Holy Trinity Sunday

 Sermon Text: John 3:1-17

 Other Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8 and Romans 8:14-17


 

  1. What did Jesus tell Nicodemus was the only way “to see the kingdom of God”?
     
  2. What is this “new birth” all about?
     
  3. In these verses, where do you see a reference to God the Father? God the Son? God the Holy Spirit?
     
  4. Isaiah was scared in front of the holy triune God. How do these verses from John chapter 3 (and our second lesson from Romans 8:14-17) help balance that out? 
  1. The only way for Nicodemus to see God’s kingdom was to be born again of water and the Spirit. Evidently, Nicodemus had refused to go down to the Jordan River and be baptized by John. Today too, without rebirth, even smart, religious people who respect Christ do not have God ruling in their sinful hearts. Without rebirth, no one is spiritual.
     
  2. Just as no one decides to be born the first time, new birth is a gift from God, not a human decision. New birth involves trusting in what God has done to save us by sending his Son to live and die for us. It gives us eternal life.
     
  3. Jesus talks about God the Holy Spirit in verses 5-8. God the Father is seen in verses 16,17. God the Son is seen in verses 13-17.
     
  4. Here we see God’s love for sinners, that he wants them to be saved by believing in his Son. Such faith gives us confidence and trust in God, not fright of him.