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Practicing the Presence of Jesus: True and Lasting Transformation |
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Sunday, February 24 2008 |
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We welcome back our Senior Pastor, Denis Beausejour.
Series: Practicing the Presence of Jesus - Encounters that Renovate the Heart
Message: True and Lasting Transformation
Text: John3:1-15
Introduction
- John 2:23-25 – transition and gateway to the next few chapters
- The journey of faith – critics, fair weather onlookers, serious students, transformed followers
- Nicodemus’ story raises questions: Where am I on the journey? Where am I going?
Today’s Theme: True and lasting transformation Reading John 3:1-15
1. Do the miracles of Jesus captivate your attention? What about your trust? vv.1-2
2. Jesus abruptly insists on true transformation to enter the Kingdom vv.3-10
What does it mean to be born again?
Why should Nicodemus know this? As always, the clues are in the Old Testament!
See Ezekiel 36:25-27 (later this week read about the dry bones coming to life in chapter 37!)
What is Jesus doing? Why do the Pharisees miss the message? John 5:39-40
3. Failure to believe is worse than failure to understand. vv. 11-13
Earthly things:
Heavenly things:
4. The snake on a pole is a preview to Jesus on the Cross as the basis for eternal life vv. 14-15
Numbers 21:4-9
2 Kings 18:4b – the symbol becomes the object of worship
Isaiah 52:13 and 53:5 – the real thing
What does John mean by “believe”, which he uses nearly 100 times in his gospel?
Whatever happens to Nicodemus? What does that mean for us?
This year we have only one focus: Encountering the supremacy of Jesus
We only have one application: Practicing His presence
We all have to come to grips with the fact that we have underestimated Jesus!
Prayer and the practice of His presence.
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