fbpx
News Articles

Bible Study: September 22, 2013


NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.

This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.

Bible Passage: John 3:1-16

Discussion Questions:
How do people express interest in Jesus today? How do the questions asked about Jesus today compare to the questions asked by Nicodemus?

Food for Thought:

Some conversations are more critical than others. Some critical conversations are planned, while others are spontaneous. One critical conversation may be with a doctor who puts you on a diet and exercise regimen in an effort to minimize your heart-attack risk. Another critical conversation could be with a mentor who laments over the difficulty of finding qualified people for a job, and the job includes the kind of work you enjoy. A friend introducing you to the person who in time becomes your spouse is another one of those critical conversations.

Nicodemus approached Jesus and initiated a critical conversation. The conversation began with a comment that was really a question about Jesus’ identity. If you read between the lines, you hear Nicodemus asking if Jesus was more than a great teacher. Jesus’ response revealed His identity as the Messiah. Ultimately, the question facing Nicodemus was did he keep trusting the law that pointed to the need for the Messiah, or did he trust the Messiah for His salvation.

Nicodemus is not unique. The issue of Jesus’ identity remains a critical conversation. The conversations listed above are important in relation to our earthly lives. Since Jesus is the only way to eternity (see John 3:3, 5, 15, 16), a conversation about His identity is the most critical of all conversations. When someone initiates a conversation with us, we should be just as ready to point them to Jesus, the Savior they desperately need.

Explore the Bible

Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book, while keeping groups on pace to study through the Bible books in eight years. The eight-year plan and more information can be found on the Internet at LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible.

Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at www.LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
–30–
Dwayne McCrary is the adult Project Team Leader for Explore the Bible and can be followed on twitter @gdwayne.

    About the Author

  • Staff/Lifeway Christian Resources