November 22, 2009
CARE FOR OTHERS’ SPIRITUAL CONDITION
Accelerating Your Spiritual Growth
‘Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.’ Acts 1:8
‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.’ Matthew 28:18
‘Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Mark 16:15
A Caring Conversation
John 4: 1-44
3So He [Jesus] left Judea to return to Galilee. 4He had to go through Samaria on the way.
6… Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. 7Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8He was alone at the time because His disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.
9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to
Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are You asking me for a drink?”
13 Jesus replied, “People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. 14But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
16 ”Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. 17”I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— 18for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now.”
19 ”Sir,” the woman said, “You must be a prophet. 20So tell me, why is it that You Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”
25 The woman said, “I know the Messiah will come—the one who is called Christ. When He comes, He will explain everything to us.” 26Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah”! …28The woman left her water jar beside the well and went back to the village and told everyone, 29”Come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Messiah?”
31 Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus to eat. 32“No,” He said, “I have food you don’t know about.” 33“Who brought it to Him?” the disciples asked each other.
34 Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God… Look around you! Vast fields are ripening all around us and are ready now for the harvest… the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!”
C – CAPITOLIZE ON COMMON GROUND
A – ACCEPT PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE
R – RISK SHARING YOIUR SPIRITUAL STORY
E – EXPECT GOD TO DO HIS PART
40 When they [Samaritans] came out to see Him [Jesus], they begged Him to stay at their village. So He stayed for two days, 41long enough for many of them to hear His message and believe. 42Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe because we have heard Him ourselves, not just because of what you told us. He is indeed the Savior of the world.”