"Bring Them to Jesus" July 9 Readings: Matthew 4:12-25, Mark 1:14-39, Luke 4:14-44, John 1:35-51

 

Reading the Bible Chronologically in 2026

This year, we will read the Bible chronologically, as it happened, instead of simply reading from Genesis to Revelation. The Old Testament is approximately 3/4 of the Bible, but we will give more emphasis to the New Testament, spending half the year in the Old Testament and half in the New. 

Bible Readings: Matthew 4:12-25, Mark 1:14-39, Luke 4:14-44, John 1:35-51

In Bible Gateway, we will link to the NIV this year, though you can choose any version you prefer. 

Background:  

Today's readings record the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus Christ. After the arrest of John, Jesus went to his hometown of Nazareth, and then to Capernaum, where he began  to preach, "Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is near." His message, like John's, called Israel to turn from their sin and seek God. He then began to do miracles that drew a great crowd. His fame spread rapidly. 

Perhaps the most significant thing he did was to gather his disciples, the band of men who would be leaders of the church he would establish when he was gone, when he sent his Holy Spirit. He called fishermen, peasants, political revolutionaries, even a tax collector - and told them to go out and become fishers of men. 

Daily Devotional: Bring Them to Jesus

Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist until one day when another man walked by. John looked up at the other man and said, "Look, the Lamb of God." Andrew realized the importance of these words and decided that it was time to follow Jesus. It is one of John's most godly qualities that he encouraged his followers to leave him and follow another. That is what he did, along with the man who was with him.

Jesus saw these two men following him and asked, "What are you looking for?" Andrew and his friend answered the question with a question. "Rabbi, where are you staying?" Jesus invited them to join him, and they spent the day with Jesus. Evidently, they were deeply impressed with what they saw, because Andrew left to do the most important thing anyone can do. He went out and found his brother Simon, and John 1:42 tells us what he did next.

And he brought Simon to Jesus. 

He realized quickly that this one was The One, the promised Messiah, the hope of Israel. And he went and told his brother about it and brought him to see Jesus. Simon's life changed dramatically after that - he became known as Cephas, or Peter. All because his brother took the time to bring him to Jesus.

Sometimes, perhaps, we get too bogged down in the minutiae of witnessing, trying to deal with deeper theological issues, methodologies, and strategies, or learning canned gospel presentations. Each of those has its place. But evangelism is really much simpler than that.

Sinners find a Savior and bring other sinners to find the same Savior. We find our family, our friends, and our neighbors, and we bring them to Jesus. When they meet him, things change. It is great when we share the faith with strangers, with those we encounter on the street, at restaurants, on airplanes, and wherever we are. But the most effective evangelism is the kind Andrew did. He brought his brother to Jesus.

Family. Friends. Neighbors. Evangelism and missions are not just something we are to do for people around the world. It is something we do for those we love, those we live with, and those we encounter every day.

Father, I thank you for the people who brought me to you. May I pass along that blessing as I bring others to meet the Savior who saved me. 

 

Consider God's Word:

Witnessing can indeed be hard, but remember that there is nothing more important in life than to bring people to Jesus.