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<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Resources for Epiphany 2 </span></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>John 1:43-51 - "Something Good Can Come from Nazareth"</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>John 1:43-51</span> <span>- "</span>It's a New Year: Take 7 Steps Forward<span>"</span><span> by Leonard Sweet</span></div>
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<span>John 1 <font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">- </font></font>the sermon title "Something Good Can Come from Nazareth" </span>
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<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>I like the story of
the young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when
she read the question on the application blank that asked, "Are you a
leader?" Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, "No," and
returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she
received this letter from the college: "Dear Applicant: A study of the
application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new
leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that
they have at least one follower."<br>
<br>
In our text for this morning,
Phillip comes to Nathanael and proclaims that he has found the one whom
Moses wrote about. He is Jesus of Nazareth. While we do not know what
expression Nathanael had on his face when he responded, I think that it
is safe to say that his response revealed a cynical sneer. "Can anything
good come from Nazareth?" Answered Phillip: "Come and see."<br>
<br>
You
see, the church has the same problem. The church is full of those sure
of themselves. We may even get to the point where we believe very little
that we are told. We sit back under the fig tree with the sneer of a
Nathanael and we ask, "Can anything good come from [Name your Church],
Can anything good come from our Youth Group; can anything good come from
[name a program of the church]." People come in and out the doors of
this church with a critical eye. Skepticism is not a modern virtue.
Doubting Thomases have been around since the dawn of time. By nature we
don't want to be led. We want to lead. But, in the church, it is
imperative that we have followers. In fact it is imperative for all of
us to be followers.<br>
<br>
Nathanael learned this. He was skeptical at first but he was transformed. He became a follower because Phillip invited him.<br>
<br>
Let
me ask you: What was it that Phillip saw in Christ that moved him to
follow, that stirred him so to invite his friend Nathanael. Come and see
what? What did Phillip see in Jesus of Nazareth? I want to attempt to
answer that question this morning. Come and see what?</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>1. Come and see souls redeemed.</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>2. Come and see lives transformed.</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>3. Come and see the heavens opened.</span></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<span>John 1 <font size="4"><font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">- </font></font>the sermon titled "It's a New Year: Take 7 Steps Forward" by Leonard Sweet </span>
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<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>How many parents have blessed the invention of the "Swing'N'Sway?" Can I get a witness?!</span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span> </span></div>
<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>There are actually
two versions of this battery operated baby care gizmo. For newborns
there is a Swing'N'Sway bassinet that gently rocks from side-to-side and
back-to-front to simulate the infant being held and walked and rocked.
This enables new Moms and Dads to catch some desperately needed
shut-eye. For babies old enough to sit up there is a Swing'N'Sway rocker</span><span> - </span><span>an
infant seat secured in a kind of swing-set stand that allows the child
to happily rock back and forth while parents keep an eye out, but keeps
their hands free to accomplish other tasks.</span></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>Both these
"Swing'N'Sway gadgets satisfy the baby by giving the child the illusion
that they are moving forward or being taken for a walk when in reality
they are staying safely in one place.</span></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>By the time our
children can walk on their own, these devices are done for. The tiniest,
shakiest, clumsiest first "baby steps" are far more exciting to
toddlers than any stationary "pretend" movement offered by a
Swing'N'Sway. Our very first steps, no matter how halting and weak, are
not only the ones most anticipated, most praised, most celebrated by our
parents. They give us our first taste of self-reliance. Learn to take
those first baby steps and, baby, you're on your way to . . . wherever
you want to go. The time for swinging and swaying in one spot is over.</span></div>
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<div style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><span>When Jesus started
his public ministry it was from the outset an "on-the-road" show. Jesus'
first invitation to his first disciples was "Follow me" or "Come and
see." Notice, it was not "sit down and listen," or "kneel and pray." It
was an invitation to movement, motion, and mission...</span></div>
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