Sunday School Lesson June 12, 2022
Subject: Born Again by the Spirit
The Point: The Holy Spirit brings us into a new life as we place our trust in Jesus.
The Passages: John 3:1-8, 14-17
Study The Bible: John 3:1-3
1). New birth is required to enter the kingdom of God.
- There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
- This man came to him at night and asked “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”
- Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Lasting truths from: John 3:1-3
* Jesus did not perform deeds on His own, but because He was from God and God was with Him.
* Living by the rule of law is not enough to save you.
* Unless someone is born again through faith in Jesus, he does not have eternal life.
2). The Holy Spirit brings about the new birth.
John 3:4-8
- “How can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked him. ”Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”
- Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
- Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.
- Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again.
- The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you down everyone born of the Spirit.”
Lasting truths from: John 3:4-8
* Both Old and New Testament Scripture comprehensively and consistently reveals that being born again and having a relationship with God is a wholly spiritual experience from God.
* Human effort can never produce spiritual results.
* We must never wait until we understand all the ways of God to respond to Him.
3). We experience the new birth as we trust in Jesus.
John 3:14-17
- “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
- so that everyone who believes in him may 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.
- For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Lasting truth from: John 3:14-17
* Because God gave His one and only Son as an expression of His love, that love should never be questioned.
* Anyone who believes in Jesus has a qualitatively superior life now and a qualitatively endless life forever.
* Experiencing eternal life is not a result of human effort, but faith in Jesus.
Live It Out
As you reflect on this session, respond to the following questions:
- How is the accumulation of information about spiritual matters different from believing in Jesus?
- How does the realization that God loves you, and His demonstration of that love for you by giving His Son to die, impact you right now?
- What are some positive ways you could explain new birth to someone who has been turned off by the culturally negative connotations of the phrase born again?
- Most unbelievers trust their own righteousness or religious deeds to merit eternal life. How can you explain to someone that self-effort will never do?
Closing Prayer:
“Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive me of my sins and rose from the dead to give me new life. I’m sorry for all the wrong I’ve done and ask You to forgive me. I now accept Your gift of eternal life. Thank You for Your love, forgiveness, and a new life in Jesus Christ. From this day forward, I choose to follow You. In Jesus’ name Amen.”