The Good News People | Carriers of the Cure | Chris VanBuskirk

Devotional

Day 1: The Lamb and the First Followers

John stood waist-deep in the Jordan, his camel-hair cloak clinging to wet skin. Two disciples lingered nearby. When Jesus walked by, John’s raspy voice cut through the air: “Look! The Lamb of God!” The men left John’s side like children chasing a parade, trailing Jesus until He turned and asked, “What do you want?” Their answer—“Where are you staying?”—was less about geography than hunger. Jesus smiled. “Come and see.” [01:20]

This moment shifted history. John’s disciples didn’t just hear about the Messiah—they pursued Him. Jesus’ invitation wasn’t theological debate or a list of demands. He offered presence. Andrew’s immediate run to Peter shows transformed people become transformers.

Who have you outgrown spiritually, like John’s disciples leaving their teacher? What relationships might God be asking you to steward toward Him? When you last encountered Jesus’ nearness, who first came to mind to tell? Whose name is burning in your chest right now?

“The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, ‘Look! There is the Lamb of God!’ When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.”
(John 1:35-37, NLT)

Prayer: Ask God to make you sensitive to His presence today, ready to point others toward Him.
Challenge: Write one name in your phone notes—someone far from God but close to you. Pray for them at 3:00 PM.

Day 2: Nazareth and the Skeptic’s Shift

Philip found Nathanael under the fig tree, sweat staining his tunic. “We’ve found the One! Jesus of Nazareth.” Nathanael scoffed: “Can anything good come from there?” Philip didn’t argue theology or defend Messiah’s résumé. He mirrored Jesus’ own words: “Come and see.” Minutes later, Jesus named Nathanael’s secret prayer beneath those branches. The skeptic fell to his knees. [21:08]

Jesus specializes in dismantling doubts through personal revelation. Philip’s courage to engage skepticism—not avoid it—created space for God to move. Your friends’ objections aren’t roadblocks but doorways.

Who have you avoided because their questions felt threatening? What if your next conversation began with “I don’t have all answers, but let me show you what He’s done”? When did someone’s doubt about God actually mask hunger for Him?

“Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus…’ ‘Nazareth!’ exclaimed Nathanael. ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’ ‘Come and see for yourself,’ Philip replied.”
(John 1:45-46, NLT)

Prayer: Confess any fear of others’ doubts. Ask for boldness to lean into hard conversations.
Challenge: Text your skeptical friend: “I’ve been praying for you. Want to grab coffee this week?”

Day 3: Dim Lights and Open Doors

The sanctuary lights dim as worship begins—not for ambiance, but to let the hesitant sing raw truths without scrutiny. A first-time guest slips in, drawn by a coworker’s invitation. No one assumes she knows when to stand or how to take communion. The message ends in 40 minutes, leaving room for questions over lunch. [15:18]

Church environments matter. Jesus’ “come and see” wasn’t a guilt trip but a low-pressure welcome. Every detail at CenterPoint—from sermon length to lobby greeters—mirrors His priority: removing barriers between seekers and His presence.

Where do you unintentionally gatekeep faith with insider language or rushed interactions? What mundane act—a saved seat, explaining baptism, laughing at their “silly” question—could make someone feel anticipated? Who needs you to prioritize their comfort over your routines?

“Andrew…found his brother Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah’… Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus.”
(John 1:40-42, NLT)

Prayer: Thank God for whoever first made church feel safe for you. Ask Him to multiply that gift through you.
Challenge: Invite your “one person” to next Sunday’s service or a small group BBQ within 24 hours.

Day 4: From Fishermen to Foundation

Simon reeled in nets, fish scales glittering on his calloused hands, when Andrew burst in: “We found the Messiah!” Reluctant but curious, Simon followed—and froze under Jesus’ gaze. “You’re Simon…but you’ll be Peter.” The fisherman’s identity shattered like a wine jar. Three years later, this same man preached Pentecost’s sermon, sparking a wildfire that still burns. [30:10]

Jesus sees who we’re becoming, not just who we’ve been. Andrew’s invitation didn’t just change Peter’s career—it altered eternity. Your simple “come and see” might activate someone’s latent destiny.

What labels have you accepted—“too damaged,” “unqualified,” “just a mom/student/retiree”—that Jesus wants to rewrite? Who in your circle needs to hear they’re God’s masterpiece in progress? What future might God build through your one invitation?

“Jesus looked intently at [Simon] and said, ‘Your name is Simon…but you will be called Peter.’”
(John 1:42, NLT)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal His purpose for both you and your “one person.”
Challenge: Share one sentence with your person about how Jesus changed you. Example: “He helped me forgive when I couldn’t.”

Day 5: Masterpieces in the Making

Ephesians’ words hung in the air: “God’s masterpiece.” A recovering addict in the third row wiped tears. A teenager memorized the verse, desperate to believe his anxiety wasn’t his identity. The cure isn’t self-improvement—it’s surrender. Grace, not grit, rebuilds shattered lives. [27:22]

We’re carriers, not creators, of the cure. Jesus’ grace turns dead hearts into living testimonies. Your story—messy edges and all—proves hope isn’t hypothetical.

When have you downplayed your transformation, calling it “not dramatic enough”? What shame are you still trying to earn away, forgetting salvation’s “gift” label? Where is God asking you to trade self-reliance for His resurrection power?

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done.”
(Ephesians 2:8-9, NLT)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for specific ways His grace has covered your failures this month.
Challenge: Perform one act of kindness for your “one person” today—a meal, errand, or handwritten note.

Sermon Summary

John shows a people drowning in bad news and a Messiah who answers it with good news. John the Baptist points and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God,” and Jesus answers the curiosity of early seekers with a simple, relational invitation: “Come and see.” That invitation becomes the pattern. Andrew meets Jesus, then immediately finds Simon. Philip meets Jesus, then immediately finds Nathanael. The text turns personal by showing skepticism in Nathanael and the way Jesus meets it with presence, insight, and mercy. The result is movement from doubt to confession. The picture is clear: real encounters create real urgency, and “come and see” is how the good news travels.

The cultural moment feels heavy. Division, exhaustion, and loneliness sit everywhere. The problem is spiritual before it is political or medical, so the cure must be spiritual. The gospel is that cure. If the word “gospel” means good news, then the call is to be “carriers of the cure.” The church’s life, therefore, has to make that invitation easy. A house that is ready for guests, language that is clear, rhythms that welcome skeptics and strugglers, and sermons that are concise and plain are not gimmicks; they are expressions of “come and see.” The New Testament pattern holds a both-and: believers must be equipped and challenged, and seekers must be edified and encouraged, all in the same room.

The invitation is not abstract. Andrew starts with his brother. Philip starts with his friend. The assignment is already standing in front of the disciple. “Your people are your assignment.” The wisdom is just as plain: start where you are and start with who you know. That is why stories of students hosting a simple backyard fire and watching friends take next steps carry so much weight; the Spirit honors ordinary invitations.

Ephesians 2 names what needs curing. Sin leaves people dead; grace makes people alive. Hopelessness steals purpose; new creation restores calling. Salvation is a gift, not a wage, so the boast belongs to Jesus alone. The good news cures both guilt and aimlessness, then sends the rescued into good works prepared in advance.

Andrew’s invite to Simon becomes a hinge in salvation history. Jesus renames Simon as Peter, the rock, then uses him to help launch a movement hell cannot stop. One invitation changes a destiny and, through that destiny, changes thousands. The pattern holds. The church is one invitation away from changing someone’s future. The strategy is still Jesus’ own: “Come and see.”

Key Takeaways

1. Good news answers heavy news The cultural fog of outrage, fear, and fatigue is not mainly a information problem but a heart problem. The gospel meets that ache with a Person whose grace interrupts despair and reframes reality. When the bad news multiplies, proclamation must sharpen and hospitality must widen so the cure can be received. [05:29]
2. “Come and see” is the method Jesus does not start with a debate but an invitation into proximity. That posture dignifies the skeptic, lowers the guard, and trusts the Spirit to do what argument alone cannot. Evangelism begins with presence, clarity, and a pathway, not pressure. [11:49]
3. Real encounters birth real urgency Andrew and Philip move quickly because grace has just become personal, not theoretical. When the heart is freshly met by Jesus, silence feels like neglect and invitation feels like love. A stagnant witness often signals a stale encounter that needs renewed nearness to Christ. [18:57]
4. Start where you are, who you know Calling often hides in plain sight among family, friends, classmates, and coworkers. Kingdom fruit grows fastest when responsibility is taken for the people God has already placed within reach. Ownership replaces excuses when “my people are my assignment” becomes the rule of life. [22:16]
5. Grace cures sin and hopelessness Ephesians 2 cuts both ways, naming guilt and aimlessness, then healing both with the gift of salvation and a restored purpose. The cross silences boasting, and resurrection reintroduces vocation. A believer does not just get forgiven; a believer gets sent. [28:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Good News People series
[00:42] - Turning to John 1
[01:46] - Jesus says “Come and see”
[02:45] - Carriers of the cure
[03:18] - Naming the cultural heaviness
[05:29] - The cure is God’s Word
[06:40] - Skepticism and hunger together
[15:59] - Both-and: equip and encourage
[17:31] - Invitation sparks transformation
[18:42] - Andrew and Philip move fast
[22:16] - Your people are your assignment
[28:11] - Grace cures sin and despair
[31:38] - Andrew’s invite reshapes Peter
[36:17] - Make the ask: come and see

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 1:35-46 (ESV)
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Observation Questions

In John 1:39, Jesus responds to the disciples’ question with “Come and see.” What does this reveal about His approach to inviting people into relationship?
What immediate actions did Andrew and Philip take after encountering Jesus (John 1:41-42, 45-46)?
How does the sermon describe the connection between “real encounters” with Jesus and urgency to share the gospel? [18:57]
What specific examples from the sermon illustrate starting with “who you know” to share the gospel? [22:16]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose the phrase “Come and see” instead of offering a theological explanation or debate to skeptics like Nathanael?
The sermon states, “Your people are your assignment.” How does this idea align with the way Andrew and Philip shared their faith in John 1?
Ephesians 2:8-10 (referenced in the sermon) says salvation is a gift, not a reward. How does this truth address both guilt and hopelessness in people’s lives? [28:11]
Why might a “stagnant witness” signal a “stale encounter” with Jesus, as mentioned in the sermon? [19:39]

Application Questions

Who is one person in your life “far from God but close to you” that you could intentionally pray for and invite to “come and see” Jesus? What practical step will you take this week to start that conversation? [35:42]
The sermon emphasizes creating environments where it’s easy for others to encounter Jesus (e.g., welcoming spaces, clear language). What is one way you could make your home, workplace, or friendships more open to spiritual conversations?
Reflect on a time when you felt urgency to share your faith. How can you cultivate fresh encounters with Jesus to reignite that urgency? [19:39]
The students in the sermon hosted bonfires to create space for friends to explore faith. What simple, relational activity (e.g., coffee, a meal, a walk) could you use to invite someone to “come and see”? [24:08]
The sermon says, “You are one invitation away from changing someone’s future.” What fears or excuses hold you back from inviting others, and how can you surrender those to God?

Sermon Clips

31s

“See, I don't I don't think I don't think that a pandemic or anything physical or extraterrestrial is the biggest problem we're facing in our world today. I believe more than anything else, we have a spiritual problem. We have a heart problem. And if it's a spiritual problem and a heart problem, then the cure isn't gonna be found in our culture, in our world. The cure is gonna be found in the word of God.”

22s

“can grow right here in this environment. We believe transformation starts with an invitation. So what we are doing as a church is striving to create environments that are easy for you to invite people into, that allow us to live out what Jesus does right in this text. Come and see. Just come and see. Super simple, super relational, easy.”

27s

“This word is good news. The word gospel literally means good news. So if we are people that have said yes to following Jesus, then we should in fact be carriers of the cure, and the cure is good news. How many of you need more good news in your life right now in a world that's full of a lot of bad news?”

21s

“We do not believe that because when we read the New Testament we see there's a both and instead of an either or. Let me explain to you the both and. When we read the New Testament, we see that there is both an equipping and a challenging of believers. So if you are already on team Jesus and you have already said yes, the mandate I walk out here”

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The Good News People | Carriers of the Cure | Chris VanBuskirk | Centerpoint Church