Stones Hill Community Church
This is a series about Jesus and his interactions with his first followers. It allows us to see Jesus as we’ve never seen him. It’s also a series about people who are far from God and they experience Jesus and suddenly God shows up.
You’ll meet many of them as you watch the episodes. Matthew the tax collector. Nicodemus, the strict Pharisee and religious person. Andrew and his outspoken brother Peter who are fishermen. And they all come to a place of conviction and confidence in a Savior.
The Gospel is not so much an argument to assent to (though there are many arguments one can make for the Gospel); but more than this, the Gospel is a person that you place your confidence in.
So, welcome to "The Chosen". And welcome to Stones Hill Community Church and Online Notes!
We welcome you to Stone's Hill today!
A typical Stone's Hill service has:
* music (so feel free to sing out);
* some announcements (things that are upcoming that you can be a part of);
* a message out of the Bible (God speaks to us through his Word);
* and an opportunity for you to respond to the message (either immediately in the case of a decision that needs to be made OR in the future as you live out the message in your daily life.)
So relax and enjoy your morning! We're so glad you are here!
John 19:38-42 NIV
The Chosen - Episode 7
The Gospel is not so much an argument to assent to (though there are many arguments one can make for the Gospel); but more than this, the Gospel is a person that you place your confidence in.
Episode 7
Nicodemus is the main focus in this episode.
John 3:1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night…
He did not want his friends and fellow council members knowing that he had a meeting with Jesus, so he came at night. He was wealthy, part of the elite ruling class in Jerusalem, and a popular teacher of religion. He occupied one of seventy-one seats on the Judean supreme court. He has credentials and clout. He also practiced a very strict observance of Judaism and was a Pharisee. They always discussed God – reaching God, pleasing God, appeasing God. But religion wasn’t enough for Nicodemus. Sacrifices and purity laws and holy days left him feeling empty. There was a hole in his life. He longed for something more.
That’s when he met Jesus. There was something different about Jesus. Virtually everywhere he went, Jesus confronted disease, depression, and death and left behind him life, health, and joy. Life was a generous flow that came out of him to others. Nicodemus began to think that this really was the Messiah, Savior of the world. But, he had to see for himself. A man with as high a profile as he had, needed to be cautious about how he met this Prophet from Galilee. So, he meets him under cover of darkness.
Why so much secrecy? John 12:42-43 42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.
To be “put out” formally like this, was total social rejection. Jesus told him that he needed a spiritual birth in his life. Think about that. Nicodemus was a very moral, successful religious person and yet he needs new birth. But he struggled with what all of this might cost him professionally and personally.
Do you need new birth? Are you willing to come out of secrecy as a follower of Jesus? Don't miss your opportunity today.