Live a discomfort life

Bible Reading

English Standard Version (Chapter 4)

4 And he had to pass through Samaria. 5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

성경전서 개역한글판 4장

4  사마리아로 통행하여야 하겠는지라

5  사마리아에 있는 수가라 하는 동네에 이르시니 야곱이 그 아들 요셉에게 준 땅이 가깝고

6  거기 또 야곱의 우물이 있더라 예수께서 행로에 곤하여 우물 곁에 그대로 앉으시니 때가 제 육시쯤 되었더라

7  사마리아 여자 하나가 물을 길러 왔으매 예수께서 물을 좀 달라 하시니

8  이는 제자들이 먹을것을 사러 동네에 들어갔음이러라

9  사마리아 여자가 가로되 당신은 유대인으로서 어찌하여 사마리아 여자 나에게 물을 달라 하나이까 하니 이는 유대인이 사마리아인과 상종치 아니함이러라

10  예수께서 대답하여 가라사대 네가 만일 하나님의 선물과 또 네게 물좀 달라 하는 이가 누구인줄 알았더면 네가 그에게 구하였을 것이요 그가 생수를 네게 주었으리라

11  여자가 가로되 주여 물 길을 그릇도 없고 이 우물은 깊은데 어디서 이 생수를 얻겠삽나이까

12  우리 조상 야곱이 이 우물을 우리에게 주었고 또 여기서 자기와 자기 아들들과 짐승이 다 먹었으니 당신이 야곱보다 더 크니이까

13  예수께서 대답하여 가라사대 이 물을 먹는 자마다 다시 목마르려니와

14  내가 주는 물을 먹는 자는 영원히 목마르지 아니하리니 나의 주는 물은 그 속에서 영생하도록 솟아나는 샘물이 되리라

Greetings and Icebreaking

A. Meet and Greet (3-5 minutes)

“Our Father God, would you pour our your overwhelming love upon each of us as we’re listening the word of God? We offer this time and pray In Jesus’ name Amen.”

B. Introduction of the words

Today, we read the passage about conversations between Jesus and Samaritan Woman. perhaps we’ve known this story well. but this story’s main is not about woman’s life and not about one’s salvation. but it is rather about the truth that Jesus is our Messiah and the example of life as Christian. Christian life, we many times try to identify as Christian.

But what is Christian means? the meaning of Christian don’t stand for the people who only go to church.

(Share about chatgpt and the definition of Christian) "Christian" refers to a person who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ and identifies as a member of the religion of Christianity.

“Christian”, but there are other words similar with this. like technician, mathematician. What does it mean? Technician is who is proficient of skill and technique. How about mathematician? mathematician is who uses an extensive knowledge of mathematics in their work. Then how about Christian? people who have proficient of living like Christ and follower of Christ. we should think about are we following Christian cultures? or Christ life? Today, God gave me heart that sharing to you that we must live as follower of Christ. God is teaching us how to live as a follower of Christ today.

Main Point

A. Chose to go discomfort way

I want to be back to the passage John Chapter 4 what we read today. There was a woman who met Jesus at the well. that was Samaritan woman. But the meeting was not coincident, but it was in the plan of God.

Let’s back to the bible and read John chapter 4:3

“So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria.”

Now, we saw Jesus moved from Judea to Galilee. But bible says, he had to go through Samaria. When it comes to the direction, it is right to go through Samaria in order to get Galilee, however, at that time many of Jewish people didn’t go through Samaria for historical reasons. strong ethnic and cultural tensions have formed between these two groups, and the two groups have tried to avoid contact with each other if possible. But Jesus had to go today and Jesus chose to contact with them.

We describe Samaria as close, but emotionally far away. we all have this Samaria place in our lives. for example, For Koreans, Samaria is Japan. Geographically close, but emotionally distant.

the same goes for today’s situation in the Bible. Even Jewish people hated them, but Samaria still needed the gospel that Jesus is Messiah and son of God. so Jesus took the path despite the difficulties. Jesus chose the discomfort way.

the place where people despise,

the place where people don’t welcome

where sacrifices were required.

If we see Jesus’ life, He always chose discomfort way, like place, life and cross. Jesus says “if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) before following him, Jesus said we should deny ourselves, take up your cross.

it means you gotta live a discomfort life. if you say you are Christian, you should live a discomfort life! this is the life what Jesus showed us.

Let me share my experience, I’m not sharing this because of boasting myself, but giving my example. when I became around 19. the one problem came up to me. Every men as Koreans should do military service except the people who have health issues. I was concerning at the first time and I didn’t have to go because I had multi-citizenship. Even people around me kinda said to me “why do you go? avoid if you can!”. Oh, it was so tempted like a sweet chocolate. But, one day, I noticed that I was soaking into Christian community and didn't know people outside. And found my purpose to go! because I’m saying that God called me as a missionary, but I need to pass through the mission fields in my neighborhood. Then, I went to the army, and even the location was called “Cheolwon” which is the coldest place in South Korea. discomfort way. but that was the place where people needed gospel. many dynamic things happened and I still kept in touch with some people who turned to God.

But why do we have to choose this way for? and why do we have to go this discomfort way?

B. God is seeking lost people

Today, in the bible, Jesus was waiting for one woman at the well. the time was noon. it would be very hot and doesn’t make sense for a woman came herself. People might not prefer to come out to draw water at noon in May. This noon is at twelve’o clock in our time. this noon represents the time of salvation, such as the time when people shouted to crucify Jesus in the John 19:15.

Jesus again came at the well at noon time for revealing salvation. the Samaritan woman. she came alone for drawing water. But Genesis chapter 24:13 it says “the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water” so mostly people came together, but she was alone. the water weight is around 40 pounds / it is around 18 kilogram. the weather was so hot. Perhaps she had some issues that she would not fit in with others. But Jesus waited her for giving eternal water. that was not a coincidence? the reminder of very first verse today, Jesus said, “I had to go through Samaria”. Jesus had a plan for the Samaritan woman.

these days, many people are like Samaritan woman. people avoid to communicate with others, feel alone and hunger for water. And trying to find a water. in Matthew 10:35-38, Jesus saw the crowds, and he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” we say world is getting darken and corrupted. it means the world needs more gospel and light. we are the salt of light. people need a light. but we as a Christian, still want to live for ourselves. keeping this gospel only for me! and say “I don’t wanna choose a discomfort way! discomfort life!” what are living for? are we really able to say that we are Christian? God is seeking people all the time. God is always wanting people to live in the Kingdom of God.

This is not the task only for pastors and missionaries, but also us! Jesus wanted His disciples to follow this life. Jesus still wanted us to choose this Samaria way. discomfort way. people won’t welcome you. people will persecute you! people will laugh at your face. but their souls and hearts are crying out. “we are hunger for truth, please save me.” like Samarian woman to Jesus, people will refuse many times when we share the gospel. But, when a woman realized that Jesus is savior, the town will change. John 4:39 “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony”.

the sacrifice of choosing discomfort way and life brought salvation to the town.

Conclusion

I want us to think about our life. are we really living a discomfort life? are we choosing to go to Samaria? if it’s not, then we have to think about our identity whether we are living Christian life or Christian cultures. live a discomfort life, choose a discomfort way and take up your cross. I wish that we can confess “I’ve decided to follow Jesus with all our heart.” let’s pray

Let’s pray

Our savior, and our redeemer, our God, I confess this time is yours. Father God, we are always saying “thank you for the cross” but we are not willing to live the life of cross. Father, we are afraid of going to a discomfort way. we are afraid of going to our Samaria place. But Lord, I believe you are with us, you are our God and you will help us with your righteous right hand. Please help us to shine your light in this world. and I pray may your power and spirit will be upon us. we give all the glory to you, and pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.