God’s Own Child (Lent 2A Gospel)

Download a PDF of the Word One Bible Study for Lent 2 Gospel.

Text: John 3:1-17 for the second Sunday in Lent, Lectionary Series A

Objectives

1. To help participants understand that Jesus did not come to condemn, but to save the world through His means of grace.
2. To introduce participants to the Sacrament of Holy Baptism.

Materials Needed

Bibles

Lutheran Service Book

One Big Sheet of Paper

Markers

Group Guidelines

This is a small group Bible Study. Please prepare by having a piano player join you, if possible. (You may chose to speak the hymn.) The pastor or DCE will lead the discussion.

Building Community

1. Take time to get to know everyone. Where do you go to school? When did you first come to church? (If participants remember their Baptismal date, please share.)
2. Describe in your own words, “What is the wind?”
3. Do any of you remember seeing a friend or relative be Baptized? What do you remember about the service?

Getting into Scripture

1. Open your LSB to hymn 596. Sing or say stanza one.
2. Write out in the middle of your paper, “Consider now what God has done, the gifts He gives to everyone Baptized into Christ Jesus.”
3. Have each person read a verse from John 3:1-17.
4. Share with the group what was most interesting to you. Write those things out around the edges of the page.
5. Who is Nicodemus?
6. Why does he come to see Jesus at night?
7. What does Jesus mean by “born again”? (Baptism)
8. Open your LSB to page 325. Read together the FIRST section of “The Sacrament of Holy Baptism.”
9. Write down on your paper the two things the Small Catechism teaches that you need for Baptism. (Water and the Word/Command of God)
10. Have someone read Romans 6:3. What does your Baptism connect you to?
11. Sing or say Stanza 4 of our hymn (596). What does Christ make us?

Reinforcing What Has Been Learned

Sing the whole hymn. Have the participants share a part from the hymn that stood out to them from the message that God loves them and claims them as his own in Baptism. Have them share how their Baptism has meaning in their life today. What has God done for them? Discuss what it means for God to love the world.

“God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ! He, because I could not pay it, gave my full redemption price. Do I need earth’s treasures many? I have one worth more than any that brought me salvation free lasting to eternity.”

Closing

Close with the Lord’s Prayer.