Podcasts about Nicodemus

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.

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

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.

Life in the Spirit: Born of the Spirit – A New Nature Good morning, everyone! It was wonderful to gather this morning, and a heartfelt thank you to Chris and the worship team for creating such a powerful atmosphere. In these uncertain times, with global anxieties often dominating headlines, it's vital to step back, worship God, and remember His unwavering control. We've heard incredible stories of the Christian church's growth even in challenging regions like Iran, witnessing a true movement of God's Spirit. Today, our focus was on the profound meaning of being "Born of the Spirit." Nick shared a moving reflection from a friend in Belfast, who, amidst personal struggles, consistently reminds his wife: "You are loved, you are safe, and we will tell you no lies." This powerful statement perfectly encapsulates God's truth for each of us. Regardless of external turmoil or internal anxieties, we are deeply loved, eternally safe, and God's truth is absolute. This liberating message is one we are called to share with a world that often feels fractured and lost. This sermon launched our new series, "Life in the Spirit," guiding us through to Christmas. Our core passage was from John's Gospel, chapter 3, verses 1-8. Nick recounted the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, a highly respected Jewish religious leader. Nicodemus approached Jesus at night, acknowledging Jesus' divine origin and power through His miraculous signs. "Rabbi," he declared, "we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you." (John 3:2). However, Jesus' response went straight to the heart of the matter, transcending intellectual assent: "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). Nicodemus's confusion about physical rebirth prompted Jesus' clarification: "I assure you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say you must be born again. The wind blows wherever it wants, just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going. So you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit." (John 3:5-8). The concept of being "born of the Spirit" is far more radical than mere religious affiliation or cultural identification as a Christian. Nick explained that Jesus speaks of a deep, transformative, and often rare experience. It isn't about our outward actions, opinions, church attendance, or the songs we sing. It's about a spiritual DNA – a fundamental, unchangeable identity imparted by God. Using the relatable analogy of his dog, Nick illustrated that just as an animal's inherent DNA dictates its nature, our human nature, tainted by sin, cannot simply be improved or altered through self-effort or intellectual understanding. The "born again" experience signifies a profound, spiritual rebirth – a radical shift in our very being initiated by Jesus. Nick shared his personal testimony of this rebirth: after a period of intellectual exploration, he realised understanding wasn't enough. He needed a direct, heart-level encounter with God, inviting Him to transform him fundamentally. This divine act, akin to John Wesley's "heart strangely warmed," irrevocably changed his nature. This transformative power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, enters our hearts, making us new creations. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." Nicodemus, despite his high standing, needed this foundational change. His deep-rootedness, described as "trees swaying in the wind but with roots set in concrete," prevented him from fully embracing the new life Jesus offered. Jesus addressed this core need for spiritual rebirth directly. For our church, growth isn't primarily about numbers or filling our building; it's about spiritual birth. We are called to be "midwives of a move of God," challenging ourselves: "Are we born of the Spirit?" Jesus challenged the tradition that physical lineage defined one's relationship with God. John 1:12 clearly states: "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn, not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God." This rebirth is universally available, irrespective of background, upbringing, or nationality. It is the miraculous transformation Jesus offers, replacing a lifetime of striving with a new nature and the power to live a new life – the ultimate "deal" where we exchange our old life for everything He provides. This shift from a religious mindset to a Spirit-renewed mind enables us to live as God's children, no longer burdened by feelings of failure or inadequacy. We can acknowledge our weaknesses while confidently declaring that God has transformed us from the inside out. So, the personal challenge remains: Do you know that you are born again? Do you recognise the need for an encounter with the Holy Spirit to bring about this genuine, life-altering change? If you feel powerless or without hope, God desires to lift you, granting you a new identity, nature, hope, and future. For those already born again, Nick urged us to fully grasp how safe, secure, and grounded we are in God's completed work. It's about living out this transformation, shedding the need for performance or external affirmation, and simply resting in the knowledge that, as God's children, we are eternally loved and secure. Bible References Used in the Sermon: John 3:1-8 (The core passage discussed in detail) 2 Corinthians 5:17 John 1:12 Transcript Here's a shortened summary of Nick's sermon, "Born of the Spirit," for our podcast show notes. Life in the Spirit: Born of the Spirit – A New Nature Good morning, everyone! It was wonderful to gather this morning, and a heartfelt thank you to Chris and the worship team for creating such a powerful atmosphere. In these uncertain times, with global anxieties often dominating headlines, it's vital to step back, worship God, and remember His unwavering control. We've heard incredible stories of the Christian church's growth even in challenging regions like Iran, witnessing a true movement of God's Spirit. Today, our focus was on the profound meaning of being "Born of the Spirit." Nick shared a moving reflection from a friend in Belfast, who, amidst personal struggles, consistently reminds his wife: "You are loved, you are safe, and we will tell you no lies." This powerful statement perfectly encapsulates God's truth for each of us. Regardless of external turmoil or internal anxieties, we are deeply loved, eternally safe, and God's truth is absolute. This liberating message is one we are called to share with a world that often feels fractured and lost. This sermon launched our new series, "Life in the Spirit," guiding us through to Christmas. Our core passage was from John's Gospel, chapter 3, verses 1-8. Nick recounted the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, a highly respected Jewish religious leader. Nicodemus approached Jesus at night, acknowledging Jesus' divine origin and power through His miraculous signs. "Rabbi," he declared, "we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you." (John 3:2). However, Jesus' response went straight to the heart of the matter, transcending intellectual assent: "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). Nicodemus's confusion about physical rebirth prompted Jesus' clarification: "I assure you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say you must be born again. The wind blows wherever it wants, just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going. So you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit." (John 3:5-8). The concept of being "born of the Spirit" is far more radical than mere religious affiliation or cultural identification as a Christian. Nick explained that Jesus speaks of a deep, transformative, and often rare experience. It isn't about our outward actions, opinions, church attendance, or the songs we sing. It's about a spiritual DNA – a fundamental, unchangeable identity imparted by God. Using the relatable analogy of his dog, Nick illustrated that just as an animal's inherent DNA dictates its nature, our human nature, tainted by sin, cannot simply be improved or altered through self-effort or intellectual understanding. The "born again" experience signifies a profound, spiritual rebirth – a radical shift in our very being initiated by Jesus. Nick shared his personal testimony of this rebirth: after a period of intellectual exploration, he realised understanding wasn't enough. He needed a direct, heart-level encounter with God, inviting Him to transform him fundamentally. This divine act, akin to John Wesley's "heart strangely warmed," irrevocably changed his nature. This transformative power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, enters our hearts, making us new creations. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 states: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." Nicodemus, despite his high standing, needed this foundational change. His deep-rootedness, described as "trees swaying in the wind but with roots set in concrete," prevented him from fully embracing the new life Jesus offered. Jesus addressed this core need for spiritual rebirth directly. For our church, growth isn't primarily about numbers or filling our building; it's about spiritual birth. We are called to be "midwives of a move of God," challenging ourselves: "Are we born of the Spirit?" Jesus challenged the tradition that physical lineage defined one's relationship with God. John 1:12 clearly states: "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn, not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God." This rebirth is universally available, irrespective of background, upbringing, or nationality. It is the miraculous transformation Jesus offers, replacing a lifetime of striving with a new nature and the power to live a new life – the ultimate "deal" where we exchange our old life for everything He provides. This shift from a religious mindset to a Spirit-renewed mind enables us to live as God's children, no longer burdened by feelings of failure or inadequacy. We can acknowledge our weaknesses while confidently declaring that God has transformed us from the inside out. So, the personal challenge remains: Do you know that you are born again? Do you recognise the need for an encounter with the Holy Spirit to bring about this genuine, life-altering change? If you feel powerless or without hope, God desires to lift you, granting you a new identity, nature, hope, and future.Here's a shortened summary of Nick's sermon, "Born of the Spirit," for our podcast show notes. For those already born again, Nick urged us to fully grasp how safe, secure, and grounded we are in God's completed work. It's about living out this transformation, shedding the need for performance or external affirmation, and simply resting in the knowledge that, as God's children, we are eternally loved and secure. Bible References Used in the Sermon: John 3:1-8 (The core passage discussed in detail) 2 Corinthians 5:17 John 1:12

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.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”(English Standard Version)

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.

Nicodemus, Katja www.deutschlandfunk.de, Kultur heute

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

n His first long discourse in the Gospel of John Jesus speaks of the absolute necessity of being ‘born again'. In fact, stresses the importance of being ‘born again' three times (John 3:3, 5, 7). This powerful teaching in the middle of the night to the great leader of the Jews, Nicodemus, is filled with dynamic lessons concerning the cross, the Spirit, and the gigantic love of God! Join us as we worship the Lord together and continue our journey through this life transforming Gospel!

John 4:45 So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast. In light of yesterday's contrast between the Samaritan's receiving Jesus and the Galilean's prior rejection of Him, we learn from today's verse that the Galileans received Him. However, let's notice why. They had attended the feast in Jerusalem and witnessed the same signs Nicodemus had witnessed. They, too, couldn't deny that God was with Him, so they received Him. We're not to think that they believed in Him with saving faith as a result of the signs. We will see in the next chapter that the miracles He performed got Him into more trouble with the Jews, but that didn't stop Him from loving people God put in His path. I realize there may be many of you listening who work in a hostile environment or have family who consider your values and faith toxic. You've found it difficult to navigate those relationships. They receive you into their midst, but they don't like you or what you stand for. You know you aren't just imagining their disgust or disdain for you. You see it on their faces, or notice conversation stops when you come near, or you are the constant butt of jokes and snide remarks. My guess is that Jesus experienced the same and expected it, however, His purpose never changed: He lived to love with His Father. He stayed tuned in to His Father as things happened and people crossed His path. Knowing this about Jesus, encourages us to stay tuned in to Him each day in every situation. We want Jesus to be glorified in us, just like Paul wanted Jesus to be glorified in the believers in Thessalonica. He prayed for them and I pray for you, “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:11-12). Therefore, today, should God lead you into difficult circles, be ready to glorify Jesus by loving with Him those He puts in your paths. 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.

Notes for this message: https://tinyurl.com/ThirstyOnlyJesusSatisfies Small Group Talk it Over: https://tinyurl.com/ThirstyOnlyJesusSatisfiesTIO #NewHope,#PastorIanBuckley,#Discipleship,#Evangelism,#SamaritanWoman,#LivingWater,#Salvation,#GospelConversation,#CrossingBarriers,#Repentance,#DivineEncounter,#SpiritualThirst,#GraceAndTruth,#MissionFocus,#IdentityInChrist,#Transformation,#HarvestFields,#Prejudice,#Urgency,#SaviorOfTheWorld,#Nicodemus,#GodsPlan

John 4:39-42 From that city, many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. Many more believed because of His word; and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.” What a wonderful encouragement and truth is revealed in these verses. We see two kinds of faith. There's the faith that comes from hearing someone's testimony about Jesus. Then there's the faith that comes from hearing Jesus, Himself. In chapters 3 and 4, John gave us examples of this truth. The first kind of faith isn't saving faith. It's a natural faith, like that of Nicodemus, who came because of the signs Jesus did. The signs are undeniable, so Nicodemus believed He was from God. Likewise, these Samaritans believed in Jesus because they couldn't deny the testimony of the woman. Paul wrote of the contrast between hearing someone testify about Jesus and one hearing Jesus, Himself, when he wrote to the Romans in chapter ten, verses 16-17. He pointed out that Isaiah, who had been sent by God as a prophet to testify of the good news of the Messiah, wrote that just hearing about the Messiah isn't enough. Paul wrote, “However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our report?'” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” That is John's point in these verses. The faith that comes from hearing the word of Christ by the power of the Spirit is a saving faith. John said, “Many more believed because of His word.” That has been my experience as well. I heard about Jesus from the time I was a little boy. I came to a point at the age of twelve that I could not deny the testimony about Jesus, so I invited Him into my heart. However, there was no change because it wasn't an encounter with Jesus that happened. It was an encounter with others who testified of Him. I based my initial coming on the testimony of others. But, when at the age of 29, I heard the word of Christ as He told me I was full of pride and revealed the sin that He had seen in me, and then spoke peace to my heart as He revealed that He knew me at the cross, a saving faith came. I no longer believed because of what others said about Jesus, I believed because I had an encounter with the living Jesus Christ, and He revealed Himself and gave Himself to me. So, I totally get what these guys were saying to the woman. Do you? This encourages us that we are not responsible to produce saving faith or to get someone to believe in Jesus. That's God's work. We enter into His work, as the disciples did, as we live to love with Jesus, and lead them to an encounter with Him. That's what the woman did. She said, “Come and see.” or “Go see for yourself.” We are encouraged that God is able to produce fruit for His glory through the power of the word of His Son. We can share our testimonies with confidence that Jesus can speak when we speak. We lead them to Jesus, encouraging them to talk with Him because He knows them and loves them.

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

"Episode 630 - John 3.mp3" examines the third chapter of the Gospel of John. The discussion focuses on Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus regarding the concept of being "born again" and his subsequent explanation of salvation through belief in the Son of Man. Touching on John the Baptist's testimony about Jesus and reflects on the importance of listening and simplifying communication, contrasting spiritual understanding with earthly comprehension. Finally, the speaker shares personal reflections on dealing with grief and the need for patience and kindness towards oneself and others.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-gospel-road-with-jimmy-olsen--1155987/support.

Nicodemus, Katja www.deutschlandfunk.de, Kultur heute

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.

Empty Tomb to Upper Room: When the Spirit Moves   Pastor Caleb Schafer, the Lead Pastor of Redeemer's Church, continues our series with a message about the conflicting natures of our logic-leaning culture versus the logic-surpassing Holy Spirit.   Sunday, June 1st, 2025 | 6.1.25   Category: Heart vs. Mind, Nicodemus, Faith

John 4:33-34 So the disciples were saying to one another, "No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?” Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. The disciples' response to Jesus about the food He said He had to eat was so similar to Nicodemus and the woman at the well. They didn't understand and tried to make sense out of what Jesus said from the physical world—normal birth, water, and food. Our first encouragement today might be that when there are things that Jesus says that don't make sense to us, at least we're not the only ones. The truth that we are dealing with is that spiritual things cannot be understood by the natural mind, as Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 2:14: “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” To live to love with Jesus, we should know that the mindset and thoughts behind living with Jesus are not going to be natural thoughts. They are not going to make sense to us if we are thinking with our culture or even from our own self-centered perspective about life and relationships. Jesus viewed all of his circumstances and relationships through the eyes of His Father. We must view all of our circumstances and relationships through Jesus' eyes. It's the only way we can live with Him. The disciples were still learning this lesson. They were thinking physical food, and Jesus was thinking spiritual food. A second encouragement we can take away from this verse is that if Jesus lives in us and hasn't changed, then His food is still to do the will of the Father. He is still living to love with His Father. The only change is the means by which He's doing it. He accomplishes the Father's work in and through His people. Before His resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit, He worked in His one and only physical body. Ever since then, He has a new body in which to work, and today, He's eating the food the Father gives Him as He lives to love in us. So, today, let's eat up! Let's dine and feast with Jesus and the Father as we do His will—love those the Father brings to us with Jesus. 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 does it mean to be born again? Jesus tells Nicodemus that salvation is not about religion or good works but about spiritual rebirth through faith in Him. Without this, we cannot enter God's kingdom. Have you truly received new life in Christ?How can we follow Christ without first being transformed by Him? Jesus commands us to be born again, not by our own efforts but through the Holy Spirit. This series explores why new birth is essential, how it happens, and the fruit it produces. Have you been born again? If so, does your life reflect Christ's transforming power? Join Nate and Gabe as they look at Christ Command to “Be Born Again.” Want to go deeper in studying this command of Christ? Download a free study guide at https://homediscipleship.com  Study guide includes:  Scriptures referenced in podcastReview of Old Testament contextGuide for Scripture meditationQuestions for application and prayerFor more information, visit us at https://homediscipleship.com  Find us on Facebook and Instagram @homediscipleshiphttps://www.facebook.com/homediscipleshipnetworkhttps://instagram.com/commandsofchristpodcast 

Can science and faith really go together? In Part 2 of the Nicodemus story, Dr. Ben Young shares how curiosity, courage, and humility can lead to life-changing truth. Whether you're a skeptic, seeker, or longtime believer, this message highlights the power of the Gospel to transform any heart—even those once far from faith. Get ready to see how belief becomes real when truth gets personal.

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.

In this sermon, we looked at how the story in Numbers 21 is more than just a strange moment in Israel's wilderness journey—it's a powerful foreshadowing of the gospel. When the Israelites were bitten by fiery serpents because of their rebellion, their only hope for healing came not through human effort, but by looking in faith at a bronze serpent lifted up on a pole. In John 3, Jesus tells Nicodemus that just as the Israelites looked to the bronze serpent and lived, so must every person be born again by looking to the Son of Man, who would be lifted up on the cross. The central theme of this sermon—and of God's overall redemptive story—is that salvation cannot be earned; it is a gift we receive by putting our faith in Jesus.

What happens when one of the most brilliant minds of the day starts asking questions about faith? In this eye-opening message, Dr. Ben Young introduces us to Nicodemus—a respected religious leader who came to Jesus at night with deep curiosity. If you're seeking truth, wrestling with spiritual questions, or just wondering what this whole “born again” thing is about, don't miss this powerful exploration of spiritual transformation.

John 4:27 At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or, "Why do You speak with her?" At this point, the Father determined that the woman had enough information upon which to respond. The conversation ended with the arrival of the disciples. And for a reason that we can only attribute to the work of God's Spirit, the disciples don't question Jesus as to why He spoke with her. That would have hijacked the encounter. The Spirit wanted the woman to be consumed with this giant reality. The Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ spoke to her. We may assume Jesus talked with her again since He stayed in the area for two more days, but those encounters were not recorded. Let's notice God's timing in this story. The Father had Jesus send His disciples into the village to get food. That was necessary for Jesus to have a one-on-one conversation with the Samaritan woman. For that conversation to happen, the Father, whether through decreed or passive power, directed the woman's steps at just the right time to go get water. Had either of those two things happened differently, either Jesus and the woman would have missed each other, or the disciples would have been in the way. Their return was perfect timing. Jesus had just given the woman all she needed for God to draw a crowd from the village to His Son. “I who speak to you am He.” The Father and the Son show the disciples that the kingdom of God and eternal life is to cross over racial, ethnic, and social barriers. We have in this story the fulfillment of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus where He told him that the Spirit was going to blow to the Gentile world and give new birth. God loves the Gentile world as He loves the Jews as mentioned in John 3:16. This encourages us to take the gospel to the nations, to everyone God puts in our paths. Another encouragement I draw from this verse is how we may trust in God's sovereign and perfect administration of our lives. John wanted his readers to see the wisdom and love revealed in the Father as He administrated every aspect of this story. Like Jesus, we can trust that God establishes our steps every day and the steps of everyone we meet. They are not random, chance encounters. God has been in control of ten thousands things in everyone's lives for His children to cross paths with someone who needs living water and needs to know that Jesus is the savior of the world, the Christ. God writes our stories like He wrote this one. With that confidence and encouragement from this verse, I hope you'll join me in praying what I call the Live to Love prayer. “Father, thank You for another day of life to know and love You and to live to love with Jesus. Anoint and fill me with the Holy Spirit, the presence and power of Christ, so that I can love and trust You, and love those You put in my path today, for Your glory. Amen.” I invite you to make that prayer a part of your daily devotion to God. Please go to the website and take the Live to Love prayer challenge to pray it each morning for two months. I hope also that you'll 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.

This is week 4 for our VBS lessons, and it is all about Magnifying God's forgiveness. Join Pastor Jeff as we explore the story of Jesus and Nicodemus this week from John 3. John 3:5-8 5 Jesus answered, “What I'm about to tell you is true. No one can enter God's kingdom unless they are born with water and the Holy Spirit. 6 People give birth to people. But the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised when I say, ‘You must all be born again.' 8 The wind blows where it wants to. You hear the sound it makes. But you can't tell where it comes from or where it is going. It is the same with everyone who is born with the Spirit.”

Sunday May 25, 2025

Discussion Questions:Sermon Overview Everyone who believes in Jesus has been born of the Spirit and has eternal life.Digging Deeper    Read John 3:1-15 1. Ezekiel 36:25-27 reads as follows: “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”How does this passage help us understand what Jesus is saying in John 3? 2. What is spiritual birth according to this passage? 3. Jesus calls Nicodemus (as well as you and me) to believe in him. What are some of the reasons we should trust Jesus (from this passage)?  4. In John 3:14-15, Jesus points us back to Numbers 21:4-9. How does the story in Numbers help us better grasp the gospel?  5. How is it better that a relationship with God and eternal life are based on God's initiating new birth rather than something else, like living a good life or being religious, etc?6. If you follow Jesus, when you reflect on the fact that you didn't cause your own spiritual birth, how does that affect your gratitude or humility before God?7. How might we grow in awe, wonder, and gratitude for this unmerited gift of God's grace?  8. What fears or hesitations do you have about sharing your faith? How does this passage challenge or encourage you?9. Pastor Brett reminded us that because new birth is something God does, he can save even those who seem hard and far from him! The salvation of others does not depend on our persuasiveness or others' perceived openness. Does this encourage you? Does this spur you in your witness to unbelieving family members, neighbors, or co-workers? Why or why not? Please share.10. This passage calls those who have not yet placed their trust in Christ to see their need for what he has done, and trust him alone for entry into God's kingdom. How might you use this story as you interact with those who don't know Jesus?11. If someone were to say, “I'm trying to live a good life to get into heaven,” how would you use this passage to respond?Prayer

What does it mean to be "born again"? Nicodemus' story in John 3 teaches us how salvation is not about what you do, but about what Christ has done for you. - The Church of Eleven22® is a movement for all people to discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus Christ. Eleven22 is led by Pastor Joby Martin and based in Jacksonville, Florida, with multiple campuses throughout Jacksonville and the surrounding areas. To find out more about how God is moving at Eleven22, go to CoE22.com

When Jesus meets with Nicodemus he tells him that in order to enter the kingdom of heaven he must be born again. He must be given new life. As we continue our sermon series Salvation, Pastor Gabe teaches on how that new life is given to us by the power of the Spirit.

Send us a textGood morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)Spiritbuilding.com - (premium quality paperback)Youtube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comJohn 19 Pilate has Jesus scourged with whips and places a crown of thorns upon His head. He then parades Jesus before the Jews while openly claiming to find no guilt in Him. Even though Pilate makes efforts to release Jesus, the Jews threaten to report Pilate to Caesar unless he crucifies Him. Pilate relents and delivers Jesus over to death. He writes “The King of the Jews” over the Savior's cross, though the Jewish masses oppose this designation. Jesus is then crucified with His mother and other disciples looking on. He asks John to care for His mother after His passing. Jesus announces, “It is finished” and bows His head in death. Joseph and Nicodemus, two secret followers of Jesus, take Jesus's body and bury Him in a new tomb.  The central event of human history is the death of Jesus on the cross for our sins. Jesus had the power to prevent this. He tells Pilate he has no authority over Him. And yet, our Savior is willingly led like a lamb to the slaughter. John's gospel reveals three statements of Jesus on the cross, each revealing something about Him. His call to John to care for Mary shows Jesus' love for His own. He then said, “I am thirsty,” indicating He physically suffered for us. When Jesus said, “It is finished,” this proved that He was devoted to the Lord's will, even unto death. Jesus demonstrated love, sacrifice, and faith. These qualities live on in those who follow Him.  Holy Father, we praise You for sending Your Son to die in our place and to take away our sins. We see in Him deep love for others, a sacrificial spirit, and undying trust in You and Your plan to save souls. God, we are so grateful. But plant within us something more than just gratitude. Form within us the desire to live like Jesus in this world. Please help us develop selfless love for others, a willingness to pay the cost of discipleship, and a trust in You and Your will that cannot be diminished by anything or anyone.  Thought Questions: -       Pilate is a tragic character. He knew Jesus was innocent but was too weak to stand up for Him. How are you stronger than Pilate? -       Jesus had the power to stop His crucifixion. Why did He go through with it, and how can that same spirit be seen in your life? -       Joseph and Nicodemus were disciples who emerged from secrecy. Are there areas in your life where it is time to do this as well?

Today we begin reading the Gospel of John! Fr. Mike emphasizes the significance of Jesus' divinity, and explains how the story of salvation culminates in Christ as the Messiah. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.