LIVE LIFE’S GREATEST STORY WEEK 1: BELIEVE IN :1-21 DISCUSSION GUIDE

MAIN POINT

Jesus calls us out of head knowledge and into heart knowledge—into an experiential, personal relationship with Him.

INTRODUCTION

In the Fall 2016 issue of Studies for Life, we were challenged to hear and believe the unvarnished truth of the , and then to go and tell that truth to others who need the hope of . Through this six- week companion series, we will be challenged to put the truths of life’s greatest story into action in our every day lives, beginning with in Himself.

In what ways do people demonstrate they have a relationship with someone?

How do sports fans show their pride in the teams they follow?

How is knowing someone personally different than knowing facts about that person?

Married people wear rings. Couples who are in love hold hands. A sports fan buys a jersey like the ones his/ her favorite team wears. In these and other ways, people show they have a relationship with someone (or something) else. These are outward, visible signs that a relationship exists. But knowing something about a person isn’t the same as knowing the person. You may be able to cite all kinds of sports statistics about a player, but you really don’t know the person—you only know a few facts about him. In the Bible passage for this study, we’ll meet a man who knew things about Jesus, yet did not know him personally. Nor did the man know Jesus in a saving way. He could cite a few factoids about Jesus (and he was right), but his knowledge about Jesus wouldn’t be enough to save him.

UNDERSTANDING

> READ JOHN 3:1-2.

From what religious party did come? What do you know about them?

Why might Nicodemus have met Jesus at night?

What facts about Jesus did Nicodemus get right?

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LIVE LIFE’S GREATEST STORY GREATEST LIFE’S LIVE attention to His deity. He also referred to Himself as the Son of Man, the title He gave Himself most often Himself to as the Son of Man, the title He gave He also referred His deity. to attention of Histhe fullness and God oneness with the Father Jesus’ highlight emphases two The the . in Both aspects find . necessary of His Him be the one in whom we identity to are for humanity. of God. in the presence life to eternal find the means Jesus alone can we Through In these verses, Jesus spoke with the authority of someone who had been with God in , drawing drawing with the authority of someone who had been with God Jesus spoke in heaven, In these verses, world “dead in trespasses” as Paul said. The only way we can become “spirit” in the sense that Jesus in the sense that “spirit” can become we only way The said. as Paul in trespasses” “dead world all need a new heart known, we should have Nicodemus As us new. means it is if the Holy Spirit makes of our heartsin the place of stone. When Jesus said that we must all be , He meant that we must be regenerated by the Holy by must be regenerated we that must all be born again, He meant we Jesus said that When dead in were “When you wrote, Paul life. to death from this as being brought describes Paul Spirit. us all our forgave with Him and you alive flesh, He made of your and in the uncircumcision trespasses words only understand Jesus’ could 2:13; see also Ephesians 2:1-5). Nicodemus (Colossians trespasses” the into comes Everyone analogy because his heart spiritual matters. to as a natural not attuned was about Jesus. Nicodemus was well-informed about Jesus the (teacher). But because Nicodemus didn’t didn’t But because Nicodemus (teacher). Jesus the rabbi about well-informed was Nicodemus Jesus. about too. wrong, things he got a few actually know Jesus personally, Nicodemus was an important person in Jewish life. He belonged to the religious party religious the He belonged to an important of the , was Nicodemus life. person in Jewish the things saidand to the things Jesus said, to attention paid careful No doubt he had a ruler. and was How does Jesus’ statement in verse 15 answer our culture’s objection that is How does Jesus’ statement in verse 15 answer our culture’s “exclusive,” with salvation only being found in Jesus? What does Jesus claim about Himself in verses 13-15? life? According to Jesus’ words in verse 15, who is able to attain eternal > HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ JOHN 3:11-15. > HAVE What point is Jesus making by comparing spiritual birth to the wind? What point is Jesus making by comparing What emotions might you be feeling as you try to Put yourself in the place of Nicodemus. 9-10)? understand Jesus’ words (see vv. > HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ JOHN 3:3-10. A VOLUNTEER > HAVE direct with Nicodemus? Why was Jesus so How do some of the things Nicodemus said demonstrate an incomplete knowledge of Jesus? an incomplete knowledge the things Nicodemus said demonstrate How do some of Why do you think it is significant that Nicodemus came to Jesus? came to that Nicodemus think it is significant Why do you

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LIVE LIFE’S GREATEST STORY GREATEST LIFE’S LIVE Thank Jesus for coming to this earth to save you. If you have not yet received His forgiveness and redemption, His forgiveness received not yet have If you you. this earth to coming save to Jesus for Thank do so now. and enjoy eternal life with Him. life eternal and enjoy To be “born again” means to experience a birth from above. Jesus was talking about salvation. Salvation talking Salvation Jesus was about salvation. a birth above. experience from means to “born again” be To the family of God. bring a person into to of an individual in the life work the Holy Spirit’s for is the term as His role and accepts and resurrection death belief in Jesus’ happens when a person expresses This God) disobey we sin (all the ways from in Jesus can be saved Only those who believe and Lord. Savior family? PRAY Do you know for certain you have been “born again” and are now a part of God’s “forever been “born again” and are now a part of God’s Do you know for certain you have spiritual family? you experienced that new birth into God’s family”? Can you describe the moment heavenly who can you tell this week about being born again into God’s If you are a believer, When did you first realize that God was not condemning you, but wanted to save you? When did you first realize that God APPLICATION again” process of spiritual life? Where are you in the “being born How does belief show itself according to verses 15-21? How does belief show your own words? the phrase “born again” in How would you define > HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ JOHN 3:16-21. READ A VOLUNTEER > HAVE to do? About what He wants about God? About stands out to you 16 to 18, what From verses is condemned? how a person

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LIVE LIFE’S GREATEST STORY GREATEST LIFE’S LIVE how central Jesus is to the passage. Verse 17 talks about God’s saving the world through Him. human Every through world the saving God’s about talks 17 Verse passage. the to is Jesus central how to cease is not to perish to being has a choice—eternal as the Bible describes it, And death. or eternal life and loss—an eternity without God. futility, failure, utter experience but to exist, through the cross and the , and results in eternal life for those who believe. The verb “perish” “perish” verb The who believe. those for life in eternal and results and the empty tomb, the cross through is death of preservation, since the opposite It represents life. eternal to in contrast death speaks of eternal both the present Him without hope for from gift alienated are God’s who refuse Those of life. the opposite and the future. Notice purpose. God’s never was That No. condemnation? and judgment for happen Did all this 3:17-18. Man refers to Jesus’ crucifixion (cp. 12:33 and the similar reference to Peter’s martyrdom in 21:19). Peter’s to reference 12:33 and the similar crucifixion (cp. Jesus’ to Man refers what believe gift as a free when we comes Salvation do. we not because of anything comes life 3:16. Eternal (vv. verses three in times Four life.” eternal Himin have but perish not shall “Whoever Godsaid. has Gospel. John’s in perhaps the most important word key “believe,” of the word 16-18) Jesus uses variations condemned, not and are who believe groups—those two into race human Jesus classified the entire continues love, with God’s gospel begins The already. condemned and are and those who do not believe 3:14. The reference to the Son of Man being lifted up is the first of three “lifted up” sayings in John sayings (:28; “lifted up” the Son to of Man being lifted up is the first of three reference The 3:14. of the Son by of Man (possibly inspired in double meaning “lifting up” of the future speak three 12:32). All lifting in the wilderness up of a serpent ’ invokes in this verse reference The the language of Isa 52:13). healed was in faith serpent the at and looked a poisonous snake by who had been bitten everyone so that the lifting that saying (Jn 12:32) emphasizes up of the Son of “lifted up” and final third The (Num 21:8-9). breeze when and where He chooses. Life change comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit. the presence from change comes Life He chooses. when and where breeze his lack of for though He chastised Nicodemus the compliment”, “returning be here 3:1.0 Jesus may understanding. (Lk there returned and heaven from descended Jesus Only 30:4. Pr to allude may statement Jesus’ 3:13. 1:9). 24:51; Ac of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” Verse 3 deals with the way of the new birth, 5 3 deals with the way and verse Verse and the Spirit.” of God unless he is born of water the time of faith in Christ. at means the change provided “born of the Spirit” Being talks about the process. Human the metaphor of birth from of a breeze. that to Jesus moves 3:8. In conversation, this fascinating This story. a different Spirit—is “pneuma”—the results human (:13), but the effort can only produce God brings the grasp. terms humans can explain in God to knownonly to and difficult is a spiritual mystery and eternally in heaven. Jesus got right to the heart of the problem. He told the teacher he must be “born the heart he must be to the teacher Jesus got right He told of the problem. in heaven. and eternally the from 7 and 31. Unless God our hearts changes which appears again in verses His way, a word again,” can a man be“How question surfaces: the second of the kingdom discussion Now is useless. any inside out, and Jesus later world, the spiritual just like is often unexplainable world physical The born when he is old?” ways. spiritual truth in natural to A person cannot respond point. that make to used the wind as an example the kingdom“No one can enter the eyes: between right hit Nicodemus must have answer second The 3:5-7. to Jesus. When Nicodemus called Jesus “Rabbi,” he (a member of the Jewish ruling council) placed himself placed ruling council) he (a member of the Jewish “Rabbi,” Jesus called Nicodemus When Jesus. to God. with life eternal him to led unfolded that conversation The of student. in the role the first question and answers, 3 as a series of questions of chapter verses view these first fifteen 3:3-4. If we see will never “You is, first answer Jesus’ And the kingdom?” bring in to here you “Are this: look like might both on earth family and rule, today God’s to refers “kingdom” The the kingdom again.” without being born 3:1-2. Nicodemus shows up only in John’s Gospel. The text does not tell us Nicodemus’s motive for coming for motive us Nicodemus’s not tell does text The Gospel. up only in John’s shows 3:1-2. Nicodemus COMMENTARY JOHN 3:1-21

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LIVE LIFE’S GREATEST STORY GREATEST LIFE’S LIVE live in the darkness. The last phrase of this paragraph should encourage all of us. Those who practice the practice who Those all of us. should encourage of this paragraph last phrase The in the darkness. live right their righteousness—the that demonstrate Spirit, of God’s the light in live truth, who continuously God. about by been brought forgiven—has our sins are God once before have standing we 3:19-21. Now we see the verdict. People reject Christ because of evil deeds and because they hate the light. reject they hate deeds and because because of evil Christ People the verdict. see we 3:19-21. Now darkness is their darkness; because that they love God they love deeds evil because not label their does because light us they refuse tells passage This Christ? people from keep possible excuses What very nature. Believers do not. but unbelievers life, possess eternal Believers darkness up the lives. in their own it shows while unbelievers light, in the live Believers already. condemned are but unbelievers not condemned, are

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