Inward Prayer

1. 1. In terms of knowing Jesus, where are you on the relationshipspectrum:–Heard about him– Meet– In a relationship– Deep intimacy  
   2. If salvation only requires“meet” [choosing as saviour/criminal on the cross]… why should we move towards a deep intimate relationship? What are the benefits? Why do you choose to be a Christian? 
   3. How do you think you can grow a deeper relationship with Jesus?
   4. “To know Jesus is to experience him. Knowing about Jesus might be interesting, but actually knowing him takes relational work and brings life and satisfaction to the soul.”How do you experience Jesus today? 

Outward Prayer

THINGS JESUS NEVER SAID: Knowing about me will save you 

WHATS THE POINT To know Jesus is to experience him. Knowing about Jesus might be interesting, but actually knowing him takes relational work and brings life and satisfaction to the soul. 

 WORD UP  

Matthew 7: 21-23 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 

 John 1: 11-13 

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 

 

Matthew 15:8-9 

Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:“‘These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 

They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’” 

WAKE UPS 

Share some stories of the different type of relationships you have in your life and how they look a little different (spouse, best friend, mom, neighbour etc) 

WHY DO I CARE?  Knowing about Jesus 

There are two ways you can know about Jesus: 

1. You heard about him. This type of knowing can be compared to being shown a photograph, having read a news headline, or heard about some new restaurant in town. This is the most superficial way to know about a person or place. There is no elaboration or depth of any kind.

Concerning Jesus, this could be applied to people who claim to be a Christian because their parents were, or because they’re Albertan. However, this is just a label and means nothing. 

2. Learned about. This type of knowing goes a step deeper than just having heard about. It can be compared to how fans of famous people feel like they know them because theyhave read about them, or maybe even studied them. A fan might know their birthday,favourite food, or where they like to shop — but this isn’t knowing them. 

The same is true about that new restaurant in town. You can study the menu, choose a favourite entrée, and read about the ambiance — but if you have not been there, then it’s just information without experience. 

To know about Jesus is to know information about him. C oncerning Jesus, this can be dangerous because one might feel as if they know him due to the abundance of knowledge, but, in truth, not know him at all.  Some may even go to church and do religious things but if there’s no relationship, there’s no true knowing. Jesus talked about some who never knew him but thought they did. 

READ MATTHEW 7: 21-23 

READ MATTHEW 15: 8-9 

WHAT DO I DO?   

Knowing Jesus 

To know Jesus is to experience him. There are three levels where we can truly know Jesus: 

1. Meet. When you’re introduced to someone, you have a shallow knowledge of them, but your encounter is valid. In this encounter, you hear their voice, maybe notice some mannerisms and facial expressions. You can choose to move forward with a relationship or not.

Concerning Jesus, although there is much more to Jesus than just meeting him, it can be enough for salvation when you choose him as Savior. Consider this story of the two thieves on the cross. When they met him, one chose Jesus, and one rejected him. 

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  

(Luke 23:39-43)  

2. In a relationship. Every deep relationship begins here. After meeting someone and deciding to take it a step further,there’s the adventure of getting to know one another better. Oftentimes this phase is full of emotions and is quite exciting. Concerning Jesus, this is where one starts to learn more about who Jesus is, and what that means to them personally. As they learn more, superficial knowledge takes root and comes to life in their understanding. Jesus prayed this prayer for people to know him. 

 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3). 

 

3. Deep intimacy. Relationships continue through commitment. But commitment aloneisn’t enough for intimacy. Married couples can stay together for a lifetime and never experience true intimacy. To develop a deep intimacy in a relationship requires sharing and vulnerability on both sides.Likewise, with Jesus, a deep relationship with him isn’t established through time alone (how long a person has been saved) but through the intentional choice of seeking the face of God. 

 

God makes himself vulnerable to us through his Spirit. 

These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit: 

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.[c] 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (1 Cor 2:10-14) 

 We make ourselves vulnerable by coming to him for help trusting in his love. 

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16) 

Knowing about Jesus might be interesting, but actually knowing him takes relational work and brings life and satisfaction to the soul.