5 Ways to Encounter Jesus

When we look at the leadership of Jesus, we see He was present. Another name for Jesus is “Immanuel.” This means “God with us” (NIV, Matthew 1:22). While Jesus is no longer physically present with us as a man, we can still encounter Him today. There are five ways that we can encounter Jesus’ presence today: Scripture, prayer, worship, community, and service. 

1. Scripture — Jesus is the subject of God’s written word (John 5:39). In addition to this, in John’s gospel, he equates Jesus to the Word of God (John 1:1-14). Meaning, Jesus both encompasses and embodies the Word of God. Because of this, when we spend time in scripture, it is as if we are spending time with Jesus.  
2. Prayer — Simply put, prayer is our way to talk to God. 
3. Worship — In his book, Reflection on the Psalms, C. S. Lewis wrote, “It is in the process of being worshiped that God communicates His presence to men.” While prayer is our way to talk to Jesus, worship is His way to talk to us. 
4. Community — Matthew 18:20 reads, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (NIV). Sometimes being present with Jesus can be as simple as being present with someone else. 
5. Service — In Matthew 25:40 reads, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (NIV). Meaning, when we serve those who are in need, it is as if we are serving Jesus. 

A Leader Worth Imitating, Principle 2: Presence 

_{^{Originally posted on December 26, 2023. Last updated on September 11, 2025.}}