Yass Community Baptist Church
This week we continue our series focussing on the good news of Jesus according to John's gospel.
John 3:1-10 NIV
John 3:11-15 NIV
After the Wedding
After the wedding at which Jesus performed a miracle he performed many signs in Jerusalem and many believed in him. But what kind of belief is Jesus looking for?
John 2:23-25 NIV
Nicodemus Comes to Jesus at Night
Nicodemus was a member of the Jewish religious elite of Jerusalem. A pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. Like many in Jerusalem he saw Jesus' signs and believed he had come from God. But... he came to Jesus at night. As he reached towards Jesus he didn't let go of the life, status and position he already had in life. Whatever belief he had in Jesus was hidden in the shadows.
Is your faith in Jesus out in the open or hidden in shadows?
John 3:1-2 NIV
You Must be Born Again
Jesus' response to Nicodemus surprised him. Jesus told him that to enter the kingdom he must be born again. Nicodemus did not understand, but his lack of understanding is the platform for Jesus to teach what it means for all of us to enter the kingdom, new birth from above.
John 3:3-8 NIV
How can this be?
Is Nicodemus still stuck on the being physically reborn question, or is he pondering how true rebirth can actually happen? Either way he has a point, we cannot be reborn in our own capacity. If we could then we would have no need for Jesus. It is only through him that we can be reborn and made new as children of God.
It is only through looking to Jesus who was lifted onto the cross for us that we can have new birth.
John 3:9 NIV
John 3:14 NIV
Belief and Disbelief | Light and Dark | What will you choose?
Nicodemus showed up in Jesus story twice more but we don't really know how his story ended, we don't know whether he chose to take his belief in Jesus completely out of the shadows or darkness and into the light.
The real question is how will you respond to Jesus?
John 3:16-21 NIV
As our life groups gather this week, we have attached our reference verse and some questions to prompt a deeper discussion and search into this week's topic.
If you are not currently part of a life group, and would like to join a small group of like minded people in fellowship and connection during the week, please contact Nick on 0417472474 to register your interest.
Life Group Discussion -Read John 3:1-16
1. Why do you think Nicodemus approached Jesus at night and not in the day time for all to see?
2. What reasons might we have today for wanting to keep our belief in Jesus a secret?
3. The original Greek words used by John for Born Again can mean born from above as well. Share your own understanding of what it means to be “born again”
4. What do you think Jesus being lifted up (on the cross) has to do with us being able to be born again?
5. Have you been born again? How would you describe that experience in your own life?
Take some time to pray for one another
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