Bible Study Discussion Outline: John 3:1-8

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and

said to Him, Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do
unless God is with him.
3

Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom

of God.
4

Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mothers

womb and be born?

5

Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the

kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not
marvel that I said to you, You must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it,
but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
1.

Opening question: If you were the king/queen of a great kingdom, what kind of people would you want in
your kingdom?

2.

Background: Nicodemus calls Jesus "rabbi", a term Jews used to refer to a teacher with respect. "Rabbi"
literally means "my great one, honorable sir". The Pharisees had seen Jesus perform signs, and maybe
heard from people talking about the other miracles Jesus had performed. Earlier, Jesus had turned water to
wine at a wedding, which was the beginning of the signs Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee. He would
have performed other signs not recorded.

3.

Please make observations: Who is speaking? Who are the people in this text? What is being described?
Consider also where and how.
Who: Nicodemus, a Pharisee speaks with Jesus
What: Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night after Jesus had performed signs in Jerusalem at the Passover
Where: Near Jerusalem
When: At night during the week of Passover
Why: Nicodemus did not understand spiritual rebirth, because he was focused on the physical.

4.

What is the kingdom of God? What does Jesus say about seeing and entering the kingdom of God? What
must happen, and is it the only way? Why? For there to be a kingdom, there must be a king. Jesus shared
the gospel of the kingdom of God, and later, commanded his disciples to proclaim the kingdom of God.
The kingdom of God is on earth, and is tied to the authority that Jesus demonstrates. It is the reign of God
which calls us to submit to Christ. Jesus repeats "unless" twice. Being born again is the only way to see and
enter the kingdom of God.

5.

What is the connection between being "born again" and "born of water and the Spirit?" What does "born of
water and the Spirit" mean? The word "again" in Greek can also mean "from above." Jesus is speaking
about matters separate from physical birth. Water could refer to baptism, drinking the water of life which
sources from Jesus (John 4), being washed. Life follows birth, so Jesus is describing having life tied to the
Spirit. This seems to imply that the current life Nicodemus is living is effectively dead to God if he (and
everyone) needs to be born again to enter the kingdom of God. See John 1:12-13.

6.

What does Jesus compare to the wind? The word "wind" in Greek has the same root as Spirit. Jesus
compares the Spirit to the wind, which cannot be seen, but can be felt and understood to exist because of
how the wind interacts with objects. Jesus also compares "everyone who is born of the Spirit" to the wind.
This implies that the way another person can understand whether a someone is born of the Spirit is by
interacting with them.

7.

Summary: Jesus tells us that in order for us to see and enter the kingdom of God, we must be born again of
water and the Spirit. We need to first experience the Spirit which enables us to live a new life under the
authority of God.

8.

Application: Am I born again of the Spirit? Do I experience and live a new life that is markedly different
from my old life that was before I came to know Jesus Christ?

9.

Application: Do I take Jesus' words seriously, especially when he says "truly, truly." What might cause me
to forget or not believe His words? Do I earnestly hope to see and enter the kingdom of God?