REDEMPTIVE CONVERSATIONS

The Fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. ^{Prov. 11:30}

INTRO. I am excited to speak to you this morning about perhaps the one thing that inspires me most as a follower of Jesus and this is “sharing the gospel with others.”

• Read John 4:4-26

This morning, I want to share six things that I’ve gleaned from this redemptive conversation Jesus has with this woman at the well.  I hope it will inspire you as much as it does me to be about the mission and message of John 3:16.

1.  REDEMPTIVE OPPORTUNITIES HAPPEN WHEN WE ARE ABOUT MAKING OURSELVES TO WITH PEOPLE ABOUT THE GOSPEL.

Have you ever thought about the “Why” Jesus had to go through Samaria? Was it because in his omniscience, he knew this woman going to show up at Jacob’s well? Maybe? But it’s unlikely. Was it because it was a shorter route (which it was)? I don’t think so.

The fact of the matter is Jesus had to go through Samaria because he was going to make a point to his disciples that… “God so loves the world” not just those who look like us, think like us, behave like us.

In Old World Judaism Rabbis were not permitted to speak to women in public places including in the Temple. But would Jesus conform to the social and religious norm of his day. “NOT A”

• Listen to the “charge” the Apostle Paul gave his disciple (a pastor)

“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.  For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2Tim4:1-5

2. REDEMPTIVE CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN IN THE CONTEXT OF LIVING. ^V.4-15

Jesus didn’t meet this woman at the temple; he met her in a public place (the public watering hole). Water is the most basic of human needs and everybody gets thirsty!

Question: Do you ever feel the need for some R & R? If so, where do you go? The park? The beach? Starbucks? The library, the Wine Country?  You might be pleasantly surprised that people will be there too and desiring human connection.

Personal Stories:

3. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL COME TO OUR WHEN WITH LOST PEOPLE. ^V.16-18

• The Holy Spirit revealed insight into this some’s life in real time and Jesus revealed to this woman things that would blow her mind. So much so that she recognized that Jesus was speaking for God.

• Jesus told the disciples that when the Holy Spirit arrived, he would give them the words to say to be effective communicators of the truth. Luke 12:12

I’m not suggesting you will be given the ability to know the secret things of a person’s heart, but I am saying you will be surprised what you will learn about people to help you effectively speak into their lives and pray for them.

4. REDEMPTIVE CONVERSATIONS OFTEN CALL US TO PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES. ^V.19-26

“We worship on this mountain and you Jews worship on a different mountain So, whose right?

• Religion demands that people “go” somewhere to worship God.  However, those on the “outside” are not generally wanting to “go to church.” After all, in their way of thinking it’s not a safe environment. People will judge me. People are self-righteous, people are…..

• Share the story of the Bar tender who told me his sanctuary is the wide-open spaces of nature. This same man went on the tell me that he attended catholic school in Boston as a boy and he said the “brothers-teachers” were the hardest people he ever knew. Church, no thanks.

It’s not where we worship but who we worship that matters!

• Going to church is a great thing once you know Jesus. It’s a great place to connect with people who share our faith. Church is a place to learn more about the truths taught in the word of God. Church is a place where we are to build each other up in our faith. And yes, church is a marvelous place to worship. But Church was never meant to be a substitute for relationship with God.

5. REDEMPTIVE CONVERSATIONS IS THE OF FOR HIS PEOPLE. ^v.27-38

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.  Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

6. REDEMPTIVE CONVERSATIONS OFTEN CAUSE REDEMPTIVE . ^V.39-42

This woman shares her experience with Jesus with her friends without a class on sharing her faith. She just shared her experience with people she knew loved her and her story motivated these people to come to Jesus as well.

We never know the redemptive change reaction a conversation can happen if we will be about our Father’s business!