Pointing At Jesus

http://www.themeetinghouse.com/
The Lion The Lamb Easter series coming up

Promo: Parenting course is a good idea.

Churches are preaching Gospel Centred themes. But the point is JESUS! Nothing else. This is a person to person church.

Jesus said follow me. When we do that he takes our leadership. Submit to Jesus as Lord.

Philip became a witness immediately after he was called. We have found the messiah. not I but we. We have found the messiah. Of Nazareth (technically incorrect) son of Joseph (technically incorrect)
But better than not inviting people to Jesus. The God of the universe from Puslinch? Come and see! These 3 words are a magical gift to us. Come and hang out with us. Today people will ask can anything good come from Christianity? Come and see. Gen 27 the story of Jacob. Jacob wanted to be known as the firstborn. He was a manipulator. He manipulated to get the birthright and and the Blessing.
Gen 32 wrestling with God to get a bigger blessing. Here is the Israel with no Jacob (deceipt).
Jesus said Nathaniel was no Jacob. An honest sceptic became a believer. You are the king of Israel, my king. Gen 28 Jacob has a dream. Ladder from earth to heaven. God defines himself by the people he is involved with. I'm the God of you guys. All the people of the world will be blessed through you.

Jacob talks about that place as the thin place.

Jesus said amen amen. He starts important sentences with that. It is a Jesus's exclusive. The you is plural. You Will see heaven opened up and the angels. You'll see Jacob's ladder.

Jesus called a Nazarene is a generalization. There is the concept of Jesus making himself less.

Takeout. If you declare Jesus as Lord, you will be saved. Lord means giving control to Him.

Core community not a membership.

These notes are online at: YouVersion.com Live Event Notes - Pointing At Jesus #4
QUOTES
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Today we're learning from John 1:43-51…

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."

Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.

"Come and see," said Philip.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit."
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel."

Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that." He then added, "Very truly I tell you, you will see 'heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on' the Son of Man."
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APPETIZER -- Review: Come and See
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Broken Record Witnessing…
Proclamation  = Jesus / Jesus / Jesus
Invitation  = Come & see / Come & see / Come & see

WHO AM I?: Seeing Ourselves Through God's Eyes

Starting April 7 / 14
Who are you inviting?

DINE IN -- Jacob's Ladder
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That this view is correct is supported by the fact that everyone else who comes to Jesus in this chapter does so because of someone else's witness. … John the author is reinforcing his theme of the importance of bearing witness.
~ D.A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentary

When we help people see how much Jesus knows them, they may have a Nathanael experience too.

Like with Thomas, Jesus reveals the most to the honest skeptic.

Genesis 27:35-36
Isaac said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob?"

Genesis 32:28
Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel.

What you'll see from now on is the reality towards which Jacob's ladder, and even the Temple itself, was pointing like a signpost.  If you follow me, you'll be watching what it looks like when heaven and earth are open to each other.
~ N.T. Wright, John for Everyone

When you're with Jesus, it is as though you're in the house of God, the Temple itself, with God's angels coming and going, and God's own presence there beside you.
~ N.T. Wright, John for Everyone

John 1:43-51
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John 1:43-51 (NIV)
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The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." 
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 
"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip. 
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit." 
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." 
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel." 
Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that." He then added, "Very truly I tell you, you will see 'heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on' the Son of Man."

Genesis 27:35-36
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Genesis 27:35-36 (NIV)
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But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." 
Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?"

Example Bible Reference Title
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Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
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In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 32:22-30
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Genesis 32:22-30 (NIV)
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That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 
The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered. 
Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome." 
Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. 
So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

TAKE OUT -- Following the King
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Jesus is Lord.

The Apostle Paul (Romans 10:9)
If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Jesus is Lord.

How we follow Jesus at The Meeting House…

Four Qualities of Core Community…
1) Believer baptized
2) Home Church connected
3) Volunteer serving
4) Regular giving not necessarily to this church. But get connected to a great church. Help us find more Nathaniels.

Note: This is not the complete list of what following Jesus entails, but the basics of what sustaining this community entails, so that we can continue to make disciples through The Meeting House.

HOME CHURCH QUESTIONS -- HANGOUT
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1. Have you ever invited a friend or family member to "come and see" at The Meeting House or another church?  How did that go?

HOME CHURCH QUESTIONS -- HEAR
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2. Read John 1:43-51. Try reading it slowly, letting each line sink in.

a. What verse or idea stands out to you?  Why?

b. Notice all of the titles / descriptions of Jesus.  No other chapter of the New Testament provides such a comprehensive list.  What do we learn from each title?... Lamb of God; Rabbi/Teacher; the one Moses and the prophets wrote about; Nazarene; Son of Joseph; Son of God; King of Israel; Son of Man.

c. Nathanael objected to the town Jesus was from.  What are some contemporary objections raised against Jesus today?  For each one, talk about how you might respond.

d. Review verse 51. Now read the story Jesus is drawing his imagery from in Genesis 28:10-22. What are we saying when we claim that Jesus is Jacob's ladder? The house of God? The gate of heaven? The offspring who will bless all people on earth?

John 1:43-51
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John 1:43-51 (NIV)
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The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." 
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 
"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip. 
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit." 
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." 
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel." 
Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that." He then added, "Very truly I tell you, you will see 'heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on' the Son of Man."

Genesis 28:10-22
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Genesis 28:10-22 (NIV)
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Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the lord, and he said: "I am the lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." 
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." 
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. 
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's household, then the lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."

HOME CHURCH QUESTIONS -- HUDDLE
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3. Do you have friends who aren't Christians?  What has your witness to them been like so far?  Are you planning to invite any of your friends to our Easter services this year, or our post-Easter seeker series – Who Am I?: Seeing Ourselves Through God's Eyes? 

4. Are you a part of "Core Community" at The Meeting House?  If not, what is holding you back?

MEMORY VERSE
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If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)