Transformative Encounters: From Skepticism to Belief
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. It's a joy to worship with you today. I want to remind you that our offering time is a moment of worship, just as much as our singing and prayer. Let's approach it with reverence. Today, we delve into John chapter 1, continuing from where we left off last week. We saw how Andrew, after encountering Jesus, couldn't keep the news to himself and brought his brother Simon to Jesus, who then received a new name and purpose. This week, we focus on Nathanael, a skeptic who transforms into a believer after meeting Jesus.
Jesus' call to Philip is simple: "Follow me." Philip obeys without hesitation and immediately shares the good news with his friend Nathanael. Nathanael, however, is skeptical, questioning if anything good can come from Nazareth. Philip's response is not to argue but to invite: "Come and see." When Nathanael meets Jesus, Jesus reveals His divine knowledge by telling Nathanael that He saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him. This revelation transforms Nathanael from a skeptic to a believer, declaring Jesus as the Son of God.
Jesus' interaction with Nathanael highlights that a genuine encounter with Him changes everything. Nathanael's story is a powerful reminder that Jesus can transform even the most doubtful hearts. Jesus tells Nathanael that he will see greater things, referencing Jacob's dream of angels ascending and descending, signifying that Jesus is the ladder to heaven. This passage encourages us to trust in Jesus, the only way to the Father, and to respond to His call without hesitation.
### Key Takeaways
1. Reverence in Worship: Our offering time is as much a part of worship as singing and prayer. Approach it with a heart of reverence and worship, recognizing it as an opportunity to honor God. [25:06]
2. Immediate Obedience: Philip's immediate response to Jesus' call to "Follow me" challenges us to obey Christ without hesitation. Reflect on what Jesus is calling you to do and respond promptly, recognizing it as a privilege to obey Him. [33:47]
3. Invitation Over Argument: When faced with skepticism, Philip's response to Nathanael was simply, "Come and see." This teaches us that sometimes people don't need an argument but an invitation to experience Jesus for themselves. [42:41]
4. Transformative Encounters: Nathanael's transformation from a skeptic to a believer after meeting Jesus underscores the power of a genuine encounter with Christ. This encourages us to trust that Jesus can change the hearts of even the most doubtful individuals. [51:20]
5. Jesus as the Ladder: Jesus' reference to Jacob's dream of angels ascending and descending signifies that He is the ladder to heaven. Trusting in Jesus is the only way to make contact with God, emphasizing the importance of faith in Him for eternal life. [56:48]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[25:06] - Reverence in Offering
[26:22] - New Identity in Christ
[27:37] - Jesus Changes Everything
[28:22] - Nathanael's Skepticism
[29:09] - Jesus Calls Philip
[32:15] - The Next Day
[33:47] - Immediate Obedience
[35:16] - What is Jesus Calling You to Do?
[37:02] - Philip Shares the Good News
[38:15] - Nathanael's Doubt
[42:41] - Invitation Over Argument
[45:58] - Pointing to Jesus
[47:17] - Jesus Knows Nathanael
[51:20] - Transformative Encounter
[55:27] - Greater Things to Come
[56:48] - Jesus as the Ladder
[01:00:35] - Trusting in Jesus
[01:05:57] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 1:43-51 (ESV)
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Philip's immediate response when Jesus called him to "Follow me"? ([33:47])
2. How did Nathanael initially react to Philip's news about Jesus, and what was Philip's response? ([38:15])
3. What did Jesus reveal to Nathanael that changed his skepticism into belief? ([30:14])
4. What Old Testament story does Jesus reference when He speaks to Nathanael about seeing "heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man"? ([56:48])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Philip obeyed Jesus' call without hesitation? What does this tell us about his faith? ([33:47])
2. How does Philip's approach to Nathanael's skepticism ("Come and see") differ from how we might typically respond to doubters? ([42:41])
3. What is the significance of Jesus knowing Nathanael was under the fig tree before Philip called him? How does this demonstrate Jesus' divine knowledge? ([30:14])
4. How does Jesus' reference to Jacob's dream (Genesis 28:12) help Nathanael understand who Jesus is? ([56:48])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt called by Jesus to do something. Did you respond immediately like Philip, or did you hesitate? What can you learn from Philip's example? ([33:47])
2. Think of someone in your life who is skeptical about faith. How can you invite them to "come and see" Jesus rather than arguing with them? ([42:41])
3. Nathanael's transformation from skeptic to believer happened after a personal encounter with Jesus. How can you facilitate opportunities for others to have their own encounters with Jesus? ([51:20])
4. Jesus' knowledge of Nathanael's location under the fig tree was a turning point for Nathanael's faith. How does knowing that Jesus sees and knows everything about you impact your trust in Him? ([30:14])
5. Jesus is described as the ladder to heaven, the only way to the Father. How does this truth influence your daily walk with Christ and your approach to sharing the gospel? ([56:48])
6. During offering time, we are reminded to approach it with reverence as an act of worship. How can you cultivate a heart of reverence in all aspects of your worship, including giving? ([25:06])
7. Jesus' call to Nathanael included a promise of seeing greater things. What "greater things" have you witnessed in your faith journey, and how do they encourage you to trust Jesus more deeply? ([55:27])
Devotional
Day 1: Reverence in Worship
Our offering time is as much a part of worship as singing and prayer. Approach it with a heart of reverence and worship, recognizing it as an opportunity to honor God. The act of giving is not merely a financial transaction but a spiritual act that reflects our trust and gratitude towards God. When we give, we acknowledge that everything we have comes from Him and that we are stewards of His blessings. This perspective transforms our giving into an act of worship, aligning our hearts with God's purposes and expressing our love and devotion to Him. [25:06]
1 Chronicles 29:14 (ESV): "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you."
Reflection: How can you approach your giving as an act of worship this week? What steps can you take to ensure that your heart is in the right place when you give?
Day 2: Immediate Obedience
Philip's immediate response to Jesus' call to "Follow me" challenges us to obey Christ without hesitation. Reflect on what Jesus is calling you to do and respond promptly, recognizing it as a privilege to obey Him. Immediate obedience demonstrates our trust in Jesus and our willingness to follow His lead, even when we don't fully understand the path ahead. It is an act of faith that acknowledges His authority and our dependence on Him. [33:47]
James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you feel Jesus is calling you to act? How can you take a step of immediate obedience today?
Day 3: Invitation Over Argument
When faced with skepticism, Philip's response to Nathanael was simply, "Come and see." This teaches us that sometimes people don't need an argument but an invitation to experience Jesus for themselves. Inviting others to encounter Jesus can be more powerful than trying to convince them with words. It allows them to see and experience the transformative power of Christ firsthand, which can lead to a genuine and lasting faith. [42:41]
Psalm 34:8 (ESV): "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"
Reflection: Who in your life is skeptical about faith? How can you extend an invitation for them to "come and see" Jesus in a way that is natural and loving?
Day 4: Transformative Encounters
Nathanael's transformation from a skeptic to a believer after meeting Jesus underscores the power of a genuine encounter with Christ. This encourages us to trust that Jesus can change the hearts of even the most doubtful individuals. A personal encounter with Jesus can break through barriers of doubt and disbelief, revealing His divine nature and love. Trusting in Jesus' ability to transform lives reminds us to pray for and seek opportunities for others to meet Him. [51:20]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced a transformative encounter with Jesus. How can you share this experience with someone who is currently skeptical or doubtful?
Day 5: Jesus as the Ladder
Jesus' reference to Jacob's dream of angels ascending and descending signifies that He is the ladder to heaven. Trusting in Jesus is the only way to make contact with God, emphasizing the importance of faith in Him for eternal life. This imagery highlights Jesus as the bridge between heaven and earth, the mediator who connects us to the Father. Our faith in Him opens the way to a relationship with God and the promise of eternal life. [56:48]
John 14:6 (ESV): "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your trust in Jesus as the only way to the Father? How can this trust influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Because, friends, when you encounter Jesus genuinely, you cannot keep that news to yourself. And so last week, we saw how Andrew went and he grabbed his brother Simon and he brought him to the Lord Jesus. And upon meeting Jesus, Simon was given a new name and a new identity and a new purpose and a new start to life. And so we were reminded from the text of Scripture that there is newness offered in Jesus." [26:22] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I don't know what your past holds, but I know that with Jesus, there is a new and better future. And so, friends, I hope you're seeing just right here in this first chapter alone the reminder of this incredibly powerful truth that encountering Jesus, really does change everything. When a person becomes a genuine follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, the supernatural overflow is a change of heart." [26:22] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Friends, don't forget, it is a privilege to get to obey the Lord Jesus. It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to be called of God to do something and he allows us to do it. Friends, don't lose sight of how amazing that is. I don't know about you, but I am about as far from being worthy of doing anything that Jesus could ask me to do. And yet, because he is, because he is kind, he has called each and every person to come after him in faith and in trust." [35:57] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus does not need us to argue somebody into heaven. Jesus does not need us to bully somebody into the kingdom. What Jesus is calling you and I to do is to tell the story of what he did and offer the invitation. Jesus is calling us to highlight himself and to set the focus and the fixation onto him and off of us." [44:57] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Friends, listen, I want to be as plain as I can be. The Jesus of this account is the exact same Jesus, who is our Lord and our Savior today, and he is still in the business of changing people's hearts. So friend, be encouraged. Because the Jesus who changed the heart of Nathaniel can change the one you've been praying for." [54:18] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I wonder, church, for myself, for us, for you, for each and every one of us, I wonder when was the last time we obeyed Christ without hesitation. I wonder when was the last time Jesus called us to do something that was hard or that was out of our comfort zone or that was in conflict with what our flesh wanted. And I wonder when was the last time that Jesus said, go, and we just did it." [33:47] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What is Jesus calling us to do that we've been avoiding? What is Jesus calling me to do that I've been avoiding? What's Jesus calling you to do that you have been avoiding? What's that thing that you know the Lord is impressing on your heart to do? He's been calling you to do it and yet you have been trying your very best to put it off." [34:34] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Sometimes friends, people don't need an argument. They need an invitation. Cause you see, I think church family, if we're honest, one of the things we can struggle with greatly, if we're going to be truthful here, one of the things we struggle with is, is how to respond and how to react when we encounter people who doubt or who scoff at our faith." [43:04] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Philip had experienced the life changing power of Jesus. And he wanted that for his friend. And he knew, he knew, man, if his buddy could just meet Jesus, if he could just have a genuine, genuine encounter with him, if he, if he could just experience Jesus for, for who he is and everything he's done, everything would change for him." [45:58] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus says to him, Listen, it's clear to me that you're a true Israelite. It's clear to me that you are a genuine student of the Torah. It's clear to me that you're sincere. And all of those things, are clear to me because I know you, and I know you because I am the God who made you." [51:20] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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