That’s Good News
Part 2 of “The Invite” message series
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. – John 3:16-17 (NASB)
4 Such is the confidence we have toward God through Christ. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. – II Corinthians 3:4-6 (NASB)
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus responded and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you people do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, except He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him. 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. 18 The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God.” – John 3:1-21 (NASB)
The BIG Idea
There are four overarching things we must do to be impactful when it comes to sharing our faith. We must know the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must embrace the Gospel as Good News, we must embrace Christ’s imperative to share the Gospel, and we must receive the power to effectively proclaim it.
The first century Biblical model for growing the Church of Jesus is . . .
What is the “Gospel?”
ILLUSTRATION: The true story of Nicodemus
We can’t get to God in our own strength.
Jesus didn’t come to make us better. Jesus came to transform us and make us new!
God does what God does.
Jesus challenges Nicodemus to open his heart and mind.
The concept of “the world” refers to those who stand against God and the Kingdom of God.
We are objects of the unconditional love of God.
Love involves sacrifice.
Belief is not something we make. Belief makes us.
Jesus changes the destination of our eternity and gives us a new birth.
It is easy to invite someone to worship, but it can be difficult to present the Gospel and field hard questions.
A relationship is necessary.
ILLUSTRATION: The ‘Bullhorn’ Sidewalk Preachers
Paul reminds the people of Corinth that their confidence and sufficiency is because of God, not themselves.
Only Jesus transforms the heart.
ILLUSTRATION: The kayak and the motorboat
Questions for Reflection
How do you feel when talking with a non-Christ follower about God?
Why do you think we make it so difficult to invite others to worship?
When was the last time you invited someone to a Worship Experience or Church event?
How important was community in your season of learning about Jesus for the first time?
Have you ever felt insecure when inviting someone to worship? Why or why not?
Why should we rely on the power of Jesus when evangelizing to someone?
Why is understanding the Gospel so important?
Do you know the Gospel?
Is your life being transformed by Jesus?
4 Such is the confidence we have toward God through Christ. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. – II Corinthians 3:4-6 (NASB)
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus responded and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you people do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, except He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him. 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. 18 The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God.” – John 3:1-21 (NASB)
The BIG Idea
There are four overarching things we must do to be impactful when it comes to sharing our faith. We must know the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must embrace the Gospel as Good News, we must embrace Christ’s imperative to share the Gospel, and we must receive the power to effectively proclaim it.
The first century Biblical model for growing the Church of Jesus is . . .
- Make new followers of Jesus.
- Forge new followers of Jesus into disciples.
- Send out followers of Jesus to make new followers of Jesus.
What is the “Gospel?”
- Jesus died for our sins.
- The Scriptures are accurate testimony.
- Jesus was buried.
- Jesus rose from the dead.
- There were witnesses to the Resurrection.
ILLUSTRATION: The true story of Nicodemus
We can’t get to God in our own strength.
Jesus didn’t come to make us better. Jesus came to transform us and make us new!
God does what God does.
Jesus challenges Nicodemus to open his heart and mind.
The concept of “the world” refers to those who stand against God and the Kingdom of God.
We are objects of the unconditional love of God.
Love involves sacrifice.
Belief is not something we make. Belief makes us.
Jesus changes the destination of our eternity and gives us a new birth.
It is easy to invite someone to worship, but it can be difficult to present the Gospel and field hard questions.
A relationship is necessary.
ILLUSTRATION: The ‘Bullhorn’ Sidewalk Preachers
Paul reminds the people of Corinth that their confidence and sufficiency is because of God, not themselves.
Only Jesus transforms the heart.
ILLUSTRATION: The kayak and the motorboat
Questions for Reflection
How do you feel when talking with a non-Christ follower about God?
Why do you think we make it so difficult to invite others to worship?
When was the last time you invited someone to a Worship Experience or Church event?
How important was community in your season of learning about Jesus for the first time?
Have you ever felt insecure when inviting someone to worship? Why or why not?
Why should we rely on the power of Jesus when evangelizing to someone?
Why is understanding the Gospel so important?
Do you know the Gospel?
Is your life being transformed by Jesus?