If you’re short on prep time or just looking for some extra guidance, our weekly Leader Training is designed to help you lead your students through the week’s lesson.
This is the Leader Training for Session 5 of our Winter 2023 study of the Gospel of John, chapters 1–11 (suggested use date: January 1, 2023).
You can also download this week’s leader training in PDF format here.
Session 5: An Unexpected Conversation
Key Text: John 3:4-18
Central Truth:
In a conversation with one of the top religious leaders of the day, Jesus used the metaphor of birth to challenge this leader to better understand what it really looks like to follow God. This man knew God’s law and lived a moral life, yet Jesus was clear: the only way to enter heaven is to be born of the Spirit. Becoming God’s child isn’t about doing a bunch of stuff but about looking to God to do what only He can do. Jesus offers new life to all who believe in Him.
Key Question:
Why is Jesus’s answer surprising, even today? What do we often assume about the way to enter the kingdom of God?
We aren’t that different from Nicodemus. Even when we are really trying to understand the gospel, it’s hard for us to truly grasp that being with God is not about what we do—it’s about what He has done. Because of Jesus’s perfect life, punishing death, and new life, we can be reborn by the Spirit and brought into His family forever.
Keep in Mind:
— Birth can be a bit of a weird topic to delve into with teenagers, and yet it’s a common metaphor in Scripture. It’s okay to laugh about it a bit and admit that it’s awkward, but at the same time, you can remind students of the unusual place they occupy in history. At most other times, all ages have had more common interactions with birth. If we are unwilling to think about it, we may miss the depth of the metaphor Christ has offered.
— Perfectionism and legalism can be pretty rampant among “good church kids.” Many may have armed themselves with religiosity, and this can keep them from grasping the beauty of the gospel. Look for ways to compassionately unburden them.
Application:
When are you tempted to believe Jesus came to condemn you? How can we remind ourselves that Jesus is for us and came to give us life?
The Win:
FOR THE STUDENT: Students have the opportunity to re-frame their perspective of Jesus and of themselves. He came to save us, not to condemn! We can’t get to God—so He came to us.
FOR THE LEADER: Look for what this story exposes in your students: Are they clinging to religiosity? Do they believe God is a killjoy? Invite them into a deeper understanding of the gospel.
Additional Helps:
Youth ministry can be lonely work. Collaborate in a caring online community with hundreds of other youth ministers like you—join Youth Ministry Booster!
We believe that parents are called to be the primary disciplers of their children—but those parents need discipling, too! Subscribe to Parent Partner and get invaluable tools for serving the parents in your church and equipping them to disciple their students at home.
Listen to the weekly Lifeway Student Ministry Podcast for fresh perspectives on student ministry in today’s world. Hosted by Ben Trueblood, Director of Student Ministry at Lifeway, and produced by Nathan Howard, Project Coordinator for Lifeway Students.
Read our guide to creating a safer, more engaging environment for online Bible study.
Watch replays of our webinars for group leaders and teachers, hosted by Ken Braddy, Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School. These webinars are designed to help leaders build their confidence, strengthen their groups, and enhance their Bible studies.