Service Notes

Help the kids see that we are a church even when we meet outside of the building.
Reminder about GriefShare starting next week

John 1:38–43 (KJV 1900)

38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

John 1:43–51 (KJV 1900)

43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Jesus extends the invitation to follow Him.

John 1:43 “43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.”

If you are following Christ today you are doing so because of an invitation extended by God.

You are not following man.
You are not following a church.
You are not caught up in some movement.
You are following Jesus.

Do you remember that time when you heard His call?

For me it was on a Sunday night in June in 1992. I knew that I had a decision to make.

Our invitation to invite others to come and see is based upon our experience of having already responded to the same invitation.

John 1:38-39 “38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.”

Come and See

Polite invitation
Definite promise

Jesus was the one for whom our hearts will search until He is found

John 1:45 “45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him (say this out loud with me), of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

They were looking for the coming Messiah
They were looking for the one who would set all things in order
They were looking for the one who would offer a sacrifice that would atone for their sins.

When we speak to people about Jesus we need to let them know they have found what they are looking for and now is the time to come unto Him.

Where dwellest thou? John 1:39 “39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.”

The indication is that they wanted directions so they could come by sometime.
Jesus responds with “what are you waiting for”

I firmly believe this has been missing from my conversation with people. Believing that Jesus may return at any moment forces me to ask people to make a decision about His first coming.

Jesus loves and the welcomes the critics

John 1:46 “46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.”

Nathaniel's life experience makes it hard for him to see Jesus.
Apparently nothing from Nazareth has ever been of any value to him.
Perhaps you do not believe anything of value comes from religion.
As followers of Jesus we do not have to be concerned that anyone we meet will ever have a question about the character of God that we can not boldly answer.

Conclusion

Is Jesus really the answer to all that I have been longing for? Come & See

Is what the Bible saying about my sin and need of forgiveness true and is Jesus really my only hope? Come and See

It is a polite invitation and definite promise that we have been allowed to share with others.

Jesus knows us deeply and personally and still invites us to follow Him

John 1:48 “48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.”