Now there was among the Pharisees a man named Nicodemus, who was one of the rulers of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we are certain that you have come from God as a teacher, because no man would be able to do these signs which you do if God was not with him. Jesus said to him, Truly, I say to you, Without a new birth no man is able to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, How is it possible for a man to be given birth when he is old? Is he able to go into his mother's body a second time and come to birth again?
Jesus said in answer, Truly, I say to you, If a man's birth is not from water and from the Spirit, it is not possible for him to go into the kingdom of God. That which has birth from the flesh is flesh, and that which has birth from the Spirit is spirit (BBE).
Introductory Activity
Tough Conversations: marriage, sex, politics, religion (spiritual), drugs and alcohol
Each picture represents a difficult but important conversation. Discuss vocabulary and picture matches in groups or as a class.
Ranking: In groups or pairs, have students discuss and rank these conversations in two ways.
Which conversations are the most difficult (least to greatest)?
Which conversations are most important (least to greatest)?
Role Play: In groups, have students discuss their role and present to the others.
Role A: You think that spiritual conversations are the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (political talk, marriage talk, or drugs and alcohol talk).
Role B: You think that talking about marriage is the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (political talk, spiritual talk, or drugs and alcohol talk).
Role C: You think that talking to children about alcohol and drugs is the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (political talk, marriage talk, or spiritual talk).
Role D: You think that political conversations are the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (spiritual talk, marriage talk, or drugs and alcohol talk).
Introductory Discussion Questions
What do you think about religious and spiritual conversations?
What can make religious and spiritual conversations difficult?
If you could ask a deeply spiritual man anything, what question would you ask?
What would a teacher have to do in order to make you think he was from God?
Which is more important, the spirit or flesh? Why do you think so?
Synonym Matching
body leader
not possible ancient
Rabbi ghost
among flesh
ruler within
because teacher
very old response
spirit God
answer impossible
Spirit since
Which conversations are the most difficult (least to greatest)?
Which conversations are most important (least to greatest)?
Role Play: In groups, have students discuss their role and present to the others.
Role A: You think that spiritual conversations are the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (political talk, marriage talk, or drugs and alcohol talk).
Role B: You think that talking about marriage is the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (political talk, spiritual talk, or drugs and alcohol talk).
Role C: You think that talking to children about alcohol and drugs is the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (political talk, marriage talk, or spiritual talk).
Role D: You think that political conversations are the most important. Tell the others two reasons why. Tell the others why their conversations are not as important. Tell the others which of their conversations is least important and why (spiritual talk, marriage talk, or drugs and alcohol talk).
Introductory Discussion Questions
What do you think about religious and spiritual conversations?
What can make religious and spiritual conversations difficult?
If you could ask a deeply spiritual man anything, what question would you ask?
What would a teacher have to do in order to make you think he was from God?
Which is more important, the spirit or flesh? Why do you think so?
Synonym Matching
body leader
not possible ancient
Rabbi ghost
among flesh
ruler within
because teacher
very old response
spirit God
answer impossible
Spirit since
Listening Blank Fill
Now there was among the Pharisees a man ________ Nicodemus, who was one of the rulers of ______ Jews.
He came to Jesus by night and said to ______, Rabbi, we are certain that you have come _______ God as a teacher, because no man would _____ able to do these signs which you do if ______ was not with him. Jesus said to him, ________, I say to you, Without a new birth _____ man is able to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus _______ to him, How is it possible for a ______ to be given birth when he is old? _____ he able to go into his mother's body ____ second time and come to birth again?
Jesus said _____ answer, Truly, I say to you, If a _______ birth is not from water and from the _________, it is not possible for him to go into ______ kingdom of God. That which has birth from the ________ is flesh, and that which has birth from the _________ is spirit (BBE).
Multiple Choice
Now 1. ( ) was 2. ( ) the Pharisees a man named Nicodemus, who was 3. ( ) of the rulers of the Jews.
He came to Jesus 4. ( ) night and said to him, Rabbi, we are certain that you have 5. ( ) from God as a teacher, because no man would be able to do 6. ( ) signs which you do if God was not with him. Jesus said 7. ( ) him, Truly, I say to you, Without a new birth no man is able to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, 8. ( ) is it possible for a man to be given birth when he is old? Is he able to 9. ( ) into his mother's body a second time and come to birth again?
Jesus said in answer, Truly, I say to you, If a man's birth is not from water and from the Spirit, 10. ( ) is not possible for him to go into the kingdom of God. That which has birth from the flesh is flesh, and that which has birth from the Spirit is spirit (BBE).
1. a. their b. they're c. there d. their
2. a. in b. among c. between d. beside
3. a. one b. a c. two d. the
4. a. in b. on c. beside d. by
5. a. left b. leave c. come d. came
6. a. those b. these c. this d. that
7. a. to b. at c. too d. two
8. a. why, b. what c. when d. how
9. a. be b. go c. come d. exist
10. a. it b. he c. she d. they
Role Play: Divide the class into groups of three. Each group role plays the story (one narrator, Jesus and Nicodemas).
First, demonstrate the role play yourself with two other confident students.
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
Why do you think Nicodemas went to Jesus by night?
Why did Nicodemas think new birth was impossible?
Jesus believed in a flesh world and a spiritual world? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
What does the word 'kingdom' make you think of?
Do you think people can be born of the spirit today? How?
B
What did you think of this conversation? How does it make you feel?
Why did Nicodemas think Jesus came from God?
Was Jesus talking about going back inside mother and becoming a baby again?
What kind of birth was Jesus talking about?
What do you think Jesus means by 'kingdom of God?' Where is it?
Find and Make a Sentence
In groups, pairs or individuals, have students find the following words in the text: rulers, night, certain, teacher, because, signs, born, not possible, and spirit. They are to find them, observe their use, and create their own sentence using them.
You could place the words in a cup to make it more exciting.
Writing: Continue the Conversation
In groups or pairs, have students continue the conversation between Nicodemas and Jesus. They must add at least two questions from Nicodemas and two answers from Jesus. Have representatives share their continued conversations with the class.
Key Vocabulary
Pharisees 法 利 赛 人
named 名 叫
rulers 官
Jews 犹 太 人
Jesus 耶 稣
night 夜 里
Rabbi 拉 比 (老师)
are certain 知道
have come 来
teacher 老师
because 因 为
be able 能
these signs 这些迹
if 如果
kingdom of God 伸的国
how 怎么
old 老
mother's body 母亲的身体
born (again) a second time 重生
truly truly 实实在在
answer 回 答
not possible 不能
flesh 肉 身
Spirit 圣 灵
spirit 灵
Exercise Answers:
Picture Matching: 1-->politics, 2-->drugs and alcohol, 3-->religion (spiritual), 4-->marriage, 5-->sex
Synonym Matching: body-->flesh, not possible-->impossible, Rabbi-->teacher, among-->within, ruler-->leader, because-->since, very old-->ancient, spirit-->ghost, answer-->response, Spirit-->God.
Listening Blank Fill: named, the, him, from, be, God, Truly, no, said, man, Is, a, in, man's, Spirit, the, flesh, Spirit.
Multiple Choice: 1. c. there, 2. b. among, 3. a. one, 4. d. by, 5. c. come, 6. b. these, 7. a. to, 8. d. how, 9. b. go, 10. a. it
Now there was among the Pharisees a man ________ Nicodemus, who was one of the rulers of ______ Jews.
He came to Jesus by night and said to ______, Rabbi, we are certain that you have come _______ God as a teacher, because no man would _____ able to do these signs which you do if ______ was not with him. Jesus said to him, ________, I say to you, Without a new birth _____ man is able to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus _______ to him, How is it possible for a ______ to be given birth when he is old? _____ he able to go into his mother's body ____ second time and come to birth again?
Jesus said _____ answer, Truly, I say to you, If a _______ birth is not from water and from the _________, it is not possible for him to go into ______ kingdom of God. That which has birth from the ________ is flesh, and that which has birth from the _________ is spirit (BBE).
Multiple Choice
Now 1. ( ) was 2. ( ) the Pharisees a man named Nicodemus, who was 3. ( ) of the rulers of the Jews.
He came to Jesus 4. ( ) night and said to him, Rabbi, we are certain that you have 5. ( ) from God as a teacher, because no man would be able to do 6. ( ) signs which you do if God was not with him. Jesus said 7. ( ) him, Truly, I say to you, Without a new birth no man is able to see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to him, 8. ( ) is it possible for a man to be given birth when he is old? Is he able to 9. ( ) into his mother's body a second time and come to birth again?
Jesus said in answer, Truly, I say to you, If a man's birth is not from water and from the Spirit, 10. ( ) is not possible for him to go into the kingdom of God. That which has birth from the flesh is flesh, and that which has birth from the Spirit is spirit (BBE).
1. a. their b. they're c. there d. their
2. a. in b. among c. between d. beside
3. a. one b. a c. two d. the
4. a. in b. on c. beside d. by
5. a. left b. leave c. come d. came
6. a. those b. these c. this d. that
7. a. to b. at c. too d. two
8. a. why, b. what c. when d. how
9. a. be b. go c. come d. exist
10. a. it b. he c. she d. they
Role Play: Divide the class into groups of three. Each group role plays the story (one narrator, Jesus and Nicodemas).
First, demonstrate the role play yourself with two other confident students.
Pair Work Discussion Questions
A
Why do you think Nicodemas went to Jesus by night?
Why did Nicodemas think new birth was impossible?
Jesus believed in a flesh world and a spiritual world? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
What does the word 'kingdom' make you think of?
Do you think people can be born of the spirit today? How?
B
What did you think of this conversation? How does it make you feel?
Why did Nicodemas think Jesus came from God?
Was Jesus talking about going back inside mother and becoming a baby again?
What kind of birth was Jesus talking about?
What do you think Jesus means by 'kingdom of God?' Where is it?
Find and Make a Sentence
In groups, pairs or individuals, have students find the following words in the text: rulers, night, certain, teacher, because, signs, born, not possible, and spirit. They are to find them, observe their use, and create their own sentence using them.
You could place the words in a cup to make it more exciting.
Writing: Continue the Conversation
In groups or pairs, have students continue the conversation between Nicodemas and Jesus. They must add at least two questions from Nicodemas and two answers from Jesus. Have representatives share their continued conversations with the class.
Key Vocabulary
Pharisees 法 利 赛 人
named 名 叫
rulers 官
Jews 犹 太 人
Jesus 耶 稣
night 夜 里
Rabbi 拉 比 (老师)
are certain 知道
have come 来
teacher 老师
because 因 为
be able 能
these signs 这些迹
if 如果
kingdom of God 伸的国
how 怎么
old 老
mother's body 母亲的身体
born (again) a second time 重生
truly truly 实实在在
answer 回 答
not possible 不能
flesh 肉 身
Spirit 圣 灵
spirit 灵
Exercise Answers:
Picture Matching: 1-->politics, 2-->drugs and alcohol, 3-->religion (spiritual), 4-->marriage, 5-->sex
Synonym Matching: body-->flesh, not possible-->impossible, Rabbi-->teacher, among-->within, ruler-->leader, because-->since, very old-->ancient, spirit-->ghost, answer-->response, Spirit-->God.
Listening Blank Fill: named, the, him, from, be, God, Truly, no, said, man, Is, a, in, man's, Spirit, the, flesh, Spirit.
Multiple Choice: 1. c. there, 2. b. among, 3. a. one, 4. d. by, 5. c. come, 6. b. these, 7. a. to, 8. d. how, 9. b. go, 10. a. it
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