1. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
- Nathaniel (John 1: 46)

2. What is one place that you would never want to visit (or visit again)
What is one place that you would never want to visit (or visit again)? Why?
What has been the worst place you have visited?
How might your experience there shape the way you view people from there?

3. 10 Best and 10 Worst U. S. Cities to Visit (according to www
10 Best and 10 Worst U.S. Cities to Visit (according to
What is a city that you think should be on the best and worst list?
Here is the list in alphabetical order:  Anchorage, AK; Camden, NJ; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH;  Denver, CO; Detroit, MI; Hershey, PA;  Honolulu, HI; Las Vegas, NV;  Los Angeles, CA; Memphis, TN; New Haven, CT; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Oakland, CA; Orlando, FL; Reno, NV; San Antonio, TX; St. Lois, MO;& Stockton, CA

4. The Official Lists
10 Best: 10: New York, NY 9: Orlando, FL 8: Las Vegas, NV 7: Los Angeles, CA 6: New Orleans, LA 5: Denver, CO 4: Anchorage, AK 3: Honolulu, HI 2: San Antonio, TX 1: Hershey, PA
Best:  united-states
10 Worst: 1: Detroit, MI 2: St. Lois, MO 3: Reno, NV 4:  Cleveland, OH 5: Chicago, IL 6: Camden, NJ 7: Memphis, TN 8: New Haven, CT 9: Stockton, CA 10: Oakland, CA
Worst:  united-states
What are some preconceived notions we might have about people from these places?

5. Previously on Walking with Jesus…
John 1:35-42
Jesus invites Andrew to “come and see.”
Andrew invites Peter to come and see Jesus.
Did you experience any “come and see” moments this week?

6. Read John 1: 43-51 How does Philip describe Jesus in verse 45?
How does that compare to Andrew’s description in verse 41?
What does that say about their understanding of who Jesus was?
What is Nathaniel’s reaction Philip’s description of Jesus?
What preconceived notions does Nathaniel have about Jesus, Nazareth, or the Messiah?
preconceived notion: an opinion formed beforehand without adequate evidence
How might Nathaniel’s preconceive notions shape his understanding of Jesus, Nazareth, or the Messiah?
What are some preconceived notions people have of Jesus?

7. Talladega Nights Clip
(watch from website – not youtube

8. Our Preconceived Notions of Jesus
What were some of the ways that these people viewed Jesus?
What are some other ways (good and bad) that people view Jesus?
How do these views put Jesus in a box?
Why do people put Jesus in a box?

9. Read John 1: 43-51 How has Nathaniel put Jesus in a box?
How does Jesus begin to remove the barriers so that Nathaniel could get closer to him?
What was the secret that Jesus knew about Nathaniel?
What does that tell you about Jesus?
Why does that change Nathaniel’s perception of Jesus & the Messiah?
How does that change Nathaniel?

10. Nathaniel is changed because he realizes that Jesus really sees and knows him.
Psalm 139: 1-6, O Lord, you have examined my heart     and know everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up.     You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel     and when I rest at home.     You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say     even before I say it, Lord. 5 You go before me and follow me.     You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,     too great for me to understand!
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body     and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!     Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,     as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born.     Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out     before a single day had passed.
What does this Psalm say about how intimately God knows us?
What does that say about his love for you?

11. Make it personal:
Confess the ways that you put Jesus in a box and him to shatter that box, so that you can know him better.