REVIVAL: Creating a Culture of Encounter

In this message, we  explore what it means to create a "Culture of Encounter." It is easy to get stuck in the routine of religion, attending church but missing the presence of God. Just like Jacob in the Old Testament, we can be in the Lord's presence and not even know it. But God is callinWg us to be like Simeon—watching, waiting, and ready to hold the Savior.

We are living in a broken world. We see heartbreak in the news, wars that don’t seem to end, and poverty that is hard to fix. No matter how wonderful the holiday season is, we are often reminded that the world is filled with hurts.

So, what is the answer? It isn't a program or a plan. The answer for the world today is Just Jesus.

We want to move beyond just going through the motions of church. We want to build a "Culture of Encounter." This means we create a life and a community where we expect to actually meet with Jesus.

1. He is the One We Were Waiting For

Long before Jesus was born, people were waiting for Him. Over 700 years before the first Christmas, the prophet Isaiah told us exactly who He would be. He wasn't just a regular child; He was the answer to our problems.

Isaiah wrote:

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." — Isaiah 9:6

Jesus is the "Wonderful Counselor" and the "Prince of Peace." He is the one and only Son of God. There is no one else like Him.

2. God Came to Be With Us

When Jesus was born, everything changed. God didn't stay far away in heaven. He came down to be right here with us. One of His names is Emmanuel, which translates to "God with us".

The Bible tells us that God literally moved into the neighborhood:

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." — John 1:14 MSG

Everything we do should be about this truth. God wants a family, and He wants to be with His children. That is why He created the world, and that is why He sent Jesus.

3. The Danger of Missing Him

It is possible to be in the presence of God and not even know it. In the Old Testament, a man named Jacob had a dream about a ladder reaching up to heaven. When he woke up, he realized something scary but important.

Jacob said:

"Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." — Genesis 28:16

We can be like Jacob. We can come to church, sing the songs, and hear the sermon, but still miss Jesus because we are distracted or just going through the routine. We don't want to wake up and realize God was there, but we missed Him.

4. We Must Look for Him

When Jesus was a baby, Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple. It was a busy place with lots of people, priests, and noise. Most people walked right past baby Jesus and just saw a regular family. They didn't notice God in their midst.

But there was an old man named Simeon. He was looking for the Savior. He recognized Jesus immediately.

"Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation.'" — Luke 2:28-30

Simeon literally held God in his arms because he was looking for Him. We need to be like Simeon—watching and waiting to see Jesus.

5. Prepare Like You Are Going to a Wedding

The Bible often calls Jesus the "Bridegroom" and the church His "Bride." Think about a wedding. The groom and the bride don't just roll out of bed and show up! They prepare. They get dressed up. They are excited and expectant.

The People of God were in trouble. They had sinned, worshipped other gods, so their land was cursed. There was no rain, so the crops did not produce. On top of that, a locust invasion destroyed what was left. The people came to the Prophet desperate and he told them to seek the Lord, repent, and ask God’s forgiveness. Then he said,

"Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children... Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber." — Joel 2:16

Jesus is our Groom. He is waiting at the altar for His bride, the Church. When you get to church, the Groom is already there waiting. We enter into HIs presence because he is waiting for us.  We should come prepared, like a bride ready to meet her groom. Prepared and on time to sing and worship. Prepared to give and receive the Word of God. Prepared to encounter God.

Action Points: How to Encounter Him when you go to church:

• Prepare Your Heart: Don't wait until you walk into the church building to think about God. Start preparing at home.

• Expect Him: When you pray or worship, expect Jesus to show up. Believe that He is "God with us."

• Look for Him: Like Simeon, keep your eyes open. Look for what God is doing in your life and in the lives of the people around you.

• Don't Be Late or Distracted: It is easy to get used to the routine of life. Stop and remind yourself: "Jesus is in this place."

Let's make this season about Just Jesus.

Larry Neville SMALL GOUP BIBLE STUDY, Leader's guide and Student pass out. A great resource for your Bible Studay. Download PDF here.