Round 2 - it is almost here. It was about one year ago that work started on the Andrew Plan here at St. Stephen. Between then and now, we have almost finished round one of the Bible Basics 101. God has blessed our congregation in so many ways through this course. Our congregation has grown spiritually through the study of God's Word. Faces that were new to St. Stephen have become dear Christian friends. Our young people are active in Bible study. Round one is almost complete and what a blessing it has been.

Round 2 is scheduled to start on February 19th - just a little over a month away. On that day, Bible Basics 201 will start for the very first time. You will be studying those basic Bible History lessons you have may have forgotten all about. At the same time another round of the Bible Basics 101 course will start. Once again it is time for you to invite people to come and see Jesus.

The sermon lesson for today gives us another round 2 - a sequel if you will. The Andrew Plan is based on the Bible story of Jesus calling Andrew to be his disciple and Andrew's reaction. But then, the very next day after Jesus called Andrew, he found Philip and called him to be a disciple. And what did Philip do? He immediately found Nathanael and invited him to meet Jesus. "Come and see!" he said. Think about how you can be like Andrew and Philip. How can you invite people to come and see Jesus!

I'm excited. I pray that you're excited also. God is working through the Andrew Plan. I know, though, that people can get nervous talking about their faith to other people. But we can lesson some of that anxiety if we focus on what actually does the work when reach out to others. We don't attract people to Jesus. Rather it is Jesus' Word that draws people to him.

Look at how powerful the Word of Jesus is! He walked up to Philip and simply said, "Follow me." And Philip did. The Word of Jesus is so powerful that Philip simply. Philip knew what Moses and the Prophets had written about the promised Messiah. And now he believed that Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Messiah.

The same goes for Nathanael. Philip brought him to Jesus with a simple, "Come and see!" When Philip heard the Word of Jesus, he immediately confessed his faith, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

How can the Word of Christ be so powerful? How can it draw people in like that? It's because the Word of God puts all people on the same level. It makes the beggar a king and the king a beggar.

Under the Law, no human being can escape God. The liar, the adulterer, the murderer, the disrespectful, the lazy, the complainer, and the idolater all stand hand in hand - guilty before God. Find your place in that line. Pick any one of the sins. Pick all of those sins. We are all on the wrong side of the law and thus stand condemned for our sins. And so no matter our age, skin color, ancestors, wealth, or talents, we are all just miserable beggars before God, pleading not to be sent to hell.

But the Gospel also levels the playing field. There is no one who deserves God's grace more than another - the grace that sent the Savior Jesus. Jesus made the payment for our sins. He offered his perfect life of obedience on the wretched cross to win our forgiveness once and for all. He came out of the tomb on Easter Sunday to confirm our salvation and to give us a mansion in heaven. Jesus forgiveness is free to all, no matter who they are.

People may be drawn to churches for all kinds of reasons. Some people like churches because the music is cool. Some people like churches because the speaker is dynamic. Some people like churches because they have nursery for their little ones. But these are reasons that people are drawn to churches, not Jesus. Jesus' Word draws people to him. The true message of the gospel is what brings people to the Savior.

Take note of this as we prepare for round 2 of the Andrew Plan. Invite people to come and see Jesus without fear or hesitation. Trust the Word of Jesus, which draws people to him.

Many have already taken advantage of Bible Basics 101. For some of you this was a long overdue refresher course of what you learned in your Catechism class. For others, this was laying the foundation of what will be, God willing, a strong spiritual house.

Now round two is right around the corner. That means you will have the opportunity to take Bible Basics 201. In that class you will learn about the Flood, the Temple, the Promised Land, Moses, Solomon, and most importantly, about Jesus. This class will fill your cup with faith and knowledge. You will hear the wonderful promise of God through these Bible History lessons. This promise keeps us with Jesus.

When people stray from Bible study we, as pastors, notice a difference. Many times, their attitudes and priorities change. Their struggles become more difficult for them. It becomes worse as they get further and further away from the promise of Jesus.

Jesus gave Nathanael a promise. After the disciple confessed his faith in Christ, Jesus told him he would see heaven. There would be angels there. More importantly, Jesus would be there. What an awesome promise! Nathanael would go to heaven! By God's grace, he had the wonderful promise of eternal life in Paradise.

We have the same promise. "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved." "By grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is a gift of God." Jesus promises you heaven. Rejoice!

That promise is what keeps you with Jesus. Hold that promise close to you by being in God's Word. If you have not taken Bible Basics 101, do it and hear Jesus' promise again and again. If you weren't planning on taking Bible Basics 201, change your mind today. Come and hear Jesus' promise to you.

That promise will keep you close to Jesus, just like Jesus' promise kept Nathanael close to him. Jesus' disciples remain Jesus' disciples through the promise that the Savior gives them. Your sins are forgiven. You have salvation. You will see Jesus in heaven.

Round 2 is near. Get ready. Think about all the friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and relatives that you will invite to the Bible Basics 101. Simply tell them, "Come and See!" like Philip did. Then prepare yourself for Bible study, whether it is 101 or 201. Ask God to make you faithful in attendance. Ask him to guide your pastors as we present Jesus' promise to you. Get ready for round 2. It starts February 19th. AMEN.