Tag: john

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✨ The Call of Nathaniel: God Sees Us in Our Doubts 🙏

agingenglishmajor

✨ The Call of Nathaniel: God Sees Us in Our Doubts 🙏by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan

Welcome, everyone! Wednesday night, we’re going to focus on a beautiful moment from scripture where Jesus calls someone who was skeptical and doubting. His name is Nathaniel. 🌿 Through his story, we’ll learn that even in our doubts and moments of uncertainty, Jesus still sees us, calls us, and has a purpose for us. 🙌

Scripture: John 1:43-51 (NIV)

“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 Nathaniel 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?’ Nathaniel asked. ‘Come and see,’ said Philip.

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

Jesus answered, ‘I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.’

Then Nathaniel 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.’”

🌿 Discussion Points 🌿

1. Nathaniel’s Skepticism 🤔

Nathaniel was doubtful when Philip told him about Jesus: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” His response shows he was skeptical about where Jesus came from.
Sometimes, we might question whether anything good can come out of our own circumstances. Like Nathaniel, we can be quick to judge situations or people based on limited information.

2. Jesus Sees Us Fully 👀

Jesus’ first words to Nathaniel are powerful: “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” Jesus saw the core of who Nathaniel was—honest and without pretense.
Then, Jesus says something even more incredible: “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree.” Before Nathaniel had even come to meet Him, Jesus already knew him, saw him, and understood him. 🌳

This is a reminder that Jesus sees us too. He knows our struggles, our doubts, and our hearts—yet He still calls us. 💡

3. Jesus Calls Us Despite Our Doubts 🙌

After hearing Jesus say that He saw him under the fig tree, Nathaniel’s attitude changed completely: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”
Jesus met Nathaniel in his skepticism, and Nathaniel’s heart opened to believe. In our own lives, we may experience doubts or uncertainty about where God is leading us, but He calls us anyway. Just like Nathaniel, God has a purpose for us beyond our doubts. 🙏

4. Seeing Greater Things ✨

Jesus promised Nathaniel that he would see even greater things than that moment of recognition: “You will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
When we trust God, even in the face of doubt, we open ourselves up to seeing greater things in our own lives—God’s grace, miracles, and His ongoing work in us and the world around us. 🌟

Reflection Questions 🤔✍️

  • Have you ever felt skeptical or uncertain about something in your faith journey?
    Nathaniel’s doubt didn’t disqualify him from being called by Jesus. How does this encourage you in your own moments of doubt?
  • Where do you need to trust that God sees you and has a purpose for you, even when things don’t make sense?
    Like Nathaniel, we might think, “Can anything good come from this situation?” But God sees the bigger picture.

For your information: https://www.thebibleartist.com/post/simon-the-zealot-and-nathanael-in-the-chosen-adapting-biblical-characters

Another blog post:https://www.thebibleartist.com/post/philip-nathanael-matthew-exploring-the-chosen-episode-2-season-2-with-youth

Introduction to Nathaniel and the Fig Tree from The Chosenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mlAAXwoDAA

Jesus meets Nathaniel in The Chosenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=nQIgkmUq3Qs

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Outline for Wednesday 9/25/24 Class

agingenglishmajor

Class Outline: The Call of Nathaniel

Theme: God Sees Us and Calls Us Despite Our Doubts

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Begin with a brief prayer.
  • Recap last week’s lesson for any new students.
  • Introduce today’s focus: Nathaniel’s call in The Chosen and the Bible.

2. Scripture Reading (10 minutes)
Key Texts:

  • John 1:43-51 (Jesus calls Philip and Nathaniel)
    • Highlight the key verses:
      • “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” — John 1:46
      • “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” — John 1:48
      • “You will see greater things than these.” — John 1:50

3. Discussion on Nathaniel’s Story (10 minutes)

  • What Do We Know About Nathaniel?
    • Discuss Nathaniel’s skepticism: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
    • Explore the context of Nathaniel sitting under the fig tree. What might he have been thinking or experiencing?
  • Jesus Sees the Heart
    • Nathaniel’s honest doubts, and how Jesus called him anyway.
    • Jesus affirms Nathaniel by saying, “Here is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”
  • Application: God sees us even in our moments of doubt and still calls us. He knows us intimately and has a purpose for each of us.

4. Scene from The Chosen (Optional – 10 minutes)

  • Show the scene where Jesus calls Nathaniel from The Chosen, if you have access to the clip.
    • Discuss how the scene helps bring the story to life.
    • Ask: What emotions or thoughts did you connect with in this depiction of Nathaniel?

5. Group Activity: Reflecting on Our Own Call (10-15 minutes)

  • Have students take a few moments to think about times they’ve doubted or questioned God’s plan for their life.
  • Reflection Questions:
    • Where do I feel unseen or misunderstood like Nathaniel?
    • What does it mean to me that Jesus sees me even in my doubt?
    • How can I respond to Jesus’ call to follow Him even when I’m uncertain?
  • Optional: Have students pair up to share a personal story where they’ve felt called by God.

6. Wrap-Up and Prayer (5 minutes)

  • Summarize the lesson: God sees us fully, knows our doubts, and still calls us to follow Him.
  • Close with a prayer asking for faith to trust God’s call and see the “greater things” He has planned for each of us.

Homework (Optional):

  • Student read John 1:43-51 again during the week and reflect on where they see Jesus calling them personally in their own lives.