Encounters with Jesus: Unexpected Answers to Life's Biggest Questions Hardcover – November 19, 2013

The foundation for the writing of this book was laid when Tim Keller was in college. He had recently come into a personal relationship with Christ and learned how to study the Bible guided by a book entitled Conversations with Jesus Christ from the Gospel of John by Marilyn Kunz and Catherine Schell. In close proximity to this study he learned how to read and study the Bible inductively. He attended a conference for Bible study leaders where one of the instructors had each student take 30 minutes to make 30 observations from Mark 1:17, “And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In the first 10 minutes he thought he wrote down everything he had observed about the surrounding passage from the text. However, the gold was mined in minutes 20-30. It was through the patient and inductive wrestling with the text where the gold was found.In this book of encounters with Jesus Tim Keller mines spiritual gold.The first five chapters are based on talks given by Keller to students – most of whom were spiritual skeptics – at the Town Hall in Oxford, England in 2012. These first five chapters reveal the foundational teachings of Christianity and the astonishing character of Jesus in particular as he encounters Nathanael, the Samaritan Woman and a Pharisee, Mary and Martha, Guests at a Wedding Party, and Mary Magdalene. In each of these encounters important questions are addressed to and by Jesus and one learns how to read the Scriptures copiously and glean the answers to life’s greatest questions. Questions such as: What is the world for? What’s wrong with the world? Can anything or person make the world right? How can we be part of the solution to making the world right?Keller’s thesis is that “if you want to be sure that you are developing sound, thoughtful answers to the fundamental questions, you need at the very least to become acquainted with the teachings of Christianity. The best way to do that is to see how Jesus explained himself and his purposes to people he met–and how their lives were changed by his answers to their questions.” Therefore, the first half of this book is devoted to encounters “others” had with Jesus.The second half of the book is devoted to how we can encounter Jesus today in the 21st century. How can we be changed by Jesus? How can we know Jesus intimately and personally? How can we discover what the people discovered in the biblical encounters with Jesus in my own life? The second half of the book is based on talks that Keller delivered at the Harvard Club of New York City over a period of several years. Keller was addressing business, cultural, and governmental leaders – highly educated individuals who shared their doubts and questions with Keller. Therefore, by highlighting pivotal events’ in Jesus’ life – his temptation with Satan, his sending of the Holy Spirit, his road to the cross, his ascension, and his incarnation – we learn of the significance of the Person and work of Jesus Christ in the Gospel.I think this book is an especially good book to give to spiritual skeptics. With the holidays coming upon us it would make a great gift for friends, people you work with, and loved ones whom you desire to know Jesus personally and intimately. Keller writes cogently, concisely, and compellingly. He wisely interprets and applies each encounter with Jesus and highlights why we all need Jesus in our lives. For each human being there is no greater encounter that we can have than with the person and work of Jesus in and on our behalf. I highly recommend this book to quench your thirst for the only One who can satisfy our thirst – the Lord Jesus Christ.

Point: How can the interactions between Jesus and individuals thousands of years ago challenge the way we live today? They can rebuke us, inform us, encourage us, and strengthen us.Path: Keller has given us a unique book which is both apologetical and devotional.Keller takes a chapter to explain the interactions of various individuals with Jesus and how they can challenge us. Those individuals are: Nathanael the skeptic, the Insider - Nicodemus and the Outcast - the Samaritan woman, Mary and Martha the Grieving Sisters, the disciples and town at the wedding party, Mary Magdalene, Satan and his temptations, Jesus at his Ascension, Jesus in the Garden, and Mary after the Angel’s revelation.Keller explains the interactions in an interesting and enlightening way, and then applies them to skeptics, seekers, and mature believers.Sources: These chapters come from various talks he gave in secular and Christian settings. He uses his normal broad scope of sources, although this book is not nearly as full of citations as others because of the original purpose of the talks.Agreement: I found these chapters to be very encouraging. There is so much to consider as I read through them, both apologetically as I talk with skeptics, but also devotionally as I consider my relationship with Jesus.Personal App: How am I responding to Jesus right now?Favorite Quote: “Jesus not only died the death we should have died in order to take the law’s curse for us, he also lived the great life of love and fidelity we should have lived in order to earn God’s blessing for us.“It would be worth another read and I would recommend it to someone who:Is skeptical about JesusIs seeking to know more about JesusIs seeking to love Jesus moreOther books along this theme would be:Apologetics:Keller, Timothy J. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism. New York: Riverhead Books, 2009.Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity. New York: HarperCollins, 2001.Devotional:MacArthur, John. Twelve Unlikely Heroes How God Commissioned Unexpected People in the Bible and What He Wants to Do with You. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012.MacArthur, John F. Twelve Extraordinary Women: How God Shaped Women of the Bible and What He Wants to Do with You. Nashville: Nelson Books, 2005.

Our small group has been discussing this book for weeks and we are amazed at how in each chapter Keller surprises us with perspective, insights, and practical applications that we had not seen before in chapters in the Bible we have read many times.

Have you ever wondered what Jesus experienced emotionally as he lived the last 3 years of his life? What was he thinking when he encountered people? And while we are at it, have you ever wondered how Jesus would respond to your big questions of life - the ones that keep you up at night, the ones that trouble you? Maybe, we think, if we had only been one of the people Jesus encountered, we would have the answers to our questions.In his book, Timothy Keller devotes each chapter to one of Jesus' personal encounters (from John's gospel) - Mary and Martha when their brother has died, the outcast woman who everyone shuns, Nathanael, the young skeptic who was searching for the answers to life, and others. People who are asking the same questions that we are asking.Regarding the last chapters of the book, Pastor Keller says, "If we want our lives to be changed forever, we, too, need to encounter him (Jesus) as a savior.... And it is in the key events of Jesus' life, where we can see most clearly how he becomes a savior for us." It is in these chapters that you will clearly begin to fully understand Jesus' incredibly profound love for you. The last chapters will speak to your heart and to your mind. You will come to know him in his humanity and as God of all creation.You will more fully understand what he experienced as he obediently followed through on his mission in life to save you.If your encounters with Jesus have been two dimensional, after reading this book you will have seen him in high definition 3 D. You will never be the same.

A wonderful read from a man who clearly has a deep love for God. This book has definitely impacted my walk with Christ in a very special way. May God richly bless your life and ministry Mr Keller.

This a valuable book. It presents Christian faith through examples and comments.Please read. If I could If give everyone a copy.

Written in an accessible style, this could be given to an interested enquirer prepared to think through some of the deeper issues.There are chapters on Jesus being tempted and in Gethsemane. That does NOT mean it is a heavy read. A number of times it points out where translations have not conveyed the full force of the original language.That I have added indexes for subject and Scripture references shows it's continuing usefulness.

Shattering insights, views and clear pictures of Jesus that I had not seen before.Really worth getting and digesting slowly.A great present, easy to read, while academically competent and very worthwhile.

Very good book about Jesus. One of Tim Keller's best books. I've read most of pastor Keller's books. He is very articulate, clever and with high self-esteem. These are all the most important qualities of pastors in the Evangelical church nowadays.