Do You Believe?

Welcome

1. Good evening! (welcome to English Bible study) (as always, we like to do some introductions… type your name and where you are from)

2. Announcements: Christmas ornaments, what is your Bible reading plan?

3. Please keep us “up-to-date” on you how you are doing. (words of care and love from Amanda)

3. Do you believe in Santa (or as a child did you believe in Santa?)

The Gospel of John

1. Tonight, we are continuing our study of the gospel of John. (the John is one of the four gospels, but not a “synoptic gospel.” (it’s different from Matthew, Mark, and Luke ... and there seem to be two levels of understanding … there is basic level and a deeper level.

2. That’s what we see in John 3:1-21 Read. (follow along here...)

Jesus Visits with Nicodemus

This is the first of many encounters that Jesus has with people in the gospel of John. (each encounter shows a different kind of relationship and Jesus reveals who He is in a different way) (it means that Jesus is contextual) (He comes to us in the best way, and in a way that we can understand) **this is another picture of the fact that Jesus cares about the details of our life. (we saw this last week, in the way Jesus came to the wedding and turned water into wine)

There are 2 things we can say about this encounter. 1. Jesus and Nicodemus meet as two Jewish leaders (there is a certain level of expectation of what Nicodemus should know) 2. They meet at night! (this could mean many things, but I think that it is important because night time = darkness) (it means that Nicodemus comes from a blindness… he can see the truth… as obvious as it should be to him. (but this is true of all humanity…we are all in darkness, unless we accept the truth of Jesus)

Being Born Again

The significant theme here is being “born again.” (Jesus emphasizes this by the way he says, “Very, truly”) (this literally mean’s “Amen, Amen”) (Jesus is declaring the truth and importance of this, before He even says it)

Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (this could mean “above” or “again”) (from the context is clearly is understood as “again”) And then He says, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” (this brings a lot of clarity to the statement) (the Greek literally says, “Unless you are born out of water [ex hydatos] and out of the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God”) (water birth = birth in the flesh… a woman’s water breaks) (spirit birth - is what Jesus is talking about)

Spirit and Wind

Jesus uses an interesting analogy with the wind (He says, “the wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”)

He is saying, you cannot see the Holy Spirit, but you can see its effects in people’s lives (Nicodemus doesn’t seem to understand this) (this shows us a couple of things… 1. It was really difficult for Jewish leaders to accept the truth of Jesus (it would mean that they would have to give up their power) 2. It shows us that this is also true in our lives (the more we have power, wealth, status, etc.)

Jesus goes on to explain that He is the One who causes people to see the truth (only Jesus, who has been in heaven is qualified to speak of both fleshly and spiritual or heavenly things) (even though Nicodemus doesn’t get it, He can... if he really believes)

What does it mean to believe?

In this passage, is the most famous Bible verse… John 3:16… “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (there is a bit of discussion about the difference between “eternal” or “everlasting” life) (eternal life is without a beginning or an end) (everlasting life has a beginning, but is endless…without an end)

Important truths in this single passage:

God loves the world (what can we say about this… God gave us life and God intervenes in our lives - He wants to help us in life, He calls us into relationship, He wants to have an abundant life)

God gives… He proves His love by making a sacrifice… (God gives His son - His one and only Son - this is the most difficult sacrifice … physically and emotionally most painful moments on the cross)

God wants us to believe… (we are going to talk about this… but this is the only way)

God explains that there are two possibilities: everlasting life or death. (sometimes people think that God is unfair because there is the possibility of perishing) (but this is not true, God is loving because He provides us with an amazing opportunity) (think of me giving you a bank account with a million dollars)

This is why belief in Jesus is the most important thing! (do you believe in Jesus… like you believe in Santa) (or do you really believe in Jesus and your life in changed because of it?) (this is the question that every person must ultimately answer in life)

Charles Blondin video

4. Do you just believe… or do you really believe? (are you willing to put your life into the hands of Jesus?) (are you willing trust Him with your relationships, your plans for the future, all your hopes and dreams) (and are you will to give up the old things) (could be power, or wealth, or pre conceived ideas) (this is what it means to be “born again”) (this is the “brand new” you Jesus wants you to embrace) (this is everlasting life abundant and true!)

5. Maybe you are little like Nicodemus (you think that this is little hard to belief… maybe is doesn’t line up with your ideas or previous thoughts) (if so, you have to know that Jesus is showing you a better way) (He wants you to experience life in it’s fullness) (He wants to move you from 2D to 3D and beyond that) (and it’s not just this life, this forever!)

Prayer

Discussion Questions:

What do you believe and what do you really believe?

What difference does this make in your life?

*Share that Pastor Joe will be providing worship music tonight. Joe is the worship pastor at Brewster Baptist Church in Brewster Massachusetts.