Encounter Jesus PT 1

5 out of 10 young people are leaving the church

“But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.”  John 20:31 NLT

When you encounter Jesus, you tell others about Jesus. 

 1. When you encounter Jesus, you can become your true self.

“’Well then who are you?’ they asked. ‘Are you Elijah?’ ‘No,’ he replied.  ‘Are you the prophet we are expecting?’ ‘No.’  ‘Then who are you?  We need an answer for those who sent us.  What do you have to say about yourself?’”  John 1:21-22 NLT

“I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist.” 

Matthew 11:11a NLT

When you encounter Jesus, you tell others about Jesus. 

“John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:  ‘I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’  Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, ‘If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?’”  John 1:23-25 NLT

2. When you Encounter Jesus, you become a voice.

“John told them, ‘I baptize with water, but right here in this crowd is someone that you do not recognize.  Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.’  This encounter took place in Bethany, and area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.”  John 1:26-28 NLT 

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”  John 1:29 NLT 

“He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’  I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”  John 1:30-31 NLT

Where is your voice testifying about your encounters with Jesus?  

3. When you encounter Jesus, you become aware of the Holy Spirit.

“Then John testified, ‘I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him.’”  John 1:32 NLT

‘I didn’t know who he was, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see The Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’”

John 1:33 NLT

“I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that He is the Chosen One of God.”  John 1:34 NLT

“From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.””  John 1:16-17 NLT