Podcasts about Nicodemus

The Spirit is like the wind. Had Jesus stopped with this comment, Nicodemus would have had plenty to ponder. Yet...

Crucifixion is a nasty business. It involves the torture and killing of a condemned person. But it also can tarnish the whole land that it occurs in, if the deceased is not buried on the same day. Their bodies "shall not remain all night on the tree".The reason that Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus and the Jewish authorities acted expeditiously to kill and care for the three on the crosses we are familiar with is because of what it says in Deuteronomy.  Once again, Deuteronomy echoes through the ages. Listen as we visit the cross. https://youtu.be/DI1pwOhp8YU

In this episode, Jonny and Pastor Jonathan discuss the profound themes found in John 3, particularly focusing on the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. They explore the necessity of spiritual rebirth, the unconditional love of God, and the transformative role of the Holy Spirit. The discussion highlights the contrast between reliance on works versus faith, and the importance of understanding one's need for salvation. The episode also draws parallels between Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman, emphasizing the universal need for belief in Jesus for eternal life.  

06 - 07 - 25 Am - John Allan - Encounters with Jesus (11) Nicodemus by Great Parks Chapel

On one side, Nicodemus, representing all well-meaning, God-fearing, scripture-memorizing folk. On the other, Jesus Christ. And what the latter says...

In this message from John 4:1-45, Mike Chilcoat reveals how Jesus offers the ultimate freedom through "living water" to people from all backgrounds—whether you're respected, like Nicodemus, or broken, like the Samaritan woman. Discover how God's unearned gift of salvation is available to you right now, regardless of your past or present circumstances.Message Summary and Transcript - https://www.orchardhillchurch.com/blog-post/2025/7/7/in-jesus-there-is-freedom-for-allSubscribe to Orchard Hill Plus! - https://orchardhillplus.buzzsprout.com/shareConnect with Orchard Hill ChurchWebsite | https://www.orchardhillchurch.comMobile App | https://https://www.orchardhillchurch.com/appYouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/OrchardHillChurchPAFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/orchardhillchurch/Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/orchardhillchurch/Twitter | https://twitter.com/orchard_hill

Nicodemus, Katja www.deutschlandfunk.de, Kultur heute

Pennsylvania author/former higher education professional Jessica L. Morris talks about her latest release “Higher Powered: One Woman's Journey of Personal Eschatology” introducing “personal Eschatology” weaving stories about Nicodemus, Lazarus, and the Apostle Paul illustrating how Jesus' comments about the second coming were symbolic in nature, not the end-of-the-world, but personal interaction with Him! Jessica previously worked for over 30 years in higher education before leaving the profession, raised by a small town minister who battled alcoholism as Jessica suffered childhood trauma, found a way recover at 29 from food and alcohol addiction and began her spiritual journey taking an introduction class “Individual Spiritual Direction” and graduating in May of '20 from Moravian Theological Seminary with a certification in Spiritual Direction & Master of Arts in Theological Studies, plus her other release “Dewdrops: A Daily Devotional”! Check out the amazing Jessica Morris and her latest release on many major platforms and www.jessicalmorris.com today! #podmatch #jessicamorris #jessicalmorris #author #higherpowered #personaleschatology #eschatology #personaljourney #nicodemus #lazarus #apostlepaul #secondcoming #jesuschrist #moraviantheologicalseminary #dewdrops #spreaker #iheartradio #spotify #applemusic #youtube #anchorfm #bitchute #rumble #mikewagner #themikewagnershow #mikewagnerjessicalmorris #themikewagnershowjessicalmorris     Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mike-wagner-show--3140147/support.

John 6:14 Therefore when the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” So far in John, Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and now the crowd in Galilee recognize Jesus is sent from God into the world as a prophet because of the signs He performed or the authority with which He spoke. We will see this repeated in later verses. But when I read this verse, I was struck by Jesus' greatest sign to Israel that He is THE prophet who is come into the world and has authority over life and death. The sign Jesus performed for the world to see that should absolutely give us unshakable courage and confidence as we live to love with Jesus is prophesied in John 2:18-22. The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Romans, and the Jews were gathered together against Jesus as the Scripture says in Acts 4:28, “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.” Jesus prophesied the sign. Then God performed the first phase of the sign as Pilate condemned Him and His body was destroyed in a few hours by whip and crucifixion. Then three days later, Jesus raised that body to life. Notice, Jesus said, “I will raise it up.” The one who can create bread for 15,000 can create life in His own dead body. That sign is the first in a series of signs where He creates His own life in our dead bodies. Our living to love with Jesus is a sign to the world that Jesus is the Prophet of God sent for the salvation of the world. We embody His greatest prophetic sign because when He died, we died to our lives in this world. When He was raised, we were raised with Him to live with Him forever. In this world, we live with Him to reveal His love and the power of His presence. The reason for this podcast is to plant that seed in the hearts of God's people so that it will grow into a movement of His love in this world. The world is looking for signs that give their lives meaning and purpose. Most don't even know they are longing for a savior, but do know they are longing for love. Our purpose is to help them identify their longing for love and connect it to Jesus, their savior. Did you get it? That occurs as we live to love with Jesus. Love is the sign God has given us to perform in this world. I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.

What is the Gospel of Nicodemus? What is the Acts of Pilate? Should the Gospel of Nicodemus be included in the Bible? Why was the Gospel of Nicodemus rejected by the early church?

Send us a text“Born Again: Beyond Religion”What does it really mean to be born again? In this bold and thought-provoking episode of Christian Straight Talk on RB Christian Radio, Reverend Benjamin Cooper dives deep into one of the most misunderstood and powerful concepts in the Bible: being born again. Together with biblical scholar Simon Pinchbeck, they uncover the raw truth behind spiritual transformation—one that doesn't require a church building, denomination, or ritual, but begins with a personal encounter with the living Christ.We begin with the foundational verse Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” This powerful scripture sets the tone for a conversation about faith, fearlessness, and salvation that transcends religion. From the very beginning—Genesis 1:3—God spoke light into existence, but this was more than a physical act. It was a spiritual prophecy of the coming Messiah, the Light of the World who would pierce through spiritual darkness.Reverend Ben and Simon move into John 3:3, revisiting Jesus' revolutionary midnight conversation with Nicodemus. Jesus didn't say “attend church” or “follow tradition”—He said, “You must be born again.” This declaration shook the religious norms of His day and still confronts ours now.Are you attending church regularly but still feel spiritually empty? You're not alone. This episode highlights the difference between institutional religion and Kingdom living. The Western church often replaces intimacy with programs, prioritizes personality over presence, and pushes entertainment instead of eternal truth. Reverend Ben urges listeners to move beyond cultural Christianity and step into a real, living relationship with Jesus Christ.Born-again faith is not performance—it's personal transformation by the Holy Spirit. It's not confined to Sunday services or stained-glass windows; it happens wherever the Word of God is alive in your heart. This message resonates especially today, as spiritual warfare escalates across the globe. We don't need more passive spectators—we need bold believers unafraid to stand for truth, even when it's uncomfortable.You are not powerless. You are not forgotten. You were born to walk in freedom, filled with light, fearless because your identity is found in Christ alone.Are you ready to experience new birth beyond religion? Grab your Bible.  Let the light of salvation flood your soul. Tune in, subscribe, and share this episode with someone seeking real faith. Visit rbchristianradio.net for more teachings, devotionals, and Kingdom resources.born again, what does it mean to be born again, Jesus and Nicodemus, John 3:3 explained, Psalm 27, Genesis 1:3 meaning, spiritual rebirth, salvation in Christ, RB Christian Radio podcast, Reverend Benjamin Cooper, Simon Pinchbeck, Christian Straight Talk, no fear in Christ, biblical salvation, kingdom not religion, Holy Spirit transformation, Bible-based podcast, faith not fear, church and faith, how to be saved, personal encounter with Jesus, religious tradition vs relationship, light of the world, Bible teaching podcast, spiritual hunger, modern Christianity, Christian revival, truth over religionSupport the showhttps://www.pastorbencooper.co.uk/https://www.rbchristianradio.net/ buymeacoffee.com/reverendbencooper

When Nicodemus came to Jesus, Jesus told him that he needed to be born again. What does that mean?

Jesus performs his first miracle at a wedding, where the party is about to stop short because there is no more wine. Jesus miraculously turns water from purification jars into wine that tasted better than all the other wines that came before it. In so doing, Jesus proclaims through the miracle that the promised Messiah has come. He is the better bridegroom and the better wine that has come at the right time, providing his people with something better than all that came before. Later, Jesus meets with a Pharisee named Nicodemus who has come to him in secret. Christ tells him he must be born again, which confuses Nicodemus, because he doesn't know how to accomplish such a feat. Jesus tells him in response that the wind blows where it pleases, and so does the Spirit. :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Guest Speaker: Olau Thomassen. Join us as we study John 3:1-15 to compare when a human says "we know" to when the Triune God says "we know."

John 19:38-42After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, a follower of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, came to Pilate and asked if he could take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came to remove his body. Nicodemus, who at first had come to Jesus by night also came, bringing with him a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds. They took the body, wrapping it in the spices and linens, according to the Jewish burial customs. Now, there was a garden in the place where Jesus had been crucified and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been [buried.] So, because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation, and because the tomb was nearby, they laid the body of Jesus there. “The Primeval Mythology of Genesis: Creation”I've already heard some curiosity – maybe mixed with some cynical suspicion – about the title of this new sermon series: “The Primeval Mythology of Genesis.” Curiosity and suspicion aren't terrible things and I think it's the word “mythology” that stirs the pot for some people, which was kind of our goal. Part of the point with this next round of sermons is to remind ourselves and each other that we're called to read the Bible LITERATELY, not LITERALLY, and to see that its message and good news – its grace, hope, and promise – go deeper and wider when we do.So first, things, first … which is what “primeval” means, sort of … first things; of the earliest ages; the beginning of the beginning, you might say. The first eleven chapters of the Bible's first book are where we will spend our time the next few weeks. The good stuff before the good stuff. The stage-setting. The foundation. The genesis, is where we begin.And the word “mythology” rightly ruffles feathers if we are inclined to equate the foundational narrative of our faith story with the fables, fairy tales, and fictional “myths” of, say, the Greek gods (Zeus, Poseidon, Aphrodite, and the like); or Aesop's fables; or the tall tales of the wonderful world of Walt Disney. But that's not what we're up to.“Myth” and “mythology” can mean something more, something deeper from a theological perspective, which is what we plan to wrestle with. I would contend that, when we limit stories like creation, where we are beginning this morning, to all and only what we can glean from it LITERALLY, that that's precisely how and when we reduce it to something like a mere fable, a fairy tale, a fictional “myth,” rather than when we wonder about the holy, sacred, profound Truths that this story – and the others like it in Scripture – hold for our life and faith in this world. And where better to start than at the very beginning – “it's a very good place to start” – in the beginning, with the fact that, if we're honest, the two very different versions of creation that we just heard – from Chapters 1 and 2 of the same book – make it really hard to take either of them LITERALLY?I mean, those are two very different versions of the same story, right? (Many Bibles, like the ones we read from each Sunday, say it plainly. Chapter 2 is “another story of creation.”) The story in Chapter 1 tells of the day-by-day, very long work-week of the Almighty, who creates first this, and then that, with a break and no small measure of satisfaction between each.“…and God saw that it was good…” “…and God saw that it was good…” “…and God saw that it was good…”“…and there was evening and there was morning, the first day…” “…and there was evening and there was morning, the third day…” “…and there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day…”But Chapter 2 goes down altogether differently. In that version of creation, God – like some sort of holy potter, or divine craftsman, or sacred sculptor – makes a man from the dust, then plants a garden and puts him to work, then decides he could use a companion and some help, so then creates all the rest, and a woman, to boot.In version #2, we don't know which came first or next, on which day. And none of that matters.What matters is that God, something Divine, did something divine – created the heavens, the earth, and all that is in them. What matters is that it was and is good. What matters is that we are part of that goodness – you and I – and all people – created good, by God; and created for good, for God's sake.What matters, if you ask me, is that we stop reducing the Bible to some sort of prehistoric science book – the authors of which never could have known a thing about bunker-busting missiles or atomic bombs; about Gaza or the West Bank, as we know of them today; about electric cars, school shootings, cancer, chemo-therapy, Medicaid or social media. And that's okay. These stories have something to say to all of that – and to all of us – nonetheless.Because what the creation stories tells us – among so many other things – is that we are made in the image of the divine, even though we do so much to make that hard to believe. And we are made in the image of the divine, not just because we have heads, shoulders, knees, or toes……but we are made in the image of the Divine because we are made for community, like God; with the power to create and care about and have compassion, like God; that we have the capacity to do justice, like God; make sacrifices, like God; be generous, like God; forgive, like God; and love one another, like God.Oh, and this is important: the stories of creation make it very clear that none of us IS God and that we shouldn't try to be – which Pastor Cogan will get to next week, I believe.Instead, for now, let's let the stories of creation inspire within us what, I believe they were meant to inspire and to teach and to proclaim all along: a sense of reverence and awe about what God can do; a posture of humility and gratitude for our part in the grand scheme of things; and a response from each of us – and all of us together – that is generous, careful, and full of service that acknowledges our connection to all people and to the grand scheme of things.Because today's good news includes the notion that we are created “just a little lower than the angels” – as the Psalmist puts it – and that God calls us to live differently because of that Truth. God invites us to tend to and care for what belongs to God – the earth and all that is in it. God calls us to replenish what we use up – from the earth and from each other, too; to give more than we take, save, and keep for ourselves.So, what if these primeval creation stories are nothing more – and certainly nothing less – than prehistoric best efforts at describing something that cannot be described; that is too big for words; that are meant to love us and leave us in awe and wonder for what God has done for us – and hopes to do through us – for the sake of the world where we live?What if these primeval creation stories are nothing more – and certainly nothing less – than poetic prose from a prehistoric Mary Oliver, who could marvel at creation as well as anyone, as far as I'm concerned? Her poem Wild Geese, goes like this:You do not have to be good.You do not have to walk on your kneesfor a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.You only have to let the soft animal of your bodylove what it loves.Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.Meanwhile the world goes on.Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rainare moving across the landscapes,over the prairies and the deep trees,the mountains and the rivers.Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,are heading home again.Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,the world offers itself to your imagination,calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –over and over announcing your placein the family of things.What if the point of the creation stories is simply, and profoundly, to announce your place – and mine – in the family of things?And what if these primeval creation stories are nothing more – and certainly nothing less – than like clever song lyrics from a pre-historic John Prine, encouraging you, with a wink and smile to…“Blow up your TV, throw away your paperGo to the country, build you a homePlant a little garden, eat a lot of peachesTry and find Jesus on your own.”What if these primeval creation stories are nothing more – and certainly nothing less – than prehistoric pieces of art – trying to capture, with words, something like Van Gogh's “Starry Night”: or Monet's “Water Lilies”: or even Ansel Adams who, like the story tellers of Genesis, certainly had a thing for trees. But, speaking of John Prine, I hope the Gospel reading wasn't too on the nose this morning. But I wanted to connect all of this to Jesus, of course. Because it is as poetic and powerful to me that our faith story begins and ends, in a garden, sometimes.There aren't enough of even the most beautiful words, songs, poems, or prose to adequately convey the power of God's love in creation – or by way of the Word made flesh, in Jesus. And I think the two different versions of creation that we find in Genesis aren't in competition. They're just evidence and acknowledgment of that fact – of how grand and glorious and full of grace this God is that we worship.So I think it's a beautiful thing that both versions of creation's origin story – and the consummation of God's resurrection in Jesus … God's defeat of death … Christ's victory over Sin for our sake … I think it's beautiful that all of that, too, takes place in a garden – where light shines in the darkness; where the goodness of God bears fruit for the sake of the world; where sin never gets the last word; where we are all made and made new in God's image; and where hope rules, in spite of the chaos, because of the grace, mercy, and love of the God we know in Jesus.Amen

Connecting her own story of encountering Jesus, Denise offers a compassionate glimpse of Nicodemus and his transformative time with Jesus. John 3:1-8Questions to consider—Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me?

Scripture: Ezekiel 36:16-38; John 3:1-21 Text: John 3:1-8 Theme: Jesus teaches Nicodemus about being born again.

Nicodemus, Katja www.deutschlandfunk.de, Kultur heute

We investigate New Testament chapter 15 from A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture and unveil the penultimate little-known fact about Fatima.Please support the Our Lady of Fatima Podcast:Buymeacoffee.com/TerenceMStantonLike and subscribe on YouTube:@OurLadyOfFatimaPodcastFollow us on X:@FatimaPodcastThank you!

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT) *Enjoying Pastor Greg's devotional podcast? Let us know what you think with this quick survey!* The Bible’s greatest example of communicating the gospel is none other than Jesus Christ. Not only is He God, not only is He our Savior, but He also offers the perfect example of communication. He modeled how to communicate. You can read story after story in the Gospels of how Jesus approached people and how He spoke with them. It’s worth noting that some of the most profound statements that Jesus ever made took place in one-on-one conversations. The words of John 3:16, which may be the most famous verse in the Bible, were spoken during Jesus’ one-on-one conversation with a religious man named Nicodemus. One thing you’ll notice about Jesus is that He adapted His message to the people He spoke to. He adjusted how He communicated depending on the person’s needs, background, and situation in life. He was equally comfortable with—and effective in—talking to everyone from Israel’s leading religious leaders to the outcasts of society. Often when believers share their faith, they behave as though they’re preprogrammed computers. They get a glazed-over look in their eyes and repeat the same words to every person. It’s no wonder that the people they speak to tend to dismiss them as religious nuts and keep their distance. This one-size-fits-all approach to sharing God’s truth is certainly not the example that Jesus gave us. He took time with people. He made an effort to understand them. Jesus also possessed something that is unknown to many Christians today. It’s called tact; it’s the intuitive knowledge of saying the right thing at the right time. Though it involves intuition, tact can be learned and sharpened with experience. Every time you interact with someone, you can come away with a better understanding of what you did right and what you could do better. All it takes is a little awareness. In order to follow Jesus’ example, we need to treat each faith-sharing interaction as a unique opportunity. Instead of falling back on the “same old same old,” we need to stay in the moment. We need to listen carefully and compassionately to the things people share. We need to ask thoughtful follow-up questions to draw them out more, without getting too personal or setting off red flags. We need to be vulnerable and open about our own struggles, questions, and doubts. We need to build a rapport. We need to look for natural openings to talk about our faith, rather than awkwardly trying to inject a gospel presentation in the middle of a conversation about something else. Most of all, however, we need to pray. We need to ask God to guide our words, to give us the wisdom to know what to say and when to say it. God’s desire is for us to be like His Son. If we pray for the ability to talk to others as Jesus did—to share God’s life-giving message as He did—God will answer our prayers in powerful and life-changing ways. Reflection question: How can you be more like Jesus in the way you share your faith? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of theJesus Everyday Podcast, hosts EthanCallison, Matt Novitsky, Andrew McPheron, Robbie Willard, and Ken Nienkeexplore one of the most well-known and powerful passages in the New Testament—John3:1–21, the nighttime conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus.Together, they unpack:• What it means to be “born again”• The role of the Holy Spirit in new life• Why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night• The stunning beauty of John 3:16 and God's love• The contrast between light and darkness in our response to JesusKey Verse: John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that hegave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but haveeternal life.”Whether you're a longtimebeliever or exploring faith for the first time, this conversation will help youbetter understand the life-changing invitation Jesus offers—and the freedomfound in stepping into the light.Subscribe, leave a review,and share this episode with someone who needs to hear the good news today!

Every journey in Christ is different. Sometimes we spend years running away from God, and other times we spend years resting in comfort after initially being on fire for Christ. But no matter what, God's purpose is always waiting for us. As we wrap up our series "When Jesus Ruined My Life," we examine two very different journeys in faith: a tax collector and a religious teacher.

Send us a textThe profound mystery of salvation stretches far beyond human understanding, yet countless believers miss its most crucial component—the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. While approximately two-thirds of the global population identifies as Christian in some form, Jesus warned that few find the narrow path to salvation.What separates authentic faith from mere religious profession? Many can articulate their sinful condition, affirm God's love, acknowledge Christ's sacrifice, and claim to have "accepted Jesus," yet remain spiritually dead. The missing element is the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration—what Scripture calls being "born from above." As Jesus emphatically told Nicodemus, "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."The prevailing evangelical approach to salvation as primarily a human choice—where sinners "accept Christ" through their free will—fundamentally contradicts Jesus' teaching. Such thinking places humanity in the driver's seat of salvation, when Scripture consistently depicts our natural inability to choose God apart from divine intervention. The unregenerate will cannot choose Christ until the Spirit first transforms it through supernatural rebirth. This explains why many who make religious decisions at altar calls later abandon their faith entirely—they experienced an emotional moment or intellectual assent, not spiritual regeneration.True salvation involves the complete work of the Trinity: the Father who elects, the Son who redeems, and the Spirit who regenerates. Without the Spirit's application of Christ's work to the individual heart, knowledge about salvation remains merely information, not transformation. When genuine rebirth occurs, the evidence appears in transformed desires, values, and behaviors that often create tension with unconverted friends who cannot comprehend this fundamental change. Examine your heart today. Have you truly been born from above by God's Spirit, or are you merely claiming a Christian identity without possessing Christ's life within?Support the show

This recording is a condensed version of the sermon preached at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church on June 22, 2025. You can watch the full recording on our YouTube Channel. John 7:40-53 (NKJV) Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” 43 So there was a division among the people because of Him. 44 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him. 45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?” 46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” 47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” 50 Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, 51 “Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?” 52 They answered and said to him, “Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.” 53 And everyone went to his own house. Theme: Wrestling with Who Jesus Is  

Let's pull away from the term "born again" and develop the transformative supernatural re-birth Christ taught to Nicodemus. Live stream Bible studies Sunday 6AM (PST) / 9AM (EST) Watch Video here: https://www.youtube.com/live/bbHPFpFCaHY?si=oJDmMJiyfAGvKlZi Rumble Channel https://rumble.com/c/c-7674080 YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@hisgenerationpodcast8153

Pastor Kurt takes a deep dive into John 3:1–19, where Jesus explains to Nicodemus that Spiritual Birth is REQUIRED—no one can see or enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. He then reveals that Sincere Belief is REWARDED, as those who trust in the Son are given eternal life, while those who refuse remain in darkness and under judgment.

TODAY'S TREASUREAfter these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, . . . Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes…John 19:38-39Send us a comment!Support the show

Greetings, Europe, and thank you for listening. It is a wonder at God's mercies, and my privilege, and joy that you are on board with the Free Range Preacher on Prayer, thank you: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Monaco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, United Kingdom, including, Whales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.Nicodemus comes by night to Jesus in John 3 with a troubling question. But he doesn't ask it. He says: "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." John 2:2Jesus, however, goes straight to the point, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3Since we know:"Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O LORD, Thou dost know it all." Psalm 139:4And"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:12-13Our So What?Our Savior calls us to honest, sincere communion with Him. We have no need to hide our deepest desires; after all, He already knows them. "What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more." Robert Murray M'Cheynee Donation link:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=G9JGGR5W97D64Or go to www.freerangepreacheronprayer.com and use the Donations tab.Assistant Editor: Seven Jefferson Gossard.www.freerangepreacheronprayer.comfreerangeprayer@gmail.comFacebook - Free Range Preacher MinistriesInstagram: freerangeministriesAll our Scripture quotes are drawn from the NASB 1977 edition.For access to the Voice Over services of Richard Durrington, please visit RichardDurrington.com or email him at Durringtonr@gmail.comOur podcast art was designed by @sammmmmmmmm23 InstagramSeason 007Episode 056

Understanding Jesus' Encounter with Nicodemus explores the profound late-night conversation between Jesus and a respected Jewish leader. Discover why Nicodemus, despite his religious knowledge and status, felt compelled to seek Jesus secretly and what Jesus meant by the mysterious requirement to be 'born again' to see God's kingdom. This teaching unpacks the powerful metaphors Jesus used - birth as something we receive rather than achieve, and the wind as a picture of God's unpredictable yet purposeful Spirit. Learn how Jesus referenced Ezekiel's prophecy about water and Spirit bringing new life, and why this message is relevant for both religious and non-religious people today. Whether you identify more with the rebellious prodigal son or his dutiful older brother who stayed home, Jesus offers the same invitation to experience spiritual rebirth. This message will help you recognize where religious routines may have become spiritual ruts in your life and how to position yourself to receive the fresh wind of God's Spirit. Perfect for anyone feeling spiritually stagnant, questioning their faith journey, or wanting to understand the true meaning of being born again. Discover how spiritual transformation isn't something you accomplish through effort but something you receive through grace. This sermon was recorded at a Sunday morning gathering at Church of the Lookout in Longmont, Colorado.Visit our websiteFollow us on FacebookFollow us on Instagram

In John 3:1–15, Jesus tells Nicodemus that unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. In this sermon, Born Twice, Die Once: The Necessity and Nature of the New Birth, we explore why the new birth is essential for salvation and what it truly means to be born of the Spirit. Religious effort isn't enough—only a supernatural work of God can bring spiritual life.

In Part 2 of our “The prosperity gospel, the poverty gospel, and the truth most Christians miss” series, we dive into some of Jesus' most controversial teachings on wealth. You've heard “sell everything,” “camel through the eye of a needle,” and “blessed are the poor,” but what if we've been misunderstanding who He was talking to and why?  In this episode, we unpack: Why Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything—and why He didn't tell Zacchaeus the same thing. The real reason wealth can be dangerous (it's not what you think). Why Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and a group of wealthy women were never asked to give everything away. The parable that proves Jesus wasn't against being wealthy—but was deeply concerned about our heart posture. Why abundance is meant to be shared—and how shopping, gardening, or even buying sunglasses can become worship. A fresh, biblical perspective that helps you steward what God has given you without shame, guilt, or greed. Resources Mentioned:

We explore the profound parallels between the bronze serpent lifted by Moses in the wilderness and Jesus Christ's ultimate sacrifice on the cross. We begin with the story from Numbers 21, where the Israelites are saved from deadly serpents by looking at a bronze serpent. This narrative is then connected to Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3, where Jesus explains that just as the serpent was lifted up, He too must be lifted up for the salvation of humanity. We delve into the significance of Jesus becoming the emblem of sin, taking on the world's iniquities so that believers might receive eternal life and become the righteousness of God in Him.Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

John 3:5-10,14-175 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.' 8 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.”9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.10 “You are Israel's teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?  14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” 16 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  

In this message, Pastor Ike Miller walks through Jesus' late-night encounter with Nicodemus to show how Christ meets us exactly where–and how–we need him. From seeker to supporter, Nicodemus's journey reveals that receiving Jesus means starting life anew and trusting his love, even when it's hard to understand.

Thought to share? Send me a text...Jesus's journey to the cross reveals his complete humanity and profound love as he fulfills numerous prophecies through his final moments, culminating in his ultimate sacrifice for humanity's redemption.• Walking through Jerusalem's streets multiple times during his final 24 hours, Jesus becomes increasingly beaten and weak with each journey• Jesus's words "I am thirsty" fulfill scripture while revealing both his physical humanity and spiritual thirst for relationship with us• The Roman soldiers' offer of sour wine on a hyssop branch creates a powerful connection to Passover symbolism• When Jesus declares "It is finished," he announces the complete fulfillment of his mission to save humanity• Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, formerly secret disciples, honor Jesus with a royal burial, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy• At least 20 Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled during Jesus's final 24 hours• Though the disciples faced a night of confusion, grief, and fear, Sunday's resurrection was comingLet's remember that Jesus thirsted for you and me, giving his life so we could have forgiveness and eternal life.To read my blog, find out more about me, or to book a speaking engagement, head to https://betsymarvin.com/For access to past podcasts and transcripts, head tohttps://betsymarvin.com/podcasts/You can follow me on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/betsyjmarvin/and Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/betsy.marvin.98

Clay Naylor

In John 3, Christ pointed Nicodemus to the Old Testament account of the serpent on the pole. Through this, we see a picture of what Christ has done on the cross for us.

A Sermon for Trinity Sunday St. John 3:1-17 by William Klock Everywhere Jesus went the crowds followed him.  Everyone had a problem.  Some were deaf, some blind; some were sick, some dying; some were demon-possessed, some were weighed down by sin.  They knew that this is not how the world is supposed to be.  Everyone knew it then.  Everyone knows it now.  And that's why everyone longs for the day when the world is set to rights and the tears are wiped away.  And that's why the people flocked to Jesus.  Wherever he went, there was a little bubble of the world as it should be.  Wherever Jesus went, there was a little bubble of God's future in the present.  Wherever Jesus went, there was a little bubble where the tears were wiped away. And this man named Nicodemus—John says he was a prominent Pharisee and ruler of the Jews—Nicodemus watched from a distance—in the streets, in the temple court.  And as he watched, he saw the hopes of Isreal being fulfilled.  He saw that little bubble of God's future wherever Jesus went.  And he believed.  It's just that he wasn't quite sure exactly what he was believing.  Have you ever felt that way?  You see God at work.  There's no question about it.  But it's not something you ever expected.  And so you believe, but you don't really understand.  That's where Nicodemus was at.  He wasn't one of the simple people who just needed some physical manifestation of the kingdom like the blind and the deaf and the demon-possessed.  He knew the scriptures.  He knew how the God of Israel was supposed to fulfil his prophecies.  And Nicodemus could see that Jesus was fulfilling them.  But Jesus wasn't doing it the way people expected.  So Nicodemus went to Jesus in the night, after the crowds were gone, when Jesus was alone with his disciples.  Knock!  Knock!  Knock! And Peter—or John or James or whoever—opened the door and was totally surprised to see him there.  Everyone knew who Nicodemus was and he was the last person the disciples expected to be knocking at the door.  But here he was, probably with at least a servant or two.  You didn't close the door on someone like Nicodemus, so pretty soon he was inside and seated with Jesus and the questions began.  Nicodemus wanted to understand. “Rabbi,” he said to Jesus, “we know that you're a teacher who has come from God.  Nobody can do these signs that you're doing, unless God is with him.”   If you listen carefully, you can hear the unspoken question in Nicodemus' affirmation.  It's the theologian's equivalent of “Lord, I believe.  Help my unbelief.”  It was like this for everyone.  The disciples saw, they heard, they believed, but when Jesus pressed them with questions, they still gave the wrong answers.  Peter knew with absolute certainty that Jesus was the Messiah, the son of the living God.  But when push came to shove, he drew his sword and was ready to usher in the kingdom with violence.  Despite three years with Jesus, the disciples were still full of all the wrong ideas the Jews had about the Messiah and his kingdom.  Nicodemus was no different.  It's just that he knew he was missing something and he was here to sort it out with Jesus.  But Jesus doesn't give him the answer he wanted—because Jesus knew that no matter how clearly he connected the dots for Nicodemus, that wouldn't solve the problem.  Nicodemus needed something more.  And so Jesus answers Nicodemus' question with those words so familiar to us, but so perplexing to him: “Let me tell you the solemn truth.  Unless someone has been born from above, he won't be able to see God's kingdom.”   This is John 3.  The beginning.  Jesus gives the answer to all the questions.  And consider how the disciples had three years to mull it over.  And as we've heard in our Gospels all through Easter- and Ascensiontide they still couldn't wrap their heads around it.  Jesus told them he had to leave so that something better could come and they were confused and upset and afraid.  Jesus was a walking manifestation, a walking bubble of the kingdom.  How could anything possibly be better than that?—apart from the kingdom filling the whole world—but how's that going to happen if Jesus is gone?  They had to be born from above, too.  But that's just it.  In being born from above, they themselves would become walking bubbles of God's future in the present.  That's what we celebrated last Sunday at Pentecost.  The God of Israel sent his Spirit to indwell his people.  They were born from above—and suddenly, when that happened, it all made sense.  Peter preached that great Pentecost sermon—something that would have been impossible the day before—and from there the disciples went out to make God's kingdom known to the world. Incidentally, this is why the story of Nicodemus' visit to Jesus is our Gospel today.  Long before there was a Trinity Sunday, this was the Sunday after Pentecost and today's Gospel was chosen to explain the events we read about last Sunday.  When Trinity Sunday came along there was no reason to change the lesson, because here we see the Trinity revealed: the Son reveals that the Father must send the Spirit to give life to and to renew his people. But back to Jesus and Nicodemus: “The central truth you're missing is that you've got to be born from above,” Jesus says to the Pharisee.  Nicodemus understood so much.  He knew the world is not as it should be.  He knew that the Lord had chosen and called his people to be a light to the world.  And he knew that his people had failed—over and over and over.  That's why the Pharisees were so zealous for God's law.  If everyone in Israel would just shape up.  If they'd just remember all the wonderful things God had graciously and mercifully done for them and love him return by keeping his law.  If they would be faithful.  Then God would return and set everything right.  The Pharisees were an “on earth as in heaven” people.  And Nicodemus saw God at work in Jesus, but he was struggling to reconcile what he saw in Jesus with what he expected of God.  Jesus knew this and so he says that what's missing—not just what Nicodemus is missing, but what all Israel is missing—is this new birth.  And, Brothers and Sisters, it's really important that we understand that as much as Jesus is saying, “You, Nicodemus, must be born again—which is how the ears of modern Christians have been trained to hear this in individualistic terms—Jesus' stress is on Israel, on the whole people: “All y'all must be born again,” as they might say in Texas.  In verse 7 he says, “Do not be surprised that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.'”  Israel as a people had been born the first time when they passed through the waters of the Red Sea and Jesus is saying that now Israel has to be born a second time.  This is why John was out in the wilderness calling people to repentance and baptising them in the Jordan, but still stressing that water wasn't enough.  Israel had been baptised with water before.  What Israel needed now was water and the Spirit.  Jesus walking around a little bubble of God's future in the present—that's what Israel was always supposed to be—so that the nations could see them and know the goodness of God.  And what Jesus is saying is that it's the Spirit who will finally make the people what God had intended them to be all along.  As Jesus has said over and over in various ways: he, Jesus, was sent by the Father, but that it would be the Spirit—the “Helper”—who would come after, who would testify to them about this truth, and then that through them this Spirit would testify to the rest of Israel and even to the nations.  This would fulfil what the prophets had spoken: a new people, a new Israel through whom the Lord would fulfil the mission he'd begun with Abraham—a mission to fill the world with knowledge of his glory as the waters cover the sea.  This new Israel, full of God's Spirit, would finally be that bubble of the kingdom, the manifestation of God's new creation here in the midst of the old, so that the nations will flock to the God of Israel to give him glory. But Nicodemus just sat there looking puzzled.  Ditto for the disciples.  Because the Spirit hadn't yet come to testify about Jesus.  So Nicodemus asks, “How can someone possibly be born when he's old?  You're not telling me he can go back a second time into his mother's womb and be born, are you?”  And as Jesus answers him, this is where he switches from saying things like “Unless one is born again” to “Unless all y'all are born again”.  Because it's not such much about one person being born again or even about a whole bunch of individuals being born again.  It's about Israel as a people being born again so that she could be put back on track to fulfil her mission to reveal God to the nations.  Now, this idea of new birth would have resonated with Nicodemus, because to be a Jew was all about being born as part of Abraham's family.  Other things like circumcision and sabbath and diet were really important—especially to a Pharisee—but those things were important because they were the markers of Abraham's family.  They drew a clear line between those who were in the family and all the uncircumcised, unclean gentiles who were most definitely not—the one's people like Nicodemus expected God to destroy with fire and brimstone when he came to set the world to rights. And what Jesus is now saying is that being born into Abraham's family the way the Jews thought of it wasn't enough.  In fact—and this really comes out in Paul's letters—it never had been enough.  And Nicodemus should have known this.  For two thousand years people were born into Abraham's family and the kingdom still hadn't come.  For two thousand years people were born into Abraham's family and still the gentiles hadn't experienced the Lord's blessing through them on the huge scale envisioned by the scriptures.  Just the opposite, in fact.  The Prophet Zechariah spoke of a day when the gentiles would be grabbing hold of Jews by their coattails and pleading with them, “Take us with you, because we hear that God is with you!”  But because of the way most of Abraham's children were living, the nations mocked them and taunted them saying, “Where's your God?”  It takes more than bring born of the flesh of Abraham.  It even takes more than being born of water, as Isreal had been in the Red Sea.  As a Pharisee devoted to exhorting his fellow Jews to be better keepers of the law, Nicodemus should have known that it wasn't working—that the people needed something more.  He, of all people, should have been looking forward to the day when the law would no longer be written on tablets of stone, but engraved on the very hearts of the people by the Holy Spirit. So Jesus says to Nicodemus, “I'm telling you the solemn truth.  Unless someone is born from water and the Spirit, he can't enter the kingdom of God.  Flesh is born from flesh, but spirit is born from Spirit.”  This is what John the Baptist was getting at out in the desert.  God was about to lead his people in a new exodus.  As Israel had been led through the waters of the Red Sea to become a covenant family, so John was calling people to pass through the waters of the Jordan—a step of repentance and faith—and into a new covenant.  They all needed a baptism of repentance.  They need to turn aside, not just from their disobedience, but from their misguided expectations of the kingdom and of the Messiah.  But remember what John promised.  When people asked him if he was the Messiah, he said that he was only the forerunner.  “I baptise you with water,” he said, “but he will plunge you into the Holy Spirit.”  And that's just what Jesus does.  As we remembered last Sunday at Pentecost, Jesus takes those who have repented, who have turned aside from every false god and from every false king and from every false “ism”, he takes those who have instead grabbed hold of him in faith by passing through the waters of baptism, and he plunges them—us—into the Holy Spirit.  And the Spirit transforms and renews and regenerates us.  He takes our old, dead wood and grafts us into Jesus the vine and new life courses into us to bear fruit.  The Spirit makes us those walking bubbles of God's new creation—what God's people were always supposed to be.  That's what it means to be born again or born from above. Brothers and Sisters, think of your baptism as something like Israel at the Red Sea.  There was the parted water and God calling Israel to pass through to freedom and new life on the other side.  There was no receiving the law in Egypt; they had to cross to the other side of the sea to find covenant, to find relationship with the Lord.  And so we stand at the waters of baptism today.  In them Jesus gives his promise: Repent, turn aside from every false way, trust me, follow me in faith and you will find forgiveness of sins and new life through the Spirit.  To pass through the waters of baptism is to take hold of Jesus' promise and to be born again of water and the Spirit—and to be made part of this new covenant people ready and equipped to live and to proclaim his kingdom. But, again, this didn't fit what Nicodemus knew.  “How can this be so?” he asks.  And Jesus asks a bit incredulously, “How can you not know this?  You're one of the teachers of Israel!”  Nicodemus knew the story.  He understood how Israel had so miserably failed in her mission.  As a Pharisee he was abundantly aware of this problem.  Jesus tells Nicodemus: God has heard your cries and is visiting his people and he's doing it in me.  I'm the son of man, the one spoken of by Daniel all those years ago.  I can tell you reliably the things of heaven because I'm the one who has come down from heaven.  Nicodemus is pretty incredulous.  He came wanting to know, but he's not liking what he's hearing and so Jesus is basically telling him, “You have to trust me.”  That's what it's all about.  Sometimes this faith stuff doesn't make sense, but keep trust Jesus and the Spirit will eventually make sense of it.  And in keeping with that Jesus reminds him of the time the Israelites grumbled against Moses—which was really just veiled grumbling against the Lord.  And so the Lord sent poisonous snakes into the camp.  The snakes bit people and many of those who were bit died.  But the Lord also gave Moses the remedy.  He told Moses to cast a snake out of bronze and to mount it on a pole.  Anyone who would look up to the bronze snake would be healed.  It didn't make sense.  How would a bronze snake on a pole heal anyone?  But it did—by faith. So Jesus says, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, in the same way the son of man must be lifted up so that everyone who believes in him may share in the life of God's new age.”  Jesus is pointing to his own crucifixion.  As the snake was the affliction of the people lifted up for them to look at, so Jesus would take the affliction of Israel on himself—he would suffer the punishment for their sins—and be lifted up on the cross.  He would be lifted up for everyone to look upon—to see the horror and the gravity of their sin, to see that the wages of sin is death.  But they would also see Jesus taking it all on himself and in that, the horror and ugliness of his being raised up would become an act by which he is ultimately glorified.  In the cross we see the love of God made manifest in Jesus.  And Jesus says in the familiar words we all know, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Jesus corrects the central error in the thinking of Israel in his day.  They were hoping and praying for the day when the Lord would come, not just to vindicate his people, but to judge their enemies—to rain down fire and brimstone on the Romans and all the other gentiles.  But instead Jesus tells Nicodemus that he's come not to condemn, but to save all who will look to him.  All.  The Jews thought the Lord, when he came, would vindicate them for their faithfulness, but Jesus says to Nicodemus, “Even the most righteous of you need this new birth, this salvation if you want to know God's vindication.  And it's not just for you.”  The Jews looked forward to the condemnation he would bring, but Jesus says he's come not to condemn, but to save.  And this is where the part about being born again of water and the Spirit comes into play.  Being born of water and the Spirit supersedes biology and genealogy.  In Jesus God opens his arms to welcome Jew and Gentile alike.  It was the Jews first, because if the Lord is faithful—and he is—he had to first fulfil his promises to his own people, but most importantly, in that act of faithfulness, the nations would take note of the God of Israel.  In Jesus, the nations would see that the God of Israel is not like the puny, selfish, fickle, and powerless gods they have known, and they would then flock to this God who is truly good and faithful.  This is what God's future looks like, not just Israel set to rights and everyone else set on fire.  God's future is for everyone who sees Jesus and his people wiping away the tears and forgiving sin, who believes, and who becomes part of it—whether born of Abraham by the flesh or born of Abraham by faith—all born in God's Spirit. Abraham's family is integral to the story and the plan, but Jesus reminds us that genes and DNA were never really what made anyone part of Abraham's family; it was about faith.  It was faith for Abraham himself and it was faith in God's promises for all who followed after: for Isaac and Jacob, for Joseph and Moses and Joshua, for gentiles like Rahab and Ruth, and even for the great kings like David and Solomon.  And God's promise was that through his covenant people, through these people who knew him in faith and were reconciled to him by faith, he would bless the nations.  It happened here and there in the Old Testament.  Rahab and Ruth are two of many small-scale testimonies to that, but here we finally see the Lord's promise coming to full fruit.  It's what we celebrated last week on Pentecost as Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on these men of Israel gathered from around the world.  They had heard Peter preach about Jesus and what he'd come to do.  They rallied to Jesus in faith and in response Jesus poured his Spirit into them.  Finally, through Jesus, Israel became the source of blessing she was intended to be—not by flesh, but by the Spirit—as these men and women took the good news to the nations: Jesus is Lord.  He has conquered sin and death.  In him is the forgiveness of sin, in him is life, in him God has returned to his creation as King.  And in him—the incarnate Word—God makes himself known.  In Jesus, God incarnate, we have the restoration and fellowship with our Creator that he has been working towards ever since the day we rebelled and were cast out of his presence.  In Jesus, God's kingdom—his new creation—has been inaugurated, in us and through us in the world.  Brothers and Sisters, we are that people the God of Israel was working to create and to make new all those millennia.  Jesus and the Spirit have finally made us that bubble of God's future in the present, the bubble where the world is set to rights and where the tears are wiped away, the bubble that shows the world the faithfulness and goodness of God.  May we be that people—God's future in the present, the heralds of his new creation—may we be faithful in being this Spirit-renewed gospel people who make known God's glory to the world. Let us pray: Almighty God we praise you this morning for the grace you have shown us.  Even as we rebelled against you, our good Creator, you were setting in motion our redemption: Father sending, calling, electing; Son speaking, coming, dying, rising; and Spirit uniting, renewing, regenerating, empowering.  In the redemption of the world we see the glory of the Trinity and the majesty of the Unity and in gratitude we fall before you with the angels to sing, “Holy, holy, holy Lord God almighty.”  By your grace, keep us strong in faith, O Lord, but keep us also faithful in our witness and our ministry to make your redeeming love known to the world.  We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns together with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.  Amen.

Send us a textWhat does it truly mean to be "born again"? In this exploration of Jesus's midnight conversation with Nicodemus, we unpack one of the foundations of the Word of God.When Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee and Jewish leader, approached Jesus acknowledging Him as a teacher from God, Jesus responded with a statement that completely reframed their interaction: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." This declaration left Nicodemus confused, trapped in a literal interpretation of rebirth that seemed biologically impossible.Jesus wasn't speaking of physical impossibilities but spiritual necessities. The Greek term for "born again" carries dual meaning – both "a second time" and "from above" – revealing that this spiritual transformation cannot originate from human effort but must come from God Himself. As Jesus explained, "That which is born of flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is spirit."This message strikes at the heart of our human condition. We cannot manufacture spiritual rebirth through religious devotion, education, behavioral modification, or any human achievement. It requires divine intervention – a miracle that transforms us at our core. Yet this isn't cause for despair but hope, for the God who requires this rebirth is the same God who delights in making it possible. Through Christ's sacrificial work on the cross, what is impossible for humanity becomes possible through God.Have you known this in your own life? Not just knowledge about God, but the life-changing miracle of being born from above? Join us as we explore what it means to trust the God who loves to save and who stands ready to perform this miracle in every heart that turns to Him in faith.Support the showNEW BOOK! I'm pleased to say that we have completed a new book that has been years in the making. The Ten Shirot: Songs of Redemption looks at ten songs that were sung through pivotal times in Scripture. It's an examination of the redemption of Jesus, of worship, and of Scripture in a way that we believe you probably haven't seen before. Check it out at https://a.co/d/0a4KIooL .The Redeeming Love Bible Broadcast is a ministry of Grace Baptist Tabernacle. We're located at 121 Arborside Lane in King, NC and we can be reached at welcome@gracebaptisttabernacle.org. Please continue to share these episodes, and please consider coming to visit our church. We are excited and expectant for you to come!

The Three “R's” - John 3:1-15The 3 Rs in school. Helps us to remember. Many preachers like to use the same alliterative method in their preaching to help folks remember their sermons. I have found that it does not really work like that. If you want folks to remember something, it has to be short and really memorable, (like “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country!”) or you need to repeat it so often that at least the preacher can remember it. Usually, what people remember is how you made them feel, not what you said. The proof is not in specific words, but in what is printed in your heart! What you experience. Selwyn Hughes: l knowing the Psalm (23] is one thing – hearsay – but knowing the Shepherd is quite another – heart-say.Read textLet's look at the three Rs in this passage: Selwyn Hughes: “make no mistake about it – the image of God that you carry in your heart is the one that you will relate to in a moment of crisis.”   Repentance Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38David Pawson: “Do you realize if you are ever going to start on the road to the kingdom of heaven you have got to repent of your good deeds as well as your bad deeds, if you've been putting your trust in them?”Rebirth Titus 3:5 NIVRevelationFlesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. Matt. 16The picture of the snake Numbers 21:4-9 and Jesus quotes this now.The discussion with NicodemusTroubled by what he sees and knows and is honest enough to seek out answers  despite the perceived opposition, he takes a risk to seek out Jesus.As a teacher in Israel, he knows the laws that govern and how they are interpreted.  Do good deeds, do the religious things and then you will be acceptable in God's sight. But he obviously doesn't know about the assurance of salvation, and the actions of Jesus, disturb him, even though he can see how those deeds were contrary to what they believed. But it was going to affect his as well as their income, lifestyle, teaching, and their way of life that they had become accustomed to. Was it worth it? Is what Jesus brings worth the price of every one else's wrath? Isn't what we do, perhaps with some alterations here or there enough? Why this dramatic confrontation and change? Aren't we all the children of Abraham? Are we not on the right path? We are doing what we are supposed to do with the offering, sacrifices and the religious zeal for the Words of the law and prophets? We memorize it, we teach our children, we do our best to be kind and good people. Okay we mess up sometimes, but we all do it, but at least we belong to the right family!Jesus cuts right through all his questions and his dilemmas and comes straight to the point: “You must be born again.”This means, Jesus is saying you are not in the right family at all. Being a descendent of Abraham does not make you righteous. Keeping the laws to the best of your ability does not make you righteous. Your basic problem is: You have the wrong nature. Your good deeds are like filthy rags to God. He is not pleased with you because you try harder to please him. There is only one thing you can do with your nature, and that is it must die. If you want live, you must be born again.Nicodemus: What do you mean? What are you talking about? How can you be a teacher in Israel and not know this? Abraham lived by faith in God! Jacob lived by faith in God. Joseph lived by faith in God. Moses lived by faith in God! All of them lived in faith before the law came! They understood their nature was the nature of sin, death, darkness and evil.  It is not about religious activities; it is a matter of a transformed heart. A birth where God Almighty is your father.Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, as a matter of fact, if you are not born again of the spirit of God you cannot even see the kingdom. Worshipping God is not about religious activities, it is something we do in Spirit and in truth! The breakthrough comes when God enters you like the wind and directs you in your faith and your life.Wow. Jesus must have loved him a lot to confront him so directly.Now the matter of being born of water and the Spirit: Some think it means the passage of water when you are born the first time. Birth of the Spirit comes when you believe in Jesus.Most say it can be a dual understanding.  You see John has just spent time with John the Baptist and following this encounter Jesus and the disciples go baptizing as well.  The focus really is on what happens in Baptism:The First R is Repentance. Repenting from bad deeds and good deeds as well if they are what you are depending on for God's pleasure and acceptance. The focus on repentance is critical for a spiritual life. It is the forerunner of moving into God's Kingdom. Learning to be humble and repent before God. Being able to see when we do wrong to others and apologize to them. Letting the Holy Spirit show us just how frail we are and how vital and eternal the Kingdom of God is. It shows us that it is not about us, it is all about him!The second R is Rebirth: That is when the Holy Spirit enters our lives to take up residence within us. We become Children of God. Our nature changes from sinner to sons and daughters of the Most High God! Make a confession: I am a child of God because I believe Jesus, I trust Jesus, and I will follow Jesus. The third R is Revelation: The snakes on a pole did not save the people, it was their obedience in Number 29.Nicodemus remembered his discussion with Jesus when he came to take him down from the cross with Joseph of Arimathea. 

Up To Jerusalem - Teaching 18 Scripture: Zechariah 12:10, John 19:31-42, Matthew 27:3-10, Acts 1:18-19, Matthew 28:1-4, Mark 16:1-4, Luke 24:1-10, John 20:1-18, 1 Corinthians 15:20. Today we look at Jesus' resurrection.  Jesus dies on a Friday and this particular Friday was Friday, the Day of Preparation - the day of preparing the lambs for a special Saturday Sabbath, the First Sabbath of Passover.  Following Saturday, the First Sabbath of Passover was Sunday, and this particular Sunday was also a special day as well, it was the Day of First Fruits.  Jesus would rise on this day, from the grave, and on that day He would rise as the first fruits of those who rise from the dead. “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of those who slept.” 1 Cor 15:20. Back to our story, John tells us that Jesus' legs were not broken - something done by Roman soldiers to insure death, but they pierced His side with a spear. This fulfills scripture, “They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son.” Zech 12:10. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus' body in linen and spices and laid Him in a new tomb. Jesus' followers are in deep grief. The next morning, Saturday, the First Sabbath of Passover, chief priests and pharisees go to Pilate to ask for Jesus' tomb to be made secure because Jesus had said He would rise after 3 days, and the chief priests and pharisees want to stop anyone from stealing the body and making it look like Jesus did rise from the dead.  They seal the tomb and place guard at it. Then the next day - Sunday - the Day of First Fruits - is Jesus' resurrection day! Pastor puts together the 4 gospel accounts of the women that came to the tomb that morning. While it appears they are in conflict Pastor lays things out using a map of Jerusalem and suggests those with further interest to read the book “Easter Enigma: Are the Resurrection Accounts in Conflict” by John Wenham. Pastor shares historical information of the time period that supports the biblical narrative, even sharing recent archaeological information regarding the possible location of Jesus' tomb. Using all four gospels, Pastor takes us through who these women were and their early morning activities of visiting the tomb and putting forth the order of the morning events. As we continue with the story, we read there was another violent earthquake and angels came down from heaven, scare the guards and then roll the stone from the sealed tomb. Now the women enter the tomb to find it empty. Mary Magdalene decides to run and let the disciples know what they found. The other women ask the angels where they have put Jesus' body and they tell them He's not there as He has risen just as He said He would.  At this point Peter and other disciples head for the tomb. Inside they see the strips of linen and the cloth around Jesus' head lying there and head back to where they were staying.  Mary Magdelene is back at the tomb and is the first to see and speak to Jesus. She's outside the tomb crying and looks inside to see 2 angels seated where Jesus' body had been - one at the head the other at the feet. Pastor shares insight into the similarity of the two angels sitting as they were where Jesus had been and the Ark of the Covenant in the holy of Holies. A fascinating comparison. The angels ask Mary why she is crying and she replies that they have take her Lord. She turns around and there is Jesus!  Though she doesn't yet recognize Him. Jesus asks her as the angels had about why she was crying. Looking at Jesus, who she thought was the gardener, she says, “They have taken Jesus, do you know where they have taken Him?” Then Jesus says, “Mary.” And she immediately recognized Him! She cries out in joy and Jesus tells her, “Go to my brothers, tell them I'm ascending to my Father and your Father, to My God and your God, and tell them what you have seen!” This is only the morning's events!  Join us next time for the rest of all that happened that Resurrection Sunday! Our website – https://www.awakeusnow.com Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01 Up to Jerusalem is a study of the final weeks of Jesus' ministry. The earth shakes, concluding with His resurrection and ascension, using the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John together with material from ancient sources and recent discoveries. Up to Jerusalem is part five of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Up To Jerusalem is the story of the plan of God to redeem the world, and the story of a Savior willing to obey the Father's plan. As we study Jesus' final days, we will be impacted as we discover the Love of God for each one of us.  This study is great for large group, small group or home group study and can be started at any time.

Send us a textIn this episode, Pastor Dom teaches on the the impact of Jesus' tomb and how it relates to communion. Luke 23:48-5148 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. 50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. 51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.Luke 23:53 Then he took it down,…Luke 23:54-5554 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. 55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils and they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.Matthew 27:5757 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. Matthew 27:6060 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock;…Matthew 27:60…and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.Matthew 27:6262 The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate.Luke 11:99 “…seek, and you will find;…John 19:38-4138 …Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus;… 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden,…John 19:38…and Pilate gave him permission….Isaiah 52:1414 Just as there were many who were appalled at him his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness,John 3:1-1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 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.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.' Matthew 23:2727 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.Matthew 27:63-6663 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.' 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.Mark 16:1-31 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother o

At the Feast of Tabernacles, the debate over Jesus' identity as Messiah reaches a climax. On the final day, He issues a bold invitation: 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.' In this week's sermon, we unpack what it means to have 'living water' and consider Nicodemus as a model of trusting God for the souls of others.

New Birth is an invitation into the radical, spirit-filled life that Jesus offers—one that calls us out of comfort and into deep connection with Him. In this message, Pastor Manny Dominguez unpacks Nicodemus' midnight encounter with Jesus and the call to move from spectator to surrendered disciple Website: https://journeychristian.com New Here? https://journeychristian.com/new Need Prayer? https://journeychristian.com/prayer  Next Steps: https://journeychristian.com/nextsteps  Instagram: https://instagram.com/fljourneychurch Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fljourneychurch

Orthodoxy and Orthopraxis (right belief and right practice) are intimately tied together. All of the fathers and, in particular, Saint Isaac the Syrian want us to understand that our perception of revelation, who God is to us and what we have become in his Son through the Paschal mystery, and how we live our life are inseparable. God has revealed himself to us in a unique and distinctive fashion, and has made known to us our dignity and destiny in Christ. Therefore, having a clear understanding of our human nature, the sickness of sin and the passions that follow and the healing that takes place through Grace is imperative. Isaac pushes us to understand that virtue is the natural health of the soul and the passions are an illness of the soul that follow and invade our nature and despoil its proper health. One can see how essential this is when looking at our life in this world and the struggles of the spiritual life. We can attribute sin and the hold that passions have upon us simply to human nature. However, when we do this, we lose sight of the fact that we have been created in the image and likeness of God and that sin is antecedent to that reality. We have been created for love and to manifest this love through virtue. A faulty or incomplete understanding of human anthropology and psychology, has often been the pretext that the Evil One uses to distort our vision to the point that we willingly embrace that which enslaves us.  To understand that we have been created good, conversely, establishes a firm desire within the human heart for that which is of God. It also establishes confidence and hope in the grace of God who tells us precisely that he has come not to judge the world but to save it!  One of the beautiful things that the desert fathers would have us understand is that Christ is the divine physician who has come to heal us. He is the Good Samaritan from the gospel who takes our burden upon himself in order that we might be nursed to the fullness of health.  Again, if Isaac makes us work to understand this, we must see it as a labor of love. To grasp these truths allows us to give free expression to our desire for God and to run towards Him with the freedom of those aided by His Grace. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:01:52 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 128 paragraph 6 00:10:40 Anthony: I just read that there is a "Holy Transfiguration East" in Burnsville, NC. 00:11:43 Anthony: Gotcha thanks 00:26:20 Joshua Sander: I've missed the last couple of weeks, and so you may have already explained this, but when Isaac uses the term "passions," what exactly does he mean? I've heard the term used roughly in the sense of "emotions" (i.e. anger, sadness, etc.), but does Isaac mean it more in the sense of "temptations"? I think you may have just explained this now, but in that case, could you briefly restate this? 00:30:04 Suzanne Romano: Does Isaac distinguish between original nature and fallen nature? 00:33:15 David: I found this helpful from Fr. Maximos- So, we have five stages in the evolution of a logismos,” he concluded, spreading out the five fingers of his right hand. “Assault, interaction, consent, captivity/defeat, and passion/obsession. These are more or less all the stages. While they use the same word in translation it helped me to realize the different stages in context. 00:37:23 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "I found this helpful..." with

In this conversation, JT & Josh  delve into various theological concepts surrounding the afterlife, resurrection, and the significance of apocryphal texts. They explore the implications of the Gospel of Nicodemus, the role of Pontius Pilate, and the historical context of the Maccabees and the 400-year silence in biblical history. The discussion highlights the complexities of faith, rebellion against God, and the interpretations of resurrection narratives. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the complex themes of bloodlines, particularly focusing on the Nephilim and their historical implications. They explore the concept of the serpent seed and its significance in biblical narratives, discussing how these ideas relate to modern royal bloodlines and their claims of descent from ancient figures. The conversation also touches on the controversy surrounding calendar systems, debating the merits of lunar versus solar calendars, and concludes with a theological inquiry into the concept of the 'Camp of the Saints' and its potential implications for understanding biblical prophecy. In this conversation, the speakers explore various biblical themes, the evolution of religious practices, and the importance of understanding arguments in discussions about faith. They delve into the historical context of early Christianity, particularly the role of Constantine, and transition into a discussion about health and wellness, focusing on the significance of natural vitamins versus synthetic alternatives.PART 2 (Ancient Roots of Life & Wellness Episode 6) In this conversation, Josh discusses the importance of understanding the differences between synthetic and whole food vitamins, particularly focusing on Vitamin C and Vitamin D. He emphasizes the role of magnesium in nutrient absorption and the dangers of relying on synthetic supplements. The discussion highlights the need for a balanced diet rich in whole foods to support overall health and well-being, while also addressing common misconceptions about vitamins and their effects on the body.Please support our sponsor Modern Roots Life: https://modernrootslife.com/?bg_ref=rVWsBoOfcFPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/JT_Follows_JCJESUS SAID THERE WOULD BE HATERS:https://jtfollowsjc.com/product-category/mens-shirts/ WOMEN'S SHIRTS:https://jtfollowsjc.com/product-category/womens-shirts/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jt-s-mix-tape--6579902/support.

In this episode, Ronn & Mike explore Nicodemus' interview with Jesus as recorded in John 3:1-21. They discuss the possiblew misconceptions surrounding the Mosaic law, the Jewish expectations of what a messiah would accomplish, the nature of Jesus' teachings, and the meaning behind the term 'born again.' The conversation highlights the historical context of the Pharisees and their relationship with Jesus, as well as the broader themes of Gentile inclusion and understanding what kind of thought world Jesus would have shared with someone like Nicodemus. 

In this sermon, Pastor Andrey continues our study of the Gospel of John, focusing on John chapter 4 and the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well. Pastor Andrey emphasizes Jesus' willingness to cross cultural and social barriers to offer grace and living water to a sinner. The sermon's key points include the radical nature of Jesus' actions, the need for transparency before God, and the transformation that occurs when sinners meet the Savior. Andrey contrasts the encounters of Jesus with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman to illustrate that salvation is available to all, regardless of societal or personal flaws.