Good morning all,
I hope everyone is well. Thank you so much for the deep discussion we had last Thursday. As I talked about last week, John 3 is one of the most important chapters in all of scripture. Thank you to everyone that was able to attend. Because we dug in as deep as we did we still have a lot to cover this Thursday in Chapter 3. Please read from The Crux of the Matter through Realized Eschatology in the Guide (pp 29-32). I have attached the whole first part of Part 4, A Man and a Woman. Our Basic Bible Reference for the week is:
John 3:13-36 (end of Nicodemus Visits Jesus; Jesus and John the Baptist; and The One Who Comes From Heaven).
In John 3:16-17 Jesus says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone that believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world may be saved through him.” Our Question(s) of the Week are: “Does receiving the gift of eternal life through Jesus influence your life? If so, how? How do you respond to God’s love personally? Do you feel a sense of responsibility, gratitude, or both?”
Those following along will realize it is the same question of the week as last week due to the in depth discussion we had. When we look at 3:19-20a Jesus says, “And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people who loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light,” The guide says, “In John’s Gospel believing is always tied to the actions that make up a person’s life. It is never simply a matter of agreeing with some set of ideas. To believe is to do what is true.” “Our bonus Question(s) of the Week is: “Why do you think that people are often drawn to darkness rather than light, even when they know the light reveals truth and goodness? How does this tendency show up in everyday life, and how can we overcome it?”
Please bring your “ingredients” to the discussion this week. I am looking forward to another engaging discussion.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87475935654?pwd=hNOZnNJOTpwdfGJnkMJq6FtXHVMoI6.1
Meeting ID: 874 7593 5654
Passcode: 300244
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87475935654?pwd=hNOZnNJOTpwdfGJnkMJq6FtXHVMoI6.1
Meeting ID: 874 7593 5654
Passcode: 300244
Grace and peace,
Pastor Scott
St. John's United Church of Christ 
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