From Above | Up Close With Jesus | Joel Singleton

June 21, 2026 - Nicodemus approaches Jesus as a successful man who seems to have everything together spiritually, socially, and intellectually. But Jesus immediately confronts the way Nicodemus thinks about the kingdom of God. The kingdom is not entered through achievement, morality, influence, or self-improvement. Jesus tells him that life with God begins through being born again from above through the Spirit. Flesh can only reproduce more flesh, but the Spirit produces entirely new life. That means Christianity is not about adding religious habits onto an already existing life. It is surrendering the old life so God can create something completely new. The Spirit changes how work, family, relationships, purpose, and identity are viewed. Instead of trying to control God or optimize the flesh, followers of Jesus learn to live with open hands, repentance, humility, and expectancy for the Spirit to move.