1. JOHN’S GOSPEL STYLE – Somewhat frustrating for many of us today, but the way history was “supposed” to be written then. Merging of (1) event, (2) interpretation, and (3) later reflection and meditation on the meaning. Some Key Themes – most run through today’s passage: - Word – Light – Glory – Truth – Trust/Believe – Spirit - Life – Father – Son Jesus – Receive - Signs – Name – the World - Love - Know - See

2. JOHN’S GOSPEL – SOME KEY INVITATIONS “Trust/Believe” – I have written these things so you can trust – “LET IT BE” (John 20 & 21) “Come and See” – you may not trust right now, but hang around Jesus and see what happens (John 1) “Will you also go away?” - “Lord, where else would I go? You are the only life I have ever found!” (John 6)

3. TODAY – EMPHASES from John 2:23- 3:22 TRUSTING GOD’S RENEWING LOVE THROUGH JESUS - FOR THE WORLD & FOR US TRUSTING GOD’S SPIRIT TO BE AT WORK GIVING NEW LIFE TO US RESPONDING IN TRUST & ACTION TO THESE GIFTS OF GOD THROUGH JESUS

4. Background Context for John 3:1-2 John 2:23-25 23 When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many trusted (believed) in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.

5. John 3:1-2 – a courageous & influential seeker - an opportunity for Jesus to network - 1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one is capable of doing these signs that you do apart from the presence of God."

6. John 3:3-5 – challenge: not really about “signs” - need to be “born/begotten” anew 3 Jesus answered him, "Amen, amen, I tell you, no one is capable of seeing the kingdom (reign) of God without being born (conceived/begotten) anew." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How is anyone capable of being born after having grown old? Is one capable of entering a second time into the mother's womb and to be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I tell you, no one is capable of entering the kingdom (reign) of God without being born of water and Spirit (wind- breath).

7. John 3:6-7 2 sources for our empowering our lives 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, `You must be born anew.'

8. John 3:8-10 God’s Spirit seen by results, not by our control 8 The wind (spirit-breath) blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit (wind-breath)." 9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not know these things?

9. John 3:11-13 - Growing in God means “receiving” 11 “Amen, amen, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not trust (believe), how can you trust (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.

10. John 3:14-15 – a horrendous symbol of destruction that God chooses as the source of life And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, 15 that whoever trusts (believes) in him may have (now) the life of the coming age.

11. John 3:16 – GOD’S LOVE FOR and THRU JESUS – the way God offers the renewed life for all - 16 For God so loved the world that God gave God’s only begotten Son, so that everyone who trusts (believes) in him may not perish but may have (now) the life of the coming age (eternal life).

12. John 3:17-19 – PERISHING ALREADY REIGNS AMONG US; GOD WANTS TO GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE/RESCUE/HEALING/WHOLENSS 17 Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn (judge) the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who trust (believe) in him are not condemned; but those who do not trust (believe) are condemned already, because they have not trusted (believed) in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment (condemnation), that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.

13. John 3:20-22 – GOD’S LOVE THRU JESUS IS TO FREE US TO TRUST & ACT IN GOD’S PRESENCE 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their actions may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their actions have been enacted in God." 22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized.

14. COMMUNION: NEW CHALLENGE? Will you RECEIVE GOD’S GIFT? FAMILIAR CHALLENGE? WILL YOU RECEIVE MORE? GOD LOVES YOU & THOSE ALL AROUND YOU.