Gather:
Can you tell God’s story in a sentence or two?
How could you tell a friend about God?
Hear:
John 3:1-21
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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Pause:
Reflect on these verses. What is God saying to you?
For Everyone:
One time, an atheist friend of mine asked me what John 3:16 said. Even though he was not raised in church, he saw it posted on signs at sporting events and it piqued his curiosity. In Treehouse Club last week (Ep. 8), we talked about John 3:16 being a summary of the major tenants of our beliefs. God loved the world, sent His son, Jesus, who will save all who believe in Him. God is saving the world through Jesus!
The Bible can sometimes be difficult to understand. When Jesus first spoke these words, Nicodemus, an expert in the law, had a hard time understanding everything Jesus said. Just think about that - an expert in God’s word had trouble understanding the words of God! That should be comforting for us. It’s o.k. if we don’t understand everything we read and study. God doesn’t ask us to understand everything we read and study. He doesn’t ask us to be experts and He doesn’t ask us to be perfect. But God does ask us to believe!
Belief is an interesting thing. I’m so glad that it is not about complete understanding because I still don’t understand everything about the Bible. With simple faith, though, we are adopted into God’s great story of love and salvation.
My friend has not yet become a follower of Jesus Christ. He believes his car will get him safely from point A to point B, but he is unable to believe that Jesus is the savior of the world. But miraculously, God has reached out to my friend through signs at sporting events! God’s word is powerful. I pray we have the confidence to share these words with others.
Wonder:
What does it mean to believe?
Do we have to understand everything to believe?
Bless:
Dear God,
Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus to save the world! Help us to live a life that reflects our belief in you. Help us to tell others about Jesus.
Amen.