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Helping Others Find Christ Jesus and Nicodemus

Helping Others Find Christ Jesus and Nicodemus. February 15. Think About It …. Note these uses of the term "born again" Why do you think there is confusion and misuse of this term?. Today we look at what it really means to be “born again.”.

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Helping Others Find Christ Jesus and Nicodemus

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  1. Helping Others Find ChristJesus and Nicodemus February 15

  2. Think About It … • Note these uses of the term "born again" • Why do you think there is confusion and misuse of this term? Today we look at what it really means to be “born again.”

  3. Listen for facts about Nicodemus in this passage. John 3:1-7 (NIV) Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. [2] He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." [3] In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born

  4. Listen for facts about Nicodemus in this passage. again." [4] "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!" [5] Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. [6] Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

  5. Choosing Jesus • What do you learn about Nicodemus here? • Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. What kinds of consequences would he face for personally talking with Jesus?  People who come to Jesus must make a choice to seek Him … • whatever the consequences.

  6. Choosing Jesus • What did Nicodemus think Jesus meant when He said that a person must be born again? • Let’s look at some other verses that use the term “born again.” For each verse, what do we learn about the concept?

  7. Choosing Jesus • 1 Peter 1:23 (NIV) For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. • How is the concept “born again” described by Peter?

  8. Choosing Jesus • 1 John 5:1 (NIV) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. • According to this verse, what does it mean to be born of God? • How can we know that we are born of God?

  9. Choosing Jesus • 1 John 4:7-8 (NIV) Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. [8] Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. • According to this passage, what are evidences of being born of God or born again? • How would you describe what it means to be born again to someone?

  10. Listen for reasons why Nicodemus should have understood Jesus. John 3:8-15 (NIV) 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." [9] "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. [10] "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?

  11. Listen for reasons why Nicodemus should have understood Jesus. [11] I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. [12] I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?

  12. Listen for reasons why Nicodemus should have understood Jesus. [13] No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. [14] Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, [15] that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

  13. Moving from Doubt to Faith • Nicodemus is having trouble. Why are spiritual truths often hard to understand for a religious person like Nicodemus? • What kinds of religious activities hinder people’s understanding of the need for faith? • Why should Nicodemus and the other Pharisees have realized who Jesus was?

  14. Moving from Doubt to Faith • What keeps people today from seeing Jesus for who he really is? • What are some reasons spiritual truths are hard to understand for a non religious person?  People today have similar problems as Nicodemus • they must get past confusion • they must move from doubt to faith

  15. Listen to what Jesus has to say about light. John 3:16-21 (NIV) "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. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. [18] Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but

  16. Listen to what Jesus has to say about light. whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. [19] This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

  17. Listen to what Jesus has to say about light. [20] Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. [21] But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

  18. A New Present and a New Future • What is the “light” that Jesus is talking about? • What does this light do? • According to this passage, what does this light reveal about a Christian’s present spiritual condition?

  19. A New Present and a New Future • What does the light reveal about a Christian’s future spiritual condition? • John 3:16 is the most popular verse in the Bible. What do you think is the most significant truth contained in this verse?  Jesus showed Nicodemus that authentic faith is a spiritual exercise • don’t trust your own understanding to lead you to God • discover the joy of being God’s child … by faith

  20. Application • As a devotional exercise, study verses which talk about being “born again” or “born of God” • Write out an explanation of the concept that you could use in witnessing • Practice relating this to another believer • Ask to practice it with an unbeliever!

  21. Application • What are a some spiritual truths that you (like Nicodemus) struggle to understand? • Tell God of your faith struggles • Echo the declaration of the man in Mark 9:24 (NIV) "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

  22. Application • Pray this prayer together as a class … pray it on your own during the coming week. God, talk to us to tell us what we can do to increase our faithfulness in Your eyes instead of practicing empty religious motions.

  23. Helping Others Find ChristJesus and Nicodemus February 15

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