I don’t know if you caught it a moment ago, but in our text both Jesus and Nicodemus recognize the other as a “teacher.”  The first words out of Nicodemus’ mouth are, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher…” (v. 2)  Nicodemus calls Jesus “teacher.” And Jesus will do the same to Nicodemus.  Later in the text Jesus says to Nicodemus, You are the teacher of Israel. (v. 10)  Reminds me of two doctors meeting.  They greet one another,  “Doctor…”  “Doctor…”

Some of you may have paid attention to the controversy a couple TV ads caused during the Super Bowl this year.  The ads I’m talking about are the “Jesus Gets Us” ads.  The one ad showed a number of still photos of people in each other’s face yelling angrily.  The point was that people don’t get one another and that brings us into conflict. 

One of the potential dangers for the Christian as we live our lives as salt and light in this world is the pitfall we might call “cruise control Christianity.”  You all know what cruise control is.  It’s that option in your car that allows you to accelerate to a desired speed and then engage this control that automatically keeps your car going at that speed.  The car will not go less, and it will not go more, than the speed you set.

What does it mean to be “at the top”?  The term is used often in our culture.  It is used when talking about the person who has become the best or most successful at what he or she does.  The MVP is described as being at the “top of his game.”  Taylor Swift is at the top of the pop music industry, causing Ticketmaster to crash over demand for tickets to her upcoming tour. 

Today we are fortunate to have Pastor Jerry Ewings leading our service and giving the sermon. Pastor Ewings served at Lord of Love Lutheran from 2006 – 2017.