July 15, 2018
Pastor Jeff Struecker
Sermon Notes
I. Do you consider yourself spiritual?
John 3:1-3
There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
II. What do you think happens to people after they die?
John 3:4-8
“How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
III. Are people held accountable for how they live?
John 3:9-13
“How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus. 10 “Are you a teacher of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. 11 “Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
IV. Do you believe in something enough that you would bet your life on it?
John 3:14-18
“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will 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. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
Three reasons why the big questions of life are powerful:
1. Your witness
2. The work of the Holy Spirit
3. The Word of God
Next Steps
• This sermon helped me understand that I’m not a Christian. Today, I went from condemned in sin, to eternally alive by faith in Jesus.
– I’m not sure who the Holy Spirit wants me to start a Gospel friendship with yet. Please pray for me to hear from Him this week.
+ These questions helped me better understand how to explain my faith.
Discussion Questions
- What is the toughest question you’ve ever been asked?
- Was there ever a question that prevented you from becoming a Christian? If so, how did you get that question answered?
- Can someone become a Christian without understanding the answers to all of today’s questions? (Explain your answer.)
- Is it possible to ask the same questions in ways that would make someone defensive rather than reflective? If so, what is the difference?
- Have you ever learned a Gospel presentation method? If so, how often do you use that method today?
- Do you think it’s okay to continue to share the Gospel with someone who won’t answer your questions honestly?
- Pray for the Holy Spirit to open an opportunity for you to ask a “big question” this week.
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