Life Changing Encounters w/Jesus — Gospel of John — John 7:4 (NLT) 4 “You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” Conversation #1 — A Skeptic (Nathanael the Student) Examine 2 Problems + A Prescription John 1:43–45 (NLT) 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. 45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” SKEPTIC’S TWO PROBLEMS #1. Prideful . John 1:46 (NLT) 46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” #2. Conflicting . The essence of what makes Christianity different from every other religion and form of thought is this: Every other religion says if you want to find God, if you want to improve yourself, if you want to have higher consciousness, if you want to connect with the divine, however it is defined—you have to do something…But Christianity is not just for the strong; it’s for everyone, especially for people who admit that, where it really counts, they’re weak. The gospel is the Good News announcement of the exact opposite — that Jesus came to do for you what you couldn’t do for yourself. ~ Timothy Keller John 1:49 (NLT) Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” JESUS’S PRESCRIPTION You need to be deeply seen & known. — Jesus John 1:47-49 (NLT) 47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” 48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” 49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” You need my help more than you think you do. — Jesus John 1:50-51 (NLT) 50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.” CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION QUESTIONS 1. Why do you think people in our modern society have contempt for Christianity? 2. Nathanael the skeptic openly declared his faith after discovering that Jesus had seen & known him personally (Jn 1:49). Do you remember anything about why or what it was that compelled you to openly declare your faith in Jesus? 3. Can you think of anything about knowing & growing in Jesus that's been greater than you thought it would be?