God’s Love Discovered (Trinity B Gospel)

Download a PDF of the Word One Bible Study for Trinity B Gospel.

Text: John 3:1-17 for Trinity Sunday, Lectionary Series B

OBJECTIVE

Participants will reflect on and rediscover God’s great love and sacrifice for us.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

Divide into groups of 6-8. The person whose birthday is the furthest from today should lead the group through the study.

In your small group, take a moment for each person to respond to one or more of the following questions:

1. Why might someone sneak out at night?
2. Who or what might they want to see?
3. What might happen if this person was discovered?

LOOKING AT GOD’S WORD

Read John 3:1-17.

1. What do we know about Nicodemus? (Look at John 3:2, 7:50-51, 19:39, Matthew 3:7, Mark 2:16 and Luke 5:17.)
2. What is significant about Nicodemus coming to see Jesus?
   1. Why do you think he chose to “sneak out” at night? What was Nicodemus hoping to discover?
   2. What was Nicodemus’ concern (vs. 3-4)? What did Jesus mean when He spoke of being born again (vs. 5-8)?
   3. Why was it so ironic that Nicodemus didn’t understand Jesus’ teaching (vs. 10)?
   4. Jesus uses an Old Testament example to reinforce His teaching. (As a Pharisee, Nicodemus should have been very familiar with Old Testament teachings.) Look at Numbers 21:4-9. How does the “snake in the desert” illustrate what Jesus came to do?
3. Look at verses 16-17. What simple truth do we discover here? When did you first memorize these verses? What do these verses reveal about God?
4. In groups of 2-3, respond to the following questions:
   1. Are there times when you feel that you need to “sneak around” so others don’t know you are a Christian? Why or why not?
   2. What would you say to a person who had “snuck out” to see you in hope of discovering more about God and His love?

CLOSING

Consider the following in your closing prayer:

Give thanks to God for His great love…

Give thanks to God for His gift of the Holy Spirit through Baptism…

Ask for opportunities to help others, by the power of the Holy Spirit, discover God’s great love.

by MaryBeth Popp

Originally published in Discovery Bible Studies 19, 1996.

Updated for youthESource in May  2015