Series Summary:
We live life in troubled times with troubled hearts. Who or what do we believe? The Greek word πιστεύω (pisteuo) is translated believe. It is not just an intellectual exercise. It is an entrusting of one’s self to a person or a cause. The gospel of John uses pisteuo 98 times! “These are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name." This fall may "your heart not be troubled. Believe!” πιστεύω #John #2025
Starter
Think about a time in your life that you had a question about what to believe.
- Who did you believe in enough to ask them the question?
- What time of day was it?
- Where did you meet the person to ask?
- What was their answer?
Pray
Lord we live life in troubled times with troubled hearts. Who or what do we believe? You tell us clearly what to believe. You tell us, “These are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name." As we study the book of John, open our hearts and minds to believe. May we encourage one another to truly believe entrusting our lives to you and your will being done. May we strive to lead people to believe in you “the way, the truth, and the life.” Amen
Study Questions
Everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life. “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life… Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.” (John 3:15-16, 18)
- Which specific “name” were the people trusting in and why? (2:23)
- What was Jesus’ response to their “trusting”? (2:24-25)
- What can we learn from this when people today claim they believe in Him and His name?
- Who was Nicodemus? (3:1)
- Why did Nicodemus likely come to him at night (especially based on what Jesus did during Passover at the temple in chapter 2)?
- Even if it was at night, Nicodemus was still willing to risk coming to Jesus. He was not asking for some physical thing or trying trap Him. Why are these details important to realize?
- How do we see still see people use this kind of flattery and “coming at night” tactic today in seeking God?
- Nicodemus says 3 things that are true about Jesus. What are those 3 truths? (3:2)
- What does he not say or see that is true of Jesus?
- Jesus says, “Are you a teacher of Israel (God’s people) and don’t know these things?”
How are the religious teachers of our day similar to Nicodemus and why?
- The story of Moses and the snakes in the wilderness is in Numbers 21:7-9. Think and discuss why Jesus would use this story especially with a Jewish religious leader like Nicodemus.
- Jesus and Nicodemus have a conversation about being born from above (ie. new birth, born again). If someone asked you what it means to be born from above/born again, how would you explain that? (Make sure to use scripture in your answers so you can point people to believe in Him.)
- What are some of the take aways of the Spirit and water analogy Jesus uses with Nicodemus? (3:5-8)