John 1:43-51 - Are You Going to Settle?

In the sixth message of our series through the Gospel of John, Pastor Richard concludes chapter one by turning our attention to the calling of Jesus’ first disciples in John 1:43–51 and the powerful invitation to “come and see.”  

As Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael to follow Him, we are given a deeper look into what it truly meant to be a disciple in the first-century Jewish world. Against the backdrop of rigorous religious education and high expectations, Jesus chooses unlikely, overlooked individuals—the “not-good-enoughs”—and invites them to take on His yoke and follow Him.  

This message explores Nathanael’s honest skepticism about Jesus’ humble origins in Nazareth and Philip’s simple yet profound response: “Come and see.” Through this encounter, Pastor Richard shows us that the greatest answer to doubt, shame, and uncertainty is not argument or explanation, but a personal encounter with Jesus Himself.  

Drawing from Genesis 28 and the story of Jacob’s ladder, this sermon reveals how Jesus identifies Himself as the true connection point between heaven and earth. What was once tied to a place—Bethel, the house of God—is now found in a person: Jesus Christ, the Son of God and King of Israel.  

As we finish John chapter one, we are challenged to reflect on our own lives. Are we a “come and see” kind of church? Are we “come and see” kind of people? Has Jesus changed us in a way that others can see and believe?  

Join us as we continue our journey through the Gospel of John — discovering a Rabbi who believes in the unlikely, calls the unqualified, and invites all of us to follow Him and experience the transforming presence of God.