POV
Week 3: The Religious Insider

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. —John 3:1 (NIV)

He came to Jesus at night “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” —John 3:2 (NIV)

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” —John 3:3 (NIV)

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” —John 3:4 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’” —John 3:5–7 (NIV)

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. —Ephesians 2:4–5 (NIV)

“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. —John 3:9 (NIV)

Jesus says to him, “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?” —John 3:10 (NIV)

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” —John 3:14–15 (NIV)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” —John 3:16 (NIV)

Believe (Pisteuō) = faith, trust in, rely on, have faith, put your full weight.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. —Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. —1 John 4:9 (NIV)

God’s Love…

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Reveal Answer

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But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8 (NIV)

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Reveal Answer

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But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him. —Romans 5:8 (MSG)

   It’s

Reveal Answer

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Reveal Answer

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“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” —John 3:17 (NIV)

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” —John 3:18 (NIV)

   It’s

Reveal Answer

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Q: How do you need to embrace God’s great love for you and those around you today?

Notes:

Doing Life Together at North Bay Community Church

Theme: Spiritual Birthing

Reflect Together: What impacted you the most from last Sunday’s message?

Share Together: What is your first memory of attending church or a religious gathering? How did you feel then and what is your point of view today?

Read Together: John 3:1–18

Discuss Together:

Nicodemus was a respected religious leader, yet he struggled to grasp Jesus’ teaching on new birth. What does this reveal about the limitations of religious knowledge apart from spiritual transformation?
Jesus speaks of being “born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). How do you interpret this phrase in light of biblical theology?
What are the biggest challenges you face when trying to share the necessity of being “born again” with others? How can we communicate this truth effectively to those who think they already know God?
Why do you think Jesus emphasized belief, rather than religious performance or status, in His conversation with Nicodemus?
John 3:16 is foundational to the gospel, but how does it challenge even mature believers? In what ways can we still grow in understanding and in living out this truth?
How does Jesus’ teaching in John 3:17-18 shape the way we engage with those who don’t yet believe or who feel the church is condemning?
Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus was private, yet we later see him defending Jesus (John 7:50-51) and preparing His burial (John 19:39). How does his journey encourage us in our own faith progression?
Who do you know we can pray for as a group that needs spiritual rebirth?