Max Lucado - 3:16: A Study for Small Groups

A STUDY
FOR
SMALL GROUPS

MAX LUCADO

2007 by Max Lucado

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Unless otherwise noted, Scripture references are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture references marked NKJV are taken from The New King James Version. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture references marked MSG are taken from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright (c) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

ISBN-10: 1-4185-2923-0

ISBN-13: 978-1-4185-2923-9

Printed in the United States of America
07 08 09 10 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS

THE MOST FAMOUS
CONVERSATION
IN THE BIBLE

SCRIPTURE FOCUS:
John 3:112

LESSON OBJECTIVE:
To discover that real life can only be found in a faith relationship with Jesus Christ and to commit to living within that relationship.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life
(John 3:16).

REWIND

Nicodemus had to visit Jesus in secret. After all, he was a prominent Jewish leader, a member of the Pharisees. This was the group that had investigated John the Baptist and was now building a case against Jesus. Nicodemus, however, abandoned his role as a prosecutor in order to seek personal answers. Nicodemus knew enough to make him wonder if Jesus really was the fulfillment of the prophecy that was central to the Jewish faith. His colleagues werent convinced, but Nicodemus was intrigued.

Even though he was curious, Nicodemus reserved judgment. He misunderstood Jesuss words about the new birth. He couldnt seem to grasp the idea that life change is a God-thing; he believed that God could be found in keeping the law and doing the right things. Heavenfor Nicodemus, the Pharisees, and traditionalists was something to be earned. Jesus offered what Nicodemus was seeking; Nicodemus just wasnt so sure about Jesuss plan.

RETHINK

Your doubts about a faith-based relationship might not be the same as those Nicodemus had. Maybe you wonder if God really cares for you as much as the Bible says he does. Maybe you question Gods willingness and desire to intervene in the problems you are facing. For you, salvation might be nothing more than insurance against spending an eternity in hell; it has no present value. Nicodemus tried religion and found it empty. You might be in the same situation.

What, other than faith, have you tried in order to make sense out of life? (Check all that apply.)

____ religion

____ relationships

____ the pursuit of prosperity

____ possessions

____ popularity

____ philosophy

____ power

____ other:

Describe how you discovered your solution(s) wasnt working.

Complete Nicodemuss statement from your own perspective. Jesus, Ive heard about your works and

________________________________________________ ______________________________________________.

Nicodemus had religious credentials that he thought were enough. He worked for a religious organization, spoke the religious language, and participated in religious activities. He might not have been the best person in the world, but he certainly wasnt the worst. He was in good standing with God... or was he?

Jesus told Nicodemus that being good wasnt good enough. Even being religious wouldnt make it possible for Nicodemus to understand what Jesus was talking about. Even though Nicodemus thought he had the spiritual life under control, he was missing the main ingredienthe had never been born again.

Describe the time when you were born again. Where were you? Who was there? What was the experience like?

What does it mean if you dont remember being born again? It means you might be suffering from Nicodemusitisthe misconception that a person can earn eternal life. You dont earn it. You cant purchase it. You dont get into heaven as part of the family plan. This way of thinking might be new to you; it was new to Nicodemus.

Nicodemus was a professional questioner. He took everything literally. When Jesus said that a person must be born again, Nicodemus was quick to jump on the literal impossibility of such an idea. The Pharisees were good at that.

Some of us would make good Pharisees because we tend to overlook the spiritual significance of biblical instructions, choosing instead to nitpick the minutia. Like defense attorneys, we badger the prosecutions witness, hoping to poke holes in the testimony. If we can just find one loophole, then that instruction wont apply to us.

What do you think pops into the minds of non-spiritual people when they hear the words born again?

____ physical rebirth

____ spiritual rebirth

____ religious nonsense

____ total confusion

If someone asked you to explain what it means to be born again in everyday words, what would you say?

REFLECT

When Jesus suggested that Nicodemus needed to be born again, he implied something specificNicodemus needed to be born from above. Nicodemus was powerless; he had to allow God to do something in his life.

Why is it so hard for some people to allow God to work in their lives?

What has prevented you from allowing God to work in your life?

This conversation with Nicodemus leads to what many believe is the most important verse in the entire Bible. People who have hardly read a word of Scripture even know the words in this verse.

Fill in the blanks:

For __________ so loved the _____________that he gave his one and only _________, that whoever believes in him shall not ___________ but have _______________ life.

It is interesting to look at two contrasts in this verse: God world; eternalperish. This is the contrast that resonates throughout Scripture. The worlds ways cause us to perish; Gods ways lead us to eternal life. There is no other way to obtain eternal life. This single verse of Scripture offers several unbelievable truthstruths that we often find hard to grasp.

In the space beside each phrase, write what that phrase means to your spiritual life.

1. God so loved -

2. that He gave His one and only Son -

3. shall not perish but have eternal life -

Maybe this is the first time youve thought about it in this way. Many of us read through that verse without thinking much about its meaning to our lives. Yet this verse sums up the very core of our faith. Without a thorough understanding of the truths in this verse, our faith will be built on a weak foundation.