What Are You Looking For? Come and See Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: God Moves Into the Neighborhood to Be Near Us

God does not remain in a distant heaven, shouting directions from afar. Instead, the Word becomes flesh and pitches a tent right in the middle of our ordinary, messy lives. This presence is not a temporary visit but a decision to take up residence among the dust and the complications we face every day. We are invited to recognize that the Divine is nearby, setting up camp in our front yards and our hearts. Even on cloudy or rainy days when we feel overwhelmed, we can trust that we are not alone. [34:38]

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Reflection: When you look at the "messy" or "ordinary" parts of your daily routine, how does it change your perspective to imagine God pitching a tent right there in the middle of it?

Day 2: Honesty About What Our Souls Are Truly Seeking

Jesus often meets us not with a lecture or a command, but with a simple, penetrating question: "What are you looking for?" This goes far deeper than our surface-level desires or the practical needs of the day. It is an invitation to look into the quiet corners of the soul to identify the hunger for peace, belonging, or purpose. Sometimes we struggle to name what is unfinished within us, yet the question remains an open door. By acknowledging our true longings, we begin the journey of finding them met in Christ. [37:31]

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?" (John 1:38)

Reflection: If Jesus were to sit down with you today and ask, "What are you looking for?", what is the deep-down soul need that comes to mind before you try to give a "correct" religious answer?

Day 3: Coming to See and Experience God for Yourself

Faith is not primarily about having perfect theology or all the right answers before you begin. When the first disciples asked where Jesus was staying, he simply replied, "Come and see." This is a gentle invitation to try on this life, to notice where grace shows up, and to stay curious about the Divine presence. We are encouraged to show up just as we are, without the pressure of certainty. By simply being present and paying attention, we discover what love looks like in human form. [42:08]

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. (John 1:39)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel like you need to "have it all figured out" before you can approach God, and how might the invitation to simply "come and see" offer you relief?

Day 4: Finding a Place to Abide and Remain

The disciples were interested in more than just a physical address; they wanted to know where Jesus remained and where his life came from. To abide means to stay for the long haul, especially when everything else seems to be falling apart. This kind of dwelling provides a foundation of peace that persists through the cloudy days of our lives. When we choose to remain in this love, we find that God is already there, abiding with us in our homes and communities. It is a relationship of staying, not just visiting. [41:12]

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)

Reflection: When life feels like it is "falling apart," what does it look like for you to "abide" or stay close to God rather than trying to fix everything in your own strength?

Day 5: Sharing the Invitation Through Simple Connection

Once we have experienced the beauty of abiding with Christ, the natural response is to invite others into that same experience. This doesn't happen through pressure, arguments, or trying to prove someone wrong. Instead, it flows from a simple desire to say, "I found something wonderful; come and see it too." Just as Andrew immediately went to find his brother, we are called to be reflections of God's light in the world. Our lives become the hands and feet that extend the invitation to a neighborhood where God has already pitched a tent. [43:55]

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). (John 1:40-41)

Reflection: Who is one person in your life who might be looking for peace or belonging, and how could you offer them a gentle "come and see" invitation this week without feeling the need to have all the answers?

Sermon Summary

The congregation begins by holding one another in prayer, naming illnesses, losses, and practical struggles while praising God for steady presence even on life’s cloudy days. The theme shifts to the Word made flesh — an image of God pitching a tent among ordinary people, choosing proximity over distance. Rather than demanding doctrinal proofs, Jesus asks a single, disarming question: “What are you looking for?” That question redirects attention from neat answers to honest longings, inviting people to name the hunger in their souls—peace, belonging, healing, or purpose—and to come near without pretense.

Jesus’ response is an invitation to experience, not a test of belief. “Come and see” frames discipleship as relational discovery: observe, abide, and notice how life changes in Christ’s presence. Those who encounter this way of life stay and, like Andrew, bring others to meet what they have found. The church’s practice reflects that same openness: generous giving enables practical care, the table is set to include all who seek, and baptism and membership are offered as ways to deepen belonging. The movement of God is continual—creating new beginnings, widening vision, and calling the community to embody hospitality, attention, and persistent invitation into the neighborhood where God already dwells.

Key Takeaways

1. God pitches a tent nearby God chooses nearness over distance; the divine enters ordinary, messy life rather than remaining aloof. This proximity means transformation happens in the mundane rhythms of work, home, and community rather than only in religious settings. Expect encounter where life is lived, and look for God in the neighborhood, not just on a distant mountaintop. [44:58]
2. Name the soul's deep longing Being able to identify what the heart truly seeks is spiritual work: it moves prayer from lists to honest hunger. When longings are named—peace, belonging, purpose—they become doorways for God’s renewing presence rather than vague discontent. Naming clarifies the next step, turning vague yearning into a concrete opening for grace. [35:10]
3. An open invitation: come and see Faith is less a completed checklist and more a practiced attentiveness; “come and see” invites trial, curiosity, and sustained presence. To follow is to dwell, to stay, to test whether God’s life meshes with one’s own. The Christian call is persuasive by hospitality and witness, not coercion: experience the life offered and let it persuade you. [41:51]
4. Table, giving, and missional community Worship and sacrament shape a community that includes, heals, and sends. Shared bread and generous resources are theological acts: they make visible the claim that God’s abundance is for everyone and that mission is rooted in mutual care. Participation in the table and in faithful stewardship binds belief to practical love for neighbor. [53:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[18:13] - Community Prayer Requests
[25:37] - Corporate Prayer and Thanksgiving
[27:49] - Offering: Giving and Mission
[34:11] - Incarnation: God Pitches a Tent
[35:10] - Jesus Asks: What Are You Seeking?
[41:51] - Invitation: Come and See
[44:58] - God Abiding in the Neighborhood
[47:02] - Communion, Confession, and Grace
[63:50] - Membership Invitation and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

John 1:35-42 (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.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Observation questions

When Jesus notices the two disciples following him, what is the specific question he asks them? [40:28]
In the passage from John, how do the disciples respond to Jesus’ question, and what is the literal invitation Jesus gives them in return? [41:51]
According to the passage in Isaiah, what is God’s stance toward the "things of old," and what does He promise to create in the wilderness? [38:42]
After Andrew spends time staying with Jesus, what is the very first thing he does regarding his brother, Simon? [43:55]

Interpretation questions

The question “What are you looking for?” moves past surface-level needs to the deep hunger of the soul [37:31]. Why might Jesus choose to start a relationship with a question about desire rather than a demand for a profession of faith?
When the disciples ask “Where are you staying?”, the word for “staying” implies more than just a physical address; it suggests abiding, dwelling, or remaining for the long haul [41:12]. What does this suggest about the nature of discipleship compared to just visiting or passing through?
God chooses to “pitch a tent” in the neighborhood, entering into the mess and dust of ordinary life rather than staying distant [34:51]. How does this image of the divine change the way one interprets where "holy" encounters are supposed to happen?
Faith is described as a “practiced attentiveness” or “noticing” rather than just having a checklist of correct answers [42:33]. How does staying curious and "paying attention" help a person perceive the "new thing" God is doing as mentioned in Isaiah?

Application questions

We all have longings for things like peace, belonging, or purpose, even if we can't always name them [38:06]. If Jesus stood in front of you today and asked, “What are you looking for?”, what would be the honest hunger in your soul right now?
God doesn't shout directions from a far-away heaven but moves into the neighborhood where we actually live [34:38]. Where have you noticed God “pitching a tent” in your ordinary life this week—perhaps in your work, your home, or even in a difficult struggle?
Discipleship is often an invitation to “come and see” rather than a demand to have everything figured out [41:51]. Is there an area of your life where you feel you need to have all the answers before you can move forward? How would it feel to simply “stay and observe” what God is doing there instead?
Andrew’s first instinct after meeting Jesus was to bring someone else to “come and see” [43:55]. Who in your life is looking for something—peace, healing, or a place to belong—and how could you offer a simple, no-pressure invitation to them?
The table of communion is a place where God’s abundance is made visible for everyone, regardless of where they are on their journey [53:12]. How can we practice that same kind of “generous hospitality” in our own social circles or neighborhoods this week?
Sometimes we feel worn down or overlooked, but God is always about new beginnings [38:42]. What is one “new thing” you sense God might be starting in your heart or in our community, even if it feels small or unclear right now?

Sermon Clips

And today's gospel picks up on that, and it asked us a question. Not a command, not a sermon, not a miracle, just a question. What are you looking for? What are you seeking? Not what do you believe? Not give me a profession of your faith. Not do you have your theologic your theology right? Not are you the right person? Are you do you have everything together? That's not the question. The question is, what are you looking for? What do you seek? What do you really want? What do you really want? [00:35:10] (45 seconds) #WhatAreYouSeeking

Not just restoring what was lost but expanding the vision. Not just for insiders but for the whole world. A lighter, wider thing than anyone ever expected. God has always been about doing something new, about new beginnings. The Bible starts with Jesus, with god, and Jesus altogether because in earlier in John, the word was god and god was the word and we talked about that earlier. In the beginning, god creates. In the beginning, god does something new. New beginnings is the start. [00:38:42] (53 seconds) #NewBeginnings

But deeper than that, there's this word that that comes into that that means to remain, to abide, to dwell, to stay, to stay for the long haul. Not just where's your house? Where are you staying? Where do you stay? It's not asking about your house. He's not asking for an address. They're asking, where does your life come from? Where do you remain? Where can we find you when everything is falling apart? Where can we find you when everything falling apart? [00:40:54] (39 seconds) #AbideWithGod

Jesus doesn't give them a lecture. He doesn't give them an address. He doesn't hand them a belief structure or a system or a statement. Jesus says, come and see. Come and see for yourself. Come and try on this life. Come try on this experience. [00:41:33] (25 seconds) #ComeSeeForYourself

``If you want to know what god is like, come and see Jesus. If you want to know what love looks like in human form, come and see Jesus. If you want to know whether grace is really gonna show up in your life, in your ordinary, in your complicated, in your not put together life, come and see Jesus. [00:43:09] (28 seconds) #ComeSeeJesus

They spread not by pressure, not by argument, not by by trying to beat somebody over the head and tell them you're right and they're wrong. It comes by invitation. Come and see. Come and experience it for yourself. Come and stay a while. Come and try it on. Try god on and see if that works for you. [00:44:34] (24 seconds) #ComeAndSeeFaith

Come and hear the good news. The good news for us today that god has already pinched a tent in our neighborhood. God has pitched a tent right outside our church door. God has pitched a tent right inside right outside our front doors at our houses. God has pitched a tent right here in our hearts. [00:44:58] (24 seconds) #GodInOurNeighborhood

and god is still asking that same gentle question, what are you looking for? What are you looking for? Because I'm it. I'm it. God's it, y'all. Jesus is it, y'all. God is what we seek. Jesus is what we seek, and they're already here. [00:45:36] (30 seconds) #JesusIsWhatWeSeek

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What Are You Looking For? Come and See Jesus

Devotional

Day 1: God Moves Into the Neighborhood to Be Near Us

Day 2: Honesty About What Our Souls Are Truly Seeking

Day 3: Coming to See and Experience God for Yourself

Day 4: Finding a Place to Abide and Remain

Day 5: Sharing the Invitation Through Simple Connection

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

What Are You Looking For? Come and See Jesus

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