Relationships - God John 3:1-8, 16-17 4/15/12

Sermon 4-15-12 relationships – God John 3:1-8, 16-17

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.[a]”
4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” ……
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[f] 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.

A new series – relationships. Life together. Today – w God

The sermon that almost didn’t happen. We believe that god is in everything, so a relationship with him is described in every sermon in this series. But someone [wendy] mentioned that this is such a big question, everyone wants to talk about it. it is fundamental.

So, what does it mean to be in , have a relationship with God.


There comes a point of awareness and you make a decision.
God so loved the world- who so ever believes

A choice between the life you have led and the life you are invited to
Jesus described it as being born again
Don’t be nervous about that
Nicodemus from religion to life in the spirit
You and me, most likely from fear and insecurity to faith
Or from selfishness to Christ centeredness

Maybe you remember a decision, maybe you feel like you were always a Christian, but if you do, there was a time that you became aware of what was happening.

Some will tell you that you did it wrong [a pic of a scolding person could work here]
• You have to do it in church
• You have to say a prayer that looks just like this
• You have to come down front
• You have to do it publically
• You better remember when and know the day so you can have a spiritual birthday
• None of this appears as formula in the Bible

You don’t have to look like everyone else
God is unique, so are you.

You just have to be sincere
You know if you are sincere, so does God

Part two- after your initial awareness or decision - You start to grow
Or not, not everyone grows
There is difference between learning and growing –some people never submit themselves to him

Beware of hearing voices

How do we grow
1. Reading the bible [a pic of the bible]
2. Praying [a ppic of someone in prayer- maybe at wcc]
3. Get in a group – learn others ideas, questions, make friends, normal people keep you from being crazy/find a mentor
4. Experiencing God in life and creation [pic of a new baby, the grand canyon, the night sky]

Part three - What mature Christianity looks like – how do you know if you are growing

By the fruit of your life
• Not by how many scriptures that you know.
• Not whether or not you play cards of dance
• 1 cor 13
• Fruit of the spirit
• Learning to give yourself away – not my will but thine be done.

Conclusion - Where do we go from here
There is no magic pill.
There is not time that you arrive
Learning to live into the light of Our father is an ever changing experience
From glory to glory he’s changing us
We get a little sweeter all the time
You don’t arrive
It’s the live that you choose.
Its what you get to be.
And it is the most rewarding of lives

May the blessings of life with our Father be yours today and every day of your life.
Lets pray. [Choose him again.]