Focus - God’s Role: Being Changed by Jesus - John 3

Main Idea: In our journey of discipleship, we must realize that it is God’s shaping and direction ​ ​ in our lives that brings the real change.

Look Back (Review and debrief your challenge from last week)

This new series, called FOCUS, is centered on our church’s definition of a disciple. If our vision is to make disciples who change the world, we have to have agreement on what a disciple actually is. This series is built around the concepts of John 21:17, where Jesus said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Look Up (Wrestle with the passage itself)

Read John 3:1-8 together.

We learn a lot about Nicodemus in just the first two verses here. Verse one tells that not only is he a Pharisee, a member of the most elite and righteous religious group of Jesus’ day, but also a member of the Jewish ruling council. He is powerful, educated, respected, and moral.

But verse two tells us that he comes to speak to Jesus at night. This setting, especially in John’s writing, is intentional. The nighttime is a place of darkness, hiding, and evil actions. Nicodemus only meets with Jesus here because he fears the repercussions of meeting the controversial teacher.

Discussion Question: Do you ever find yourself acting like Nicodemus? Do you hide, or even ​ downplay, your allegiances to Christ because of your fear of what others may think?

Jesus, knowing his heart, challenges Nicodemus on a number of levels. He stretches his thinking to help him realize that this power Jesus possesses is something that comes from his Spirit alone. He uses the metaphor of birth and wind, both things that happen to a person outside of their control. For a man like Nicodemus, who likely got to his position of influence and privilege through hard work and effort, this insinuation that power comes apart from anything we can do must have sounded strange.

Read John 3:9-20 together

Nicodemus immediately expresses his confusion, and Jesus responds with difficult yet beautiful teachings. He communicates that Christ’s love for all people is so great that he offers salvation to everyone who would believe. Jesus flips the story around, confirming that our access to God is not through birthright, privilege, or effort, but through faith alone.

He then begins to poke directly at Nicodemus, communicating that those who know love what is good will come into the light, and that those who cling to darkness will be exposed for their wrongdoing. The only way to be saved is through faith.

Discussion Question: How does that sound to you, to know that our salvation comes through ​ faith, not through anything we can do? Does that knowledge change how you think about discipleship? How much of your continual journey to being more like Jesus has to do with your effort, as well?

Look Forward (Challenge to do something with it)

As was mentioned in the sermon, so many times we think the way to being more like Jesus to do more and do better. We fail to recognize that just as our salvation has nothing to do with our efforts, our journey to being more like Jesus will only come through faith, as well. All is grace.

Discussion Question: In what ways have you been guilty of trying to just do MORE and ​ BETTER? Where has that effort gotten you?

Challenge: To use the metaphor from the sermon, allowing ourselves to be changed by Jesus ​ is the difference between a kayak and a sailboat. One is powered through our own strength, the other is powered by positioning ourselves to receive strength. This week, your challenge is to shut out distractions and position yourself to hear from God. The way to do that is through 10 minutes each day of silence and solitude. Find a time, possibly in the morning or evening, to shut out every noise, distraction, or voice and simply sit in silence with God, listening for him to speak to you. Be prepared to share your experience next week.