Come and See: Inviting Friends to Meet Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: When Skepticism Meets a Simple Invitation

John’s disciples didn’t debate theology when they followed Jesus. They simply went. Nathaniel questioned Philip’s claim about Nazareth, but Philip refused to argue. His response cut through doubt: “Come and see.” Invitations need no perfect answers, only the courage to point others toward an encounter. Skepticism often masks curiosity—a door cracked open for Christ to walk through. [34:31]

“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.’” (John 1:45–46, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life has expressed doubt about faith or church? How might you gently say, “Come and see” instead of feeling pressured to defend?

Day 2: Cadets, Scots, and the Joy of Shared Discovery

The Swedish cadets didn’t know America until they docked. Scottish fans sang West Virginia hymns in a Boston bar. Surprise joy happens when we step into new spaces. Church, like a foreign harbor, can feel unfamiliar—until someone says, “Thanks for inviting me.” Authentic worship disarms strangers, turning skepticism into shared wonder. [30:13]

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:1–2, ESV)

Reflection: When has an unfamiliar experience (like a concert, trip, or meal) unexpectedly brought you joy? How might worship be similarly disarming for a guest?

Day 3: From “Nazareth Jokes” to Kneeling in Awe

Nathaniel’s prejudice dissolved when Jesus named his hidden integrity. Jesus didn’t argue about Nazareth’s reputation; He revealed Nathaniel’s heart. Preconceptions about church often hide deeper hunger. An invitation bypasses debates, offering others a chance to be known—and renamed—by Christ. [41:52]

“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael said to him, ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’” (John 1:47–48, ESV)

Reflection: What negative label might someone associate with your church? How could your personal story of encountering Jesus here challenge that assumption?

Day 4: New Names and the Alchemy of Encounter

Simon became Peter the moment Jesus spoke his future aloud. Identity shifts when Christ’s gaze meets ours. Invitations aren’t about filling seats—they’re about introducing friends to the One who renames shame, failure, and doubt. Transformation begins when someone steps into the room where He’s present. [41:34]

“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).” (John 1:42, ESV)

Reflection: How has encountering Jesus reshaped your understanding of who you are? Who needs to hear how Christ has renamed you?

Day 5: Cards, Coffee, and the Quiet Power of “You”

Big events set the stage, but lives change through personal asks. The Swedish ship’s visit mattered because someone said, “Come.” Santa’s Workshop opens doors, but a handwritten name on a card says, “I thought of you.” God uses ordinary invitations to script extraordinary encounters. [36:50]

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20, ESV)

Reflection: Whose name is God pressing on your heart to invite? What simple step (a text, coffee, or a bulletin card) could you take today to say, “Come with me”?

Sermon Summary

John the Baptist points to Jesus and names him “the Lamb of God,” and the text sets a pace of simple obedience marked by a simple invitation: “Come and see.” Jesus turns with a question, “What are you looking for?” and the text answers it by placing two disciples with him for the day, letting proximity to Jesus do the work. Andrew finds Simon, and Jesus gives Simon a new name and a new calling right at the start. Jesus finds Philip, and Philip finds Nathanael, who pushes back with a jab at Nazareth. Philip refuses a debate and repeats the same open door: “Come and see.”

The invitation to “come and see” stands as the simplest form of evangelism. The Spirit uses ordinary pathways, and worship with God’s people is one of those paths. Genuine faith is not just a set of sentences but an encounter with a living Lord, and genuine faith tends to tell somebody. The contrast between argument and invitation lands hard here. Philip does not chase an argument; the practice of invitation carries the day.

Nathanael’s skepticism sounds like the skepticism many carry toward church. Stories, bad experiences, and labels create a hard shell. A gentle, personal invitation can ease past the shell far better than a defensive speech. The practice of big community events can help build goodwill, yet history and experience show that a person to person ask is what actually gets someone to step into a worshiping community and meet Jesus.

Jesus does the deep work when someone comes. Jesus looks into Simon and names a future. Jesus looks into Nathanael and names a virtue. God does the saving, healing, and transforming. The invitation is the church’s part. The call here is practical and near at hand. Listeners are urged to pray for a specific person, write down a name, hand someone a simple card, even offer to meet in the parking lot and walk in together. The invitation belongs to ordinary people who have met Jesus and want someone they love to meet him too. The transformation belongs to God.

Key Takeaways

1. Invitation flows from meeting Jesus Genuine faith is relational before it is verbal, so the first instinct after meeting Jesus is to bring someone else toward him. Andrew brings his brother, and Philip reaches for a friend. The heart that has encountered the living Christ naturally strains to share the joy. The most credible words come from a life already listening to Jesus. [31:18]
2. “Come and see” outlives argument Philip refuses to wrestle Nathanael into belief and instead offers access to Jesus. Invitation lowers the temperature, honors the person, and trusts God to act in the encounter. A lived experience of worship, Scripture, and a people shaped by grace answers better than a quick retort. Curiosity grows where pressure fades. [34:31]
3. God uses ordinary personal invitations Big events can create warmth, but data and experience show that a face to face ask is what moves feet. Friendship becomes a bridge that programs cannot replace. The Spirit loves to work along the grain of ordinary relationships. A simple, timely ask can open a door that has stayed shut for years. [36:50]
4. The invitation is ours, transformation God’s Human persuasion cannot heal a wounded soul or rename a future, but Jesus can and does. The church’s role is humble and clear: extend the invite, pray, and make space. God brings forgiveness, peace, and a new identity to those who come. Confidence rests not in technique but in God’s living action. [42:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[16:00] - Greeting and online welcome
[21:45] - Tall ship and invitation theme
[24:20] - Turning to John 1:35-46
[25:29] - Andrew finds Simon
[26:11] - Philip meets Nathanael
[33:16] - You don’t need to debate
[34:31] - Come and see for yourself
[35:32] - God works through invitations
[36:50] - Person to person is the tipping point
[38:39] - Naming real church hurts
[40:49] - Jesus gives a new identity
[42:28] - The invitation is ours
[42:52] - Cards and a concrete next step
[49:19] - Meet them in the parking lot

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

What specific phrase did John the Baptist use to identify Jesus, and how did the disciples respond?
What did Jesus ask the two disciples who began following Him, and how did they answer?
How did Philip respond when Nathanael expressed skepticism about Jesus’ background?
What example from the sermon illustrates how skepticism toward church can mirror Nathanael’s doubt about Nazareth? [38:39]

Interpretation questions

Why might the simple invitation “come and see” be more effective than debating someone’s doubts or objections? [34:31]
What does Jesus’ act of renaming Simon to Peter reveal about His authority and purpose in people’s lives?
How does the story of Nathanael’s skepticism challenge us to rethink our approach to inviting people with negative views of faith? [39:50]
Why might personal, face-to-face invitations be more impactful than relying solely on community events or programs? [36:50]

Application questions

Who is one person in your life that you feel prompted to invite to “come and see” Jesus through a church service or conversation? What practical step could you take to extend that invitation this week? [46:10]
When someone shares a negative opinion about faith or church, how can you respond with grace and an open invitation instead of defensiveness? [34:51]
How does trusting God—rather than your own persuasive skills—change the way you approach sharing your faith with others? [44:27]
What hesitations or fears do you need to surrender to God to become more intentional about inviting others to encounter Jesus?
The sermon mentioned offering to meet someone in the parking lot to walk in with them. How could small acts of hospitality like this make inviting others less intimidating? [49:19]
Write down the name of someone you want to invite to church. What specific prayer can you pray for them this week? [48:18]

Sermon Clips

87s

#InviteAndTrustGod

“``We can't change hearts, but we can give invitations. Am I being repetitive here? I'm being repetitive for a reason. I just wanna say, we can invite people this week. Amen? That's my sermon. We can invite people to come check out the worship service. You and I can't fix people. We can't change someone's attitude. We usually can't power up and use our great logic to completely change someone's mind. Change even if we had that available to us with our mind. Change in the person doesn't happen that easily. We all know that. But you and I can invite. We cannot change hearts, but we can extend invitations. God does the saving, the healing, and the transforming. We can't do it, but God can. God is capable. God can bring healing where there is deep wound. God can bring peace where there is deep internal conflict. God can bring forgiveness and joy, a new lightness and freedom of being, where previously there was only the crushing weight of one's sin and shame. God does the saving, the healing, and the transforming. do the inviting. We do the inviting.”

53s

#InvitationLeadsToJesus

“When Nathaniel, the skeptical one met Jesus, Jesus named a deeply positive quality in Nathaniel. And Nathaniel is so blown away that Jesus knows him like this, that Nathaniel immediately exclaims out loud, teacher, you are the son of God. You're the king of Israel. This is a thought. Your simple invitation could very possibly lead someone to truly meeting Jesus even here in this place as we worship together, and that meeting could change their life together. Amen? The invitation is ours. The transformation is God's. If we love Jesus, this really should not be difficult. I'm preaching about to myself as much as to anybody here.”

49s

#JoyfulInviteTransforms

“Nathan was skeptic skeptical, yet that brief invitation led to a life changing encounter. let's prepare in advance now and simply decide on a joyful positive act of invitation. Even if we get an initial hesitation or an initial negative attitude, your invitation can change their life when they meet Jesus. Do you believe that? Do you believe meeting Jesus can transform a person's life? Amen. And it could happen through worshiping Jesus together with us here. That's where they could actually encounter the living God. Your invitation can change their life when they meet Jesus.”

53s

#ComeSeeForYourself

“If you meet resistance like that, I would hope your own experience of the fellowship of Jesus in this place, in the Bible studies you attend, in the small groups, has convinced you that you can invite that person here. And you can say, don't think you're going to find that at Elkton Presbyterian Church. What I think you're going to find is people who love worshiping Jesus. So why don't you just come and see for yourself? Just a simple kind and inviting act, not some defensive debate, can have great power to get past prejudices. Just say enjoy and good faith. Come see for yourself. Check it out, please. Come join me this Sunday morning at ten and see for yourself.”

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