Second Sunday of Lent

Sermon outline

Text: John 3:1-17

Title: A man of honesty

Introduction:

A long time ago Confucius said, "If you do not know, say that I do not know. If you know, say that I know. It is the way that leads to true knowledge."

When we are very honest to what I know, we can start a new journey to the new knowledge from there.

Transitional sentence:

In the text, a man, who is very honest with himself, demonstrates a new journey to get to the ultimate knowledge.

Text:

Nicodemus, a man of honesty

Nicodemus is identified as a man of Pharisees and a ruler of the Jews. In verse 10, he is identified as the teacher of Israel. He must be a very well educated person. However, he came to Jesus by night and called Him rabbi and a teacher who has come from God. Not like many other teachers at that time, he was very honest toward his tradition and about Jesus.

He accepted his insufficient knowledge and freed himself from his tradition on the bases of the signs Jesus had performed: "for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."

Nicodemus, led to the new knowledge

Eligibility to enter the kingdom of God has been renewed. Not the descendents of Abraham, but those who are born again can enter the kingdom of God. And the way to be born again is revealed explicitly: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

Application and conclusion

The best way to learn English

The best way to learn English is to be honest with yourself. Many of us want to learn English. Somehow learning English is not escapable as long as we live in America.

Ironically, however, we, often, find ourselves who pretend what we do not understand as we do. As far as we pretend, we cannot move on. Knowing my English skill and being honest with my ability leads me to acquire more advanced skill in English.

The same principle is applied to the spiritual realm.

We need to be honest with what I know. Being honest with life and death, my knowledge for solution, and the historical Jesus, will lead us to the ultimate knowledge

For salvation.