Knowing the Real Jesus: Fellowship and Truth

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Is the Only Way to Salvation

There is no other name by which we are saved except Jesus Christ; salvation is not found in energy, positivity, or any other force, but in the person and work of Jesus alone. In a world fascinated by spirituality and vague notions of the divine, it is crucial to remember that true hope and eternal life are found only in Jesus, not in any substitute or diluted version. The exclusivity of Christ is not meant to be harsh, but to point us to the only true source of life, love, and reconciliation with God. [02:22]

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: Who in your life is searching for meaning in spirituality or positivity apart from Jesus, and how can you lovingly point them to the true hope found only in Christ?

Day 2: Jesus Is Eternal—The Alpha and the Omega

Jesus is not just a historical figure or a baby in a manger; He is the eternal Son of God, present from the very beginning, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Sometimes we reduce Jesus to a familiar image or a seasonal celebration, but John calls us to lift our eyes and recognize the majesty and eternality of Christ. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the One who was, and is, and is to come—far greater than any limited view we may have. Let your heart be stirred by the reality that the eternal God has made Himself known to us. [13:43]

John 1:1-3 (ESV)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Reflection: In what ways have you made Jesus “too small” in your mind or life, and how can you intentionally honor Him as the eternal Lord this week?

Day 3: Jesus Is Accessible—God Made Manifest Among Us

The eternal God became accessible and knowable in the person of Jesus Christ, who was seen, heard, and touched by real people; He is both fully God and fully man. This means that God is not distant or abstract, but has entered into our world, experienced our struggles, and invites us into relationship with Him. The incarnation—God becoming flesh—reminds us that Jesus is not just an idea, but a living, present Savior who understands and walks with us. [18:07]

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: What is one area of your life where you need to experience Jesus as present and accessible, and how can you invite Him into that place today?

Day 4: True Fellowship Is Rooted in Christ, Not Just Common Interests

Real fellowship is not just about shared interests or surface-level unity, but about deep, Christ-centered community that sustains us through crisis, grief, and the messiness of life. Relationships built on hobbies, music, or even shared opinions can fall apart when life gets hard, but fellowship rooted in Jesus brings comfort, support, and lasting joy. God designed us to need one another in authentic, spiritual community, where we can pray, grieve, rejoice, and grow together in Christ. [29:50]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: Who is one person in your church family you can reach out to this week for deeper, Christ-centered fellowship—either to encourage them or to let them encourage you?

Day 5: Loving Jesus Means Loving His People

You cannot separate love for Jesus from love for His people; to belong to Christ is to belong to His family, the church, with all its imperfections and messiness. Just as you cannot love a parent and reject their children, you cannot truly love God while distancing yourself from His people. The church is a package deal, and God calls us to embrace, forgive, and walk alongside one another, knowing that our unity is built on Christ’s redeeming work, not our own perfection. [36:23]

1 John 4:20-21 (ESV)
"If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother."

Reflection: Is there someone in the church you have kept at arm’s length or struggled to love? What is one step you can take this week to move toward them in Christlike love?

Sermon Summary

Our world is full of spiritual conversations, but so often, the name of Jesus gets mixed in with vague ideas of energy, positivity, or personal philosophies. Yet, the Jesus revealed in Scripture is not just a symbol or a good teacher—He is the eternal Son of God, present before creation, who stepped into history and became accessible to us. John, the beloved disciple, writes not from secondhand knowledge or philosophical speculation, but from firsthand experience: he heard, saw, touched, and lived with Jesus. This Jesus is not a product of our preferences or cultural trends, but the eternal, historical, and relational Savior who invites us into true fellowship.

John’s opening words in 1 John are a passionate plea to know the real Jesus—the One who was from the beginning, who was made manifest, and who brings us into fellowship with God and with one another. In a culture that often reduces Jesus to a mascot for personal causes or a vague spiritual force, John insists on the Jesus who is both fully God and fully man, the One who lived, died, and rose again in verifiable history. This is not a faith built on blind hope or wishful thinking, but on eyewitness testimony and historical reality.

But John doesn’t stop at doctrine; he points us to the purpose of it all: relationship. The eternal Jesus became accessible so that we might have fellowship—not just with God, but with each other. True Christian community is not built on shared hobbies, interests, or even just good intentions, but on the shared life of Christ. When crisis hits, when loss comes, it is this Christ-centered fellowship that sustains us, not shallow connections or surface-level unity.

The call is clear: examine where your understanding of Jesus comes from. Is it shaped by culture, social media, or personal comfort? Or is it rooted in the Word of God, inspired by the Spirit, and centered on the Son? The real Jesus offers not only truth, but complete joy—a joy found in Him and in the community He creates. This is what we are made for: to know the eternal, accessible, historical, and relational Jesus, and to walk in fellowship with Him and His people.

Key Takeaways

1. The Real Jesus Is Eternal and Not a Product of Culture Jesus is not a creation of our preferences or a symbol to be adapted for our own agendas. He is the eternal Son of God, present before the beginning of time, and the One through whom all things were made. To reduce Him to a mere teacher, energy, or mascot is to miss the awe and majesty of who He truly is. Our faith must be anchored in the Jesus revealed in Scripture, not in the shifting sands of cultural opinion. [13:43]
2. Faith in Jesus Is Rooted in Eyewitness Testimony and History Christianity is not built on blind faith or abstract philosophy, but on the concrete reality of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. John and the other apostles saw, heard, and touched Jesus; their testimony is verifiable and historical. The Christian faith invites honest investigation and stands up to scrutiny, offering a foundation that is both intellectually credible and spiritually transformative. [23:15]
3. The Eternal Became Accessible for Relationship, Not Just Religion Jesus, fully God and fully man, entered into our world not to establish a distant religion, but to make fellowship with God possible. The “hypostatic union” means that the infinite became intimate—God with us, experiencing our humanity, yet remaining sinless. This accessibility is not just theological; it is deeply personal, inviting us into a relationship that transforms every aspect of our lives. [18:07]
4. True Christian Community Is Centered on Christ, Not Common Interests Surface-level unity—whether around music, sports, or shared experiences—cannot sustain us through life’s deepest challenges. Real fellowship is rooted in Christ, who breaks down barriers and unites people across every divide. When our relationships are centered on Jesus, we find a depth of support, love, and joy that the world cannot offer, especially in times of crisis and loss. [29:50]
5. Loving Jesus Means Loving His People—It’s a Package Deal To love Jesus is to love His church, despite its imperfections and messiness. Just as a parent would not separate their love for their children from their love for a friend, God does not separate Himself from His people. Authentic faith is lived out in community, where we bear one another’s burdens, pursue unity in Christ, and experience the fullness of joy that comes from walking together in Him. [36:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:33] - Reflections on Spirituality in Culture
[03:46] - Which Jesus Are We Talking About?
[05:13] - Introducing 1 John and the Beloved Disciple
[08:46] - The Purpose: Complete Joy in Christ
[10:11] - John’s Unique Writing Style
[11:28] - Jesus: From the Beginning
[12:45] - The Eternal Made Accessible
[15:09] - Cultural Confusion About Jesus
[17:07] - Where Do You Get Your Jesus?
[18:07] - The Hypostatic Union: Fully God, Fully Man
[21:12] - The Need for the Real Jesus in a Chaotic World
[22:02] - The Verifiable, Historical Jesus
[24:43] - Digging Deeper: Faith That Stands Up to Questions
[26:32] - Fellowship: More Than Surface Unity
[29:50] - Christ-Centered Community in Times of Crisis
[31:55] - Love One Another: The Mark of Discipleship
[34:04] - Unity in the Church vs. the World
[35:05] - Loving Jesus Means Loving His People
[36:23] - The Church: A Package Deal
[38:08] - Prayer and Sending Forth

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, touched, etc.)
What is the stated purpose for John writing this letter, as found in verse 4?
In the sermon, what examples were given of how people in our culture talk about Jesus or spirituality in vague or non-biblical ways? [[01:33]]
What does John say is the result of knowing the real Jesus, according to the passage and the sermon? [[08:46]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does John emphasize that he and others have physically seen, heard, and touched Jesus? What difference does this make for our faith? [[18:07]]
The sermon mentions that many people today shape their understanding of Jesus based on culture, social media, or personal comfort. Why is it important to root our understanding of Jesus in Scripture instead? [[17:07]]
John says that true fellowship is both with God and with other believers. What does this suggest about the kind of community Christians are called to build? [[26:32]]
The sermon talks about how Christian community is different from friendships based on hobbies or interests. Why do you think Christ-centered fellowship is able to sustain us in times of crisis when other relationships might not? [[29:50]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to examine where our understanding of Jesus comes from. Are there ways your view of Jesus has been shaped more by culture or social media than by Scripture? What would it look like to re-center your view on the Jesus revealed in the Bible? [[17:07]]
John’s testimony is based on firsthand experience with Jesus. How can you pursue a more personal and real relationship with Jesus, rather than just knowing about Him? What is one step you could take this week? [[18:07]]
The sermon says that true Christian community is not built on shared hobbies or interests, but on the shared life of Christ. Are there relationships in your life that feel shallow or surface-level? What could you do to deepen those relationships around Christ? [[29:50]]
When crisis or loss comes, what kind of support system do you have? Are you connected to a Christ-centered community that can walk with you through hard times? If not, what is one practical way you could take a step toward that kind of fellowship? [[30:30]]
The sermon says, “Loving Jesus means loving His people—it’s a package deal.” Is there someone in the church you find it hard to love or connect with? How might God be calling you to take a step toward them this week? [[36:23]]
John writes that his purpose is for our “joy to be complete.” What is one area of your life where you are lacking joy? How might a deeper relationship with Jesus and His people bring more joy into that area? [[08:46]]
The sermon asks, “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?” What is one specific change you could make in your weekly routine to prioritize fellowship with Jesus and other believers? [[37:04]]

Sermon Clips

I don't know how you walk in here today, but I know there's a lot of sadness in our culture right now, a lot of anger in our culture right now. And maybe sometimes you come to church and think we're just gonna pile on with shame and weight and sadness. And you need to hear John says, hey, why are we doing all this? Why aren't we writing you this letter? It's so that our joy may be complete. Do you need some joy today? Anybody, anybody else? We find it in Jesus Christ. We find it in his word. It's not about shame. It's about the joy we have in Jesus Christ. [00:08:46] (36 seconds) #JoyComesThroughJesus

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 TikTok? 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. He says Jesus is accessible. [00:17:03] (26 seconds) #JesusFullyGodFullyMan

What's mind -boggling about Jesus Christ is he came perfect as a baby, the eternal God, holy in every way. He came perfect, but he actually lived a life in the muck and the mire and the messiness of our society and of our world. And he stayed perfect. He came perfect and he stayed perfect. Hebrews tells us he was tempted in every way, yet without sin. That this eternal became accessible, but he didn't give up his divinity. He didn't give up his fully God. He just became fully man. This hypostatic union. He's fully God and fully man. [00:19:03] (46 seconds) #JesusIsTheFoundationOfLove

He says, hey, this is the point of it all. 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 says, we have heard, we have seen, we have looked upon, our eyes, our hands, our joy manifest to us, fellowship with us. [00:26:32] (28 seconds) #RealJesusRealUrgency

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