Just In the Nic of Time

This powerful message explores the journey of surrender through the lens of Nicodemus, a religious leader who encountered Jesus three times in the Gospel of John. We discover that surrender isn't an instant transformation but rather a gradual process of moving from curiosity in darkness to courage in the light. The beautiful analogy of Rocky's work with rescue dogs reminds us that God sits with us in our brokenness, never forcing but always attracting us toward His love. Just as those traumatized dogs needed patient presence and space to trust again, we too need time to process what it means to fully surrender to Christ. The message challenges us to examine whether we look the same in darkness as we do in light—at work, at home, in traffic, with friends. Are we secret disciples like Joseph of Arimathea, or are we ready to publicly align ourselves with Jesus even when it costs us something? Most importantly, we're reminded that new believers need community, not judgment. They need a church family to walk alongside them as they grow stronger in faith, just as Nicodemus needed Joseph. The call is clear: surrender means being alive in both light and darkness, and our role as the church is to invest in those taking their first steps toward Jesus.