Study John 3

Are you really good at something?  Whether it’s a sport, a field of study,  a profession or a hobby, most people have that one thing in which they truly excel.  On this third stage of our journey we are going to meet a person such as this.  His name was Nicodemus and he excelled in understanding the Old Testament and God’s regulations that were written in it.  Although Nicodemus knew a lot about the Bible, he struggled to figure out who Jesus was.

Chapter 3 Study Questions

  1. Do you think Nicodemus was right in seeing Jesus’ miracles as an indication that Jesus was sent from God? (3:2)
  2. “Unless a person is born from _____________, he cannot ______________ the kingdom of God.” Did Nicodemus properly understand what Jesus was saying? (3:3-4)
  3. What are the 2 births described? (3:6)
  4. Which one of these two births is required so that a person can have fellowship with God in his kingdom? (3:5)
  5. Although Jesus’ words may have been new to Nicodemus, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he and his disciples “speak about what we ____________ and testify about what we have ____________.” (3:11)
  6. Jesus is the only one that has _____________ from Heaven.  Does this make his teaching trustworthy? (3:13)
  7. When Jesus says that he will be “lifted up” (death on the cross), what will his death accomplish for those who believe in him? (3:14-15)
  8. Has God expressed love or condemnation to the world? (3:16)
  9. What did God do as an act of love toward the world? (3:16)
  10. For those who believe in the one whom God has sent, what will NOT happen to them? (3:16, 18)  What WILL they have? (3:16)
  11. Jesus is portrayed as the light that comes into the world.  While some people choose to stay in darkness, what do others go towards? (3:19-21).
  12. Why do people still choose darkness rather than light? (3:20)

Chapter 3 Answers

  1. Yes
  2. (a) above; (b) see; no, he did not
  3. Flesh (natural birth) and Spirit (spiritual birth or Spirit birth)
  4. Spirit
  5. (a) know; (b) seen
  6. Descended;  It gives him an “eyewitness testimony,” which is a trustworthy testimony.
  7. Eternal life
  8. Love
  9. He gave his one and only Son to die for us and take our sins
  10. They will not perish or be condemned by God; they will have eternal life
  11. The light (practice truth).
  12. They do not want their evil deeds to be exposed.