Bible Reading
John 3:1-13 “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' 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?' Jesus answered, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus answered and said to Him, 'How can these things be?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.”
[30:37]Genesis 15:6 “And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”
[46:48]1 Corinthians 2:12-14 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
[49:33]Observation questions
- In John 3:1–6, what does Nicodemus recognize about Jesus, and how does Jesus move the conversation beyond that recognition? [31:57]
- How does Nicodemus respond to the picture of a new birth? What difference does Jesus point out between physical birth and spiritual birth? [38:26]
- In Genesis 15:6, how does Abraham respond to God’s promise, and on what basis does God count him righteous? [46:48]
- In 1 Corinthians 2:12–14, what does the Holy Spirit enable believers to understand, and how is this different from relying on human wisdom alone? [49:33]
Interpretation questions
- Why is recognizing Jesus as a teacher from God different from trusting him as Savior? How does Jesus’ response to Nicodemus reveal that difference? [32:06]
- How does Jesus’ illustration of the wind challenge the idea that a person must fully explain God’s work before trusting him? [33:42]
- How does Abraham’s example challenge someone who relies on good behavior or religious achievement to be accepted by God? What place do good works have after a person comes to faith? [01:00:12]
- In John 3:13, why does Jesus’ heavenly origin give him authority to speak about heavenly things? Why does his identity call for more than respect for him as a good teacher? [01:07:13]
Application questions
- Knowing about Jesus is not the same as trusting him. As you consider your own relationship with him, what are you depending on for acceptance with God—Jesus himself, your religious knowledge, your behavior, or something else? [01:08:48]
- What unanswered question makes it difficult for you to trust Jesus right now? What might it look like to bring that question honestly to him without making a complete explanation a condition of trust? [39:44]
- Where do you find yourself trying to earn God’s approval? How could Abraham’s example help you respond differently when you succeed or when you fail? [47:08]
- The Holy Spirit helps believers understand spiritual things. When you encounter a difficult part of Scripture, how do you usually respond? What could help you approach it with both a willingness to study and a dependence on the Spirit? [49:43]
- Spiritual maturity does not come simply with age or years in church. Where have you noticed growth in your response to God’s word, and what is one area where you would like to grow through study and obedience? [59:27]
- Is there a clear step of obedience you have been delaying because you cannot see how it will turn out? What would a small, faithful step look like this week, and how could this group support you? [01:03:27]
