Encountering the Real Jesus: A Journey of Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Is Eternal—The Alpha and the Omega

Jesus is not just a figure from history or a baby born in a manger; He is the eternal Son of God, present before the beginning of time, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. John reminds us that our view of Jesus must be lifted beyond cultural caricatures or seasonal celebrations—He is the Alpha and the Omega, the One who was, is, and is to come. When we recognize Jesus as eternal, our worship, our prayers, and our daily lives are transformed by awe and reverence for the One who holds all things together. Is your view of Jesus too small, or do you see Him as the eternal King who cannot be contained or limited by our expectations? [02:23:55]

1 John 1:1-2 (ESV)
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—"

Reflection: In what ways have you limited your understanding of Jesus? How can you intentionally expand your view of Him as the eternal Son of God this week?

Day 2: Jesus Is Accessible—God Made Known and Near

The eternal God did not remain distant; He stepped into humanity, becoming fully God and fully man, so that we could know Him personally. John testifies that he heard, saw, investigated, and touched Jesus—He is not a myth or a philosophy, but a real, historical, verifiable Savior. This means our faith is not blind or abstract; it is grounded in the reality of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. The eternal became accessible, and you are invited to know Him deeply, not just as an idea but as a living Person who understands your struggles and walks with you. [02:24:43]

John 1:14 (ESV)
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Reflection: What is one step you can take this week to move beyond a distant or abstract view of Jesus and experience Him as present and accessible in your daily life?

Day 3: Jesus Is the Only Way—The Name Above All Names

In a world filled with spiritual curiosity and many ideas about God, Scripture is clear: salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ. It is not energy, positivity, or any other name that saves, but the name of Jesus, the Son of God. This exclusive claim is not meant to be harsh, but to offer the true hope and assurance that only Jesus provides. As you engage with a culture fascinated by spirituality, remember to anchor your faith and conversations in the truth that Jesus alone is the way, the truth, and the life. [40:31]

Acts 4:12 (ESV)
"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Reflection: When you encounter spiritual conversations or differing beliefs, how can you lovingly and confidently point others to the unique and saving name of Jesus?

Day 4: Real Fellowship—Unity Centered on Christ

The purpose of knowing the eternal and accessible Jesus is not just for personal benefit, but to draw us into deep, Christ-centered community. True fellowship—koinonia—is more than shared interests or surface-level connections; it is a unity rooted in our relationship with the Father and the Son, sustaining us through crisis, loss, and the chaos of life. This kind of community is what the world desperately needs, and it is what the church is called to embody. Are you experiencing this fellowship, or is your unity with others shallow and easily shaken? [02:41:27]

1 John 1:3 (ESV)
"That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Who in your life do you need to intentionally connect with this week to build or deepen Christ-centered fellowship, especially in times of need?

Day 5: Complete Joy—Found in Jesus and His People

John writes that all of this—knowing the real Jesus, experiencing true fellowship—is so that our joy may be complete. Joy is not found in avoiding pain or chaos, nor is it found in shallow relationships or fleeting pleasures. Complete joy is found in Jesus Christ and in locking arms with His people, sharing life, burdens, and hope together. This is the life you were made for: a life of worship, community, and purpose that endures through every season. Will you take a step today to pursue the complete joy that Jesus offers? [02:18:56]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: What is one practical change you can make in your schedule or priorities this week to pursue the complete joy that comes from deeper relationship with Jesus and His people?

Sermon Summary

In 2001, I was a lost and struggling college student, unsure of my place in the world and wrestling with deep questions about life and faith. It was the relentless love and pursuit of a local church and its college ministry that changed everything for me. Through the simple acts of invitation, discipleship, and even sharing tea and pie with a 70-year-old mentor, I encountered the transforming power of Jesus Christ—not just as a distant figure, but as the living Son of God who meets us where we are and brings us into true community. That experience didn’t just change my life; it set a trajectory for generations, and it’s why we as a church will always invest in the next generation and in authentic, intergenerational discipleship.

As we begin our journey through 1 John, we’re confronted with a crucial question: What Jesus are we talking about? In a culture fascinated by spirituality and eager to sprinkle a little “Jesus” onto our own philosophies, it’s easy to lose sight of the real, biblical Jesus. John, the beloved disciple, writes with urgency and passion because he experienced Jesus firsthand—he saw, heard, touched, and investigated the eternal Word made flesh. John’s testimony is not about a vague energy or a moral teacher, but about the eternal, accessible, historical, and relational Jesus who was from the beginning, who entered our world, and who invites us into fellowship with God and with one another.

This Jesus is not a product of our preferences or cultural trends. He is the Alpha and Omega, the one who existed before time, who became accessible in human flesh, and whose life, death, and resurrection are verifiable in history. John’s message is clear: Christianity is not primarily about what we do, but about who Jesus is and what He has done for us. And the result of knowing this Jesus is not just personal salvation, but a deep, sustaining joy and a supernatural unity with others who are centered on Him.

True fellowship—koinonia—is more than casseroles and potlucks; it’s a shared life rooted in Christ that can withstand the storms of life, grief, and cultural chaos. The church is not an optional add-on to faith; it is the very family of God, a package deal with Jesus Himself. We are called to love one another, to lock arms in mission, and to be a light in a fractured world. The invitation is open: take your next step, pursue the real Jesus, and experience the complete joy and unity that only He can give.

Key Takeaways

1. The Real Jesus Is Eternal and Uncontainable John insists that Jesus is not merely a historical figure or a moral teacher, but the eternal Son of God who existed before creation. Our culture often tries to shrink Jesus to fit our preferences, but the Jesus of Scripture is the Alpha and Omega, the author and sustainer of all things. If our view of Jesus is too small, we risk missing the awe and transformative power of encountering the true Christ. [44:18]
2. The Eternal Became Accessible—God With Us The incarnation means that the eternal God stepped into humanity, becoming fully accessible and relatable. John’s testimony is rooted in personal experience: he heard, saw, and touched Jesus. This is not a distant deity or abstract philosophy, but a God who draws near, who is both fully God and fully man, and who invites us to know Him intimately. [143:08]
3. Faith in Jesus Is Anchored in History, Not Blind Belief Christianity is unique in its historical verifiability. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus are attested by eyewitnesses and ancient manuscripts, making our faith reasonable and grounded. We are called to dig deeper, to study, and to anchor our trust in the real, historical Jesus—not in cultural trends or inherited assumptions. [144:43]
4. True Fellowship Is Rooted in Christ, Not Mere Commonality The unity that sustains us through suffering and crisis is not based on shared interests or surface-level connections, but on a shared life in Christ. Real fellowship—koinonia—means locking arms with others who are centered on Jesus, experiencing a supernatural community that can bear the weight of grief, doubt, and cultural chaos. This is the manifold wisdom of God, the hope of the world. [161:27]
5. Loving Jesus Means Loving His People—It’s a Package Deal To love Jesus is to love His church, with all its imperfections and messiness. Just as a parent cannot be separated from their children, God cannot be separated from His people. The call is to step into authentic community, to invest in one another, and to experience the complete joy that comes from unity in Christ. [167:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:51] - The Power of Intergenerational Discipleship
[38:01] - Praying for the Next Generation
[40:31] - Spiritual Curiosity and the Question of Jesus
[41:27] - Which Jesus Are We Talking About?
[42:42] - The Apostle John’s Unique Perspective
[44:18] - Jesus: Eternal and Uncontainable
[70:21] - Fellowship: Vertical and Horizontal
[125:12] - Invitation to College and Adult Ministry
[132:14] - The Danger of a Vague Spirituality
[134:16] - Conversations About the Real Jesus
[138:07] - John’s Testimony: Firsthand Experience
[143:08] - The Incarnation: Eternal Made Accessible
[144:43] - Faith Anchored in History
[161:27] - Fellowship That Sustains Through Suffering
[167:47] - Loving Jesus Means Loving His Church
[168:50] - Responding to the Real Jesus in Worship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 John 1:1-4 (ESV) — That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

Observation Questions

According to 1 John 1:1-4, what are the different ways John describes his experience with Jesus? (heard, seen, looked upon, touched, etc.)
What is the stated purpose for John writing this letter, as found in verse 4?
In the sermon, what does the word “fellowship” (koinonia) mean beyond just sharing meals or having things in common? [02:41:27]
What does John emphasize about Jesus’ identity in the opening verses? (eternal, from the beginning, made manifest, etc.)

Interpretation Questions

Why does John stress that he and others physically saw, heard, and touched Jesus? What difference does it make that their testimony is based on firsthand experience? [02:18:56]
The sermon mentions that our culture often tries to “shrink Jesus to fit our preferences.” What are some ways people today might do this, and why is it a problem? [42:42]
John says that true fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ, and that this leads to complete joy. Why is this kind of fellowship different from other types of community or friendship? [02:41:27]
The pastor shared about the impact of intergenerational discipleship in his own life. Why do you think relationships across generations are so important in the church? [34:51]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to ask, “What Jesus are we talking about?” When you think about your own understanding of Jesus, is it shaped more by Scripture or by culture? How can you tell? [42:42]
John’s testimony is based on real, historical experience with Jesus. Have you ever doubted whether your faith is grounded in reality? What steps could you take to dig deeper into the historical truth of Jesus? [02:24:43]
The pastor described “fellowship” as more than just potlucks or surface-level friendships. Who in your life do you have true, Christ-centered fellowship with? What could you do to deepen those relationships? [02:41:27]
The sermon said, “Loving Jesus means loving His people—it’s a package deal.” Are there ways you have tried to separate your relationship with Jesus from your relationship with the church? What needs to change? [02:47:47]
The pastor shared how a 70-year-old mentor invested in him as a college student. Is there someone older or younger in your life you could intentionally invest in or learn from? What would it look like to take a step toward intergenerational discipleship this month? [34:51]
John writes that “our joy may be complete.” What is one area of your life where you are lacking joy? How might pursuing deeper fellowship with Jesus and His people help fill that gap? [02:18:56]
The sermon called the church “the very family of God, a package deal with Jesus Himself.” What is one practical step you can take this week to invest in authentic community at church—whether it’s joining a group, serving, or reaching out to someone new? [02:47:47]

Sermon Clips

What Jesus are we talking about on Instagram and TikTok and YouTubers? Is it the Jesus of the Bible? Or is it maybe like 20% from the Bible? And the rest is culture sprinkled on top of Jesus to fit our consumeristic desires. And so I think it's such a massive potential opportunity for us right now in our culture. But we have to ask, what Jesus are we talking about? [00:42:33] (30 seconds) #AuthenticJesusMatters

If you say you're a Christian it should be 100. Jesus is God because he claimed to be God, he's the way the truth and the life, the way the truth the life. It's important in John's day to get the real Jesus, it's important in our day to get the the real Jesus. [00:54:19] (22 seconds) #WholeheartedJesus

If you see Jesus the eternal made accessible historical verifiable if you see him that way man this is like we could never unearth the treasures of Jesus Christ amen you could spend your whole life and we have for 2,000 years people have spent their lives studying learning praising Jesus Christ are you tapped into that Jesus give me that Jesus give Phoenix Bible Church that Jesus that's who we want to study that's who we want to live by that's who we want to live for for his glory and our good. [01:04:35] (33 seconds) #TreasuresInJesus

God and his kids, package deal, they come together, Jesus and his church, package deal, it comes together, you love God, you love one another, that's how you know you're his disciple, so I don't know if you're connected today, I don't know if you know the real Jesus today, but the real Jesus unifies people together, and you have to take a step. [01:13:03] (24 seconds) #RealJesusRealCommunity

If you say you're a Christian, a Christ follower, a little Christ and you don't believe Jesus is God you are not a Christian because Jesus claimed to be God he said I am the way the truth the life no one comes to the Father but by me Jesus was exclusive Jesus claim to be God C.S. Lewis always says it liar lunatic or Lord it can't be one in between he says Jesus is eternal what Jesus are we talking about this is the Jesus question for you where do you get your Jesus is it from that podcaster you really like is it from that youtuber is it from tick-tock or is it from the Word of God as you look at the Son of God is it inspired by the Spirit of God where do you get your Jesus and have you made him too small John right off the bat says Jesus is eternal. [02:27:22] (57 seconds) #JesusBreaksWalls

It's not a religion it's a relationship and it's not just with Jesus vertically it's with other people horizontally look at the text again with me if you just see the communal language John uses he's he says we have heard we have seen we have looked upon our eyes our hands our joy manifest to us fellowship with us. [02:37:28] (26 seconds)

Ephesians 2 says Jesus Christ has broken down all walls of hostility bringing together the Jew, the Greek, the black, the white, the political, the non-political, the red, the liberal, the blue, the Republican, the Democrat. And he brings us together because he knocks all those walls down and unifies something beautiful, something different called the church. The church Jesus Christ is building that the gates of hell will not prevail against. [02:45:21] (28 seconds)

You want God? Then you want the people of God. Well, they're broken and they're hypocrites. Of course they are, you're one of them. And if you ever think I'm going to go to the perfect church, don't, because you'll ruin it. Like, we're all in this boat together, but Jesus has redeemed us. Jesus has conquered sin, Satan, and the grave. He's conquered our conflict. He's conquered our differences. He's conquered Facebook and Instagram. And insanity. Amen? And we can come together. [02:47:43] (32 seconds) #JesusIsEternalAndAccessible

This is how you're wired to get the real Jesus and to get the real community that's centered on the real Christ. This is what you were made for. Are you walking in that? What step do you need to take? What part of your schedule do you need to change so that you can have a complete joy in Christ and His people? [02:48:28] (18 seconds) #KnowJesusDeeply

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