First Reading: Psalm 40:5-11
5 You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted.
6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.
10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
11 Do not, O LORD, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever
Second Reading: John 1:35-42
35. The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples,
36. and as he watched Jesus walk by he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”
37. The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
38. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
39. He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
40. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed).
42. He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
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Title: The Echo of Grace: Hear, Come, and Tell
Scripture Focus: John 1:35-42 & Psalm 40:5-11
Introduction:
The Beautiful Burden of a Secret
Have you ever received news so good that it felt like you would burst if you didn’t share it right away? Perhaps a job offer, a pregnancy, or a clean bill of health?
The one that immediately came to my mind was when my oldest daughter was baptized. When we returned home she immediately ran to the neighbor to tell her.
In those moments, silence is impossible. Joy, by its very nature, demands to be shared.
Today, we look at two passages separated by centuries but united by a single heartbeat: the necessity of sharing the wonderful works of God.
From the poetic testimony of David in Psalm 40 to the practical invitation of Andrew in John 1, we see that the Gospel of Christ is not a treasure to be buried, but a light to be held high.
I. The Foundation: Recognizing the Wonder (Psalm 40:5-8)
Before we can share the Gospel, we must be overwhelmed by it. David begins by marvelling at God’s intentionality:
“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you…” (Psalm 40:5).
Sharing the Gospel isn’t about reciting a dry manual; it’s about reporting a miracle. David notes that God doesn’t just want ritual or “sacrifice and offering”—God wants a heart where the Word is written.
The Internalization: To share Christ, we must first let Christ “dig out” our ears (v. 6) so we can truly hear Him.
The Motivation: We share because we have discovered that God’s thoughts toward us are too many to count.
II. The Proclamation: Breaking the Silence (Psalm 40:9-11)
David makes a bold claim that challenges every “quiet” believer:
“I proclaim your saving help in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.” (Psalm 40:9)
He uses four powerful words to describe God’s character: Righteousness, Faithfulness, Salvation, and Love. We often fear “witnessing” because we think we need to be theologians. But look at David’s strategy: he simply refuses to hide what God has done. He speaks of God’s “saving help” in the assembly.
The Challenge: Are our lips “sealed” by fear, or “opened” by gratitude? The Gospel is public news, not a private hobby.
III. The Invitation: “Come and See” (John 1:35-39)
Moving to the New Testament, we see David’s poetry put into action. John the Baptist sees Jesus and points: “Look, the Lamb of God!”
Two disciples hear this and follow Jesus. When Jesus asks what they want, they ask where He is staying. His response is the greatest evangelistic tool ever given to the church: “Come and see.”
Low Pressure, High Impact: Andrew didn’t start with a sermon; he started with an invitation to come see.
The Experience: They stayed with Him that day. We cannot lead people to a Christ we haven’t spent time with ourselves. Our “sharing” is most effective when it flows from a recent encounter with the Master.
IV. The Multiplication: The “First” Thing (John 1:40-42)
The text tells us something vital about Andrew:
“The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.”
The Priority: For Andrew, sharing Christ was not just another task on his list of things to do; it was the top priority.
Unlike many people who may have put off evangelism or sharing their faith as something that could be done later, Andrew understood the urgency and importance of spreading the message.
For all those who seek to follow in his footsteps must make sharing Christ their top priority as well.
The Impact: Andrew is often overshadowed by his brother, Simon Peter. But without Andrew’s simple act of sharing, would there have been a Peter to preach at Pentecost?
Your “Simon”:
In every person’s life, there is always that one person in their circle who is just one invitation away from meeting the Messiah.
This person may have gone through difficult times and may have strayed from their faith. However, there is still a glimmer of hope within them and they are just waiting for someone to extend a hand and guide them towards the light.
They may be searching for something greater in their life and are open to the idea of finding spiritual fulfillment.
It is up to us, as members of their circle, to recognize this potential and take the initiative to invite them to meet the Messiah. With a simple invitation, we can potentially change this person’s life forever and bring them closer to God.
Conclusion: Will You Seal Your Lips?
The Gospel is a chain reaction of grace. David sang it, John the Baptist shouted it, and Andrew whispered it to his brother.
We don’t have to save the world. Jesus had already done that. We are only required to share the good news of what God through Jesus has done.
God has done “many wonders” in your life. He has drawn you up out of the slimy pit and set your feet on a rock. Now, He asks you to unseal your lips. You don’t need a degree; you just need a story and an invitation.
The call today is simple:
Look at the Lamb (John 1:36).
Come and see where He dwells (John 1:39).
Go and find your “Simon” (John 1:41).
As believers, we are called to be witnesses of God’s faithfulness and help in our lives. We must not hide the blessings and miracles that He has bestowed upon us, but rather share them with those around us.
By doing so, we can inspire and encourage others to also put their trust and faith in God. Let us not keep His goodness to ourselves, but let it echo through our words and actions for all to see.
I pray the grace that we have received from God may continue to flow through us, spreading hope and love to those around us. As we lift up His name and proclaim His faithfulness, may others be drawn to experience His goodness and mercy as well. Let us be vessels of His grace, shining His light in a dark world and bringing glory to His name. May the echo of grace continue through us, touching hearts and transforming lives for the glory of God. Amen
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