Jan. 28, 2018 AWS
Jan. 28, 2018 Born Again 1. The sinful nature
2. Holy Spirit produces
3. The Bottom Line
I will continue or start following: _____
Jesus
_____
The World
Signed_______________________________ Place in Bible for Reminder!
Study Notes 1/28/18 John 3:1-8 “Born Again”
It’s amazing to think about standing face to face with Jesus in real time and being able to ask Jesus any question. In those days, real people heard and saw Jesus say and do miraculous things over and over again. Many kinds of people asked Jesus many different questions, and in every case, He pointed to the doorway to Heaven. However, many people struggled to understand and put into practice the things that Jesus spoke about. The Pharisee named Nicodemus is no different. As you read John 3:1-8, look for the way the grace of God opens the doorway to heaven and the way the truth of God brings Nicodemus to that very doorway. 1. As you think about all of the stories you know about Jesus, what are two characteristics that are always evident? See John 1:14 2. As you read verse 1, what facts does John record about Nicodemus that are helpful in understanding who he is and where he is coming from as he comes to Jesus? 3. In verse 2, John tells us that Nicodemus came to visit Jesus at night. Why might that have been an easier time of day for this type of visit? 4. Still in verse 2, what do we read that helps us understand Nicodemus’ view of Jesus? How do many people who are outside of the Christian church view Jesus?
5. In verse 3, Jesus shifts the focus away from what people think and away from the talk around town about Jesus. Jesus shifts the focus to the truth. First, what true statement does Jesus make? How can we learn from Jesus’ willingness to shift the conversation toward the truth as we talk with people? 6. In verse 4, Nicodemus’ question reveals the difficulty people have with the spiritual and supernatural work of God. His question reveals the inability to think ourselves through the doorway of heaven. How have you personally had a similar approach to the things of God? How have you approached others who had this same mindset? 7. In verses 5-6, Jesus explains the mystery of the “born again experience.” How do you understand this experience according to the words that Jesus uses and according to your own experience? 8. In verse 7, Jesus says, “you must be born again.” How do we help someone who says, “I believe in God, and I do not need anything else.” 9. In verse 8, Jesus is talking in language unfamiliar to Nicodemus. Billy Graham explained that while we cannot see the wind, but we can see the effects of the wind. How do you explain this verse? See Ephesians 3:16-19. 10. From these verses, do you sense Nicodemus believed and followed Jesus through the doorway? See John 3:9-15.
2. Holy Spirit produces
3. The Bottom Line
I will continue or start following: _____
Jesus
_____
The World
Signed_______________________________ Place in Bible for Reminder!
Study Notes 1/28/18 John 3:1-8 “Born Again”
It’s amazing to think about standing face to face with Jesus in real time and being able to ask Jesus any question. In those days, real people heard and saw Jesus say and do miraculous things over and over again. Many kinds of people asked Jesus many different questions, and in every case, He pointed to the doorway to Heaven. However, many people struggled to understand and put into practice the things that Jesus spoke about. The Pharisee named Nicodemus is no different. As you read John 3:1-8, look for the way the grace of God opens the doorway to heaven and the way the truth of God brings Nicodemus to that very doorway. 1. As you think about all of the stories you know about Jesus, what are two characteristics that are always evident? See John 1:14 2. As you read verse 1, what facts does John record about Nicodemus that are helpful in understanding who he is and where he is coming from as he comes to Jesus? 3. In verse 2, John tells us that Nicodemus came to visit Jesus at night. Why might that have been an easier time of day for this type of visit? 4. Still in verse 2, what do we read that helps us understand Nicodemus’ view of Jesus? How do many people who are outside of the Christian church view Jesus?
5. In verse 3, Jesus shifts the focus away from what people think and away from the talk around town about Jesus. Jesus shifts the focus to the truth. First, what true statement does Jesus make? How can we learn from Jesus’ willingness to shift the conversation toward the truth as we talk with people? 6. In verse 4, Nicodemus’ question reveals the difficulty people have with the spiritual and supernatural work of God. His question reveals the inability to think ourselves through the doorway of heaven. How have you personally had a similar approach to the things of God? How have you approached others who had this same mindset? 7. In verses 5-6, Jesus explains the mystery of the “born again experience.” How do you understand this experience according to the words that Jesus uses and according to your own experience? 8. In verse 7, Jesus says, “you must be born again.” How do we help someone who says, “I believe in God, and I do not need anything else.” 9. In verse 8, Jesus is talking in language unfamiliar to Nicodemus. Billy Graham explained that while we cannot see the wind, but we can see the effects of the wind. How do you explain this verse? See Ephesians 3:16-19. 10. From these verses, do you sense Nicodemus believed and followed Jesus through the doorway? See John 3:9-15.
