Here is a recap of our message from this weekend...

COME & SEE: THE INVITATION

“Come & See: The Invitation” reminds us that Jesus doesn’t just offer information—He offers transformation through relationship. The invitation He gives—“Come and see”—isn’t casual; it demands a decision. Faith requires movement before sight. When we respond, that invitation flows through us to others, just as Philip invited Nathanael. And ultimately, the invitation changes everything. One encounter with Jesus can rewrite an entire story.

Pastor Jared ended by introducing the brand new Fasting Forward App. This is a web based application (It's not on the app store, YET...). You can access it here:

GET THE FASTING APP

Weekly Bible Study List

1. John 1:39 (NIV) — “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
2. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) — “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
3. John 1:45–46 (NIV) — “Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about…’ ‘Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?’ Nathanael asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip.”
4. John 1:35–36 (NIV) — “When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’”

The Sunday Outline & Notes

Pastor Jared opens with excitement—welcoming a new year, new building, and a new series called Come & See. He starts by reflecting on how we all evaluate invitations based on what’s in it for us. Whether it’s a dinner invitation or helping someone move, we tend to measure value by personal gain. But when it comes to following Jesus, the invitation isn’t about convenience—it’s about calling.

Following Jesus will cost you something, but what it costs you is nothing compared to what it gives. Using the story from John 1:35–39, Pastor Jared points out how Jesus’ invitation—“Come and you will see”—demands action before understanding. Faith, as described in Hebrews 11:1, is confidence in what we cannot yet see. Many believers get stuck wanting to see results before taking the step, but faith requires obedience first.

1. The Invitation Demands a Decision

Pastor Jared draws a powerful analogy between learning to cook and living out faith. You can watch cooking shows and read recipes forever, but you’ll never learn until you actually cook something. In the same way, you can attend church and memorize Scripture, but until you DECIDE TO PARTICIPATE in faith, you’ll remain spiritually hungry. Christianity is not passive—it’s an invitation to do life with Jesus. It requires a decision to accept the invitation.

2. The Invitation Flows Through You

In John 1:45–46, Philip encounters Jesus and immediately invites Nathanael to experience Him too. Nathanael is skeptical, but Philip doesn’t argue—he simply says, “Come and see.” Pastor Jared emphasizes that people aren’t argued into faith; they’re invited into it. Our role isn’t to convince others—it’s to testify to what Jesus has done in our lives. Your story might be the invitation someone else needs.

3. The Invitation Changes Everything

John’s detail in remembering the time of day he met Jesus (four in the afternoon) shows how life-changing that moment was. One encounter left a permanent mark. Pastor Jared shares his own testimony of being in a dark season after losing his father, searching for peace in all the wrong places. But through his wife’s gentle invitation to “come and see,” he encountered the real Jesus. That one invitation changed his life—and can change yours too.

Final Call to Action

This message closes with a challenge: “Come and see for yourself.” You can’t live off someone else’s encounter with God or survive on your parents’ faith. It’s time for a personal pursuit of Jesus. As One City enters a season of fasting, Pastor introduced a new tool called Fasting Forward. Pastor Jared encourages everyone to seek God intentionally. Whether it’s a partial, full, or customized fast, the goal is the same—to create space for God to move.

Worship Setlist

1. You Are Good
2. What a God
3. Give Me Jesus

Quotes Worth Reposting on Social Media

1. “Following Jesus will cost you something—but what it costs you is nothing compared to what it will give you.”
2. “You cannot step into the blessing until you become willing to walk in faith.”
3. “People are rarely argued into faith—they’re almost always invited into it.”
4. “Your job isn’t to close the deal. Your job is to bring people to Jesus and let Jesus do the rest.”
5. “You can attend church for years and still be starving for Jesus.”
6. “Following Jesus was never about learning information—it was always about participation.”
7. “Your testimony is your invitation. All you have to do is share it.”
8. “One invitation changed everything for me then—and it can change everything for you now.”
9. “Faith doesn’t give you a promise before commitment; it requires commitment before the promise.”
10. “You can’t live off someone else’s encounter with God—this year has to start with your own pursuit.”

WATCH SERMON