Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (John 3:16-21), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [16] This most familiar verse could (should?) be translated, “God thus [or in this way] loved the world, that he gave his only Son…” In other words, this is what the love of God looks like, this is the shape of it. What does it mean that “he gave his only Son”? What does it mean to “perish,” or alternatively, to “have eternal life”? What determines whether you would do the one or the other? Do you think Nicodemus would have been surprised at how many times Jesus referenced “the world” (rather than “Israel”) as the object of God’s love rather than his condemnation?

• [16-17] Maybe your familiarity (or assumed familiarity) with these verses means you’re no longer pleasantly surprised by them. Do the simple truths of the Gospel “get old” for you, or do they keep your interest?

• [19-21] Jesus makes a startling distinction between darkness-loving evil-doers and light-approaching truth-doers. What exactly are the contrasts he is making? Why does he make these contrasts? What is his goal for this difficult teaching? How are you doing with these hard words? Assuming Jesus thinks it’s important for everyone to hear these things, how do you wrestle through to the point where you actually engage others with his difficult teachings?