Come and See: Inviting Others Through Relational Faith

John’s account of Nathanael begins with a life-changing invitation. A simple “come and see” carries more weight than it first appears to carry, just as an awkward welcome dinner with neighbors can become the beginning of ten years of friendship, trust, kindness, and care. God often places invitations in ordinary moments, and some invitations, when received, change everything.

Nathanael comes to Jesus as a skeptic. His question, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” sounds like the questions many people still ask about Jesus and the church. The growing number of religious “nones” often looks at the church and sees judgment, hypocrisy, or money, and skepticism can feel more reasonable than trust. Nathanael, however, has a relationship with Philip, and that relationship gives Philip’s invitation a kind of credibility no argument could manufacture.

Philip does not try to win a debate. Philip does not fire back with a stack of Bible verses or build the perfect apologetic. Philip simply says, “Come and see.” Christ remains the One Nathanael needs to meet for himself, because a real encounter with Christ changes a life more deeply than secondhand information ever can.

Friendship often becomes the doorway through which people first come near to Christ. C. S. Lewis found Christianity becoming real through conversations with Tolkien and Hugo Dyson. Augustine’s mother prayed for him over years, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer learned more deeply about discipleship through Frank Fisher. God frequently uses a mother, a friend, a spouse, or a trusted neighbor as a Philip who keeps extending the invitation.

The gospel must also be put into flesh. The image of Saint Francis walking through town, caring for poor and needy people, shows that preaching happens not only in a church building but also in the way Christians walk through the world. Christ becomes visible through hands and feet, through compassion, generosity, service, and love of neighbor.

Church of the Palms gives people something real to come and see. Christ’s face appears in food given to hungry neighbors, Bible studies, Presbyterian women serving the community, deacons writing notes, staff setting up chairs, respite families finding safety, and children receiving care and hope. God calls trusted people to offer the same simple invitation: “Come and see what God is doing here.” God alone brings the harvest, whether the answer comes in five months or five years.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Relationships make room for faith [49:33] Philip’s friendship with Nathanael matters before Nathanael ever meets Jesus. Trust gives an invitation weight because it comes from someone who knows, loves, and cares for the other person. God often uses long, ordinary faithfulness in relationships to prepare a heart for a life-changing yes. [49:33]
• 2. “Come and see” beats arguing [52:54] Philip does not try to overpower Nathanael’s skepticism. Christ does not need believers to have the sharpest comeback or the most polished explanation. A humble invitation lets people encounter Jesus for themselves, where doubt can become honest discovery. [52:54]
• 3. The gospel must be put into flesh [54:51] Saint Francis’s walk through town pictures a faith that cannot stay inside religious words. Love for hurting people, attention to neighbors, and compassion in ordinary places make Christ visible. A life that reflects Jesus gives truth a face people can recognize. [54:51]
• 4. Christ’s face appears in faithful service [55:40] Churches become places people can “come and see” when hungry people receive food, children receive care, and lonely people are remembered. Quiet acts of service often preach louder than public words. Christ’s hands and feet become visible through people who serve faithfully without needing attention.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [44:54] - A Neighbor’s Life-Changing Invitation
• [47:00] - Nathanael the Skeptic
• [48:56] - Philip’s Relationship With Nathanael
• [50:25] - Friends Who Point People to Christ
• [52:54] - Come and See
• [54:51] - Preaching While Walking
• [55:40] - Seeing Christ in the Church
• [57:35] - Invite Someone to Come and See
• [60:52] - Live Simply and Leave It to God

1. What skeptical concern does Nathanael raise about Jesus’ hometown, and how does Philip choose to answer him? [52:54]
2. What details suggest that Philip and Nathanael already had a relationship of trust before Philip invited Nathanael to meet Jesus? [49:33]
3. What are some reasons people may be skeptical about Jesus or the church today? [47:58]
4. What actions made Christ visible in the life of the church: feeding hungry people, caring for children, remembering lonely people, and serving neighbors? [55:55]

1. Why might Philip’s simple words, “Come and see,” have been more fitting than an argument in response to Nathanael’s skepticism? [52:54]
2. How does a trusted relationship make an invitation to explore faith feel different from an invitation given by a stranger? [49:35]
3. What does it mean to “put the gospel into flesh”? How can acts of compassion, service, and love help a skeptical person see something true about Christ? [55:15]
4. If people encounter hypocrisy, judgment, or self-interest in a church, how might that shape their willingness to accept an invitation to “come and see”? What kind of witness helps rebuild trust?

1. Who has been a “Philip” in your life—someone whose faith, invitation, prayers, or steady care helped you come closer to Jesus? Have you ever thanked that person or told them the difference they made? [51:53]
2. Is there someone in your life who is skeptical about Jesus or the church? What might it look like to listen well to their concerns rather than trying to win an argument?
3. Philip offered a simple invitation: “Come and see.” Is there a friend, neighbor, family member, or coworker you could invite to worship, a Bible study, a service opportunity, or a meal with other believers? What would make that invitation sincere and unpressured? [57:35]
4. Where are people most likely to see your faith in daily life—at home, at work, in your neighborhood, or in moments of inconvenience? What is one specific way you could show the hands, feet, and heart of Christ this week? [55:18]
5. Think about a neighbor or person in need whom you may have overlooked. What small act of kindness, attention, or practical help could communicate that they are seen and cared for? [46:10]
6. Faithful invitations do not always bring an immediate response; sometimes the fruit comes months or years later. Where do you need patience in loving, praying for, or walking alongside someone? [57:48]
7. Consider these practices: live simply, love generously, serve faithfully, speak truthfully, and pray daily. Which one is God especially inviting you to practice more intentionally this week? [01:01:19]