Loved | John 3:1-21
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January 8, 2023
Loved | John 3:1-21
WHEN YOUR BEST ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH

The Gospel of John was written by an author who only ever self-identified as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Such was John’s experience, he knew and felt what it is to be loved by Jesus. Many of the stories in his biography of Jesus are accounts of people who experienced the very same thing: what it means, even what it feels like, to be loved by Jesus.

We are going to enter their stories.

When we human beings are at our best, we’re curious, and asking questions. God made us this way. Nicodemus showed up on Jesus’ doorstep with lots of questions, and Jesus was able to bring out of him the best questions: ones whose answers challenged the reaches of Nicodemus’ mind and peered into the depths of his heart. What are you curious about these days?

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John 3:1-21

  1. If you (and your small group friends!) had a nighttime meeting with Jesus, what questions would you ask?
  2. What do you understand Jesus to mean when he says “you must be ‘born again”? (v. 3,5&7). What’s involved in that?
  3. Christians, unlike the God they worship, are prone to condemning others and themselves. Do you agree with that observation? If so, why would it be true?
  4. “People loved the darkness”. This statement seems obvious for rapists, thieves, and murderers. How could it be true for religious people like Nicodemus (or us!)?
  5. When do you get offended? Is there a chance you’re overly sensitive to the criticisms or disrespect of others?
  6. What might our Lord Jesus be speaking to you about this?

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