Episode 125

Greater

Sunday, February 8, 202643 min

A sermon part of the Greater sermon series by Pastor Greg Harvey.

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Devotionals from This Message

Five short reflections drawn from this message — Monday through Friday.

Daily devotion

Don't Stop at Belief - Follow Into Greater

Thursday

'Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.' - John 14:12

Nathanael's story could have ended with his declaration, 'You are the Son of God!' Many people stop right there - they believe in Jesus and think that's enough. But Jesus had more in mind. He promised Nathanael would see 'greater things than these.'

Belief is just the beginning, not the destination. It's the entry point into a life of following Jesus into increasingly greater experiences of His power, love, and purpose. Nathanael didn't just believe; he chose to follow. Because of that decision, he witnessed water turned into wine, saw Lazarus raised from the dead, and watched five thousand people fed with a boy's lunch.

How many of us have settled for belief without following? We've accepted Jesus as Savior but haven't fully embraced Him as Lord of our daily lives. We believe He can do miracles but don't expect to see them. We know He has plans for us but don't actively pursue them.

Following Jesus means saying yes to His invitations, even when they seem impossible. It means stepping out of our comfort zones and trusting Him with our futures. It means expecting to see His power at work in and through our lives.

God has greater things in store for you than what you've experienced so far. Greater purpose, greater impact, greater joy, greater peace. But these 'greater things' require more than belief - they require following. They require getting up from under your fig tree and walking with Him into the unknown.

Don't stop at just an encounter with Christ. Follow him and let's see the greater.

Reflect: In what area of your life have you settled for belief without following, and what would it look like to take the next step of faith?

Prayer: Lord, I don't want to settle for just believing in You. I want to follow You into the greater things You have planned. Give me courage to step out of my comfort zone and trust You with my future. Help me expect and participate in Your miraculous work. Amen.

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Episode 126Feb 15, 202640 min

Embrace

A sermon part of the Greater sermon series by Pastor Greg Harvey.

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Episode 124Feb 1, 202637 min

Lasting Fruit

Message summary

Nathanael's encounter with Jesus teaches us about moving beyond skepticism to experience God's greater plans. When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, his response was doubtful: Can anything good come from Nazareth? This skepticism often mirrors our own struggles when we base our faith on past experiences rather than God's promises. However, when Nathanael personally encountered Jesus and witnessed His supernatural knowledge, he chose to follow rather than just believe. Because of this decision, he witnessed incredible miracles and experienced the greater things Jesus promised. We too must move beyond settling for good when God has great things planned for us.

Greater Things: Moving Beyond Settling for Good

Have you ever felt like you're settling for "good enough" when God might have something greater in store? The story of Nathanael's encounter with Jesus reveals how our past experiences and skepticism can limit what we believe God can do in our lives.

When Skepticism Meets Faith

In John chapter 1, we find Philip excitedly telling his friend Nathanael about meeting Jesus. But Nathanael's response reveals a common struggle we all face: "Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Unlike other disciples who immediately followed Jesus without question, Nathanael was skeptical. He needed more information before making such a life-changing decision. This makes him relatable to many of us who don't have instant, unwavering faith.

Why We Struggle to Believe in Greater Things

Nathanael's skepticism stemmed from his experiences. He had been around Nazareth his whole life and hadn't seen anything particularly impressive come from there. Sound familiar? We often base our faith on what we've experienced rather than what God promises. When faced with challenges, we ask: "How can anything good come out of this situation?" This question immediately limits what we believe God can do.

The Power of Personal Encounter

When Philip couldn't answer Nathanael's doubts, he didn't try to argue or provide theological explanations. Instead, he simply said, "Come and see for yourself." Sometimes the best evangelism isn't having all the answers—it's inviting people to experience Jesus personally. We don't need to know everything to share our faith; we just need to introduce others to the One who changed our lives.

When Jesus Reads Your Mail

As Nathanael approached, Jesus demonstrated supernatural knowledge about his character and whereabouts. He told Nathanael he had seen him under the fig tree before Philip found him. This moment represents when God sees us in our loneliness, our questioning, and our struggles—even when no one else notices. It's in these private moments that real relationship with God often begins.

From Encounter to Following

After recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, Nathanael received an incredible promise: "You will see greater things than this." Jesus wasn't content with just one encounter—He wanted Nathanael to follow Him and experience the extraordinary.

What Nathanael Witnessed

Because Nathanael chose to follow rather than just believe, he witnessed: - Water turned into wine - Lazarus raised from the dead - 5,000 people fed with five loaves and two fish - The deaf hearing and blind seeing - Jesus walking on water All of this happened because he didn't settle for just an initial encounter but chose to follow Jesus into greater things.

The Promise of Even Greater Works

Before His death, Jesus made an astounding promise to His disciples, including Nathanael: "Anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to the Father." This wasn't just for the original disciples. God wants to do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" in our lives today.

Don't Settle for Good When God Has Great

Too often, we settle for "good" when God wants to give us "great." We limit ourselves by: - Basing our faith on past experiences - Asking "How can anything good come from this?" - Staying comfortable instead of following God into the unknown

Moving Beyond Our Nazareths

Just as Nathanael had to move beyond his preconceptions about Nazareth, we must move beyond our limiting beliefs about what God can do in our circumstances, our families, our churches, and our communities.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to stop asking "How can anything good come from this?" and start asking "What greater things does God want to do through this situation?" Consider these questions: - What areas of your life have you settled for "good enough" instead of pursuing God's best? - How are your past experiences limiting what you believe God can do in your future? - Are you content with just knowing about Jesus, or are you actively following Him into greater things? - Who in your life needs an invitation to "come and see" Jesus for themselves? God has greater things in store for you. Don't stay under your fig tree watching others follow—get up and follow Him yourself. The greater things He has planned are worth leaving your comfort zone behind.

Summary

This sermon introduces a new series called 'Greater' based on Jesus' encounter with Nathanael in John 1:43-51. The pastor emphasizes that God has greater things in store for believers than what they've experienced before. Using Nathanael's initial skepticism about Jesus coming from Nazareth, the message explores how we often limit God's work in our lives based on past experiences and circumstances. The sermon encourages believers not to settle for 'good' when God wants to give them 'great,' and challenges them to move beyond initial encounters with Christ to follow Him fully and experience the miraculous works He has planned.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You today with open hearts and minds. We ask that You would speak to each person in this group according to their specific needs. Help us to set aside our preconceived notions and past experiences that might limit what we believe You can do in our lives. Open our eyes to see the greater things You have in store for us. Give us the faith to move beyond skepticism to trust, and from encounter to following. We pray that Your Holy Spirit would guide our discussion and reveal Your truth to us today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Greater

Transcript

Devotionals from This Message

Don't Stop at Belief - Follow Into Greater

Continue listening

Embrace

Lasting Fruit

Message summary

Greater Things: Moving Beyond Settling for Good

When Skepticism Meets Faith

Why We Struggle to Believe in Greater Things

The Power of Personal Encounter

When Jesus Reads Your Mail

From Encounter to Following

What Nathanael Witnessed

The Promise of Even Greater Works

Don't Settle for Good When God Has Great

Moving Beyond Our Nazareths

Life Application

Group Discussion Guide

Summary

Intro Prayer

Ice Breaker

Key Verses

Questions

Life Application

Key Takeaways

Ending Prayer