Turlock | Pastor Dave Larson | 02-15-26 | Everyone's Invited

And he says, no, no, no. Come and see. Come and see. Because you can't microwave spiritual maturity and you can't download intimacy with Jesus like it's an app for your phone. Knowing him isn't primarily an intellectual exercise. It's a relational experience built over time through consistent investment. Here's the reality. You have to be there. [00:26:52] (24 seconds)  #SpiritualMaturityTakesTime

And it was about 04:00 in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying and they remained with him the rest of the day. And I know this may seem like a little kind of obscure passage, but in this, these five simple verses contain really a life changing pattern. It's really kind of a a path, a trail for us to follow for anyone who wants to experience authentic relationship with Jesus. [00:12:26] (30 seconds)  #SpendTheDayWithJesus

What's he saying? This isn't a one time decision. It's about an ongoing daily moment by moment relationship. And the longer we remain with Jesus through prayer and scripture and silence and solitude and worship and obedience and simply talking to him through the day. What you're doing right now, this is part of it. [00:29:07] (20 seconds)  #DailyWalkingWithJesus

And this is why I want you to hear this. Intellectual arguments about Christianity have value. I'm not denying that at all. I think they can be really good. But arguments don't bring about lasting transformation. People aren't argued into the kingdom of God. They're invited into relationship. They come and they experience and they're changed from the inside out. [00:30:14] (27 seconds)  #RelationshipOverArguments

He didn't get to this place through hearsay or religious debates or reading books about Jesus. I even wonder when he told his brother, we've found the Messiah. If right there in that moment he kinda gulped and in his mind went, woah, what did I just say? I just found the Messiah. He got there through personal time with Jesus. [00:29:50] (23 seconds)  #FoundTheMessiahPersonally

If you will come to Jesus honestly even with your questions and your doubts and your baggage and don't let those preconceived ideas and those walls and barriers become this something to keep you out. This personal encounter with the one who offers true life, abundant life, and eternal life will change everything for you. [00:36:06] (22 seconds)  #BringYourDoubtsToJesus

And this challenges everything about our current right now culture because we want proof before we commit. We want evidence before there's faith. We want guarantees before we trust. We wanna see before we come. We want the benefits of relationship, peace, purpose and hope without the step of actually spending time with Jesus. But he flips the script on us. [00:26:29] (23 seconds)  #FaithBeforeProof

In the same way, I'll tell you this, Jesus isn't looking for casual observers of religion. He's not looking for spiritual looky loos who believe occasionally when it's convenient. And again, no condemnation there. But Jesus is actually inviting authentic seekers who are willing to get real about their deepest needs and say, yeah, I'm looking for something more. I want something real. I don't just want some feel good answers. I'm actually looking for truth. [00:20:35] (31 seconds)  #SeekAuthenticFaith