Sunday Gathering: Jesus is Better

John’s Gospel keeps bringing the invitation, “Come and see.” Jesus is not somebody people are meant to only hear stories about from far away. Jesus calls people into a real encounter with him, one that changes who they are and then sends them to point somebody else toward him.

John begins with the foundational truth that those who receive Christ and believe in his name are given the right to become children of God. God does not define his children by their job, their role in the family, or all the noise the world throws at them. God calls them loved, adopted, and made heirs in his kingdom. The Spirit cries out, “Abba, Father,” and that truth gives God’s children something solid to stand on every day.

John the Baptist also shows what a clear testimony looks like. John knows he is not the Messiah, not Elijah, and not the prophet. John is simply a voice preparing the way and pointing people to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John’s testimony reminds every believer that God has done something real in their life, and those stories need to be shared with people in neighborhoods, workplaces, stores, and all the regular places of life.

Jesus turns and asks the first disciples, “What do you want?” Jesus still asks that question in the everyday moments of life. The disciples answer by asking where Jesus is staying, showing that they do not merely want information about him. They want to be with him. Jesus answers, “Come, and you will see,” and they spend time with him.

Andrew responds to that encounter by finding Simon and saying, “We have found the Messiah.” Andrew does not keep the news to himself. Jesus then meets Simon, gives him the name Peter, and begins the transformation that will mark his whole life. Philip follows the same pattern when he finds Nathanael and tells him that the One Moses and the prophets wrote about has come.

Philip does not argue Nathanael out of his doubts about Nazareth. Philip simply says, “Come and see.” Jesus meets Nathanael personally, reveals that he saw him under the fig tree, and Nathanael confesses that Jesus is the Son of God and the King of Israel. Jesus knows people before they know him, and Jesus invites his people to help others come close enough to see him.

The call is simple: come, follow, and then go tell. The BLESS rhythm gives practical steps for that call: begin with prayer, listen to people’s stories, eat together, serve practical needs, and share what Jesus has done. God can use ordinary relationships and honest testimonies to bring people into a life-changing encounter with Christ.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Identity begins with God’s fatherhood God gives his children a name that cannot be taken away by failure, pressure, or the opinions of others. The world constantly tries to define people by what they do, what they own, or what they have lost. God’s fatherhood reaches deeper than all of that and establishes his children as loved heirs in his kingdom. [41:15]
• 2. Encounter with Jesus leads to witness Andrew hears that Jesus is the Messiah, spends time with him, and immediately goes looking for his brother. A real encounter with Christ does not stay locked up as private information. The good news becomes something that naturally moves outward toward the people already placed nearby. [50:41]
• 3. “Come and see” beats arguing Philip does not try to win a debate about Nazareth or force Nathanael past his doubts. Philip gives an invitation that makes room for Jesus to reveal himself. God’s people can carry that same kind of confidence, trusting Christ to meet searching and skeptical hearts personally. [57:25]
• 4. Jesus knows people before they respond Jesus sees Nathanael under the fig tree before Philip ever calls him. God already knows the hidden stories, struggles, hopes, and questions of every person being prayed for. Prayerful witness begins with the confidence that God is already at work before any conversation starts. [59:07]
• 5. Bless people before sharing the story The BLESS rhythm calls for prayer, listening, eating, serving, and then sharing. Genuine love pays attention to people before trying to give them answers. Trust grows when God’s people show up with practical care and then speak honestly about the love they have encountered in Jesus.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [39:15] - Children of God and heirs
• [42:18] - John the Baptist’s testimony
• [44:12] - Come, follow, and go tell
• [45:32] - Jesus asks, “What do you want?”
• [47:54] - Come and see where Jesus is
• [50:24] - Andrew finds Simon Peter
• [53:49] - Beautiful feet bring good news
• [55:00] - Philip finds Nathanael
• [57:25] - Nathanael’s doubts and invitation
• [59:07] - Jesus sees Nathanael
• [61:16] - The BLESS outreach rhythm
• [64:41] - Prayer for names and encounters

Bible Reading

John 1:35-51
“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.' 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.' Nathanael answered him, 'Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!' Jesus answered him, 'Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” [45:13]

John 1:12-13
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” [39:25]

Galatians 4:4-7
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” [40:24]

Observation questions

1. In John 1:12–13, what is given to those who receive Jesus and believe in his name, and what does the passage say about how they become God’s children? [39:25]
2. In John 1:35–39, what does John the Baptist call Jesus, what question does Jesus ask the two disciples, and how do they respond?
3. What pattern of invitation and response can be seen as John points his disciples to Jesus, Andrew brings Simon, and Philip finds Nathanael? [55:13]
4. When Nathanael doubts that anything good can come from Nazareth, how does Philip respond, and what does Jesus reveal about Nathanael when they meet? [57:44]

Interpretation questions

1. Galatians 4:4–7 says believers are adopted as God’s children and made heirs. How should this identity change the way believers understand themselves when work, family roles, failure, or other people’s opinions feel defining? [41:29]
2. The two disciples answer Jesus’ question, “What do you want?” by asking where he is staying. What does their response show about the difference between wanting information about Jesus and wanting to know him personally? [47:44]
3. Andrew’s first response after following Jesus is to find his brother and bring him to Jesus. Why might personal relationships be such an important place for sharing the good news? [50:33]
4. Philip does not try to win Nathanael’s argument about Nazareth but invites him to “come and see.” When might a simple invitation be wiser and more loving than trying to answer every objection? [58:10]

Application questions

1. What voices or labels most often try to define you—your job, family role, past, struggles, or other people’s expectations? What could it look like this week to begin each day by remembering that you are God’s loved child and heir? [41:15]
2. If Jesus asked you today, “What do you want?” how would you honestly answer? Is there a desire, fear, or need you have been talking to God about without slowing down to listen for his direction? [47:19]
3. What is one part of your story with Jesus that you could share clearly and simply—his forgiveness, provision, comfort, rescue, or change in your life? Who is one person who may need to hear it? [43:28]
4. Who are one or two people in your neighborhood, workplace, school, family, or regular routines whom God may be inviting you to help come closer to Jesus? Take time to name them and consider how to pray for them. [01:01:53]
5. Which part of the BLESS rhythm feels most natural for you right now—praying, listening, eating together, serving, or sharing your story? Which part feels difficult, and what is one small next step you could take? [01:03:22]
6. Is there someone whose doubts, background, or questions make you hesitant to talk about Jesus? How could you offer a patient “come and see” invitation rather than feeling pressure to argue them into faith? [57:44]