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May 7 & 10, 2026

God So Loved

Scripture: John 3:1-18

John 3:16 (NIV)

16 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.

James 2:19 (NIV)

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

John 3:1 (NIV)

1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.

• Religion Does Not Equal Righteousness

John 3:2-3 (NIV)

2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, WE know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

• Information Does Not Equal Transformation.

John 3:4-5 (NIV)

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.

Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NLT)

25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.

26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn

heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.

John 3:6 (NIV)

6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

• Being Born Again is a Miraculous Birth.

John 3:7-8 (NIV)

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.”

• An Invisible Change Seen By All

John 3:9-16 (NIV)

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.”

16 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.

Genesis 22:2 (NLT)

2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

John 3:17-18 (NIV)

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

• The New Birth is Received Not Achieved

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