Anonymous Heroes
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Understanding the obscurity of the Apostles.
Text: Matt. 10:1-4
Date: 01/22/2012, the Traditional service.
Series: "Matthew" Part 87
Description:
Before Matthew launches into the second great teaching segment of his book, he pauses to list the names of all twelve of the apostles. These are the laborers who will go forth into the Lord's harvest to retrieve it for the Kingdom and all three Synoptic Gospel writers take the time to list their names. We will consider the New Testament definition of an "apostle" and discuss the authority and power Christ imparted to them. Quite often this list is brushed over as a subject for Sunday School rather than expository preaching. But we will pause to consider these eleven men and their profound impact on the church. Not so much from the standpoint of what Scripture says about them, but from what it doesn't say about them. They are the heroes of our faith, the foundation of the church-- and yet it is surprising how little we know about them. When we consider the "why" of this reality, we will discover the great lesson the church should glean from these "anonymous heroes".
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Matt. 10:1-4.
A. Context
B. The call of the apostles, vs. 1-2a.
1. The investiture of power and authority, vs. 1.
a. Owned by the Master.
b. The New Israel.
c. The nature and purpose of the calling.
i. The nature.
ii. The purpose.
2. The significance of being an "apostle".
a. Etymology.
b. The distinct New Testament meaning, 1Cor. 9:1, Acts 1:22, Eph. 2:20.
C. The names of the apostles, vs. 2b-4.
1. General observations, Mark 3:13-19, Luke 6:12-16, Acts 1:13.
a. Peter as the "first" apostle.
b. Interesting facts, Mark 6:7.
2. A closer look at the twelve.
a. Simon Peter.
b. Andrew his brother.
c. James the son of Zebedee, Acts 12:2.
d. John his brother.
e. Philip, John 14:9.
f. Bartholomew, John 14:7.
g. Thomas, John 20:28, 11:16.
h. Matthew the tax collector.
i. James, the son of Alphaeus.
j. Thaddaeus, John 14:22.
k. Simon the Cananaean.
l. Judas Iscariot.
III. Application
A. The obscurity of the apostles.
1. Considering Thaddaeus.
2. Reflecting their Master.
a. In humility, Matt. 5:3,5, 18:4, 19:30.
b. In obedience, John 4:34, 5:30, 12:49, Matt. 5:13, 14, 28:19.
c. In "servant-heartedness", John 13:1-17, Matt. 20:28.
d. In suffering, Matt. 5:11-12, Acts 5:41, Heb. 11:36-38.
3. The significance of the apostle's anonymity.
B. Investing in true treasure, Psa. 103:15-16, Matt. 6:20-21, Rev. 21:14.
IV. Conclusion
