  1. The lists vary on his name.
  2. He asked Jesus a question (John 14:22).
  1. Judas Iscariot:
  1. He is referred to as "The one who betrayed Jesus."
  2. John talks about him in some detail (John 6:66-71; 12:1-8).
  3. HE betrayed Jesus and later killed himself in regret and guilt (Matthew 27:3-5; Acts 1:17-20).
  1. COMMENTS ON THE TWELVE:
  1. All were Galileans except Judas Iscariot (Acts 2:7)
  2. They were common, everyday men.
  3. More negative aspects are mentioned about them than good.
  4. Jesus chose them based on their potential to become what He needed them to be.
  5. They were transformed by the knowledge of God.
  6. People later took note that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).

CONCLUSION:

  1. Apostles are men with a commissioned work.
  2. Jesus chose these twelve for a very special purpose.
  3. They were ordinary, but with God’s power, they changed the world!