September 13, 2026
Come and See: We Have Found the Messiah
John 1:1-5, 14, 35-42; Matthew 16:13-18
Grounded in the opening chapter of John's Gospel, this sermon examines the life-altering invitation of Jesus to those seeking truth: "Come and see." Drawing from John the Baptist's witness of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, the message highlights how authentic spiritual journeys often begin with someone else's testimony, yet must always mature into a personal encounter with the Savior.
The preacher emphasizes the vital difference between knowing about Jesus from a distance and truly abiding in His presence. When the early disciples asked where the Master dwelt, they sought more than a passing greeting; they desired unhurried fellowship. It was through dwelling with Christ that Andrew's understanding deepened from addressing Him merely as a teacher to proclaiming Him as the promised Messiah, demonstrating that lingering with the Lord transforms our faith and emboldens our witness.
Finally, the sermon turns toward the transformative grace found in bringing others to Christ. Andrew immediately sought out his brother Simon, leading him directly to Jesus. Looking past Simon's present flaws, Christ named him Cephas, a stone, speaking to his future purpose long before it was realized. Believers are challenged to invite friends and family to Jesus just as they are, trusting that God's hand remains upon their lives and that He alone redeems broken beginnings for His divine purpose.
Key takeaways
- Spiritual growth requires moving from merely hearing about Jesus to abiding in His presence.
- John the Baptist faithfully directed his own disciples to follow Jesus as the Lamb of God.
- Spending unhurried time with Christ transforms Him from an admired teacher into our confessed Messiah.
- An authentic personal testimony is one of the most effective tools for drawing others to God.
- You do not need to have every struggle resolved before coming to Jesus.
- Experiencing God's deliverance gives you a mission to become a blessing to those around you.
- Bringing loved ones directly to Jesus is the greatest service you can offer your family.
- Jesus looks beyond our past and present weaknesses to call out our God-given destiny.
- God names our calling and purpose long before the world recognizes the fruit.
- God never removes His hand from your life, even in seasons of deep trial and recovery.
- Day 1John 1:35-37
Behold the Lamb
John the Baptist stood with his disciples and did something extraordinary: he pointed away from himself. Looking at Jesus walking by, he declared, 'Behold the Lamb of God!' Those disciples heard him speak, turned, and followed Jesus. Faith begins when our eyes are drawn away from our own efforts, our struggles, and human personalities, and fixed entirely on Christ. Throughout the Scriptures, God promised to provide the Lamb. What was shadowed in Genesis and foretold by the prophets became flesh and walked among us. When we witness who Jesus truly is—the spotless sacrifice who takes away the sin of the world—the only reasonable response is to leave our old vantage point and begin walking behind Him. Following Jesus does not require that we have every theological puzzle solved; it simply requires hearing the faithful testimony of God's Word and turning our steps toward the Master who redeems our lives from sin and shame.
- Reflect
- Where are you currently looking for hope, and how can you fix your attention more fully on Jesus today?
- Prayer
- Lord Jesus, open my eyes to behold You as the Lamb who takes away my sin, and grant me grace to follow You.
- Day 2John 1:38-39
Come and See
When the disciples began to follow, Jesus turned and asked a searching question: 'What seek ye?' They replied by asking where He was staying, and the Savior offered a tender, simple invitation: 'Come and see.' They did not just pass Him by on the road; they went, saw where He dwelt, and remained with Him that day. True spiritual transformation happens in the quietness of quality time. It is not enough to know about Jesus through second-hand reports or occasional religious visits. He desires that we dwell with Him, opening our hearts in prayer, resting in His presence, and feeding upon His holy Word. When life is heavy and the enemy tries to weigh our spirits down with discouragement, sitting at the feet of the Master changes everything. There is an intimate conversation and a supernatural peace that only unfolds when we make intentional room under His roof and linger in His grace.
- Reflect
- What practical adjustment can you make in your schedule this week to dwell uninterrupted in the presence of Christ?
- Prayer
- Precious Savior, draw me into Your dwelling place and teach my restless heart to remain with You in prayer.
- Day 3John 1:40-42
When One of Us Makes It
After spending time with Jesus, Andrew could not keep the good news to himself. His very first instinct was to find his own brother, Simon, and announce with conviction, 'We have found the Messiah.' When the grace of God touches your life, it turns you into a messenger for those closest to you. Andrew had shifted from merely recognizing a respected teacher to confessing the promised Christ because personal fellowship had confirmed the truth. The kingdom of God moves forward along the relational lines of family, friendship, and neighborhood. When God pulls you out of addiction, heals your broken mind, or establishes peace in your home, you carry a living testimony. Bringing someone to Jesus doesn’t require perfection or fancy theological speech. It simply means saying, 'Come see what the Lord has done.' Your life can become the bridge that guides someone you love straight into the presence of the Savior.
- Reflect
- Who in your family or circle of influence needs you to bring them to Jesus through your testimony and prayers?
- Prayer
- Father, give me the boldness and love of Andrew to share the good news of Christ with my family and friends.
- Day 4John 1:42; Matthew 16:16-18
He Sees What You Will Become
When Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, the Scripture notes that Jesus beheld him. The Lord did not merely glance in Simon's direction; He looked into the depths of his being and spoke to his future: 'Thou art Simon... thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.' Others knew Simon’s temper, his instability, and his humble fishing background. Later, people would know the Apostle Paul as a former persecutor of the church. Yet God never measures our destiny by our flawed past or present struggles. Jesus looks at you through the eyes of sovereign redemption. He sees the steadfast rock He will form out of shifting sand. Years later, when Simon Peter confessed Christ as the Son of the living God, the truth of his new identity came fully to light. Yield your life into the Savior's hands. He sees your true purpose and will surely finish the good work He began in you.
- Reflect
- In what areas of your life are you letting past mistakes define you instead of trusting what Christ says about your identity?
- Prayer
- Lord, thank You for looking past my weaknesses to speak purpose and stability over my life; form me into who You desire me to be.
- Day 5Romans 1:16; 1 John 1:9
Come Just as You Are
Too many souls stay away from the Lord because they believe the lie that they must clean up their lives before approaching Him. But the message of the cross has always welcomed the broken, the weary, and the bound. God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness when we come honestly before Him. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation precisely because it meets us in our mess and delivers us by sovereign grace. If you are struggling with habits, battles in your mind, or seasons of trial where everything seems to go wrong, do not run from the house of God—run into His arms. Trouble does not last always, and sickness, depression, and oppression cannot hold down a child of God whose life is anchored in Christ. Come to Jesus today with complete honesty, trusting that His mighty hand is able to break every chain.
- Reflect
- What heavy burden or secret struggle do you need to surrender to Jesus today without trying to fix it in your own strength first?
- Prayer
- Almighty God, I come to You just as I am, asking for Your cleansing grace and trusting Your power to break every chain in my life.
Open together
- 1.When was a time someone recommended something so passionately that you had to go check it out for yourself?
- 2.What first sparked your curiosity about Jesus or led you to start following Him?
Observation
- 1.According to John 1:35-37, what phrase did John the Baptist use to describe Jesus, and what did his two disciples do immediately after hearing it?
- 2.When Jesus turned and saw the disciples following Him, what question did He ask them, and how did they answer (John 1:38)?
- 3.What invitation did Jesus extend to them in verse 39, and how long did they stay with Him?
- 4.Who was one of the two disciples that followed Jesus, and what was the very first thing he did after dwelling with Him (John 1:40-41)?
- 5.What title did Andrew use to describe Jesus to his brother Simon, and what did Jesus say to Simon upon beholding him (John 1:41-42)?
Interpretation
- 1.What is the biblical significance of John identifying Jesus as 'the Lamb of God,' particularly in light of Old Testament sacrifice and prophecy?
- 2.How does the disciples' view of Jesus shift between verse 38 (where they call Him 'Rabbi') and verse 41 (where Andrew calls Him 'Messiah') after spending quality time dwelling with Him?
- 3.Why is Jesus' question, 'What seek ye?' such a pivotal question for anyone who sets out to follow Christ?
- 4.What does Andrew's immediate reaction—finding his brother Simon Peter—teach us about the natural response to truly encountering the Lord?
- 5.When Jesus beheld Simon and renamed him Cephas (a stone), what did that reveal about how God perceives our identity and destiny compared to our past?
Application
- 1.Where in your daily routine can you carve out uninterrupted time to 'dwell' with Jesus rather than just relating to Him in passing?
- 2.Who is the 'Simon' in your life—a family member, friend, or neighbor—that you can invite to 'come and see' what Jesus has done?
- 3.The sermon reminded us that we do not have to have everything put together before coming to Jesus. What burden, habit, or brokenness do you need to surrender to Him today just as you are?
- 4.How can you hold onto God's declared identity and purpose for your life when old labels or outside voices try to define you?
- 5.What is one specific testimony of God's faithfulness in your life that you can boldly share with someone this week?
The Truth About Church Hurt
0:49People let church hurt stop their calling, but you never hear about job hurt.
Come Exactly As You Are
0:43Stop trying to clean yourself up before coming to God—just show up.
Open Your Mouth and Testify
0:37Some people will never know Jesus until you open your mouth and tell your story.
Don't Follow Off What You Heard
0:44You can't doubt God when you have your own firsthand experience with Him.
Transparency With God
0:45Stop pretending with God and bring Him what you are actually dealing with.
Purpose Has No Age Limit
0:54God can use anybody, regardless of how old or young you are.
Spend Quality Time With the Master
0:48A passing greeting with God will never compare to sitting down in His house.
Blessed to Be a Blessing
0:35You should never get so blessed that you forget to lift up everyone around you.
God's word never fails, and what He promised concerning your life will surely come to pass. Hold fast to His promises even when the journey gets challenging. Join us this week as we stand on the unchanging truth of God's Word.
#ComeAndSee #TabernacleOfPraiseDeliveranceChurch #FaithfulnessOfGod #TrustGod
Your testimony holds power to introduce someone to the grace of God. Don't be ashamed of what He has delivered you from; let someone hear what Jesus did for your life. Come worship with us this Sunday and share in the goodness of the Lord.
#ComeAndSee #TabernacleOfPraiseDeliveranceChurch #Testimony #GospelPower
Following Jesus requires more than a passing glance; it requires abiding in His presence. When you make time to pray, study, and dwell with Him, your life and perspective are transformed. We invite you to seek Him together with our church family this week.
#ComeAndSee #TabernacleOfPraiseDeliveranceChurch #QualityTimeWithGod #AbideInChrist
A genuine encounter with Jesus takes you from knowing about Him to truly knowing who He is. When you dwell in His presence, revelation takes the place of secondhand information. Come and see what the Lord has in store for you at our next service.
#ComeAndSee #TabernacleOfPraiseDeliveranceChurch #JesusIsTheMessiah #SpiritualGrowth
You do not have to clean yourself up before you come to the Savior. Jesus welcomes you right where you are, and His grace will do the rest. Walk through the doors of Tabernacle of Praise Deliverance Church this Sunday; there is a seat waiting just for you. ❤️
#ComeAndSee #TabernacleOfPraiseDeliveranceChurch #ComeAsYouAre #GraceAndMercy
God sees what you were created to become, far beyond your current struggles or past mistakes. When you surrender your life into the hands of Jesus, He reveals your true calling and purpose. Come fellowship with us this week and discover all that God has purposed for you.
#ComeAndSee #TabernacleOfPraiseDeliveranceChurch #PurposeInChrist #DestinyInGod