Questioning Jesus Part 2
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Questioning Jesus Part 2
Introduction
I’m always thankful for Easter Sunday - it’s a Sunday where God gives us a glimpse into the future.
This Easter we saw what it would look like to have 90 people in our congregation
We saw what it would look like if our children and grandchildren attended church
It’s a beautiful picture into what could happen if we continue on our course of reaching the lost in Greeley.
But we also have a few lessons that we need to learn along the way
We cannot expect redeemed behavior from the unredeemed.
What I mean is that we cannot expect Christian behavior from the non Christian
This includes adults and children alike
Adults that are new Christians have just as much to learn as children do
They do not know how to act in church, what to wear, what say, etc
As we continue to reach the lost and unbeliever - my prayer is that we will show grace
My prayer is that we will walk along side them
Kids with abusive families
Our church should be a place of prayer - a place of prayer for men, women, and kids
Our church may be the one safe place a kid can be a kid without being hit at home for not being a man
So few of us have the real story, or the whole story - we expect kids to act like little Christians - when at home they are abused, or their parents are grieving over a death, or going through a divorce, or their parents are dying
These are all things that are happening to our children in our church
If we had all that going in our life - we wouldn’t be able to act like good little Christians either
Please show the grace to these children
God has entrusted them to us for this season - so when we complain about the noise, or their involvement, or their behavior - realize that these kids need our grace
As your pastor - it’s my job to define the reality of our church
Right now we have 5 people that pick up and drop off our kids on Wednesday nights and typically multiple trips
Out of all of our kids on Wed night the only parents that attend our Adam and Jennifer - that leaves 15-19 kids without parental support at church
Which brings us to our text today - the most famous verse in the Bible
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
This applies to all - Black, White, Brown, Mexican, Tanzanian, American, Rich, Poor, Gay, Straight, Republican, Democrat - God loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son - that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
It’s been a few weeks since we were in John.
We last looked at - Questioning Jesus
We talked about the websites gotquestions.org and carm.org are places to go when you have questions about scripture, theology, cultures, etc.
gotquestions.org and carm.org are places to go when you have questions about scripture, theology, cultures, etc.
We looked at Nicodemus’ question about how can you be born again. Today we are going to look at Jesus’ answer
Stand if you are able as we read
John 3:1-21
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 have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Jesus answered and said to 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? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?”
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into 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 be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?
“Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.
“If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
“No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
Let’s Pray
John 3:16-17
In verses 16-21 there are three distinct persons - Believers, Non Believers, and God.
Let’s begin with the Believers.
Believers Slide
Believers
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Believers
Believers
Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. v16b
He who believes in Him is not judged v18a
But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. v21
Non Believer Slide
Non Believers
He who does not believe is already judged v18b
Men loved the darkness, for their deeds were evil v19b
Everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed v20
God Slide
God
God
God so loved the world v16a
Gave His only begotten Son v16b
God did not send His Son to judge the world v17
Conclusion
The greatest news is that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead.
The greatest warnings is to no longer live like the non believer - loving darkness, hating Jesus for fear of exposure.
You have nothing to fear if you live like the believer - practicing truth coming to Jesus He is the light
The greatest gift ever given was Jesus Christ our Lord - let’s share that gift.
Let’s Pray