The Birth of a New Humanity
Apprenticing with Jesus
Jan 20, 2019
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “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.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “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!”
5 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? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 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.
John 3:1-16 NIV
Why do we need to be born again? How can we get it? How can we help others?
Nicodemus - The Seeker
A professional theologian who knew the Old Testament virtually by heart. He was genuinely interested in Jesus who he believed came from God.
He fully expected to be able to enter the Kingdom of God based on his strict obedience to the Law.
What qualifies a person to enter the Kingdom?
Jesus corrects him and says “You must be
Greek word for “again” means both “anew” and “from above”
Nicodemus fails to understand the spiritual implications
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13 NIV
Jesus clarifies that being born again means to be born of
John 3:5-7
The Re-Creation of a Person
1.
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.” Ezekiel 36:25
2. A New
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:26-27
“Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet — a vast army.” Ezekiel 37:9-10 NIV
Sharing the Good News With Others
1. Requires both
People will take notice when they receive unexpected, undeserved and unconditional acts of kindness.
Is there something about my life that prompts people to want to know more?
2. Engage People in Real
People come to faith more often through a series of conversations where they can talk about their doubts and questions. The best thing we can do is learn to listen.
Conversation Ideas
What’s your religious background?
Has there been a time in life when you felt close to God?
What’s your impression of church or Christianity?
3. Tell God’s
“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
A. Say something about God’s
B. Say something about
C. Say something about
D. Say something about