John 3:16-21

1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)

2) Scripture Reading: John 3: 16-21 (click to listen)
“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. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ¹⁹ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

3) Devotional 
This past weekend Harold Camping predicted that the world would end.  All over the country could be seen signs that said, "May 21 Judgment Day."  It came and went and we are all still here today.  It is true that Jesus will return, though we don't know the time or the date (Matthew 24:44).  Yet, making predictions of judgment and destruction is not in line with what Jesus spoke about in this passage.  God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world, to "point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was."  Rather, he came to help this broken world that we are in.  To bring wholeness and healing and make everything right again through His death and Resurrection when we place our trust in Him.  Knowing that Jesus came to love and forgive will hopefully motivate us to love this world and share Christ with folks in humility rather than judge and condemn them.  I hope that we can all strive to look more like Jesus today and everyday.

4) Questions to Consider 
"In every encounter we either give life or drain it (Brennan Manning)."  As you encounter people today, will you give them life or take it away?  How can you give life to people you encounter?

5) Prayer

Father, you sent your son into the world to offer us a chance for hope and healing.  And while we can still call today, today.  And while you take your time in coming back, we still have the chance to receive healing.  Help us to become more like you and love others in Jesus' mighty and awesome name.  Amen.

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)

John 3:7-15

1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 min.)

2) Scripture Reading: John 3:7-15 (click to listen)
 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

3) Devotional
Have you ever felt the frustration of reading a passage of scripture and not being able to understand what it said? This happened to me a lot, especially before I had a relationship with God through Jesus. Now that I do have a relationship with God through Jesus,  reading a passage of scripture without understanding happens only on rare occasions. I can’t help but think that Nicodemus felt the same frustration I had felt when he was speaking with Jesus. “How could this be?”, was Nicodemus’s reaction when Jesus was trying to explain the meaning of being “born again.” He just could not understand the teaching of Jesus.

What is the difference between reading scripture with or without understanding? It is the Holy Spirit. When we enter into a personal relationship with God by accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord, God gifts us with His Holy Spirit. One of the works of the Holy Spirit is the illumination of the scriptures. In other words, Scriptures that were read before without understanding now have meaning. Since Nicodemus did not have the Holy Spirit, he could not understand what Jesus was saying.

4) Thoughts to Consider:
If you are reading the scriptures and not understanding them, you either need a personal relationship with God through Jesus or you need a mentor to help you. Either way, please reach out to an elder or staff member. We can meet with you and find you a mentor or help you to begin a personal relationship with God through Jesus which will transform your life.

5) Prayer: Almighty God, I know you have the ability to help me understand the Bible. You want me to understand Your Word and apply it to my life. Please make the words on the pages real to me so I can apply them to my life and accomplish your will on Earth. In Jesus name I pray these things, Amen.

6) Conclude with Silence (2 min)