Embracing New Life: The Call to Spiritual Rebirth

 

Summary

In recent months, we've seen significant growth and development within our church community. We've allocated resources to launch new ministries and expand existing ones without increasing our annual budget. This includes the Hand-in-Hand ministry, small group connections, and a full-time worship director. These efforts have led to tangible results: increased attendance, more children and adults engaged in ministry events, and substantial contributions to relief efforts. These are the first fruits of our labor, and they are sweet to experience. The New Wine Initiative aims to build on this momentum, not just to secure our future but to help it thrive. We hope to restore staff development budgets, expand staff hours, and cultivate ministries of connection and care. Our goal is to double the number of small groups and leaders, implement a comprehensive spiritual formation curriculum, and develop organic stewardship and generosity ministries. This initiative is a big risk, asking our community to give $625,000 over the next two years, but we believe in it so much that we've already pledged 50% of it among ourselves. We invite you to join us in this journey, abiding in the vine, hoping, praying, and sacrificially giving toward this new chapter.

Our passage today focuses on Nicodemus, a religious leader who struggles to understand Jesus' message. Despite his knowledge of God, he misses the essence of Jesus' teachings. Jesus often reserves his harshest critiques for religious insiders, warning them not to miss the forest for the trees. Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus challenges him to see beyond his theological certainty and embrace a new life. Jesus tells him that to see the kingdom of God, one must be born again, born from above. This rebirth is not something we can control; it is a gift from God. Jesus explains that this new birth involves being born of water and the Spirit, a concept that Nicodemus struggles to grasp. Jesus uses the metaphor of the wind to illustrate the mysterious work of the Spirit. He also references the story of Moses lifting the serpent in the wilderness, foreshadowing his own crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus' message is one of love and salvation, not condemnation. He invites Nicodemus, and us, into a new life, urging us to be deconstructed and reconstructed by his Spirit. Whether we are insiders or outsiders, we must yield to this transformative process, continually returning to Jesus for renewal.

Key Takeaways:

- The New Wine Initiative is about thriving, not just surviving. It aims to restore and expand our ministries, focusing on connection, care, and spiritual formation. This initiative requires significant financial commitment, but it is a step of faith to ensure our community's growth and impact. [02:17]

- Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus highlights the danger of missing the essence of faith due to theological certainty. Jesus challenges him to see beyond his knowledge and embrace a new life through spiritual rebirth. This rebirth is a gift from God, not something we can achieve on our own. [12:51]

- Jesus' message to Nicodemus emphasizes the need for spiritual rebirth to see the kingdom of God. This rebirth involves being born of water and the Spirit, a concept that challenges our understanding and control. It is a mysterious work of the Spirit, like the wind, that brings new life. [22:10]

- The story of Moses lifting the serpent in the wilderness foreshadows Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus must be lifted up in death to bring new birth to the world. This act of love and sacrifice offers eternal life to all who believe in him. [31:23]

- Jesus' message is one of love and salvation, not condemnation. He invites us into a new life, urging us to be deconstructed and reconstructed by his Spirit. Whether we are insiders or outsiders, we must yield to this transformative process, continually returning to Jesus for renewal. [34:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:17] - New Wine Initiative
- [12:51] - Nicodemus' Encounter with Jesus
- [15:42] - The Need for Spiritual Rebirth
- [19:26] - Understanding the Pharisees
- [22:10] - Born of Water and Spirit
- [26:08] - Jesus' Reference to Ezekiel
- [28:55] - The Son of Man
- [31:23] - Moses and the Serpent
- [34:18] - Love and Salvation, Not Condemnation
- [37:31] - Nicodemus' Transformation
- [39:00] - Closing Prayer and Song

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- John 3:1-17
- Ezekiel 36:25-27
- Numbers 21:4-9

#### Observation Questions
1. What are some of the tangible results mentioned in the sermon that have come from the church's recent initiatives? [02:17]
2. How does Nicodemus initially approach Jesus, and what does this reveal about his understanding of Jesus? [12:51]
3. What metaphor does Jesus use to explain the work of the Spirit to Nicodemus, and how does Nicodemus react to it? [22:10]
4. How does Jesus connect the story of Moses lifting the serpent in the wilderness to his own mission? [31:23]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the sermon suggest about the dangers of theological certainty, and how does this relate to Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus? [12:51]
2. How does the concept of being "born again" or "born from above" challenge traditional religious practices and beliefs? [22:10]
3. In what ways does the sermon describe the New Wine Initiative as a step of faith, and how does this relate to the broader theme of spiritual rebirth? [02:17]
4. How does Jesus' message of love and salvation, as opposed to condemnation, redefine the understanding of God's purpose in the world? [34:18]

#### Application Questions
1. The New Wine Initiative requires a significant financial commitment. How can you personally contribute to this initiative, and what sacrifices might that involve? [02:17]
2. Reflect on a time when you might have missed the essence of faith due to theological certainty. How can you remain open to new understandings of your faith? [12:51]
3. Jesus speaks of being "born of water and the Spirit." What steps can you take to experience this spiritual rebirth in your own life? [22:10]
4. Consider the metaphor of the wind used by Jesus. How can you become more attuned to the mysterious work of the Spirit in your daily life? [22:10]
5. Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection are central to the message of eternal life. How does this understanding impact your view of sacrifice and love in your relationships? [31:23]
6. The sermon emphasizes the need for deconstruction and reconstruction by the Spirit. What areas of your life might need to be deconstructed to allow for spiritual growth? [34:18]
7. How can you actively participate in the church's mission to love and save the world, rather than condemn it, in your community? [34:18]

Devotional

Day 1: Thriving Through Faithful Commitment
The New Wine Initiative is a bold step towards not just surviving but thriving as a community. It focuses on restoring and expanding ministries with an emphasis on connection, care, and spiritual formation. This initiative requires a significant financial commitment, asking the community to give $625,000 over the next two years. However, it is a step of faith to ensure the community's growth and impact. The church has already pledged 50% of this amount among themselves, demonstrating their belief in the initiative's potential. This effort is about more than just financial contributions; it is about investing in the future of the community and trusting in God's provision. [02:17]

Isaiah 54:2-3 (ESV): "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities."

Reflection: What is one way you can contribute to the growth and impact of your community, whether through time, resources, or prayer?


Day 2: Embracing Spiritual Rebirth
Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus highlights the danger of missing the essence of faith due to theological certainty. Despite his knowledge of God, Nicodemus struggles to understand Jesus' message of spiritual rebirth. Jesus challenges him to see beyond his knowledge and embrace a new life through spiritual rebirth, which is a gift from God, not something we can achieve on our own. This encounter invites us to let go of our preconceived notions and open ourselves to the transformative work of the Spirit. [12:51]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to let go of control and allow God to bring about spiritual rebirth?


Day 3: The Mystery of the Spirit's Work
Jesus' message to Nicodemus emphasizes the need for spiritual rebirth to see the kingdom of God. This rebirth involves being born of water and the Spirit, a concept that challenges our understanding and control. Jesus uses the metaphor of the wind to illustrate the mysterious work of the Spirit, which brings new life in ways we cannot predict or control. This invites us to trust in the Spirit's work, even when we do not fully understand it. [22:10]

John 3:8 (ESV): "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Reflection: How can you become more open to the unpredictable and mysterious work of the Spirit in your life today?


Day 4: The Foreshadowing of Redemption
The story of Moses lifting the serpent in the wilderness foreshadows Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Just as the serpent was lifted up to bring healing to the Israelites, Jesus must be lifted up in death to bring new birth to the world. This act of love and sacrifice offers eternal life to all who believe in him. It is a powerful reminder of the depth of God's love and the lengths He will go to bring us into new life. [31:23]

Numbers 21:8-9 (ESV): "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.' So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live."

Reflection: How does the story of Jesus' sacrifice challenge you to live a life of gratitude and faith?


Day 5: Transformation Through Love and Salvation
Jesus' message is one of love and salvation, not condemnation. He invites us into a new life, urging us to be deconstructed and reconstructed by his Spirit. Whether we are insiders or outsiders, we must yield to this transformative process, continually returning to Jesus for renewal. This transformation is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of being shaped by God's love and grace. [34:18]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to allow Jesus to deconstruct and reconstruct you today?

Quotes

"Think about it. In the past several months, we've allocated resources to enable Chrissy Davis to officially launch our Hand-in-Hand ministry, Helma Talka to oversee connection in small groups, Brian Wippo to become our full-time worship director. All of that without increasing our annual budget. And that's important trellis work that could not be done with just one senior pastor, especially if that senior pastor is me." [00:00:00]

"Jesus has already produced so much among us, even among our sometimes wild branches, an increase in attendance in worship. 131 children served on Sundays. 257 children in our children's ministry events. 74 adults attending Matters That Matter gatherings. 55 students. And youth ministry with 17 adult volunteers. 8,500 given to Helene Relief." [00:31:24] (33 seconds)


"And so the New Wine Initiative is about, not about just securing our future, but having it thrive. And so we hope this initiative will help us. Return staff development budgets to pre-COVID numbers. Think about the conferences and the training. Think about hours. not just to do the important work but to connect with mentors and experts." [00:27:20] (21 seconds)


"Our passage today is a passage about religious insiders. In particular, a religious leader who knows a bunch of stuff about God, like spent his life learning about God. And yet, he's a religious leader. And yet, he is struggling to see what Jesus is all about." [00:10:59] (23 seconds)


"If you take even a cursory read of the Gospels, and this is why it's quirky preaching this, Jesus tends to save his harshest words, his strongest critiques, and his most stern warnings against religious people, in particular, religious leaders, which I'm kind of a perfectionist. I'm a professional one. And so, it's tough." [00:11:22] (29 seconds)


"And Jesus answered, truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. And Nicodemus said to him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? And Jesus answered, truly, truly, I say unto you, unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." [00:14:33] (29 seconds)


"Jesus simply says there is something that must happen as a part of my renewal of all things, a new way of being, so that you can see the kingdom and live in light of that in the world. And yet, Nick still can't see it quite yet. So Jesus gives him another truly, truly. I say to you, you got to be born of water and the spirit to enter the kingdom of God." [00:24:26] (33 seconds)


"Many scholars say this is all tied to Jesus alluding to Ezekiel with this famous passage, I will gather the nations and I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean and I will give you a new heart. You could say a new birth that is from above and a new spirit I will put within you and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh, now flesh being a good thing." [00:26:19] (25 seconds)


"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the son of man be lifted up that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. And then verses 16 and 17, for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." [00:16:15] (23 seconds)


"Friends, it is true that we are all by our natural birth born in sin. And the sting and stain of sin and corruption is real. And we live, already live because of that sin and stain under condemnation. But when God says, I'm going to do something about it, he does not come to pile on the condemnation." [00:34:50] (22 seconds)


"Jesus was not condemning Nicodemus. He was inviting him into new life. And that is a true gift. So friends, whether you're an insider or outsider, go ahead and yield. We too must be willing to be deconstructed by Jesus so we can be reconstructed from above." [00:36:14] (23 seconds)


"I don't think Nick's beliefs were disingenuous. I don't even think they were all wrong. He believed in the covenant promises of God, the sovereignty of God, his gracious, loving kindness to his people. But he needed a deconstruction and reconstruction through the death and resurrection of Jesus. And that's a gift. To be born anew, born from above." [00:36:59] (24 seconds)


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Transcript
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