Small Group Discussion Guide
Philip Invites Nathanael to Come and See
Season 2 · Episode 2 - 1:33
How to introduce this clip
“In the second season of The Chosen, viewers finally meet Nathanael, a man who eventually becomes one of Jesus’s twelve disciples, and the creators of the show are careful to point out that for all we know, Nathanael’s road to becoming one of the Twelve was a painful one. They create a backstory for Nathanael in which he’s an architect, long convinced that he is called to build a synagogue for the worship of God. But in this imagined backstory, all of his hopes and dreams have fallen apart, and that synagogue will never be built. Nathanael is disappointed in himself, and he’s disappointed in God. And it’s right at that point that his friend Philip shows up to share some news—and to offer an invitation. Let’s watch together…”
*If your church does not know about The Chosen, before you show the clip, you might also want to tell them the following: “The Chosen is a television show that tells the story of Jesus through the eyes of the people who knew him.”
Discussion Questions
Nathanael gives Philip multiple reasons why Jesus couldn’t possibly be "the one." What excuses have you been given by someone who simply doesn’t want to explore who Jesus is—and how did you interact with each excuse? (Follow-up question: if you were eventually able to get them to “come and see”—to perhaps study the life of Jesus or attend a church service with you—what was it that caused the turning point toward openness?)
Philip's approach to Nathanael is invitational and not pushy. Think of the moment someone first invited you to “come and see” who Jesus is. Were you invited or pushed, and for whichever answer you give, tell us what impact that approach had on how you felt about Jesus and even his followers?
Nathanael is a skeptic, which makes for a very fine line between invitational and pushy. What makes an approach invitational, and what makes an approach pushy?
We’ve had you think back to when you were first invited to “come and see” who Jesus is; if you have come to believe Jesus is who he says he is, what convinced you? (A related question: if you have not yet come to believe Jesus is who he says he is, what might convince you?)
In what ways has today’s church succeeded in inviting people to “come and see”? (Follow-up question: in what ways has it failed?)
Think of a friend in your life who needs an invitation to “come and see” who Jesus is, and tell us (1) what you think you need to say to them, (2) how you need to say it to them, and (3) what you will do if they do not accept your invitation.