Jesus says Come and See -First Draft

Introduction- (3 minutes)

Connect with the brothers a joke, or funny story about me. See the Hook below

Opening Prayer

Your prayer serves to acknowledge your dependence on God for the effectiveness of the message and express your commitment to expounding God’s truth as communicated through the Scriptures.

You will have prayed for Spirit-led effectiveness in communicating.

You will have prayerfully committed yourself to rightly handling the word of God.

Hook: "Have you ever been invited to experience something you couldn't fully understand until you saw it yourself? Maybe it was a beautiful sunset, a special place, or meeting someone you'd only heard about."

The Big Idea: Today's message focuses on Jesus' simple but profound invitation: "Come and see." These three words have the power to transform lives when and IF we respond to them.

I. THE INVITATION TO EXPERIENCE JESUS PERSONALLY (7 minutes)

Scripture Reading: John 1:35–39 “Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated 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.”

Focus on verse 39: "Come and see," Jesus replied. So, they went and saw where he was staying and spent that day with him.

Key Point: Jesus doesn't overwhelm seekers with demands or complicated theology—He invites them to spend time with Him.

To come hang out with him. Get to know Him on a personal relational level.

Illustration: Share a brief testimony of your first genuine encounter with Christ

(Linda’s Apt. telling me to leave my place of comfort Savannah, GA and trust him in Tallahassee, FL)

ROTC camp. Stepped off the diving board. Panicked and started to drown. Gave up and heard a voice say, “Reach up one more time.” Found the pole stretched out for me to grab onto.

There was a man who found himself trapped on the roof of his house during a massive flood. As the waters rose, he prayed fervently, “God, please save me!” Not long after, a man in a rowboat came by and said, “Hop in, I can take you to safety.” But the man replied, “No thanks, I’m waiting on God to save me.” The rowboat left. Then a motorboat came by, and again the rescuer offered help. But the man turned it down, saying, “I’m trusting God to rescue me.” Finally, a helicopter flew overhead, dropping a rope and calling out to him, but once again, he refused, saying, “God will save me.” The waters rose higher and eventually swept him away. When he arrived in heaven, he asked God, “Lord, why didn’t You save me?” And God replied, “I sent you a rowboat, a motorboat, and a helicopter!”

Spiritual Insight: This story is a vivid illustration of James 2:17, which says, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” It reminds us that God's deliverance may come through practical, even ordinary, means. To ignore them is to potentially miss God's hand at work. The man’s error was not in asking God for help, but in limiting how he believed God could respond.

Application:

God meets us where we are—in our questions, doubts, our fears, and struggles

The invitation is personal and requires a response (an action step).

Jesus said to me in that deep water as I was drowning, “Reach up one more time, there was a pole in the pool to save me.

Man on a log in the ocean after a terrible accident. Man cried, God help me

Faith begins with a firsthand experience, not secondhand information (That’s usually someone else’s testimony)

II.THE INVITATION TO WITNESS THE RESURRECTION (7 minutes)

Scripture Reading: Matthew 28:5-6

5 The angel said to the women, “aDo not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 28:5–6.

Focus on verse 6: "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

Key Point: The empty tomb is evidence of God's power over death and sin

Illustration: Share a story of someone whose life was transformed after accepting Christ

Brother Lorenzo Richardson accepting the “ROF” and asking for a kingdom man to help him to continue to grow spiritually and to stop continuing to crucify himself because he was still dealing with a certain sin in his life. He also still felt unworthy to be God’s loved child. He believed it and he did not believe it.

Application:

The resurrection offers new beginnings and second chances

No situation/life is too hopeless or broken for God to restore

We don't have to remain in our "tombs" of addiction, shame, or past mistakes

III. THE INVITATION TO TASTE GOD'S GOODNESS (7 minutes)

Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Psalm 34

. taste and see—try and experience.

Key Point: God's goodness must be experienced personally

Illustration: Compare to tasting food—someone can describe a meal, but you have to taste it yourself to truly know it (Philly Cheese steak from Patty La-belle's neighborhood Philly shop. Not eaten a real one until you had one from Philly, according to a friend. Or, New Orleans Seafood dressing from my sister-in-law).

Application:

God's provision and care are available to everyone. NO ONE is Excluded not any in this room

Recovery and healing aren't just theoretical, they are real with Our Lord and Savior!

Taking refuge in God means trusting Him with your whole life without reservation or hesitation

IV. THE INVITATION TO SHINE HIS LIGHT (4 minutes)

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 60:1 ““Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 60

Arise—from the dust in which thou hast been sitting as a mourning female captive (

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you."

Key Point: When we encounter Jesus, we become reflections of His light to others

I believe that if I continue to seek Jesus' face and disciple like Him, that one day when I look in the bathroom mirror, I will no longer see my image, but I will see the image of Jesus.

Application:

Your testimony becomes an invitation for others to "come and see"

Recovery isn't just for you—it's to show others what's possible with God

Like Philip said to Nathanael (John 1:46): "Come and see".

New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 1

Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip *said to him,

CONCLUSION (2 minutes)

Summary: Jesus invites us to experience Him personally, witness His resurrection power, taste His goodness, and reflect His glory.

Challenge: Will you accept His invitation today?

Response: Brief moment for silent reflection and prayer

Closing Prayer