Transformative Encounters: Embracing the Kingdom of God

Devotional

Day 1: New Birth: Outward Ritual and Inward Transformation

To enter the kingdom of God, it is not enough to simply perform religious rituals or adhere to outward expressions of faith; what is required is a transformation that begins deep within. Jesus teaches that being "born of water and the Spirit" means both confessing and repenting outwardly, as in baptism, and allowing the Holy Spirit to renew and reshape the heart from the inside out. Outward rituals, like worship and confession, are meaningful and formative, but without the Spirit's inner work, they remain incomplete. The Spirit's transformation opens us up to the abundant life God desires for us, making us new creations who are able to experience His kingdom here and now. [51:30]

John 3:5-8 (NIV)
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.”

Reflection: What is one outward ritual or spiritual practice you regularly do—how might you invite the Holy Spirit to use it to transform your heart this week, not just your habits?

Day 2: Looking Honestly at What’s Killing Us

Healing and transformation begin when we are willing to look honestly at the sin and brokenness that is harming us. Just as the Israelites were healed by looking at the bronze serpent lifted up in the wilderness, we too are invited to face the things that are poisoning our souls—our failures, our shame, our hidden struggles—and bring them into the light. Confession and repentance are not about condemnation, but about naming what is killing us so that God can heal us. The cross of Christ is where we see both the cost of our sin and the depth of God’s self-giving, forgiving love. [55:05]

Numbers 21:8-9 (NIV)
The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

Reflection: What is one area of sin or struggle you have been avoiding—can you bring it honestly before God in prayer today, trusting Him to heal you?

Day 3: Believing in the Heart of God Revealed in Jesus

Eternal life is not just about living forever; it is about entering into the abundant, joyful, and intimate life that belongs to God Himself. To believe in Jesus is to trust that He reveals the true heart of the Father—a heart full of love, forgiveness, and longing for His children to come home. This belief is not merely intellectual assent to doctrine or historical events, but a deep trust in the character and love of God as shown in Christ. The cross and resurrection reveal a God who is self-giving, sacrificial, and always working for redemption and new creation. [01:01:06]

John 3:16-17 (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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Reflection: When you think about God, do you picture a loving Father who longs for you—how might believing this truth change the way you relate to Him today?

Day 4: Jesus Meets Us Where We Are

No matter our background, status, or past, Jesus meets us right where we are. Whether we come to Him in the daylight or under cover of night, with courage or with questions, He welcomes us into His presence. The story of Nicodemus reminds us that God is not limited by our motives, our doubts, or our history—He is always willing to make time for us, to listen, and to invite us into deeper relationship. Our stories are not defined by a single moment, and Jesus is patient with us as we journey toward Him, sometimes in small steps, sometimes in leaps. [01:08:10]

John 19:38-40 (NIV)
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel unworthy or hesitant to approach Jesus—how can you take one step toward meeting Him honestly this week?

Day 5: The Spirit’s Work: Transformation Is a Process

A genuine encounter with Jesus will change us, but transformation is often a process that unfolds over time. Like Nicodemus, some people experience immediate, radical change, while for others, faith and new life grow gradually, sometimes simmering beneath the surface before blossoming into visible fruit. The Holy Spirit moves like the wind—unpredictable, uncontrollable, yet always at work. We are called to cooperate with the Spirit, to keep showing up, to keep seeking Jesus, and to trust that He is not finished with our story. Redemption is possible for anyone, and no one’s journey should be reduced to a single moment. [01:05:30]

Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Is there someone in your life (including yourself) whose spiritual journey seems slow or unfinished—how can you pray for patience and hope, trusting the Spirit to keep working?

Sermon Summary

Today’s reflection centers on the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus in John 3, a meeting that invites us to consider what it truly means to experience the kingdom of God and abundant life. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, comes to Jesus as a sincere seeker, having devoted his life to the pursuit of holiness through rigorous adherence to the law and tradition. Yet, Jesus challenges his assumptions, declaring that entry into the kingdom is not achieved by religious pedigree or external observance, but by being “born again”—a transformation that is both outward and inward, involving water (ritual cleansing and repentance) and Spirit (inner renewal).

This new birth is not something that can be controlled or manufactured; it is the mysterious work of the Spirit, likened to the wind—unpredictable, uncontrollable, yet undeniably real in its effects. Jesus draws on the story of the bronze serpent in Numbers, suggesting that healing and transformation begin with an honest confrontation of the sin that is killing us. Only by looking squarely at our brokenness and bringing it into the light of God’s love can we experience true healing.

Eternal life, as Jesus describes, is not merely endless existence but participation in the very life of God—a life marked by intimacy, joy, and peace. This life is accessed not by intellectual assent to doctrine alone, but by trusting in the self-giving, co-suffering love of God revealed in Jesus. The cross is not just the cost of our sin, but the exaltation of God’s character: a revelation of divine love that invites us out of hiding and into the light.

Nicodemus’s story reminds us that transformation is often a process. Though he first comes to Jesus under cover of night, he later emerges publicly to honor Jesus at great personal cost, suggesting that genuine encounters with Christ may take time to bear fruit. We are cautioned not to reduce anyone’s story—including our own—to a single moment, but to trust that God is always at work, often in ways we cannot see or control.

Ultimately, the invitation is to believe in the love of God, to walk in the light that exposes and heals, and to cooperate with the Spirit’s ongoing work of transformation. Jesus meets us where we are, and as we encounter him, we are never the same.

Key Takeaways

1. Outward rituals and inner transformation must go hand in hand. While practices like baptism, confession, and repentance are important, they are only truly formative when accompanied by a genuine openness to the Spirit’s renewing work within us. It is possible to perform religious rituals without being changed by them; true spiritual growth requires both embodied practice and a surrendered heart. [51:30]
2. The Spirit of God moves in ways that defy our categories and control. Like the wind, the Spirit’s work is mysterious and cannot be manipulated or predicted. This means that God’s grace often reaches people and places we might not expect, challenging our assumptions about who is “in” or “out” and inviting us to trust in God’s surprising, boundary-breaking love. [52:45]
3. Healing and transformation begin with honest self-examination. The story of the bronze serpent teaches that we must look directly at the things that are killing us—our sin, shame, and brokenness—rather than hiding from them. Confession is not about condemnation, but about bringing our darkness into the light where God’s love can heal and restore us. [55:05]
4. Eternal life is not just about the future, but about knowing God intimately now. Jesus describes eternal life as participation in the very life of God—a life characterized by deep, relational knowledge of the Father, not just intellectual agreement with doctrine. This kind of life is available as we trust in the love revealed in Jesus and allow that love to shape our identity and actions. [59:26]
5. No one’s story is defined by a single moment, and genuine encounters with Jesus bring lasting change. Nicodemus’s journey shows that transformation can be gradual, sometimes unfolding over years. We are called to be patient with ourselves and others, trusting that God is always at work and that a single encounter with Christ can redeem and reshape an entire life. [68:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Mother’s Day Acknowledgment
[03:00] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
[07:45] - Worship and Greeting
[10:30] - Introduction to the “Encounters” Series
[13:20] - Recap: Water to Wine and Lazarus
[15:40] - Reading John 3:1-21
[22:00] - Who Was Nicodemus?
[27:30] - Pharisees, Law, and Loopholes
[32:00] - Nicodemus’s Curiosity and Jesus’s Response
[36:00] - Born Again: Water and Spirit
[40:49] - Rituals, Transformation, and the Spirit’s Work
[46:28] - The Wind and the Spirit
[49:35] - The Bronze Serpent and Honest Confession
[55:05] - Light, Darkness, and Walking in the Truth
[59:26] - Eternal Life: Knowing God
[63:07] - The Invitation to Step into the Light
[65:30] - Jesus Meets Us Where We Are
[68:10] - The Ongoing Story of Nicodemus
[75:00] - Reflection Questions and Response
[86:49] - Closing Blessing and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What do we learn about Nicodemus’s background and his approach to Jesus in John 3:1-2?
According to Jesus, what is required to “see” or “enter” the kingdom of God? (John 3:3-5)
How does Jesus describe the work of the Spirit in John 3:8, and what image does he use?
In the Numbers 21 story, what did the people have to do to be healed from the snake bites? How does Jesus connect this story to himself? [55:05]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus tells Nicodemus that being “born again” is necessary, even though Nicodemus is already a respected religious leader? What does this say about outward religion versus inner transformation? [49:35]
The sermon says the Spirit is like the wind—unpredictable and uncontrollable. What does this mean for how we view God’s work in our lives and in others? [52:45]
Jesus connects healing with looking honestly at what is killing us (sin, shame, brokenness). Why is honest self-examination so important for spiritual growth? [55:05]
Eternal life is described as “knowing God intimately” rather than just living forever. How does this change the way we think about what it means to be saved? [59:26]

Application Questions

The sermon points out that it’s possible to go through religious rituals (like baptism, confession, or even coming to church) without being changed by them. Are there any spiritual practices in your life that have become routine or empty? What would it look like to invite the Spirit to renew them? [51:30]
Jesus says the Spirit moves like the wind, beyond our control or expectations. Have you ever seen God work in someone’s life in a way you didn’t expect? How can you become more open to the Spirit’s surprising work, even in people or places you might not expect? [52:45]
The story of the bronze serpent teaches that healing starts with facing what is broken in us. Is there an area of your life—sin, shame, or pain—that you tend to hide? What would it look like to bring it into the light of God’s love this week? [55:05]
The sermon says eternal life is about knowing God deeply, not just believing the right things. How would your daily life look different if you focused on relationship with God rather than just following rules or believing doctrines? [59:26]
Nicodemus’s journey with Jesus was a process, not a single moment. Are there people in your life whose spiritual journey is taking longer than you hoped? How can you practice patience and trust that God is still at work in their story? [01:08:10]
Jesus meets us where we are, no matter our background or mistakes. Is there a part of your story or your past that makes you feel unworthy of God’s love? How does the story of Nicodemus challenge that feeling? [01:05:30]
The sermon invites us to “walk in the light that exposes and heals.” What is one practical step you can take this week to walk in the light—whether that’s confession, seeking accountability, or simply being honest with God? [55:05]

Sermon Clips

It is possible to perform the rituals and not be formed by them. And so Jesus insists that we need both to do the ritual, be cleansed by water of baptism and repentance, and we need an inner transformation of the spirit. [00:52:13] (17 seconds) Edit Clip

The Holy Spirit blows where it chooses. You can't manipulate it, control it, and you may not always understand it. And Nicodemus, as the story unfolds, here's the thing. The Spirit of God is going to move in ways that you may not have categories for. [00:53:10] (17 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus is foreshadowing his death on the cross when he is lifted up on the cross and the New Testament depicts, it portrays the humiliating and excruciating death of Jesus on the cross as his exaltation. [00:54:46] (18 seconds) Edit Clip

The cross is as much about the revelation of God's love as it is about the cost of our sin. So I think Jesus is foreshadowing his exaltation on the cross and I want you to hold on to that because Nicodemus, I think, is going to connect some dots later in his story. [00:55:30] (18 seconds) Edit Clip

Eternal life is having a deep intimate loving knowledge of God. I sometimes feel that we can get caught up in all the things we know about God in sort of a truth sense or all the things we affirm morally speaking and sometimes still miss knowing the heart of God. [00:58:56] (29 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus makes time to be with people from this highest ranking member of the Sanhedrin to a Samaritan woman. Jews often viewed Samaritans as half-breeds and women neither of these things are good or right it's just sometimes the culture then viewed Samaritans as half-breeds and women sometimes as property and Jesus we will see Jesus interacting with her. [01:08:51] (26 seconds) Edit Clip

Jesus meets us where we are and I believe Jesus can meet you where you are and I don't care who you are I don't care what your story is I don't care what your past is I don't care how long you've been in church how many Sunday school classes you've taught I don't care what your mistakes are I don't care what your resume or your rap sheet looks like Jesus is interested in you and he will meet you where you are. [01:09:25] (32 seconds) Edit Clip

If there's someone in your life who's not reconciled to Jesus someone you love give it time keep praying for them keep loving them keep showing up in their life keep seeking to be salt and light keep seeking to be an authentic credible expression of the love of God in Jesus don't try to manipulate or force feed them truth. [01:15:44] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

Maybe you're here and you're in process your story is not yet a beautiful picture of redemption maybe it's your encounter with Jesus is simmering I want to encourage you keep hanging around Jesus keep gravitating towards spaces and people where Jesus seems to be present because he's not done with your story yet because your story can't be reduced to a single moment and a genuine encounter with Jesus will change you one way or another. [01:16:48] (34 seconds) Edit Clip

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