Embracing Spiritual Rebirth and the Spirit's Movement

Devotional

Day 1: The Necessity of Spiritual Rebirth

Description: Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3:1-17 highlights the essential need for spiritual rebirth to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, initially misunderstands Jesus, thinking He refers to a physical rebirth. However, Jesus clarifies that this rebirth is spiritual, a transformation brought about by the Holy Spirit. This spiritual rebirth is not a one-time event but a continual process of renewal, where we allow the Spirit to guide and shape us. This ongoing transformation is crucial for our spiritual growth and understanding. [29:05]

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 experience spiritual rebirth? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to transform these areas today?

Day 2: The Unpredictable Movement of the Spirit

Description: The Spirit moves like the wind, beyond our control and understanding. This unpredictability can be challenging, as we often try to control our spiritual experiences and outcomes. However, true spiritual growth comes when we remain open and flexible, allowing the Spirit to lead us to unexpected places and new insights. Trying to control the Spirit limits our spiritual growth and understanding. Embracing the Spirit's movement requires trust and surrender, recognizing that the Spirit's work is always purposeful, even if it is beyond our comprehension. [38:31]

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: Are there areas in your life where you are trying to control the Spirit's movement? How can you practice surrender and trust in the Spirit's guidance today?

Day 3: Learning Through Service

Description: Often, we enter into ministry or service expecting to teach and guide others, but we end up learning and growing ourselves. This mutual transformation is a testament to the Spirit's work in our lives, continually shaping us through our interactions and experiences. Serving others provides opportunities for personal growth, as we encounter different perspectives and challenges that stretch our understanding and faith. This dynamic of learning through service underscores the importance of humility and openness in our spiritual journey. [34:25]

Mark 10:45 (ESV): "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: Think of a recent experience where you served others. What did you learn from that experience, and how did it contribute to your spiritual growth?

Day 4: The Importance of Contextual Ministry

Description: As the landscape of higher education changes, so must our approach to campus ministry. Meeting students where they are, both online and in person, and addressing their holistic needs is crucial for effective ministry. This adaptability reflects the Spirit's dynamic nature, calling us to be innovative and responsive to the changing contexts in which we minister. By understanding and engaging with the unique challenges and opportunities that students face, we can offer more relevant and impactful support, fostering both spiritual and personal development. [45:50]

1 Corinthians 9:22 (ESV): "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some."

Reflection: How can you adapt your approach to ministry or service to better meet the needs of those you are trying to reach? What specific changes can you make today?

Day 5: Communion as a Means of Transformation

Description: Coming to the table of communion is an invitation to be transformed by Jesus' presence. It is a moment to renew our relationship with God, seek forgiveness, and be reminded of the Spirit's work in our lives. This sacrament calls us to carry Christ's love into the world, embodying the transformation we experience through communion. As we partake in this sacred act, we are reminded of Jesus' sacrifice and the ongoing work of the Spirit in our lives, calling us to live out our faith in tangible ways. [50:27]

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (ESV): "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."

Reflection: As you prepare to take communion, reflect on how Jesus' presence has transformed your life. How can you carry this transformation into your daily interactions and relationships?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, grace, and peace to you all. Today, we celebrate the season of Pentecost, a time of new birth and the winds of change. As I transition from my role as the campus minister for Campus to City Wesley Foundation, I reflect on the importance of campus ministry in shaping young adults' faith. Our scripture today is from John 3:1-17, where Nicodemus, a Pharisee, visits Jesus at night. Jesus tells him that no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above, emphasizing the need for spiritual rebirth.

Nicodemus initially misunderstands Jesus, thinking of physical rebirth, but Jesus clarifies that it is a spiritual transformation. This passage reminds us that the Spirit moves in mysterious ways, often beyond our control or understanding. Nicodemus' journey doesn't end with confusion; he later defends Jesus and prepares His body for burial, showing significant spiritual growth.

In our own lives, we often try to control the Spirit, but true transformation comes when we let go and allow the Spirit to guide us. This is evident in my experience with campus ministry, where I expected to teach but ended up learning and growing myself. The Spirit's work is unpredictable but always purposeful, leading us to unexpected places and new understandings.

As we navigate changes in our lives and ministries, we must remain open to the Spirit's movement. The landscape of higher education is changing, and so must our approach to campus ministry. We need to meet students where they are, both online and in person, offering not just spiritual growth but also personal development.

In conclusion, let us pray for the ability to hear and see the Spirit's movement in our lives and communities. May we be continually renewed and transformed, moving with the Spirit rather than against it. As we come to the table of communion, let us remember that Jesus' presence and invitation are freely offered to each of us, calling us to be transformed and to carry His love into the world.

###

Key Takeaways

1. time event but a continual process of renewal, allowing the Spirit to guide and shape us. [29:05]
2. The Unpredictable Movement of the Spirit: The Spirit moves like the wind, beyond our control and understanding. We must remain open and flexible, allowing the Spirit to lead us to unexpected places and new insights. Trying to control the Spirit limits our spiritual growth and understanding.

3. Learning Through Service: Often, we enter into ministry or service expecting to teach and guide others, but we end up learning and growing ourselves. This mutual transformation is a testament to the Spirit's work in our lives, continually shaping us through our interactions and experiences.

4. The Importance of Contextual Ministry: As the landscape of higher education changes, so must our approach to campus ministry. Meeting students where they are, both online and in person, and addressing their holistic needs is crucial for effective ministry. This adaptability reflects the Spirit's dynamic nature.

5. Communion as a Means of Transformation: Coming to the table of communion is an invitation to be transformed by Jesus' presence. It is a moment to renew our relationship with God, seek forgiveness, and be reminded of the Spirit's work in our lives. This sacrament calls us to carry Christ's love into the world.

### [29:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:33] - Introduction to Campus Ministry
[28:25] - Scripture Reading: John 3:1-17
[31:19] - Reflections on Campus Ministry
[33:37] - The Wind and Mary Poppins
[34:25] - Learning Through Service
[35:49] - Nicodemus' Journey
[37:40] - Controlling the Spirit
[39:10] - Fresh Expressions of Ministry
[40:35] - Misunderstanding Jesus
[42:14] - Continual Renewal
[43:20] - Spiritual Sensitivity
[45:17] - Changing Landscape of Higher Education
[48:04] - Discerning the Spirit's Movement
[50:27] - Communion and Transformation
[58:08] - Closing Prayer and Communion

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Jesus mean when He tells Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above? ([28:25])
How does Nicodemus initially misunderstand Jesus' statement about being born again? ([28:25])
What are some examples from the sermon of how the Spirit moves in unpredictable ways? ([38:31])
How did Nicodemus' understanding and actions change from his first encounter with Jesus to later events in his life? ([36:45])

Interpretation Questions

Why is spiritual rebirth necessary to see the kingdom of God, according to Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus? ([28:25])
How does the unpredictable movement of the Spirit challenge our desire for control in our spiritual lives? ([38:31])
In what ways did the pastor's experience in campus ministry illustrate the concept of learning through service? ([34:25])
How does the changing landscape of higher education impact the approach to campus ministry, and what does this say about the adaptability of ministry? ([45:50])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you experienced a significant spiritual transformation. How did it change your perspective or actions? ([28:25])
Have you ever tried to control the Spirit's movement in your life? What was the outcome, and how can you learn to be more open to the Spirit's guidance? ([38:31])
Think about a situation where you expected to teach or guide others but ended up learning and growing yourself. How did this experience shape your faith? ([34:25])
How can you remain open to the Spirit's movement in your current life circumstances, especially during times of change or transition? ([45:17])
In what ways can you meet the holistic needs of those you are ministering to, both online and in person? How can you adapt your approach to be more effective? ([45:50])
How does participating in communion help you to renew your relationship with God and be reminded of the Spirit's work in your life? ([50:27])
Identify one area in your life where you feel the Spirit is leading you to change or grow. What steps can you take this week to follow that leading? ([49:12])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The wind blows where it will. And we don't always see it, but we can hear the sound. We can see the effects the wind has. We can see the change in the way we hear people speaking, about God working in their lives and moving in their lives." (20 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If you want to detect the Spirit, you have to be born from above. One of the things I love about this English translation of this passage is we get a sense of the miscommunication as it's translated in the English. Because Jesus is saying the same word, born from above, born again. It's the same word." (21 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Rebirth is a spiritual experience available to all, but perhaps most needed by religious people who might think they do not need it. Religion often becomes a matter of the correct observance of particular practices. When these practices become routine, they may actually serve to hinder spiritual sensitivity. A spiritual transformation in such situations is very much needed." (32 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "I think rather than thinking about this imagery of new birth, to me what it means to be born anew in the Spirit maybe looks more akin to living life in black and white versus living it in color. The ways that the Spirit can brighten up and enliven and make more vivid the work that is happening in this world." (29 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "In the midst of a season of transition, as I think about the ways that the Spirit is moving, I think about where God is calling us to go, where God is calling me to go. And for Campus to City, there is so much new things happening. The entire landscape of higher education is changing." (29 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Have you all gone into places like that before, where you were ready to be the gift, and instead you received gift after gift after gift? That has been campus ministry for me. And it was kind of something I was thinking about as we think about the character of Nicodemus and the way he walks in to meet Jesus. Because I think he was expecting to be the gift, for a young rabbi who was starting to gather followers, to be able to help him as the member of the Sanhedrin and leader of the church, to be able to help Jesus navigate just this crazy world he found himself in. And instead, Jesus becomes the gift." (44 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Nicodemus makes a crucial mistake when he starts with this aim of trying to control the narrative that Jesus is speaking. He says, You came, and we know you came, because of the signs you have done. And Jesus says, Nope, you have missed the point. If you did not come to this place under the cover of night because the Spirit has brought you, because you have felt that sense of who I am, because God has spoken it to you, then you have really missed what is going on here. These are not signs and wonders that God is present in." (50 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And yet, if we think we have to do that one time, then we come to this passage thinking we know what it's all about and we miss it again and again. Because the winds can change. And if we are not continually renewed, to the sound of that wind, to the movement of that wind, to the smells and the senses that that wind brings, then we might miss some of the amazing work that the Spirit is doing." (35 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Things like this happen all the time in our ministries. Those times where we embark on a journey thinking we're going to serve or be in a particular area and finding out later that God had something different planned. God had something new, something a little bit more wild, something a little bit more wonderful than we could expect." (26 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "And so in remembrance of these mighty acts we offer ourselves as living sacrifices asking that God would once again pour out God's holy spirit on us and pour out God's holy spirit on these gifts of bread and of juice that in this moment they would be made God's body and blood so that in the taking of these gifts we would have food for the journey as people who are going out carrying the love and presence of Christ within us all by your spirit make us one with Christ one with each other and one in ministry to all the world." (45 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?