Sermon: Two Pharisees, Two Decisions: A Pharisee Who Came to Jesus at Night (John 3:1-16)

Great things are happening, and the new year stands as a gift from the God who not only creates but sustains, guides, and grows His people. Decision-making remains a central task of discipleship. Wisdom begins by knowing God’s heart from Scripture, choosing to build people rather than impress them, and seeking reward in secret rather than in public applause. Yet many choices cannot be reduced to easy answers. When called to decide without full clarity, the path forward is not always which option to choose, but how to walk—staying in the light of truth, love, and obedience.

A personal story illustrates this. Faced with a prestigious church role, scholarship, and promise of advancement, the soul was spiritually dry and hungry for a deeper experience of God. The decision to step away was not made because outcomes were known, but because the desire was to know God more. In the Philippines, God opened doors beyond imagination: worship leadership, partnership with a local pastor, ministry among beggars, moments of healing, and bold witness to refugees. Knowledge of God deepened into living experience, revealing that a small step of faith often meets a great river of grace.

Nicodemus embodies this journey. A respected leader and sincere seeker, he came at night with questions. Jesus confronted him with the need to be born again—an inner remake promised in Ezekiel 36—challenging trust in heritage and moral discipline alone. Growth took time. Later, Nicodemus appealed for justice in the council, and finally honored Jesus publicly with burial spices fit for a king. Fear became courage, questions became commitment, secrecy gave way to devotion.

In a year filled with countless decisions, some clear and many uncertain, the call is to walk in the light. Even when unsure between good options, do not be confused about light versus darkness. God does not demand instant perfection or unbroken certainty; He invites honest seeking, faithful steps, and steady obedience. Over both successes and missteps, grace surrounds the journey. May this year be marked by night becoming day, fear turning to courage, and questions maturing into commitment.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. When choices confuse, choose the light. In seasons of uncertainty, the decisive issue is not always which option is best but whether the heart remains aligned with the light—truth, integrity, and love. Choosing the light may not answer every question immediately, but it keeps the soul from drifting into compromise. The way of light is the way Jesus exposes and heals, even when outcomes are unknown. Walk toward what is true, and clarity often follows obedience. [28:54]
• 2. Small faith steps invite larger grace. God often meets uncertain choices with unexpected provision once the heart moves in faith. Outcomes cannot be engineered, but surrender can be offered; that surrender creates space for God’s initiative. Doors open, assignments appear, and the Spirit empowers beyond preparation. Grace tends to gather around forward movement, not perfect certainty. [15:32]
• 3. Spiritual rebirth remakes, not reforms. Jesus does not offer a tune-up for respectable religion; He gives a new heart and Spirit-empowered life. The promise of Ezekiel 36 is cleansing from idols and a heart of flesh that actually wants God. Moral discipline matters, but without the Spirit’s inner remake it cannot see the kingdom. New birth reframes everything from the inside out. [20:21]
• 4. Growth moves from secret to public. Nicodemus’ journey shows faith advancing from night-time inquiry to cautious protest to costly public allegiance. God is patient with beginnings but intends courage to mature. Over time, private conviction should become visible love and loyalty, even when it risks reputation. True devotion eventually steps into the light. [25:19]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:46] - Grateful for 2026 and God’s sustenance
• [02:22] - Recap: three guides for decisions
• [03:31] - When you must choose unsure
• [04:27] - Prestigious offer, inward dryness
• [08:35] - Choosing deeper encounter over security
• [09:58] - Providence in the Philippines
• [11:26] - Among beggars: learning kingdom values
• [12:16] - Open mission doors and bold witness
• [15:32] - A small step, great grace
• [16:53] - Nicodemus comes by night
• [19:55] - Born of water and Spirit
• [23:06] - Cautious courage in the council
• [25:19] - Royal burial: public confession
• [26:55] - Walk in the light, always

Bible reading

- John 3:1-15

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 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.”

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

“You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

Observation questions

1. In John 3:1-15, what two outcomes does Jesus tie to new birth (“see” and “enter” the kingdom), and why might both matter for a spiritual life that is real and active?
2. What title does Nicodemus use for Jesus in John 3, and how does Jesus’ reply push him beyond that title?
3. In the story shared, what made the church role attractive (scholarship, salary, advancement), and what inner condition created tension with taking it (spiritual dryness)? [06:05]
4. What public act did Nicodemus later do at Jesus’ burial, and what does bringing about 75 pounds of spices suggest about whom he believed Jesus to be? [25:19]

Interpretation questions

1. If moral discipline and religious heritage cannot make someone see the kingdom, why does Jesus insist on being “born of water and Spirit”? What inner change is in view here? [20:21]
2. When standing between two good options with little clarity, how does the call to “walk in the light” shape the way forward, even before a decision is final? [28:54]
3. Why does God often seem to open doors after a small step of faith rather than before it? How might obedience create space for grace? [15:32]
4. What typically moves a person from private curiosity to public allegiance, and what kinds of costs today might mirror Nicodemus’ costly honor for Jesus? [25:19]

Application questions

1. Name one decision you feel torn about right now. What would it look like this week to “choose the light”—truth, integrity, and love—before the final choice is clear? [28:54]
2. Where do you sense spiritual dryness? What simple practice or boundary could help you seek a deeper encounter with God instead of just security or applause? [06:05]
3. What is one small, concrete step of faith you can take in the next seven days (a conversation, serving quietly, giving, volunteering), trusting that grace will meet you in motion? [15:32]
4. What comfort zone or self-defense is the Spirit inviting you to lay down so He can remake your heart, not just tune up habits? Be specific. [38:25]
5. Where is your faith mostly private? What is one loving, public action you could take to make your allegiance visible without being showy? [25:19]
6. How will you seek reward in secret this year so your heart stays aligned—what hidden practices (prayer, giving, serving) will you build into your calendar? [02:55]
7. Which Scriptures will you keep close so your path stays lit? Make a simple plan (time, place, passage) for this month so the Word is a lamp to your feet. [32:20]