--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to think I could learn about Jesus…" description: "\"I used to think I could learn about Jesus by studying Him, but now I know Jesus doesn't want stalkers.\" — Bob Goff" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bob-goff-1182_jesus_i-used-to-think-i-could-learn-about-jesu_3100881.png" --- # I used to think I could learn about Jesus by studying Him… ![“I used to think I could learn about Jesus by studying Him, but now I know Jesus doesn't want stalkers.” quote by Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bob-goff-1182_jesus_i-used-to-think-i-could-learn-about-jesu_3100881.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bob-goff-1182_jesus_i-used-to-think-i-could-learn-about-jesu_3100881.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bob-goff-1182_jesus_i-used-to-think-i-could-learn-about-jesu_3100881.png) > “I used to think I could learn about Jesus by studying Him, but now I know Jesus doesn't want stalkers.” [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to know Jesus through study alone can feel invasive; authentic relationship requires humility and respect. **In simple terms:** Studying Jesus can feel like stalking. Key Takeaway Seek relationship, not just information. Themes faith humility relationship Mood thoughtful encouraging Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - church community - personal prayer - service work - friendship building Key Concepts theology boundaries authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance study with lived faith? - What boundaries protect respectful spiritual inquiry? A Different Perspective Studying texts alone may miss lived experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [“Inductive Bible Study Guide Jesus always lived with a view to the end of his earthly ministry. The preparation of a few who would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-ogden/inductive-bible-study-guide-jesus-always-lived-with-a-view-to-the-end/) [Greg Ogden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-ogden/) > [A disciple is a person who has decided that the most important thing in their life is to learn how to do what Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/a-disciple-is-a-person-who-has-decided-that-the-most-important-thing/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“What do you learn at school, then?" "We learn about the Prophet and his three hundred authenticated miracles,and about Abraham and Isaac and Jonah…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-de-bernieres/what-do-you-learn-at-school-then-we-learn-about-the-prophet-and-his/) [Louis de Bernières](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-de-bernieres/) > [Jesus doesn't care if you feel guilty. Jesus wants you to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-miles/jesus-doesn-t-care-if-you-feel-guilty-jesus-wants-you-to-change/) [Sarah Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-miles/) > [If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you already have the Holy Spirit living within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/if-you-know-jesus-christ-as-your-lord-and-savior-you-already-have-the/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [You don’t have to be part of a club to know Jesus. And you don’t have to be part of a scene to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gillespie/you-don-t-have-to-be-part-of-a-club-to-know-jesus-and-you-don-t-have/) [Aaron Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gillespie/) > [When life is rosy, we may slide by with knowing about Jesus, with imitating him and quoting him and speaking of him. But only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-eareckson-tada/when-life-is-rosy-we-may-slide-by-with-knowing-about-jesus-with/) [Joni Eareckson Tada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-eareckson-tada/) > [“Jesus doesn’t call us to simple. He calls us into complexity. The human soul, psyche, mind, and emotions are complicated. And if he calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-sauls/jesus-doesn-t-call-us-to-simple-he-calls-us-into-complexity-the-human/) [Scott Sauls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-sauls/) > [If we say, 'I believe in Jesus,' but it doesn't affect the way we live, the answer is not that now we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-we-say-i-believe-in-jesus-but-it-doesn-t-affect-the-way-we-live/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Jesus doesn’t take sides; He takes over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/jesus-doesn-t-take-sides-he-takes-over/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [“Jesus doesn’t divide the world up into the common and the sacred; he gives us eyes to see the sacred in the common.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/jesus-doesn-t-divide-the-world-up-into-the-common-and-the-sacred-he/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [“Jesus doesn’t send us anywhere. He goes with us wherever we are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-putman/jesus-doesn-t-send-us-anywhere-he-goes-with-us-wherever-we-are/) [Jim Putman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-putman/) > [Jesus doesn't just want songs. He wants justice for the people on planet Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/jesus-doesn-t-just-want-songs-he-wants-justice-for-the-people-on/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [“Jesus doesn’t need us to be perfect; he wants us to be honest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jesus-doesn-t-need-us-to-be-perfect-he-wants-us-to-be-honest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Bob Goff > [I used to think I could shape the circumstances around me, but now I know Jesus uses circumstances to shape me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-shape-the-circumstances-around-me-but-now-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Next to grace, I bet God thinks making us need each other was one of His best ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/next-to-grace-i-bet-god-thinks-making-us-need-each-other-was-one-of/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [The battle for our hearts is fought on the pages of our calendar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/the-battle-for-our-hearts-is-fought-on-the-pages-of-our-calendar/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [If we pick recognition over influence we'll be known for all the wrong stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/if-we-pick-recognition-over-influence-we-ll-be-known-for-all-the/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [“As I sit on my island, it becomes clears that we need to stop plotting the course and instead just land the plane on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/as-i-sit-on-my-island-it-becomes-clears-that-we-need-to-stop-plotting/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [“You become like the people you hang around, and to a great degree, you end up going wherever they’re headed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/you-become-like-the-people-you-hang-around-and-to-a-great-degree-you/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [The way we love people we disagree with is the best evidence of what we really believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/the-way-we-love-people-we-disagree-with-is-the-best-evidence-of-what/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [No book is a chapter, no chapter tells the whole story, no mistake defines who we are. Hope makes our lives page turners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/no-book-is-a-chapter-no-chapter-tells-the-whole-story-no-mistake/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Every time we see people as ordinary, we turn the wine back into water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/every-time-we-see-people-as-ordinary-we-turn-the-wine-back-into-water/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Faith isn't figuring out what we're able to do, it's deciding what we're going to do - even when we think we can't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/faith-isn-t-figuring-out-what-we-re-able-to-do-it-s-deciding-what-we/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I'm trying to surround myself during my life with the eight people I'd surround my bed with on my death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-m-trying-to-surround-myself-during-my-life-with-the-eight-people-i/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Most of our decisions are driven by either love or fear. Figure out who's doing the talking, then decide what you'll do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/most-of-our-decisions-are-driven-by-either-love-or-fear-figure-out/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Jesus lets us be real with our life and our faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/jesus-lets-us-be-real-with-our-life-and-our-faith/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I used to think being loved was the greatest thing to think about, but now I know love is never satisfied just thinking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-being-loved-was-the-greatest-thing-to-think-about-but/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [Don't let uncertainty talk you into pursuing a backup plan instead of your purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/don-t-let-uncertainty-talk-you-into-pursuing-a-backup-plan-instead-of/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) [Explore all 277 Bob Goff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) ## More Jesus quotes > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [God always gets the glory when Jesus comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/god-always-gets-the-glory-when-jesus-comes/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Jesus was a more reliable backer, evidently, less likely to drink himself unconscious or get liver cancer. No wonder people chose Him as their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/jesus-was-a-more-reliable-backer-evidently-less-likely-to-drink/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Jesus' kingdom was not like the popular expectation. He used the phrase 'kingdom of God' with a different meaning. His kingdom was not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harpur/jesus-kingdom-was-not-like-the-popular-expectation-he-used-the-phrase/) [Tom Harpur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harpur/) > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) [Browse all 10,297 Jesus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I used to think I could learn about Jesus by studying Him, but now I know Jesus doesn't want stalkers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bob Goff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-learn-about-jesus-by-studying-him-but-now-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Jesus" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-learn-about-jesus-by-studying-him-but-now-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bob-goff-1182_jesus_i-used-to-think-i-could-learn-about-jesu_3100881.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bob-goff-1182_jesus_i-used-to-think-i-could-learn-about-jesu_3100881.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/bob-goff-1182_jesus_i-used-to-think-i-could-learn-about-jesu_3100881.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I used to think I could learn about Jesus by studying Him, but now I know Jesus doesn't want stalkers.” — Bob Goff", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bob Goff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I used to think I could...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-learn-about-jesus-by-studying-him-but-now-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/i-used-to-think-i-could-learn-about-jesus-by-studying-him-but-now-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```