The Andrew Connection

One misconception people sometimes have about the call to share their Christian faith with others is that it would primarily involve interaction with total strangers. Certainly there are times when such a witness presents itself. But more often the opportunity for faith sharing arises within the network of relationships we already have. One clear biblical example of this is from the opening chapter of the Gospel of John. It’s what we might thinking of as “the Andrew connection.”

Andrew was the brother of Simon Peter, soon to become one of the most famous of all the apostles. But it was Andrew who first became a disciple of Jesus. Then Andrew right away spoke to his brother about the wonderful Person he had met. Scripture tells us that Andrew “brought him to Jesus.” In other words, Andrew introduced his brother Simon to Jesus. That was the beginning of a relationship that continues to inspire today. The next day, we’re told, Jesus went to the hometown of Andrew and Peter, Bethsaida, and there he met another friend, Philip, who in turn introduced Jesus to Nathanael. You see where this is going.

Are there folks in our circle of relationships – relatives, friends, co-workers – who might be open to a word of introduction to Christ?