YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

John 3:1-36

Key Verse: 3:3

* NICODEMUS NEEDED TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD (1-9)

1. Who was Nicodemus? In what sense was he a successful man? What do you know about the Pharisees? About the significance of being a ruling council member?

2. What did Nicomdemus know about Jesus? Why had he come to Jesus? (And why at night?) What did Jesus know about Nicodemus? (2:24,25)

3. How did Jesus reply to Nicodemus? (3) What did Nicodemus really need? What does this mean (1 Pe 1:23; Jn 1:1) What does it men to "see the kingdom of God"?

4. How did Nicodemus respond to Jesus' words? (4) What did he think Jesus meant? Why did he think about physical and material things? What serious problem did he have? (Heb 9:27)

5. How did Jesus explain the meaning of being born again? (5-8) How is physical birth different spiritual birth? How are they similar? How is the Holy spirit like the wind? How can a person be born again (See Jn 1:12,13)

* FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD (10-21)

6. See verse 9 for Nicodemus' reply. What question was he still asking? What does this tell us about him? How and why did Jesus rebuke him? (10-13) What does this teach about Nicodemus real problem? (Mk 16:16)

7. What does the incident of the bronze snake teach about faith? (See Nu 21:4-9) How is believing in Jesus like this? What does Jesus teach here about the way to God and eternal life?(14-15)

8. Why did God send his Son into the world? What were his motives? What was his purpose? What are the consequences of not accepting God's love? (16-18)

9. Why don't people come into the light ? How are people who love truth different? What clue can we find here about Nicodemus' real problem?

* JESUS IS ABOVE ALL (22-36)

10. As Jesus' popularity grew, what problem did John's followers have? Why? What was attitude toward this problem? Why? (22-30)

11. What does John testify about the difference between himself and Jesus? Why is it a life and death matter for John's disciples (and everyone else, including Nicodemus) to believe in Jesus and not reject him (31-36) What does one who accepts Jesus and his word learn about God?