The Gospel of John- Part 7: Jesus and Nicodemus - John 3v1-21// February 15th, 2026
Teaching overview
Riley Taylor taught from John 3:1–21, in his series through the Gospel of John. Using Nicodemus’ nighttime meeting with Jesus to show the difference between superficial faith and true spiritual renewal. He emphasized that being “born from above” is a work of God—not self-improvement—and invites us to step into the light with honesty and repentance. Through Jesus, new life begins now, free from condemnation, because the ultimate cost of renewal was paid by Him.
Our prayer for your Community
God, we ask that Your Spirit would renew us from the inside out, helping us trust You not just for what You can do, but for who You are. Give us courage this week to step into the light, lay aside our need to hide or impress, and receive the new life You freely offer through Jesus.
Group questions and further meditations:
From Curiosity to Surrender
Meditation:
Nicodemus comes to Jesus with respect, knowledge, and curiosity—but Jesus lovingly pushes past all of that to the deeper issue of new birth. Following Jesus is not about admiration from a distance, but transformation that begins when we surrender control and trust God to do what we cannot.
Questions:
Where might my faith be more curious or cautious than surrendered? What is one area of my life where I’m relying on my effort, reputation, or understanding instead of trusting God to bring renewal? What would it look like this week to take one step of deeper trust?
2. Born From Above, Not Built From Below
Meditation:
Jesus makes it clear that spiritual renewal is God’s work, not a personal upgrade project. Being “born from above” means receiving new life as a gift, allowing the Spirit to rebuild us from the inside out rather than trying to fix ourselves from the outside in.
Questions:
When I think about spiritual growth, do I lean more toward self-improvement or Spirit-led transformation? Where do I feel tempted to control outcomes instead of responding to the Spirit’s leading? How can our group pray for openness to the Spirit’s renewing work this week?
3. Stepping Into the Light
Meditation:
Jesus invites us out of darkness and into the light—not to shame us, but to free us. Walking in the light requires honesty and repentance, yet it leads to life without condemnation and a deeper experience of God’s grace.
Questions:
What might “staying in the dark” look like in my life right now (hiding, fear, protecting my image or social status)? What would stepping into the light look like in a practical way—before God or with trusted people? How can this group be a safe place to walk in honesty and experience renewal together?
