Being In The Kingdom of God
Sunday | October 1, 2023
ray@crossroadsny.org
Snapshot of John 3:1-18 — Jesus has a conversation with a prestigious Jewish leader named Nicodemus about being in the Kingdom of God.
1. Listen for God’s leading
John 3:1-2a / ESV, “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night…”
John 6:44 / ESV, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”
2. Get into agreement with God
John 3:2b-8 / ESV, “…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 him, “Truly, truly, 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, “Truly, truly, 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.’ 8 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.”
John 3:16-7/ ESV, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 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.”
Amos 3:3 / NLT, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?”
3. Step forwrd in faith
John 3:18 / ESV, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”
John 19:38-41 / ESV, “After 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, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.”
My next steps
Read Next: John 2
Memorize: John 6:44; Romans 8:14; Amos 3:3
Get into agreement with God’s Word.
Return for service next Sunday. (9am, 11am, or 6pm)