Ordinary Heroes, Part 2: Phillip and Nathanael

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

An Invitation to Some Ordinary Heroes

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.
     A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too.  They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. Matthew 4:18–22 (New Living Translation)

The invitation from God to any potential disciple:

Become a (there’s a new goal!)

John 1:43–50 (New Living Translation)
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.
      Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses, and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
      “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
      “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
      As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”
      “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.
      Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
      Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”

Breaking down the invitation:

As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”
      “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.
      Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.
      Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
      Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.”

A heartbreaking statement you hear in the counseling world:

Hurt people hurt people.

When Jesus steps into the conversation:

Forgiven people people.

Healed people people.

Found people people.

Invited people people.

Small Group Questions

1. Which of the original twelve disciples do you most relate to? Why?
2. What cost did you consider before you agreed to come, follow, and fish for men?
3. What keeps you from inviting people to “Come and see for yourself”?
4. What do you learn about the heart of Jesus in his conversation with Nathaneal?
5. How can you live out the mission of a true disciple this coming week?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?