THE NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, The Father, the maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, The only Son of God, Eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again In accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen
THE SERENITY PRAYER
God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.
TEXT: JOHN 3:22-36 http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/?q=John3&niv=yes
GREATER & LESSER
PARAPHRASE – John 3:22-36
After talking with Nicodemus, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside where his disciples began baptizing, as John the Baptist was doing. This led to an argument between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew about ceremonial washing. They went to John asking him why the one whom he had testified about was now baptizing and why everyone was going to him.
John answered by telling them a man can only receive what he is given from heaven, reminding them that he had testified he was not the Christ but had been sent ahead of him. He also told them while the bride belongs to the bridegroom, his role has been like that of the best man to the bridegroom, waiting and listening for him and being filled with joy when he hears his voice. He told them now that the Christ has come his joy is compete and that the Christ must become greater and he must become less important.
John goes on to tell them the one from above, from heaven, is the Christ who is above all, while he is from the earth, belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. He tells them that even though the one from above testifies to what he has seen and heard, no one accepts his testimony, although those who do accept it certify God as truthful – having sent the one from above who speaks His words, He gives him the Spirit without limit. John ends by telling them the Father loves the Son and has placed all authority in his hands so that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see eternal life because God’s wrath remains on him for his sin.
PRINCIPLES
CIT = Central Idea of the Text, INT = Interrogatory, ANS = Answer)
JOHN 3:22-36
A. First Century Readers
CIT: John told his first century readers that Jesus must become greater and John the Baptist less. vv 22-26
INT: Why did John tell his first century readers that Jesus must become greater and John the Baptist less?
ANS: John told his first century readers that Jesus must become greater and John the Baptist less because of:
I. Who John the Baptist was
A. A man who received only what he was given from heaven. v 27
B. A man who testified he was not the Christ v 28
C. A man who said he was like the friend of the bridegroom v 29
II. Who Jesus was
A. The One who was from above, from heaven v 31
B. The One who was above all v 31
C. The One who testified what he had seen and heard v 32
D. The One who spoke the words of God v 33
E. The One whom the Father loved and gave all authority to v 35
F. The One who brought eternal life v 36
B. Readers Today
CIT: John tells us today that Jesus had to become greater and John the Baptist less. vv 22-26
INT: Why does John tell us today that Jesus had to become greater and John the Baptist less?
ANS: John tells us today that Jesus had to become greater and John the Baptist less because of:
III. Who John the Baptist was
A. A man who received only what he was given from heaven. v 27
B. A man who testified he was not the Christ v 28
C. A man who said he was like the friend of the bridegroom v 29
IV. Who Jesus is
A. The One who is from above, from heaven v 31
B. The One who is above all v 31
C. The One who testifies what he has seen and heard v 32
D. The One who speaks the words of God v 33
E. The One whom the Father loves and has given all authority to v 35
F. The One who brings eternal life v 36
PRAYER
Our Father, we thank You for the friend of the bridegroom who waited for him and prepared his way.
Our Father, we praise You for the man from earth who testified he was not the Christ but was sent ahead of him.
Our Father, we thank You for the One from Heaven who testified about what he had seen and heard.
Our Father, we praise You for the One above all, who speaks Your words with the Spirit unlimited.
Our Father, we thank You for loving the Son and for giving him all authority.
Our Father, we give You praise for the eternal life He brings to all who believe in His Name.
Our Father, forgive us when we falter in our belief and for our failures in telling others the Good News of Your Son and what He has done on the Cross for the sake of all.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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