Why did Jesus tell a religious leader he had to be "born again"?

In this study of John 3, Dr. Toby Holt considers Nicodemus, a respected teacher of Israel who came to Jesus by night and was told, to his confusion, "You must be born again." Dr. Holt unfolds the doctrine of regeneration: fallen man enters the world with corrupt "default settings" — a nature of the flesh that cannot receive the things of God. The new birth, therefore, is not self-improvement but a sovereign work of God's Spirit — being born from above. No one climbs to God by his own effort; the only "ladder" is the Son, given because "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." Regeneration precedes and produces faith, and it is indispensable to salvation.

Questions this study answers:

1. What does "born again" mean? It refers to regeneration — a spiritual rebirth worked by the Holy Spirit — not a physical birth or a self-generated moral change.

2. Why must we be born again? Because by nature we are dead in sin and cannot see or enter the kingdom of God apart from this new birth from above.

3. Who accomplishes the new birth? God does, by His Spirit. It is a gift of grace received through faith in Christ, never a work we achieve for ourselves.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'" — John 3:6-7 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Listen and go deeper: This study is part of New Geneva Theological Seminary's teaching on systematic theology and the great doctrines of the Christian faith. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

It wasn't just a miracle - it was a sign.

In John 2, Jesus attended a wedding. And at this wedding He performed His first recorded miracle (turning water into wine). So, what was this miracle really about? As we'll see, it pointed forward to the cross - even if no one knew it at the time.

Questions That We'll Answer:

A) Why did Jesus tell Mary that His 'hour had not come?'

B) In what way(s) did this miracle point forward to Calvary?

C) How is John 2 a bookend with John 19?

Website: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermons

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John the Baptist had one job.

John came to prepare people to meet Jesus. Specifically, he would 'make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah had foretold. But the people wouldn't listen. John would be a voice crying in the wilderness. He would be misunderstood, and eventually killed. And the same would happen to the Messiah.

Questions That We'll Answer:

A) Why was John 'baptizing' people? What kind of baptism was this?

B) Why did John say 'behold the Lamb' when he saw Jesus approach?

C) What's the difference between 'appeasement' and 'atonement?'

Web: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermons

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Christianity: rooted in history, backed by eyewitnesses.

In John 1, the author skips the greetings and goes straight to the heart of the matter: he and others saw, heard, and observed the Messiah. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," he declared.

In today's study, we'll consider the historical facts that support our faith.

Questions That We'll Answer:

A) Why did John refer to Jesus as 'the Word?'

B) In what way is Jesus also 'the light' that came into the world?

C) What are the implications of Christ's incarnation to you and I?

website: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermons

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Jericho had massive walls. It didn't matter.

There are no walls that can deter God's Wrath. And there is no army that can stop those who serve Him. In Joshua 6, we will study both points in one of the most famous (and faith-building) passages in Scripture.

Questions That We'll Answer:

A) How big was Jericho's outer wall? Did it have an inner wall as well?

B) What tool or weapon was used to bring the walls down?

C) What can we learn from the battle at Jericho that applies to us?

website: www.fpcgulfport.org

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Is Jesus one way to God, or the only way?

In this study of Acts 4, Dr. Toby Holt sets the scene: Peter, once cowering in fear, now stands before the Sanhedrin and declares that salvation is found in no one else — "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Dr. Holt presses the exclusivity of the gospel: not two ways, not ten, but one. He weighs the implications — for other religions, for Peter's hostile audience, and for the opposition such a claim always provokes. The exclusivity of Christ is not arrogance but the consistent testimony of Scripture, which everywhere grounds salvation in the person and work of Jesus alone. The searching question follows: have you trusted in the one name?

Questions this study answers:

1. What did Peter claim before the Sanhedrin? That Jesus Christ, whom they crucified and God raised, is the only name under heaven by which anyone can be saved.

2. What does this mean for other religions? That salvation is exclusive to Christ; no other name, path, or human effort can reconcile sinners to God.

3. Why does such a claim provoke opposition? Because it denies every rival way and confronts human pride, insisting that salvation is by Christ alone. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." — Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Listen and go deeper: This study is part of New Geneva Theological Seminary's teaching on systematic theology and the great doctrines of the Christian faith. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

The world is trying to remake you in its image.

Will you let it?

In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul reminds his readers that the world is intent on creating worldly people. That's what it does. It wants to conform you and I to its own priorities. However, Paul tells Christians that we are NOT to be conformed - instead, we are to be transformed through the 'renewing of our minds.'

Questions That We'll Answer:

A) Why is conformity bad (and dangerous)?

B) How does transformation occur?

C) What does it mean to 'renew' your mind in God's Word?

Website: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermons

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Genesis started in a GARDEN.

It ended in a COFFIN.

In Genesis 1, things were looking great. God had created the world, and said that all He had created was good. But things got dark in Genesis 3.

Following man's sin in Genesis 3, a roller coaster of depravity followed. In Genesis 4, Cain killed his brother, and things didn't improve through the end of the book.

In today's sermon, we will consider Genesis 50 (the final words of the last chapter).

Questions That We'll Answer:

A) What does Genesis tell us about mankind?

B) What does Genesis tell us about God?

C) How does Genesis set the stage for the rest of Scripture?

Website: www.fpcgulfport.org/sermons

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If God is good, why does He allow evil to touch our lives?

In this study of Genesis 45, Dr. Toby Holt stands with Joseph as he faces the very brothers who sold him into slavery. Few men ever had more reason for revenge; yet Joseph sees a hand above his brothers' hands. Dr. Holt defines providence — God's sovereign, purposeful governance of all things — and shows that it includes hardship, not merely happy circumstances.

Joseph's later words become the lens: "You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good." God ordains even the wicked acts of others to accomplish His saving purposes, without being the author of their sin. This is the deep comfort of providence — that no betrayal, no delay, and no heartache ever falls outside the good and sovereign purpose of God.

Questions this study answers:

1. What is providence? God's continual, sovereign, and purposeful governing of all His creatures and all their actions, directing everything toward His own good ends.

2. Why didn't Joseph take revenge? Because he recognized God's overruling purpose in his suffering and trusted God, rather than himself, as the true governor of his story.

3. Does providence include evil and hardship? Yes. God sovereignly works even through the sinful acts of others for good — as He did in Joseph's life, and supremely at the cross. "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." — Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Listen and go deeper: This study is part of New Geneva Theological Seminary's teaching on systematic theology and the great doctrines of the Christian faith. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

In Genesis 40, Joseph was in prison.

Now, he did not deserve to be there. He'd done nothing wrong. And he must have wondered what part his shackles played in God's plans. Hadn't God given him a dream of a great and glorious future? Well, in today's text, two other men would have dreams - and their interpretation would play a huge role in Joseph's story.

Questions That We'll Answer:

A) What were the dreams of the Butler and Baker all about?

B) Did these men deserve to be in jail? If so, what had they done?

C) What would the outcome of their dreams mean for them and Joseph?

Web: www.fpcgulfport.org

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