Come and See: Reaching the Least Likely for Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Simplicity of an Invitation to "Come and See"

The work of sharing faith can feel overwhelming, but it need not be complicated. The essence of evangelism is often found in a simple, personal invitation. It is about sharing the transformative experience of encountering Christ by asking others to "come and see" for themselves. This act of welcoming someone disarms fear and creates a safe space for them to hear the living Word of God. It is a powerful and accessible starting point for every believer. [45:24]

And she left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” (John 4:28-29 ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you could extend a simple, low-pressure invitation to, perhaps by offering to pick them up for a service or a meal afterwards?

Day 2: God's Heart for the Least Likely

Jesus deliberately went out of His way to reach those society had cast aside. His encounter with the Samaritan woman demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of His grace and love. He sees the outcast, the broken, and those we might consider too far gone, and He says, "I must go to them." His mission is to seek and to save the lost, especially those who appear to be the most unlikely candidates for redemption. [41:14]

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10 ESV)

Reflection: Is there someone you have quietly written off as being too difficult or too opposed to ever receive the Gospel? How might you begin to pray for them with fresh hope, seeing them through Jesus’ eyes?

Day 3: The Patient Work of the Harvest

Engaging in God's work requires patience and perseverance, much like a farmer waiting for a crop to grow. There are seldom instant rewards; spiritual growth and impact often unfold over seasons. We are called to faithfully sow seeds of truth and love, trusting that God will bring the increase in His perfect timing. We must not grow weary in doing good, for a harvest of joy is coming. [57:47]

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9 ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life or ministry have you been sowing seeds without yet seeing a harvest? How can you find encouragement in the promise of a "due season" rather than demanding immediate results?

Day 4: Lifting Our Eyes to a Global Harvest

It is easy to focus only on the needs directly in front of us, but Jesus calls us to lift our eyes and see the vast, global field ready for harvest. His command to make disciples of all nations has never been rescinded. He is at work around the world, pouring out His Spirit and calling His people to participate in this great work, both locally and to the ends of the earth. [01:01:22]

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...” (Matthew 28:18-19a ESV)

Reflection: How does your personal vision for God’s kingdom align with His global heart? What is one practical step you can take this week to learn about or engage with God’s work in a part of the world beyond your own?

Day 5: The Shared Joy of Kingdom Labor

In God's family, everyone has a unique and valuable role to play. Some plant seeds, others water, but God gives the growth. The joy of the harvest is a shared joy, where all who participated—from the first invitation to the final prayer—rejoice together. There is no hierarchy in this work, only the collective celebration of lives transformed by the power of the Gospel. [01:04:16]

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7 ESV)

Reflection: When you consider your part in God’s "farm family," what role do you most naturally play—the one who invites, the one who teaches, the one who encourages, or another? How does knowing that your contribution is vital to the whole bring you joy?

Sermon Summary

Thirty-four years of ministry produced a disciplined approach to Bible teaching and a simple biblical training model: one textbook—the Bible—and practical ministry tied to the local church. That model multiplied into a global Bible institute with campuses across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The narrative then centers on John 4, where Jesus intentionally goes through Samaria to meet a deeply marginalized woman at Jacob’s well. He offers living water, exposes her life honestly, declares himself the Messiah, and prompts her to run into the town with a single, powerful testimony: “Come, see.” Her testimony sparks many to believe, and Jesus stays two days, leading more to faith by his word.

Jesus reframes nourishment as obedience: his “food” comes from doing the Father’s will and finishing the work set before him. That teaching moves into a harvest metaphor with three clear emphases. First, harvest work calls for faithful, patient labor—sowing to the Spirit rather than seeking instant rewards—because growth often appears long after the toil. Second, harvest vision demands lifted eyes: fields stand white for harvest around the world, so ministry cannot shrink only to local comfort or fear. Third, harvest joy binds sowers and reapers together; God gives the increase so both those who plant and those who gather may rejoice.

Practical evangelism emerges as simple and accessible: invite people to “come and see,” offer a ride, ease fears, and let the living Word do the transforming work. Personal testimony and steady, relational persistence often open the hardest hearts; the least likely person may become the catalyst for whole communities turning to Christ. Salvation remains straightforward—confess and believe—and God’s grace meets every case, even those marred by scandal or long resistance. The closing appeal presses for active participation in the harvest: confess Jesus, dedicate life to inviting others, and join the wide, patient, joy-filled labor of bringing people to the living Word.

Key Takeaways

1. Invite others to "Come and See" Evangelism often begins with a simple, tangible invitation rather than complex argument. Inviting someone into a shared experience short-circuits fear, opens space for the Word, and hands the Holy Spirit the chance to do what reason and persuasion cannot. A single testimony can trigger curiosity that leads to conversion and community transformation. [43:57]
2. Labor faithfully; reap in season Kingdom work rewards long obedience more than quick wins. Sowing to the Spirit requires daily, often unseen faithfulness, accepting delays, setbacks, and seasons that look dead before spring. Patience and perseverance honor God’s timing so that labor yields eternal fruit rather than momentary applause. [55:19]
3. Lift eyes to global harvest Vision resists smallness; it sees fields white beyond familiar borders and daily routines. Lifting the eyes reframes local ministry as part of a worldwide movement of God, prompting risk, mobility, and strategic partnership. That broader sight fuels prayer, giving, sending, and bold invitations into lost places. [52:35]
4. Joy unites sowers and reapers Harvest joy ties together those who plant and those who gather into a shared celebration of God’s work. Since God gives the increase, every role contributes to the same eternal outcome and receives its own reward. This shared joy anchors endurance and turns hard labor into worship. [63:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:23] - Opening anecdotes and context
[35:57] - Bible training model and CBI
[38:29] - Global campuses and missions
[40:30] - John 4 background and Samaria
[41:24] - Jesus meets the Samaritan woman
[43:57] - Woman's testimony sparks belief
[51:56] - Jesus' harvest teaching introduced
[53:27] - Harvest: work, vision, and joy
[63:46] - Joy of sowing and reaping
[76:17] - Invitation to salvation and harvest
[83:45] - Closing prayer and response

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
John 4:1-42 (ESV)

Observation questions

What was unusual about Jesus' journey through Samaria and his encounter with the woman at the well?
What simple, two-part instruction did the woman who met Jesus receive and then act upon? [45:09]
According to Jesus in John 4:34, what is the true source of his nourishment and strength?
What are the three main parts of the harvest metaphor that Jesus uses to describe the work of God? [53:27]

Interpretation questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to reveal his identity as the Messiah to this particular woman, given her social and religious status?
The woman left her water pot behind when she ran to tell others. What might this physical action symbolize about her spiritual state and priorities?
Jesus says the fields are "white for harvest" right now, not in four months. What does this imply about our perception of spiritual readiness versus God's perspective?
How does the principle of "one sows, another reaps" change our understanding of who gets credit in evangelism and what our role should be?

Application questions

Who is one person in your life that seems like a "least likely" candidate for salvation, and what would it look like to persistently and lovingly invite them to "come and see"? [01:13:48]
The work of harvest requires long obedience without instant rewards. [55:19] Where in your spiritual life are you most tempted to grow weary and give up because you don't see immediate results?
What practical step could you take this week to "lift your eyes" beyond your immediate circumstances to see the global harvest field? [01:00:15]
Think about your unique personality, background, and sphere of influence. How might God want to use your specific story and relationships as part of his harvest work? [50:19]
When was the last time you experienced the "harvest joy" of seeing someone come to faith, either through your direct involvement or through supporting others' ministry? How does that memory encourage you to continue in the work?
The simplest form of evangelism is offering someone a ride to church and a meal afterwards. [45:53] Who could you practically offer this to in the coming month?
Jesus found his nourishment in obedience to the Father's will. What would it look for you to draw strength from obedience rather than seeking comfort or convenience in your spiritual life? [53:37]

Sermon Clips

36s

#SendLaborers

“but when he, Jesus, saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them because they were weary and scattered like sheep having no shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, now I wanna listen. I want you all to listen. This is a prayer. If you have a red letter bible, these words are all in red. Jesus prayed them out of his own lips. The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

30s

#WaitForTheHarvest

“And so this this idea of instant rewards, we didn't get paid at the end of the week or the end of the month or not even at the end of the year. We only got paid in harvest. The bible says in the book of James, in James chapter five verse seven, therefore, be patient, brethren, until the coming of the lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rains.”

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