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Come and See

The Light no darkness can beat, the Lamb of God, and a skeptic named Nathanael

  • 🧭 Youth 12–13
  • Week 3
  • 📅 Sunday, January 17, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus Christ is the Light that darkness can’t overcome, and the best way to help a friend find Him is the way Andrew and Philip did it: a simple, honest “come and see.”

I can follow the Light of Jesus Christ and invite a friend to come and see, without pressure and without preaching.

Study it yourself firstRead John 1 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (John 1)
Know the chapters

John’s Gospel starts before Bethlehem: “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1). Jesus Christ was with the Father before the world was, and “all things were made by him” (John 1:3). He is the Light that “shineth in darkness,” and the darkness “comprehended it not” (John 1:5), meaning it couldn’t understand it or put it out. To everyone who receives Him, He gives “power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12), and that promise is for daughters just as much as sons. We are all God’s spirit children already; receiving Christ gives us power to become like our Heavenly Father. Latter-day scripture adds that the Son created worlds without number under the Father’s direction (Moses 1:32–33).

Then the chapter turns into a chain reaction. John the Baptist points at Jesus and says, “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:29, 36). Two of his disciples follow Jesus; one is Andrew, and many believe the other is John, the Gospel’s author, who never names himself. Jesus turns and asks, “What seek ye?” and invites them, “Come and see” (John 1:38–39). Andrew goes straight to his brother Simon, and Jesus gives Simon a new name, Cephas, “a stone” (John 1:41–42). Philip finds Nathanael, who scoffs, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip doesn’t argue. He just says, “Come and see” (John 1:46). One conversation with Jesus, and Nathanael declares Him the Son of God (John 1:49).

For 11- to 14-year-olds, sharing the gospel can feel terrifying or cringey. They picture debates, pressure, or being “that kid.” John 1 shows something much easier: no one gives a sermon. They just tell someone they trust what they found and invite them to see for themselves. The manual invites youth to think of simple, natural ways to invite friends. Keep it practical: youth activities, a family night, sitting together at school, a temple open house, or just answering honestly when a friend asks why they live the way they do.

“Lamb of God” is a good link for new deacons: the sacrament they pass every week is about the same sacrifice John was pointing to.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read John 1:1–14 and 1:29–51. Tap “I brought nothing,” so every step uses its no-supplies version. Do the dark-room light demo with your phone or tablet. Work through Sam Says “No Way” from Teach Mode, one question at a time. Teach John 1:46. Run Invitation Makeover from the screen, and share your own “come and see.”

What to bring4 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Write each Invitation Makeover situation on its own slip. One, a friend asks why you skip Sunday sports. Two, a new kid doesn’t know anyone. Three, a friend asks what temple baptisms are. Four, Wednesday’s youth activity is dodgeball. Five, a friend having a hard time says, “I don’t even know if God is real.”
  2. Make sure the classroom gets fairly dark with the lights off and blinds closed.
  3. Bookmark John 1:5, 1:29, 1:38–39, 1:41–42 and 1:45–49.

If your class is wild

  • Turning the lights off with this age is a gamble. Say the rule before you flip the switch. Anyone who makes a noise in the dark volunteers first all day.
  • Keep Mia’s case honest. Before you bring in John 1, let youth say what they’d really be tempted to do at that lunch table.
  • In Invitation Makeover, let them do the cringe version first. Laughing at the awkward invite makes the real one less scary.
  • Some youth have had an invitation go badly. Make room for that. The point is inviting, not results.

The 25-minute plan24 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

Can Darkness Win?

3 min

A simple dark-room demo shows John 1:5: darkness can’t put out a light.

  1. SAY“Lights are going off. Anyone who makes a noise in the dark volunteers first for everything today.”
  2. Turn off the lights and turn on the flashlight. Say, “Get rid of this light using darkness. Scoop some dark from the corner and throw it on the light.”
  3. Let them try. Nothing happens. Ask, “So how do you make the room dark again?” You turn off the light.
  4. SAY“Darkness never beats light. It only wins if the light leaves.”
  5. Lights on. Read John 1:5. Say, “John says Jesus is that Light. Today we’ll see how that Light spreads, one friend at a time.”
🌪️ Keep the lights off for 60 seconds at most. That’s plenty.

Class screen: 🔦 Throw darkness at the light. Can you put it out? · John 1:5

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A small flashlight, or your own phone’s flashlight

  1. SAY“Lights are going off. Anyone who makes a noise in the dark volunteers first for everything today.”
  2. Lights off. Hold up your phone or tablet at full brightness. Say, “Get rid of this light using darkness. Scoop some dark from the corner and throw it on the light.”
  3. Nothing happens. Ask, “So how do you make the room dark again?” You turn off the light.
  4. SAY“Darkness never beats light. It only wins if the light leaves.”
  5. Lights on. Read John 1:5. Say, “John says Jesus is that Light. Today we’ll see how that Light spreads, one friend at a time.”
2. Story

Case Study: Sam Says “No Way”

8 min

Working through a real lunch-table moment with John 1 shows youth how Andrew and Philip shared their faith: simply, honestly, without pressure.

  1. SAY“Here’s a situation some of you have already lived. Let’s work through it with John 1, one scene at a time.”
  2. Show each scene from Teach Mode and read it aloud. When a scene names a verse, a volunteer reads it from their seat.
  3. Pause on each question and take two or three answers. Push for honest ones. Ask, “Would that really work at your school?”
  4. Ask, “How many sermons did anybody give in John 1?” Zero! Then ask, “What did they say instead?” We found Him. Come and see.
🌪️ Some youth have had an invitation go badly. Make room for that. The point is inviting, not results.

Class screen: 🥪 “Wait, you actually believe all that?” What would you say? · John 1:35–51

3. Scripture

Scripture Spotlight: John 1:46

4 min

Youth memorize Philip’s answer to a skeptic and see why it works.

  1. SAY“Two short sentences. And one of them could change a friendship.”
  2. Split the room into Nathanael’s side and Philip’s side. Teach the motions. Nathanael’s side reads the question, and Philip’s side answers. Say it twice, then switch.
  3. Ask, “Philip could have argued. Why didn’t he?” You can’t argue someone into faith. Meeting Jesus changed Nathanael.
  4. SAY“You don’t have to have every answer to invite someone. You just have to know where to point them.”

Class screen: 👀 “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” “Come and see.” · John 1:46

4. Game

Invitation Makeover

6 min

Teams practice turning an awkward, preachy invitation into a natural “come and see.”

  1. SAY“Your turn to help Mia. Every team gets a situation. Write two versions. The cringe one, and the come and see one.”
  2. Each team draws a slip and gets 45 seconds. The cringe version is pushy and preachy. The come-and-see version is short, honest and friendly, like Philip.
  3. Each team says both versions from their seats. Other teams rate the good one with one to five fingers. Would it work on a real friend?
  4. Ask, “What made the good versions good?” Listen for short, honest, no pressure, about what you love, and easy to say no to.
🌪️ Cringe versions stay kind. No making fun of real people or other churches.

Class screen: 💬 Cringe version first. Then the “come and see” version. · 😬 cringe · 🙂 come and see · Rate it 1–5 ✋

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: Paper slips with the five Invitation Makeover scenarios (see prep)

  1. SAY“Your turn to help Mia.”
  2. Split into teams. Read one situation from the screen for each team.
  3. Give 45 seconds to prepare two versions. The cringe one is pushy and preachy. The come-and-see one is short, honest and friendly.
  4. Each team says both from their seats. Others rate the good one with one to five fingers. Would it work on a real friend?
  5. Ask, “What made the good versions good?” Listen for short, honest, no pressure and easy to say no to.

Class screen: 💬 Pick a scenario. Cringe version, then “come and see.” · 1 Why no sports on Sunday? · 2 The new kid knows nobody · 3 What’s a temple baptism? · 4 Dodgeball night Wednesday · 5 “Is God even real?”

5. Testimony

I Came and Saw

3 min

End with the teacher’s own “come and see” experience and one simple invitation for the week.

  1. SAY“Nathanael didn’t believe because Philip was persuasive. He believed because he met Jesus.”
  2. Share a sentence or two about how you came to know Jesus Christ is real. Or tell about someone who invited you to come and see.
  3. Show the challenge: one natural invitation this week, with no pressure and no script. Then ask a youth to say the closing prayer.

Class screen: ✨ You don’t have to have every answer. Just say “come and see.” · This week: one invitation

6. Talk it over

Real Talk: What Seek Ye?

4 minBONUS

A youth-led discussion about finding the Light yourself and sharing it without pressure.

  1. SAY“Jesus’s first words in John are a question. Let’s answer some of our own.”
  2. A youth leader reads each question and taps the Name Spinner. Then they ask, “Who sees it differently?” Be sure to get to the Cephas one. It often lands.
💬 Ask the class
  • Jesus’s first words in John are “What seek ye?” If He asked you that today, what would you honestly say?
  • A prayer, a friend or a verse can be a small light. When has a small light helped you through something dark?
  • Philip didn’t argue with Nathanael. Why is “come and see” sometimes better than winning a debate?
  • Jesus looked at Simon and named him “a stone” before Simon was anything like a rock. What might Jesus see in you that you don’t see yet?
  • John called Jesus “the Lamb of God.” How can passing or taking the sacrament help you remember what that means?
🎡 Name Spinner (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🔍 What are you looking for? · John 1:38

7. Wiggle break

Rock-Paper-Scissors Fan Club

2 minBONUS

A loud, fast tournament shows how one person’s following grows when others join in.

  1. SAY“Find a partner and play rock-paper-scissors. Lose, and you become the winner’s biggest fan.”
  2. Winners play other winners. Losers and their fans join the new winner’s fan club. Keep going to a final, and crown the champion.
  3. SAY“Andrew brought one person. Philip brought one person. Look how fast one turns into everybody.”

Class screen: ✊ Lose a round? Become their biggest fan! · ✊ ✋ ✌️ · The cheering gets louder every round

Case study

Case Study: Sam Says “No Way”

John 1:5, 35–51 ↗

Scenes

  1. 🥪🤷 The question at lunch

    Mia is thirteen. She skipped Saturday’s game for a youth temple trip. At lunch, her friend Sam asks, half joking, “Wait, you actually believe all that?” Everyone at the table looks at Mia.

    🙌 Ask: “What goes through Mia’s head right now? What would you want to say?”

  2. 😬📢 The cringe response

    Mia panics and launches into a five-minute speech. Sam’s eyes glaze over. Somebody changes the subject. That night Mia texts her brother: “I think I made it worse.”

    🙌 Ask: “Why do speeches usually backfire with friends?”

  3. 🌳🤨 A skeptic in John 1

    Mia remembers Nathanael. Philip told him they had found the one the prophets wrote about. Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael scoffed. But Philip didn’t argue, and he didn’t get offended.

    🙌 A volunteer reads John 1:45–46. Ask: “What did Philip do instead of arguing?”

  4. 🏃‍♂️👬 How Andrew did it

    Earlier, Andrew spent one day with Jesus, then went straight to his brother: “We have found the Messias.” No script, no pressure. He shared what he’d found and brought Simon along.

    🙌 A volunteer reads John 1:41–42. Ask: “What made Andrew’s invitation work?”

  5. 🏐📲 Mia tries again

    Wednesday is youth dodgeball night. Mia texts Sam: “Dodgeball at the church Wed at 7. My friends are fun. Come and see?” Sam replies: “maybe lol.”

    🙌 Ask: “Is ‘maybe lol’ a win? What should Mia do next? What shouldn’t she do?”

  6. 🔦✨ Not Mia’s job to convince

    Sam might come. Sam might not. Mia remembers that Nathanael believed because he met Jesus, not because Philip won a debate. Her job is to keep her own light on and keep the door open.

    🙌 A volunteer reads John 1:5. Ask: “What’s Mia’s job here, and what isn’t?”

Key verse

John 1:46 ↗
“Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.”
In plain words: Nathanael: “From Nazareth? No way.” Philip: “Come see for yourself.”
🙌 “Can there any good thing” = a big skeptical shrug · “come out of Nazareth?” = thumb over your shoulder · “Philip saith unto him” = hand beside your mouth · “Come and see” = beckon with one hand, then point to your eyes.

More verses

John 1:5 ↗
“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
In plain words: The Light shines in the dark, and the dark can’t overcome it.
John 1:29 ↗
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
In plain words: Look! He’s the One who takes away the sins of the world.
John 1:12 ↗
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God”
In plain words: Everyone who receives Jesus gets power to become sons and daughters of God.
John 1:41 ↗
“He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias”
In plain words: The first thing Andrew did was tell his brother, “We found Him!”

Forehead Guess words17 words

  • 🧔 John the Baptist
  • 🐑 Lamb of God
  • 🎣 Andrew
  • 🪨 Simon Peter
  • 🧱 Cephas
  • 🧭 Philip
  • 🤨 Nathanael
  • 🌳 Fig tree
  • 🏘️ Nazareth
  • 👑 Messias
  • 📜 Rabbi
  • 💬 The Word
  • 🔦 Light
  • 🌑 Darkness
  • 👀 Come and see
  • 🎭 Guile
  • 🌍 Creation
Clues for each word
  • John the Baptist: Pointed at Jesus and said “Behold the Lamb of God”
  • Lamb of God: Title of Jesus: He takes away the sin of the world
  • Andrew: First thing he did was find his brother
  • Simon Peter: Andrew’s brother who got a new name
  • Cephas: Peter’s new name; it means a stone
  • Philip: Heard “Follow me,” then found Nathanael
  • Nathanael: Skeptic who asked about Nazareth
  • Fig tree: Where Jesus saw Nathanael before Philip called him
  • Nazareth: “Can there any good thing come out of” here?
  • Messias: KJV word for Messiah, the Christ
  • Rabbi: Means Master or Teacher
  • The Word: “In the beginning was…”
  • Light: Shines in darkness; the darkness can’t beat it
  • Darkness: It “comprehended it not”
  • Come and see: Philip’s whole answer to a skeptic
  • Guile: Jesus said Nathanael had none: no fakeness
  • Creation: All things were made by Him
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown9 questions

  1. How does the Gospel of John begin?
    • A. “In the beginning was the Word”
    • B. “There was in the days of Herod”
    • C. “The book of the generation”
    Show answer

    ✅ A. “In the beginning was the Word” John 1:1. John starts before the world was made.

  2. What does John 1:5 say the darkness couldn’t do to the Light?
    • A. See it
    • B. Comprehend it
    • C. Find it
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Comprehend it It couldn’t understand it or overcome it.

  3. What did John the Baptist call Jesus as He walked by?
    • A. The Good Shepherd
    • B. The Bread of Life
    • C. The Lamb of God
    Show answer

    ✅ C. The Lamb of God John 1:29, 36. The One who takes away the sin of the world.

  4. What are Jesus’s first words in the Gospel of John?
    • A. “Follow me”
    • B. “What seek ye?”
    • C. “Come and see”
    Show answer

    ✅ B. “What seek ye?” John 1:38. Then came “Come and see.”

  5. Who was the first person Andrew brought to Jesus?
    • A. His brother Simon
    • B. His friend Philip
    • C. His father
    Show answer

    ✅ A. His brother Simon John 1:41. “We have found the Messias.”

  6. What does Cephas, Simon’s new name, mean?
    • A. A fisherman
    • B. A shepherd
    • C. A stone
    Show answer

    ✅ C. A stone John 1:42. A stone is strong and steady, and Peter became a leader of the Church.

  7. Which town did Nathanael doubt anything good could come from?
    • A. Bethlehem
    • B. Nazareth
    • C. Jerusalem
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Nazareth John 1:46. Philip’s answer: “Come and see.”

  8. Where did Jesus say He saw Nathanael before Philip called him?
    • A. At the river
    • B. In the synagogue
    • C. Under the fig tree
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Under the fig tree John 1:48. That’s when Nathanael believed.

  9. John 1:12 says those who receive Him get power to become…
    • A. the sons of God
    • B. kings and rulers
    • C. wise and famous
    Show answer

    ✅ A. the sons of God Sons and daughters of God, through Jesus Christ.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Called to Serve Hymns, no. 249

    Every “come and see” invitation is part of the Lord’s work. Find it ↗

  • Hope of Israel Hymns, no. 259

    A hymn about youth rising up to follow and serve the Lord. Find it ↗

  • I Hope They Call Me on a Mission Children’s Songbook, p. 169

    Missionaries start now, with invitations to friends. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

One Come-and-See

This week, make one simple, no-pressure invitation. Bring a friend to a youth activity, sit with someone new, or invite someone to family night. Or just answer honestly when someone asks why you live the way you do. Notice how it felt. It counts even if they say no.

Text the parents

Today in class we studied John 1. Jesus is the Light that darkness can’t overcome, and His first disciples found Him through friends. Andrew brought his brother. When a doubtful Nathanael asked, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip just said, “Come and see.” That’s John 1:46. We practiced turning awkward invitations into natural ones. Ask your youth what easy “come and see” invitation they could make this week.

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

🏷️ Titles of Christ Hunt · 5 min

  1. Start the Big Timer for 2 minutes. Pairs race through John 1 for every name or title of Jesus Christ. Look for the Word, the Lamb of God, Messias and more.
  2. Give one point per title. Give two points if they can explain what it teaches about Him.
  3. Ask: “Which title would help a friend who’s struggling right now?”

⚡ Power to Become · 4 min

  1. Read John 1:11–13 together.
  2. Ask, “Some people didn’t receive Him. What did He give to the ones who did?” Power to become sons and daughters of God.
  3. Have youth privately write one thing they hope to become this year. Then one way Jesus Christ could give them power to get there.

🕯️ Witness of the Light · 3 min

  1. Read John 1:6–8. Ask, “John wasn’t the Light. What was his job?” To bear witness of the Light.
  2. SAY“That’s your job too. You don’t have to be the Light. You just point to Him.”
  3. Invite a volunteer to share one thing they know about Jesus Christ, in one sentence.

🔗 The Chain Reaction · 4 min

  1. Tell John 1:35–51 in two minutes. John points to the Lamb of God. Andrew spends a day with Jesus and brings Simon. Jesus calls Philip, and Philip finds Nathanael.
  2. Have volunteers read John 1:29, 1:38–39 and 1:47–49.
  3. Ask, “Who invited who? How many people did each person bring?” One at a time.

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

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