Lessons from the Well

Lessons from the Well

John 4:1-26

Introduction

Many people come to Christ through personal and private conversations.  The Gospels record many personal conversations of Christ as he travelled about.  Here Jesus talks to a Samaritan woman; something counter culture.  Jews do not speak with Samaritans and men likewise do not speak with women.  Here are 7 principles a follower of Jesus might engage in order to share their faith with others.

1. Witness On the Way.

⁴ And he had to pass through Samaria. 

There are many people you can share your faith with.  Look around you.  Those you share with could be those folks that you meet in the ordinary course of your daily activities.  Evangelism need not be a special activity only on special occasions.  Perhaps you could share with a neighbour down the road or a loved one staying in the same residence.  Whilst many are asked to stay at home during this virus pandemic, perhaps you could pick up your phone to speak to a friend.  Ask God to help you see those around you who need to hear the good news.

2. Slow Down Your Life!

⁶ Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well.

To connect you need to give time.  You cannot win people if you are on the go all the time and have very little time to make friends.  Sit down a while.  Look around you. During this pandemic, many governments have authorised lockdowns of various kinds in order to slow or stop the spread.  Looks of people are forced to slow down: they can't go out, socialise or to work.  This might be an unprecedented opportunity for those wishing to slow down their lives to engage with others.  Walk slowly today, even if you're home.

3. Take the initiative to Connect.

⁷ A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 

Take the first step.  Do NOT pray: “Lord, let him ask me and I will share with him.”  Jesus took the initiative and spoke first to the lady.

4. Speak a relevant message.

⁷ A woman from Samaria came to draw water.

Jesus: “Give me a drink.”

Jesus: “The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

When you're both at the well, what better topic than "water"?  Jesus lead the topic.  He reveals Himself as the living water.  We need to speak with relevance.  Jesus is the answer but what is the question that others are asking?  In difference occasions Jesus has presented Himself as "light of the world", "the good shepherd", "the resurrection and the life", etc.  We need to speak a message that is relevant to our hearers.

5. Don’t be afraid to confront sin.

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 

Jesus brings out the subject of the woman’s sin into the conversation.  Sin destroys and people know that.  Jesus died to pay for the penalty of our sins.  People cannot save themselves.  Committing sin condemns us to an eternity without God. Jesus came and became the Saviour of the world.  Tell them that God hates their sin but loves them so much that He sent His one and only son to be their saviour. 

6. Beware of Being Side-Tracked

¹⁹ The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 

The woman tried to change the subject.  Don’t be argumentative.  You will need to stick to the subject and to present the gospel.  It is the gospel that has power to save. Therefore you much share that message.  Spurgeon once said "the word of God is like a lion.  You don't need to defend a lion. All you have to do is to let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself." Don't be side-tracked in your conversation with other topics.  Steer it back to the message of the cross.

7.  Center your conversation on Jesus.

²⁶ Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” 

Share the person of Christ and His work on the Cross.  The apostle Paul said “but we preach Christ crucified,” (1 Corinthians 1:23).  "Preach Christ" -- this is our clarion call.  Don't talk about yourself or your church too much.  Don't even talk bad about other religions.  "Preach Christ crucified!"

Conclusion

Encourage your hearer to exercise faith and accept God’s provision for salvation:

Ask them to:

A. Admit They’re Sinners and Cannot Save Themselves.

B. Believe in (Place Their Faith on) Christ.

C. Commit Their Lives to Christ.

Amen.