Also available through the YouVersion Bible app on your phone!
Simple Truth - A Study on John 3:16
Jump into the simplicity and beauty of Jesus' words to Nicodemus to John 3:16. The truth is powerful but the truth is simple.
We would like to thank Southeast Christian Church for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://www.southeastchristian.org
Devotional - Day 1
Have you ever had to pack up your house and move? If yes, you must have realized how much stuff you have accumulated! In those moments you just want to simplify and get rid of all the extra clutter.
It can be the same way with our belief system. If you’ve been following Jesus for a long time, or if you’re just discovering who Jesus is, it can be overwhelming to know all the things. Our minds get cluttered with extra details, facts, information, misinformation, doubts, and questions. The Bible can seem confusing, the Church can seem confusing, and how to follow Jesus can seem confusing. All that the world adds to these things can pollute something that really is simple: the gospel. So pack up the boxes of clutter, get rid of it, and let’s simplify Jesus this week.
What is the gospel? Simply put, the word "gospel" means "good news." This good news is the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It is God’s plan for His creation to be rescued from sin so that we can spend eternity with Him.
It really is simple. God loves us so much that He sent His son, so that whoever believes in Him can have life forever. It can be summed up in one Bible verse that many people have memorized: John 3:16. If you want to simplify the gospel into one verse that you can know, spend this week memorizing John 3:16.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Devotional - Day 2
God So Loved
The word love is thrown around a lot these days. We love a certain food, we love a TV show, or we love summer weather. However, that kind of love pales in comparison to the One who defines love for us—God Himself. We can only love because He first loved us.
It’s the very beginning of that simple gospel verse we are memorizing this week – John 3:16. “For God so loved the world…” We know that God sent His son to save us, but the reason is His love for us. We cannot be rescued without God’s love.
Even though we have messed up, made mistakes, sinned, chosen ourselves over what God has for us, and even turned our back on God at times, He has never stopped loving us. If you feel you’ve gone too far or done too much that God will give up on you, know that it is not possible. You can never and will never do anything that can take away God’s love for you. Isn’t that incredible?
It shows God’s character and heart of love that He could send His own son to rescue a world that is broken. We can mess up a million times and He will still choose to love us. His love is unlike the love we have for that TV show or food. His love is not based on circumstances. God’s love for us is unconditional, eternal, and unlike any form of human love we have ever known or will ever know. It is the deepest, most fulfilling kind of love.
Today when you read John 3:16 again, replace the words ‘the world’ with your own name. “For God so loved _________.” Let that change how you see the heart of God and his love for you.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. (1 John 4:16)
We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
Devotional - Day 3
God Sent His SonIn the Old Testament, it was known that if you were coming to be in the presence of God, you had to make a sacrifice of some type to make up for the sins in your life. When we sin against God, our sin separates us from His presence. Often our shame makes us feel like we can’t come into His presence. However, God changed this when He sent His son Jesus to walk the earth. Instead of giving us the punishment we deserved, God gave us the gift of grace and eternal life through Jesus.
Jesus came to live a perfect life, to die on the cross as a sacrifice on our behalf, and to be raised back to life to show that we could also be raised to new life. When Jesus became the sacrifice for us, it changed the game. No longer do we have to make a sacrifice in order to be in God’s presence; Jesus made it so that God’s presence was available to everyone freely. This is the greatest gift we could have been given.
Because God loved the world so much, even in all of our brokenness, He sent His son to rescue us. God knew that we could not rescue ourselves, so He made a way for us through Jesus. God loved us so much that He promised He would never leave us or forsake us. He promised us the best thing – His very presence. Because of Jesus, we get the gift of the Holy Spirit – God’s presence to live inside of us and walk with us when we trust in Him.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)
For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:14)
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
Devotional - Day 4
Believe In HimMany people in the world are under the assumption that people who follow Jesus have it all together. Bjt they're wrong. That idea that Christians are perfect, have it all together, or are sinless, creates a mentality of a “try-hard” kind of life. People assume that we have to live up to a certain standard, follow a set of rules, and perform or behave in a certain way to earn the love of Jesus. Often we who follow Jesus can even begin to buy into this mentality.
But Jesus does not expect this from us. He tells us to come to Him just as we are, broken and needy, and He will give us life. We do not have to get our lives in order to become followers of Jesus. We simply get to choose to believe that He died and was raised to life in order for us to be saved. We don’t have to perform or follow a set of rules.
We simply must believe. Belief seems so small and intangible, and it doesn’t seem like enough. But believing and trusting that Jesus’ death and resurrection covers us truly is all that He asks of us. Because God loved us, He sent His Son. When we believe this, we have the hope of life beyond this life with Him.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart" (Deuteronomy 30:14), that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame” (Isaiah 28:16). For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:8-13)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Got questions? We'd love to talk with you! Contact Pastor Steve Nethery at steve@springhillbaptist.org.
Simple Truth - A Study on John 3:16
Jump into the simplicity and beauty of Jesus' words to Nicodemus to John 3:16. The truth is powerful but the truth is simple.
We would like to thank Southeast Christian Church for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://www.southeastchristian.org
Devotional - Day 1
Have you ever had to pack up your house and move? If yes, you must have realized how much stuff you have accumulated! In those moments you just want to simplify and get rid of all the extra clutter.
It can be the same way with our belief system. If you’ve been following Jesus for a long time, or if you’re just discovering who Jesus is, it can be overwhelming to know all the things. Our minds get cluttered with extra details, facts, information, misinformation, doubts, and questions. The Bible can seem confusing, the Church can seem confusing, and how to follow Jesus can seem confusing. All that the world adds to these things can pollute something that really is simple: the gospel. So pack up the boxes of clutter, get rid of it, and let’s simplify Jesus this week.
What is the gospel? Simply put, the word "gospel" means "good news." This good news is the story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It is God’s plan for His creation to be rescued from sin so that we can spend eternity with Him.
It really is simple. God loves us so much that He sent His son, so that whoever believes in Him can have life forever. It can be summed up in one Bible verse that many people have memorized: John 3:16. If you want to simplify the gospel into one verse that you can know, spend this week memorizing John 3:16.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Devotional - Day 2
God So Loved
The word love is thrown around a lot these days. We love a certain food, we love a TV show, or we love summer weather. However, that kind of love pales in comparison to the One who defines love for us—God Himself. We can only love because He first loved us.
It’s the very beginning of that simple gospel verse we are memorizing this week – John 3:16. “For God so loved the world…” We know that God sent His son to save us, but the reason is His love for us. We cannot be rescued without God’s love.
Even though we have messed up, made mistakes, sinned, chosen ourselves over what God has for us, and even turned our back on God at times, He has never stopped loving us. If you feel you’ve gone too far or done too much that God will give up on you, know that it is not possible. You can never and will never do anything that can take away God’s love for you. Isn’t that incredible?
It shows God’s character and heart of love that He could send His own son to rescue a world that is broken. We can mess up a million times and He will still choose to love us. His love is unlike the love we have for that TV show or food. His love is not based on circumstances. God’s love for us is unconditional, eternal, and unlike any form of human love we have ever known or will ever know. It is the deepest, most fulfilling kind of love.
Today when you read John 3:16 again, replace the words ‘the world’ with your own name. “For God so loved _________.” Let that change how you see the heart of God and his love for you.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5)
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. (1 John 4:16)
We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
Devotional - Day 3
God Sent His SonIn the Old Testament, it was known that if you were coming to be in the presence of God, you had to make a sacrifice of some type to make up for the sins in your life. When we sin against God, our sin separates us from His presence. Often our shame makes us feel like we can’t come into His presence. However, God changed this when He sent His son Jesus to walk the earth. Instead of giving us the punishment we deserved, God gave us the gift of grace and eternal life through Jesus.
Jesus came to live a perfect life, to die on the cross as a sacrifice on our behalf, and to be raised back to life to show that we could also be raised to new life. When Jesus became the sacrifice for us, it changed the game. No longer do we have to make a sacrifice in order to be in God’s presence; Jesus made it so that God’s presence was available to everyone freely. This is the greatest gift we could have been given.
Because God loved the world so much, even in all of our brokenness, He sent His son to rescue us. God knew that we could not rescue ourselves, so He made a way for us through Jesus. God loved us so much that He promised He would never leave us or forsake us. He promised us the best thing – His very presence. Because of Jesus, we get the gift of the Holy Spirit – God’s presence to live inside of us and walk with us when we trust in Him.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)
For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:14)
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
Devotional - Day 4
Believe In HimMany people in the world are under the assumption that people who follow Jesus have it all together. Bjt they're wrong. That idea that Christians are perfect, have it all together, or are sinless, creates a mentality of a “try-hard” kind of life. People assume that we have to live up to a certain standard, follow a set of rules, and perform or behave in a certain way to earn the love of Jesus. Often we who follow Jesus can even begin to buy into this mentality.
But Jesus does not expect this from us. He tells us to come to Him just as we are, broken and needy, and He will give us life. We do not have to get our lives in order to become followers of Jesus. We simply get to choose to believe that He died and was raised to life in order for us to be saved. We don’t have to perform or follow a set of rules.
We simply must believe. Belief seems so small and intangible, and it doesn’t seem like enough. But believing and trusting that Jesus’ death and resurrection covers us truly is all that He asks of us. Because God loved us, He sent His Son. When we believe this, we have the hope of life beyond this life with Him.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart" (Deuteronomy 30:14), that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame” (Isaiah 28:16). For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:8-13)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Got questions? We'd love to talk with you! Contact Pastor Steve Nethery at steve@springhillbaptist.org.