Youth Group Devotional

[New York Youth Leaders Association]

Youth Group Devotional: Nic at Night and Day by Barry Shafer The
Backdrop In Jesus" day, the Pharisees was a group of religious leaders
who hated Jesus for a lot of reasons. In fact, the Pharisees were the
ringleaders behind Jesus" crucifixion. The What Do This: Read John
3:1-11 and 22. Underline any details you find about the guy who talked
with Jesus. Then This: Jot down some detail you picked up about the
guy to whom Jesus was talking. Name: Title and religious affiliation:
Time of day he approached Jesus: After the conversation, is there
evidence this person become a believer? (Verse 22 is the wrap up of
this conversation.) And Finally This: Nicodemus appears two other
times in the Gospel of John (the only book of the Bible to mention
Nicodemus). Read these verses from your Bible and see if you can find
any clues about whether Nicodemus became a follower of Jesus (which
apparently didn"t happen in John 3). Write down any clues beneath each
verse reference. John 7:43-53; John 19:38-42 Going Inward Here"s some
interesting info: The normal amount of burial spices (myrrh and aloes)
for Jewish burials was 4-5 pounds. The amount of 75-100 pounds
(depending on your version of the Bible) that Nicodemus used in John
19 was an excessive amount designated for royalty such as priests and
kings. What does this tell you about how Nicodemus viewed Jesus? The
So What Think about the difference between Nicodemus" first appearance
with Jesus (secret, in the dark) and the last (broad daylight, at risk
of losing his career and possibly his life). Which Nicodemus is more
like you in your relationship with Jesus? Rate yourself on the scale
below. Nicodemus Scale Nic at Night Nic at Day 1 2 3 4 6 5 7 8 9 10
What"s one thing you can do today to improve your score on the
Nicodemus scale? * Accept Jesus Christ as your King. * Honor Him as
King by doing one of His commands. * Spend time with Him as my King.
The Word "Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a
member of the Jewish ruling council. 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." In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can
see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." ""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!" Jesus answered, "I
tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is
born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the
Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my
saying, "You must be born again." 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." ""How can
this be?" Nicodemus asked. "You are Israel"s teacher," said Jesus,
"and do you not understand these things? I tell you the truth, we
speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still
you people do not accept our testimony"" (John 3:1-11). "After this,
Jesus and His disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where He
spent some time with them, and baptized" (John 3:22).

[Ruthlyn Webster]

Thanks will definitely use this exercise in youth ministry tonight.
God bless.

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